The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

How The Schc I Musin' and Meanderin' (Reprinted from July 27. 1967) With fifth grade public school pupils moving into new ad­ ditions to the various grade schools during the past year, there seems to be a growing interest in the future of Land­ mark school. Original plans called for the school to be used as an ad­ ministration building for Districts 15 and 156, but in recent weeks offers have been made to purchase the seventy- three-x ear-old building. With an appraisal meeting held this week, it would seem that some decision might be forthcoming in the near future. The question of i ts use is not nearly so important to many of us as the fact that this cherished old landmark be retained in i ts present form. In an era when the No. 1 pastime of many is to destroy in order to acquire something new, there are stil l some folks who place above monetary value the quaint charm of something which belonged to another day. We hope and believe that our feelings are in no way a deterrent to progress, but in­ stead that the mingling of a few good things from the past with the many good things of today provides a healthy climate for both the young and old of a community. Landmark school, which has housed generations of graduates dating back to the late 1890's, certainly is one of the finestw things of yesterday. Inside its walls the educational history of MeHenry was written Irom 1894 until a year ago. and the untold memories of almost three-quarters of a century would be invaluable if recor­ ded ' Nine members of the city's first graduating class probably received their diplomas in a small school in the west part of the city. It was four years later <hat MeHenry graduated its next class of three students in what has since become known as Landmark school Graduates of 1906 proudly completed the fir*st four-year -- h o r p ; i n H t h * » ol Was Saved high school became accredited by the University of Il l inois. Doubtless there are some MeHenry families who can look back on a grandparent, parent and child who completed part or all of their education in this building. For many years, until completion of the old portion of the present high school. Land­ mark housed both grade and high school students. After that, for several decades, only grade schoolers attended Landmark, and more recently it was large enough only for all fifth grade public school pupils. With the county desperately seeking a suitable building for donated historical i tems, it seems too bad that MeHenry may let i ts one historic public building go the way of much old brick and mortar. Pictures that have come to our attention as early as 1919 reveal almost no changes have been made in this picturesque structure. It stands proudly atop a hill overlooking the newer history being recorded in such important buildings as our city hall and community hospital. To what use it is put is not so important as the fact that Landmark school be retained, to be remembered by future generations as an important part of MeHenry s historic past. Within the past fifteen years we recall suggestions that wooded property be purchased for a park area and assure recreational facili t ies for rapidly growing population. Cost has always reared its ugly head since this same large population has placed other heavy demands on local government. In the meantime, property of this type moves quickly and once a subdivider has put his plans in motion there is no retreating. We can't help but feel a relationship between these past situations and the project to save Landmark school. Once its walls are in ruins there is no turning back. The memories of yesterday may remain, but with no visible sign that here in our midst was a building that did much to shape the history of the community through the education of so many thousands. Our appeal is first to school board members and next to the city and civic organizations to assure that whoever is in possession of the building, it * » « 1 I r n m < n n i n t „ n (Reprinted from Aug. 16, 1967) Between twenty-five and thirty persons, representing a small part of the nearly 1,000 who signed petit ions protesting the sale of Landmark school on Waukegan road, appeared to open the Monday evening meeting of the board of School District 15. It was explained that the sale of Landmark would make it possible for the board to build a new and modern ad­ ministration building for which final figures had not been ob­ tained, but probably ranging from $190,000 to $240,000, to accommodate twenty-two persons. The board announced that according to new state regulations, Landmark could not be used as a school after 1970, but details of this Ill inois ruling were not explained. Members said the important fact to them was that sale of the building would realize at least $210,000 from any one of four or five prospective buyers who had expressed interest in the property, making it possible to construct an administration building without asking for additional tax money. Except for the one intended use as a shopping center, i t was not disclosed the possible uses by others interested in the building and the land. Musin' a nd Meander m' (Reprint from Aug. 24, 1967) Our column this week is directed to the members of School District 15, confident that i ts contents reflect the feeling of many other petit ion signers protesting the sale of - Landmark school. While the emphasis of our objections may vary, we have much in common. Most of us are taxpayers - all of us are voters. We not only placed these board members in office but have expressed our interest and pride in their service by continually supporting the various financial requests to assure that our schools are among the best. However, on one point we disagree, the importance of retaining Landmark for i ts outstanding educational history of our community. Last week's meeting of the board and protestors made evident the fact that the former considers one basic point, the $210,000 to be realized from its sale, while the latter firmly believe both economy and sentiment may be - served by saving the building. Numerous facts have come our way during the past week: 1-No schools of comparable size to MeHenry in this county have separate administration buildings, and 2-Boards of education in these districts meet in existing school buildings. If money realized from the sale of Landmark is of such urgent need, we would like to express ourselves in favor of carrying economy further and designate proceeds for the future education of MeHenry children. We suggest that the $210,000 obtained be earmarked as a relief for taxpayers who an­ ticipate a referendum which is imminent for construction of an additional grade school. Many of us would find it difficult to support such a bond issue as we looked at Land­ mark in rubble. We most certainly classify a new and m o d e r n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n building in the category of "desirable but not necessary." By this t ime, board members have had time to scan the names of persons desiring to retain the building. Of special interest is the fact that, by far, the teaching profession has the largest representation among objectors. Contrary to the belief that retaining Landmark is entirely a sentimental dream of the very old, who remember it from another day, a number of teachers have spent recent working days at Landmark, and some of them have ex­ pressed a desire to return. Regarding the building's possible future use for a school, it is a fact that any school constructed before 1955 must undergo a safety survey. Corrections have a deadline date of 1970. Only a study of state requirements, with a follow-up of the local building needs, would reveal the extent of work needed. Landmark has been restored to a reasonable state of repair necessitated by use in recent years. However, state regulations have become more rigid since the tragic parochial school fire in Chicago a few years ago. and doubtless there is sti l l much to be done before these are met. It appears that both the board and other interested persons are fairly well in agreement that if the building remains, an ideal use would eventually be for historical purposes. At present, in view of growing enrollments and the need for their accommodation, this is not a practical answer. Two of the uses most often suggested by those in favor of retaining the building are these: (1) Restore it to a point that it can be used as a school, (2) Spend an estimated $20,000 to remodel and air condition a few rooms for administrative purposes. Next week we hope to present f a c t s c o n c e r n i n g s i m i l a r problems, and how they are being handled in other cities. We also hope to have e s t i m a t e d c o s t s o n t h e restoration of Landmark. With due respect for the many hours of t ime already devoted to the problem, we trust the board will further consider the matter of Landmark. In particular, we • hope they will consider that here is an issue of importance to many. Modern Photographs by Plaindealer Photographer Wayne Gay lord IV Landmark Perspective (An Editorial) (Taken from Aug. 31,1967) Last week's announcement of a $35 million budget for MeHenry public schools over a fifteen-year period has placed the entire Landmark problem in a new perspective. For the moment, let us forget sentiment entirely. When the huge taxpaying public is reaching deep into its pocket for the second installment of the most; recent tax bill -- and looking ahead to a staggering increase in the years ahead -- it is time to take a realistic view. Through a public letter in this newspaper last week, a board member stated that many of the petition signers to retain the old school were unaware of the costs involved. We might go further and state that probably none of them knew. In fact, we do not know ourselves what these costs will be because a vacillation of facts over a period of weeks has brought figures from an opening estimate of $20,000 upwards to $50,000, $80,000, $100,000 and lastly, $120,000 for restoration. We think it is time for some real facts before further, ' very costly alienation between the public and school board on this matter occurs. A highly respected member of one of McHenry's largest building trade firms has termed "ridiculous" the suggestion that the interior of Landmark must be entirely gutted bfore it ca restored to useable condition, 'o our question as to whether land could be purchased and a new grade school be constructed for less money, his answer was "absolutely not". The board has expressed recognition of the fact that land costs will probably rise in the years to come, making it wise to purchase sites now for new buildings in the years ahead. Are we to assume that the property on which Landmark stands will not also be more valuable if its sale should be made at some later date? Certainly the need for this money will exist long into the future. The problem associated with that future is largely in the hands of the board of Consolidated District 15. However, responsibility also falls on the men who direct the affairs of High School District 156 for they must help assume the cost of any separate administration building used jointly by the group. It may very well be a fact that only two weeks remain before the District 15 Board announces its final decision on whether to sell or retain Landmark. Therefore, in view of strong public opinion we suggest that the board make the following information available to the public in our next issue: ? 1 ~ A statement from the state fire marshal as to the needs at Landmark school which will bring it to present safety regulations for (a) school purposes and (b) for use as an administration building. 2 - A statement from two or three reliable MeHenry construction firms as to the estimated cost, of meeting these regulations. If the opinion given the Plaindealer on Landmark's possibilities turns out to be incorrect, objectors must base their only hope of saving the building on sentiment. On the other hand, if Landmark can be restored for use as a school at less cost than a new building, or if several rooms can be remodeled for administration purposes, then we would take a dim view of its sale. We sincerely hope that cooperation of the board of District 15 gives us, as a newspapaer, an opportunity to extend the same support to its long-range educational program that we have consistently given in the past. Of A Monday evening and approved purchase of a building at 3924-26 W. Main street for use as administration offices. The unanimous vote was followed by a statement that the purchase at a low $28,000, plus closing costs, relieved that pressure for the sale of the Waukegan Road school. LANDMARK SCHOOL TODAY 3614 W. Waukegan Road District 15 Schools A U G U S T i. 1 9 7 5 P L A I N D E A L E R C E N T E N N I A L E D I T I O N P A G E 2 The Saving * ^ ' ' • • : ' A Popular - • / MeHenry Landmark LANDMARK CONCLUSION (Taken from Sept. 14,1967) The board of School District 15 acted in the presence of thirty-four dissenters to the sale of Landmark school last LANDMARK SCHOOL i sometime after 1894) McHENRY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 3711W. Kane Avenue HILLTOP SCHOOL 2615 W. Lincoln Road PARKLANDSCHOOL 1802 N. Ringwood Road VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL 6515 W. Rt. 120 A