Cedar Springs Museum Announces New Hilltop Book

CEDAR SPRINGS — The Cedar Springs Museum announced it is in the process of writing a new book detailing the life and legacy of the Hilltop School.

Titled The Hilltop, Beyond the Bricks: The Stories That Shaped Generations, the project, a nonfiction narrative that tells the life story of the building through the people who filled its classrooms and hallways. Rather than serving as a simple timeline of dates and events, the book weaves together firsthand accounts, memories and historical records to trace Hilltop’s century-long impact on the community. From its earliest students to its final bell, the story unfolds through the voices of those who learned, taught, and worked inside its walls.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to honor Hilltop and all the memories made there with this book,” said Museum Director and The Hilltop illustrator Sharon Jett. “This will ensure Hilltop’s legacy continues to be part of our community’s story,” she said.

Hilltop was built in 1926 and, at the time of its construction, was one of the largest schools in West Michigan. For nearly a century, generations of Cedar Springs residents attended classes there, making it a central fixture in the community’s educational and social life. The school closed its doors to students in 2021 and was recently demolished by Bierlein Companies Inc. after school officials determined the cost of renovation was prohibitive.

According to the museum, the book opens by setting the scene of the newly constructed school building and the anticipation felt throughout the community at the dawn of a new era in modern education. The author aims to capture not only the historic milestones, but also the everyday moments that defined life inside Hilltop’s halls.

“For a century, this school was the home to new friendships. It was where courage was tested, and triumphs were earned,” museum co-president and The Hilltop author Jake Watson said. “For anyone whose life was shaped by this place, for those who grew up here and carried its lessons into the world, this book is for you.”

The book is currently in progress and is expected to be completed sometime this fall. To mark its release, the museum has secured original Hilltop bricks salvaged from the site and plans to give one away with each of the first 50 copies sold. Proceeds from book sales will go directly toward supporting the Cedar Springs Museum’s ongoing efforts to curate, preserve and share local history.

“This is a passion project that we’re putting a lot of effort into,” Watson said. “So we felt that going that extra step and giving a small piece of Hilltop to the first people to purchase the book was a special way to help memorialize it for them. We also want to thank the Cedar Springs School Board and Superintendent Scott Smith securing the bricks for us to make that happen.”

Museum officials said they hope the book will serve as a tribute to Hilltop’s past, but also that it becomes a lasting resource for future generations who want to understand the role the school played in shaping the community and the people in it.