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Statewide Endangered
2012
Ten Most Endangered Historic Places
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Update
August 2012: A new amendment to the state’s
school construction law went into effect following
Governor Pat Quinn’s signature of SB 639. The bill
amends the current law in order to help encourage the
rehabilitation of historic and older schools.
To learn more
…
Historic Neighborhood Schools
Statewide
The historic neighborhood school is a building type
threatened statewide. These buildings are
architecturally distinctive, well-built and centrally
located. With misconceptions about renovation costs and
unfavorable state funding formulas, many school
districts have opted to build unsustainable new schools
in outlying areas or to replace historic schools on
site. These new schools not only render neighborhood
schools redundant, they also increase busing costs
exponentially.
Historic schools in the towns of El Paso,
Harrisburg,
Jacksonville,
Pekin and
Springfield are all
threatened with or proposed for demolition. The state
school construction law only provides funding “to
replace aging schools.”
SB 639 proposes a language amendment to the law that
would allow “rehabilitation” as a qualifying funding
request. This simple change would encourage local school
districts to give equal consideration to rehabilitation.
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El
Paso-Gridley High School
600 N. Elm St., El Paso
(Woodford County)
What some residents call the “grandest building in the
area,” El Paso-Gridley High School has been considered
for future demolition by the school district. Due to
community protest, that discussion for now has been
tabled. Originally built in 1921 as El Paso Township
High School, it was designed by the prolific architect
Arthur L. Pillsbury of Bloomington who designed
hundreds of buildings throughout Illinois, including
dozens of schools. Noted sculptor Lorado Taft said of
Pillsbury: “He has done more to beautify the various
communities of Illinois where his school buildings are
located than any other one man.” (Pantagraph, October
26, 1925, “Arthur L. Pillsbury Meets Tragic Death When
Car Overturns.”) An exhibit of Pillsbury’s life and
career can currently be seen at the
McLean County Museum
of History through June 2, 2012.
Additional Links
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Enos
Elementary School
524 W. Elliot Ave., Springfield
(Sangamon County)
This Classical Revival-style school is planned for
demolition and replacement in 2013. Built in 1926, the
Enos Elementary School has been determined eligible for
listing in the National Register of Historic Places by
the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The
Springfield Historic Sites Commission asked the School
Board to reconsider demolition plans, but the request
was denied. The School Board argues that a new school
will be more space and energy efficient, but studies
have shown that renovated buildings of this era are as
energy efficient as new construction. The Enos School
case shows how difficult it is for local school boards
to make reasonable and fiscally responsible decisions
under the current school funding formulas. These
formulas favor new construction over renovation and they
do not permit the inclusion of ADA accessibility
retrofits in work that is funded by the preferred school
construction bonds. Until the State school funding
formulas are improved, school boards will find it
difficult to save their neighborhood schools, even if
they want to.
Additional Links
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Franklin
Elementary School
352 Franklin Dr., Jacksonville
(Morgan County)
This Art Deco school was built in 1939 with
P.W.A.(Public Works Administration) funds and was
designed by architects Smith, Kratz, & Strong. It has
been recommended for Local Landmark status by the
Historical Preservation Commission of Jacksonville.
Arguing that rehabilitation of Franklin would be cost
prohibitive, the School Board has considered the school
for closure several times over the last decade. The
School Board's recent referendum to close two elementary
schools (Franklin and North) and to build a new high
school was soundly defeated by voters in the last
election. Now the School Board is considering
district-wide austerity measures, including the closure
of Franklin as early as June of this year, to make up
for a $4.4 million deficit. Closure would force hundreds
of children who now walk to school onto buses. The Save
Our Schools campaign in Jacksonville has collected over
1,000 signatures from citizens who do not want to see
their neighborhood school closed. SOS has held rallies,
town hall forums, protest marches, testified to the
School Board, written letters to the editor, and worked
with legislators and elected officials to find a
solution that can retain these schools that serve as
Jacksonville’s neighborhood anchors.
What You Can Do
Sign the petition to Save Jacksonville's
Neighborhood Schools (including Franklin Elementary
School)
Additional Links
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Harrisburg
High School
40 S. Main St., Harrisburg
(Saline County)
Harrisburg High School is one of the few historic
buildings remaining in this town, better known as a
community which suffered a devastating tornado on
February 29th. The high school is under consideration
for replacement by the Harrisburg Unit #3 School Board.
Built in 1904 with subsequent additions built in 1914,
1922 and 1938, the building is in need of repairs,
but as recently as last year the school board’s
architect acknowledged rehabilitation would be
more cost
effective than replacement. The recent passage of a
1%
sales tax increase for district-wide school repair and
construction has inspired replacement plans based on the
school district’s new ability to borrow up to $15
million. The superintendant has stated there will be
only partial demolition, but residents suspect efforts
will be made to ultimately replace the entire building.
Two seniors at Harrisburg High School are preparing a
nomination of the building for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places and helping distribute a
petition to save the school. Architecturally distinctive
in all phases of its construction, the building exhibits
Victorian to Gothic-revival styles. In 1936, the school
was visited by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia
Earhart. As noted by high school senior Jessica Newell,
“The entire building has seen the Great Depression and
two World Wars, and has witnessed countless other events
in recent history.” Freshman Justin Smock stated “It’s a
beautiful building and it holds so much history.” (The
Purple Clarion, Feb. 28, 2012)
What You Can Do
Sign the petition to prevent the high school from
being torn down.
Additional Links
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Pekin
Community High School “West Campus”
207 N. 9th St., Pekin
(Tazewell County)
Closed since 1999 due to consolidation, the “West
Campus” of Pekin Community High School was purchased by
a private owner after its closure and two of three
school buildings on the campus were demolished. The
original 1916 high school
still stands. A group of community citizens have
approached the owner and city officials about the
possibility of taking ownership of the building for a
new use. This campus, for Freshmen and Sophomores, was
closed due to declining enrollment when classes were
consolidated at a newer East Campus. Plans for a Bible
school in the old West Campus never came to fruition and
the building has remained vacant since 1999.
Stabilization costs are estimated to be at least $1
million, including roof replacement. On March 26,
a
petition with over 2,800 signatures was presented to the Pekin City Council in support of extending a downtown
TIF district to the West Campus to facilitate a
rehabilitation of the building. Locals have discussed
various scenarios for the building, including use as a
community center and local theater due to its large
auditorium.
What You Can Do
For more information, interested developers should
contact:
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Melida A. Heien, Executive Director
Pekin Main Street
111 S. Capitol St.
Pekin, IL 61554
(309) 353-3100 |
Additional Links
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