This page has been designed to post photos of grade school buildings that are no longer used as schools. Some
are in a delapidated state, some are now used as businesses, some are used for civic purposes.
ALL of these buildings, however, were once filled with the joyous shouts of children at play, of chalk gliding across
the chalk board, and of gym shoes screaching on the floor. They, too, were once the center of the community they served and
deserve to be remembered.
If you have such a photo and wish to share it on this page, please forward it to us via e-mail to ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .
Albany Grade School, Albany, Illinois
Closed in 2005
Albany (population 895) is located about 20 miles northeast of Moline along the
mighty Mississippi River in Whiteside County on State Highway 84. Albany supported its own high school through 1944 when it merged with nearby Fulton High School. This school served as a grade school for the Fulton River
Bend School District from 1952 - 2005 wshen it was closed.
Baileyville Grade School Building 2011
Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen
Baileyville (population about 250) is an unincorporated village in far north central
Illinois. It is located in far northwestern Ogle County about 5 miles south of the city of Freeport. This grade
school was closed in the mid-1970s. The children of Baileyville attend schools in nearby Forreston.
Beaverville Comm. Center - Former Grade School?
Beaverville (population 391) is located in upper-eastern Illinois, some might even say
lower-northeastern Illinois. Beaverville sits in the northeastern portion of Iroquois County. Beaverville
is located in a country setting at the intersection of County Roads 3000N and 2500E. Illinois Route 1 passes
by about four miles to the west while U.S. Route 52 travels by Beaverville approximately four miles to the south. The
Illinois/Indiana border is 8 miles east of Beaverville. The Kankakee, Beaverville, & Southern Railroad passes through
Beaverville as well. Beaverville sits about 20 miles southeast of Kankakee.
Beaverville first incurred the name of St. Mary's. Upon the construction of the railroad through
the area, it was discovered that the name of St. Mary's was already in use. "Beaverville", the name of a nearby
post office, was then accorded the name of the town. The township of Beaverville was established in 1921.
The town has had many successful businesses. There was never a high school in Beaverville as far as we know, just a grades
1 - 8 school. COuld this be the former school building? Please let us know. The kids of Beaverville attend school
in nearby Donavan today.
Campus, Illinois Grade School Bldg - 2011
Campus, Illinois
Campus (population 145) is a small village located in the northeastern Livingston County
in the upper-western portion of Illinois. County Highway 1 and County Highway 3 intersect in Campus. The village
is located about 6 miles (as the crow flies) southeast of Dwight. The school above served as a grade school through at
least the 1960s. The school was eventually closed when it was decided that all students would attend school at the newly
created Reddick RUCE School District. Campus put the "C" in "RUCE". It is a beautiful little town with a majestic Catholic Church
and rectory still standing. This building (above) is now utilized as a community center. The students of Campus
today attend school in nearby Herscher.
Deer Grove Grade School Building
Deer Grove Grade School Building Side View
Deer Grove (population 45) is located in northwestern Illinois in the southeast corner
of Whiteside County. Deer Grove is about 12 miles south of Rock Falls. Illinois Route 40 is the main roadway to and from Deer
Grove. The Whiteside County roadways named Deer Road and Arrow Road also lead you to Deer Grove. As you pass through town
there are what appear to be the remnants of a railroad track that once passed through town. A small bar and grill and a grain
elevator with approximately 15 - 20 houses complete the town.
The school house pictured above sits on the east side of Route 40. It appears to be utilized today
as a business of some sort. It once served as a grade school for the town of Deer Grove and the surrounding farm kids. The
kids of Deer Grove today attend grade school in nearby Tampico and high school in Prophetstown.
Esmond Grade School - 2010
Submitted by Roberta VanBriesen
Esmond Grade School Side View
Thank you to Roberta Van Briesen
Esmond Grade School Gym Scoreboard
Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen
Esmond Grade School Gym Basket
Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen
Esmond School Inscription
Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen
Esmond (population 291) is located in far northern Illinois in the western portion of Dekalb
County. Esmond is situated about 10 miles northwest of the city of Dekalb. An excellent history of the town and
its school can be found at the web address of http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/PDFs/201157.pdf on page 8. According to the information on this page Esmond began a school in the town in 1860. The above
school was built in 1950 and closed in 1993. The kids of Esmond now attend grade school at Eswood Grade School
in Lindenwood and high school in Rochelle.
Flagg Center School Bldg - Now a Church (2011)
Flagg Center, Il (Ogle County - Submitted by Roberta VanBreisen)
Harrison, Illinois School Building - 2009
Now a Private Residence - Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen
Hooppole, Illinois Grade School - Closed in 1979
Now a private business - photo taken in 2005
Hooppole (population 200) is located in north central Illinois in the northeastern portion
of Henry County. Hooppole folks supported their own high school through 1948 when they merged with Annawan High School. The building pictured above was likely constructed in
the 1950s. It served as the Annawan School District's 1st and 2nd grade building through 1979. It was then closed
as a new all-inclusive school was built in Annawan. The building today serves as a local business.
Latham Park School, Winnebago County, IL.
Photo Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen
Latham Park School Mosaic on Outer Wall
Sent to Us by Roberta Van Briesen
Latham Park Grade School, Winnebago County, IL.
Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen - 2010
Maytown, Illinois Grade School - 2009
Appears to be used for storage.
Milmine School 2011
Courtesy of Dennis Downey
Milmine School Building 2011
Now a Grain Elevator (Submitted by Dennis Downey)
Milmine (population approximately 50) is located in east-central Illinois in Cerro Gordo
Township in Piatt County. Milmine is about 15 miles northeast of Decatur. The Norfolk Southern Railroad line travels
through Milmine. County Highway 22 is the main roadway that leads to and from Milmine. It connects to Illinois Highway
105 about one mile to the south. Our good friend Dennis Downey submitted these photos and added the following
information:
"Attached are several pictures of the public school building in the very small town of Milmine, Illinois.
This is just off of Ill. Route 105 between Bement and Cerro Gordo, Illinois.The builidng is now a weigh station for the grain
company which is about the only business plus some houses in the town. My second semester French teacher at Millikin University
was from Milmine. Very elderly at the time and had taught French and German to Americans in WWII."
Normandy School Bldg - 2011
Normandy, Bureau County, Il.
Oak Park Bishop Quarter Military Academy (Gds1-8)
Submitted by Kenneth Rozhon
**From Kenneth Rozhon:
"Bishop Quarter Military Academy was located at 605 Lake St. Oak Park, IL. circa 1900 to 1967. I was
a proud member of the class of 1957. The Oak Park Historical Society has literature on the school. All that’s
left is a 1/2 block street named Bishop Quarter! One of our biggest rivals was La Grange St. Joseph Military Academy,
also closed now. They're gone and that kind of education doesn't exist anymore."
Ottawa St. Patrick's Grade School 1913-2010
Papineau, Illinois Grade School (2010)
Built 1916, Closed 1959
Papineau Grade School Cornerstone - 2010
Ridott Grade School Building
Photo by Roberta Van Briesen
Ridott (population 159) is located in far north-central Illinois in Stephenson County. It
sits about 5 miles east of Freeport on South Rock City Road about 1 mile north of U.S. Route 20. We do not know when the school
closed or when it was built. We believe the kids of Ridott today attend Freeport schools. A nice history of the town
of Ridott and the early formation of its schools district can be viewed at the web address of http://genealogytrails.com/ill/stephenson/cityridottvillage.html .
Texas Township School Building, DeWitt County, IL.
Taken in August of 2010 by Dennis Downey
Texas Township School Entrance
Submitted by Dennis Downey
Waddams Grove School, Stephenson County, IL.
Photo Taken by Roberta Van Briesen, 2010 (now a private residentce)
Walton, Ilinois Grade School - 2010
Walton, Illinois Store Front Building - 2010
West Jersey Grade School Building - 2011
Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen
Westfield Corners School, Winnebago County, IL.
Photo Taken By Roberta Van Briesen, 2010 (now a private residence)
Westfield Corners Church, Winnebago County, IL.
Photo Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen - 2010
Wilsonville, Illinois School
Wilsonville (population 604) is located in southwestern Illinois in the central portion
of Macoupin County. Illinois Route 138 is the main roadway to and from Wilsonville. Wilsonville sits about 4 miles southwest
of Gillespie. The town was established in 1917 by the Superior Coal Company as a coal mine waas developed in the area. The
town was named after then President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson. Migrant workers quickly moved into the
area to work at the mine, allowing Wilsonville to peak at about 1,500 residents in the 1920s.
The townspeople realized the need for a quality education and immediately began a grade school. Wilsonville
Grade School served the town for many years. Graduates of Wilsonville Grade School would attend high school in Gillespie.
We are not certain when, but the Wilsonville Grade School has been closed. The building has been razed as well,
only a memorial with the school bell remains to mark this bit of history. ( http://macoupinctygenealogy.org/history/wilsonville.html )
)
