Chicago Cooley Vocational H.S. "Comets"
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The History of Chicago Cooley High School
 
Chicago (population: 2.8 million) is located along the shores of Lake Michigan in far northeastern Illinois. From its early days as a Potawatomie settlement, then as the site of Fort Dearborn in 1803, which led up to the formation of the city and its incorporation in 1833 and 1837, respectively, the "City of Big Shoulders" became a major location in the US for various reasons. Railroads and water transportation were two reasons why Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the country during the 19th Century.
 
The web site located at http://www.rapdict.org/Cabrini-Green gives a nice history of the Cabrini-Green housing project.  The area is located on Chicago's near north side bordered by the streets of Evergreen Avenue, Sedgwick Street, Chicago Avenue, and Larrabee Street. The official address was 1225 N. Sedgwick Street. The Cabrini-Green housing area was built in the late 1950s through the early 1960s. The area is one of the more famous small neighborhoods in Chicago.  It was given national attention in 1982 when then Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne lived in one of the apartments there to "prove" it was safe to do so.
 
In the beginning, Cabrini-Green's population reached about 15,000 residents.  In order to provide educational opportunities for the students there Cooley High School was developed. Jan Prymus tells us the following about the history of the Colley High School building.
 
"The school building was constructed in 1912 for Lane Technical High School. When Lane Tech moved in 1934 to their new location at Western and Addison, their former building became Washburne Trade School, who moved to 14th and Union. In September of 1958 when Washburne Trade School moved to the new location on 31st Street, the former Washburne Vocational High School was renamed Edwin G. Cooley High School."
  
Cooley High School's first year was in the 1958-59 school year with the first graduating class being the class of 1959. Cooley High was closed in 1979 due to the age of the building. The school was replaced by Near North High School.  
 
Cooley High School was the subject of a popular film from 1975 appropriately titled "Cooley High".  We are searching for any further information, and a more accurate history, regarding Cooley High School.  The photo above is the Cooley High building from when it was known as Lane Technical High School (c. 1930s). A more recent photo of the high school building is also welcome.
 
Chicago Cooley High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                             1958
Year closed:                              late 1970s (1979?)
Consolidated to:                         Chicago Near North High School
Cooley HS team nickname:         the "Comets"
Cooley HS uniform colors:           Orange & Black
School Fight Song:                     unavailable
ATHLETICS
 
It is probable that inter-scholastic sports were offered at Cooley High School.  It is probable the boys competed in baseball, basketball, and track, probably many other sports as well.  The girls may well have competed in volleyball, basketball, and track and many other sports too. If you have ANY information you can share regarding Cooley High School please contact us via the means listed below.
 
MEMORIES
 
**From Donald Walsh:
 
"I was a teacher at Cooley High  from 1968 until it closed in June of 1979.
 
I believe that the school was closed simply because the building was old, inefficient, too big with a large portion of the building unused.  There was also an upper grade center housed in the facility which closed several years before the high school closed.
 
Prior to 1960, the building housed the Washburn Trade School.  Prior to 1934? it was Lane Tech High. 
 
From 1968 to 1976 the only inter-scholastic sport offered was boys basketball, frosh-soph and varsity.  The coaches were Michael Levy and Jimmy Johnson respectively.  I believe Mr. Levy is still working for the Board of Education.  Mr. Johnson is deceased. In 1976, I believe, inter-scholastic baseball was initiated.  Mr. Levy was the coach. 
 
I don't recall any inter-scholastic sports for the girls.  The girls gym teacher was Penny Padley.  She is retired."
 
**From Jan Prymus (Class of 1964):
 
"I happened upon your Cooley website; greatly enjoyed reading about my alma mater!
 
I attended Cooley from 1960-64, and graduated in June, 1964. The school building was constructed in 1912 for Lane Technical High School; when they moved in 1934 to their new location at Western and Addison, their former building became Washburne Trade School, who moved to 14th and Union. In September of 1958 when Washburne Trade School moved to the new location on 31st Street, the former Washburne Vocational High School was renamed Edwin G. Cooley High School.  Joseph J. Partle was the principal.
 
There were actually three seperate schools; the trade school, the continuation school, and the vocational high school - all under one roof.  I still have the student handbook, 45 pages of information, including school songs, floor plans, teacher names, and much more.  My electric shop, in which I majored, was in room 222, facing Division and Orleans, also the electric teacher was Raymond T. Bernke.
 
Now retired, I still look back fondly on my Cooley days - I would enjoy sharing informaiton with you and others interested. Is there an organized group of former Cooley students/teachers?  Are reunions held?"
 
**From Martin Ficzko:
"I attended Cooley High for three years and have some very fond memories, especially of the print and machine shop.  At the time I went the "EL" ran directly in back of the school and the Oscar Myair wienner factory. I also rememeber the basketball team."
   
FAMOUS ALUM
  
*Jerry Butler - Famed Rythym & Blues singer and song writer Jerry Butler is said to have graduated from Cooley High School. Read more about a Jerry's accomplishments at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Butler_(singer) .
    
To Share Information Regarding Cooley High School 
 
Contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. If you have corrections about the information provided, please take the time to write to us.  You can also contact us via USPS at the following address:
 
IHSGD Website
6439 N. Neva Ave.
Chicago, Il.  60631