Images: #TBT Gallery looks back at Northwest suburban schools
While compiling this #TBT Gallery, one thing became evident - schools have come and gone over the years in the Northwest suburbs.
Due to ever changing demographics, the need for schools would depend on the communities as they developed with the growth of the suburbs, or became mature with shrinking enrollments leading to closures.
Some of the more famous casualties were Arlington High School, which closed in 1984, and its neighbor to the south Forest View High School in 1986. One of the more notable additions was John Hersey High School opening in 1968, with author John Hersey attending the dedication of the school named after him. Among the earliest photos from our archives is a graduating class of seven from Prospect Heights School in 1947, and a band photo from the same school in 1959. The two-room school building was originally called Wheeling Center School and was built during the Great Depression, opening in 1939. Two years later it was renamed Prospect Heights School.
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Wheeling Center School, which served Prospect Heights for almost three quarters of a century, is shown as it looked shortly before it was razed in 1938. Built in 1864, the 1-room structure stood on the site of North School.
Daily Herald file photo, January 1963
Prospect Heights School Band.
Daily Herald file photo, April 1959
Prospect Heights School, class of 1947.
Daily Herald file photo, 1947
Work continued at a rapid pace at the new Buffalo Grove High School in October of 1972.
Daily Herald file photo, Oct., 1972
A maze of stairways fills the central court at the College of Lake County.
Daily Herald file photo, August 1976
The Bison of Buffalo Grove High School were well represented in the 1977 Memorial Day parade.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1977
The final Memorial Day parade for Arlington High School in 1984.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1984
Arlington High School's auditorium was a multipurpose auditorium. It's fifty-eight rows of bleachers and ten rows of permanent seats would accommodate 4,000 spectators at basketball games.
Daily Herald file photo, October 1959
Looking out from beneath the bill of his feathered hat, a trumpet player in the Arlington High School marching band steps off during a homecoming parade.
Daily Herald file photo, October, 1981
Arlington High School students cry during solemn closing ceremony on the school's final day in 1984.
Daily Herald file photo, 1984
Roof slab for Forest View high school is pictured elevated about six feet from the ground.
Daily Herald file photo, March, 1961
Author John Hersey attends the dedication of the school named for him.
Daily Herald file photo, November, 1968
Author John Hersey attends the dedication of the school named for him.
Daily Herald file photo, November, 1968
Einstein School in Des Plaines was demolished to make the area into a park for the Mount Prospect Park District. The school, built in 1958 at 345 W. Walnut Drive, was closed by the Elk Grove Township District 59 in 1980 because of declining enrollment.
Daily Herald file photo, December, 1983
An era ends in East Maine Dist. 63 with the closing of Ballard School, 8320 Ballard Rd., Niles, the district's oldest and once its only school.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1978
Nipper School Principal James Retzlaff and some of his students stroll around the grounds at their new school.
Daily Herald file photo, April, 1976
After 19 years of children's bustle, Maple School falls silent.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1978
Wilson School, 15 E. Palatine Rd., Arlington Heights, was one of the schools being considered for closing by the Arlington Heights Dist. 25 Board of Education because of declining enrollment.
Daily Herald file photo, January, 1977
School at 212 N. Douglas Ave., Arlington Heights, was the second school built in Arlington Heights, and a private home in 1975.
Daily Herald file photo, January, 1975
At no risk of breaking the speed limit, an old school house moves gingerly down Schaumburg Road toward a new home. The building was Schaumburg's first public school. It was moved from the intersection of Schaumburg and Roselle roads to St. Peter's Lutheran Church.
Daily Herald file photo, September, 1981
School No. 22 in Schaumburg Township Dist. 54, the John Muir Elementary School in Hoffman Estates, was under construction with completion scheduled in early September of 1972. The two-story, 12-room building was designed to accommodate an addition when it was needed. Now called the John Muir Literacy Academy, is on the south side of Hassell Road, near Hilldale Golf Club.
Daily Herald file photo, April, 1972
The 130-year-old Tripp School in Lake County was moved to a new home in Lincolnshire thanks to a successful fund drive. The school on Milwaukee Avenue was the oldest one-room school house in the country. A citizens committee raised $12,000 to move the building.
Daily Herald file photo, July, 1978
As the birds see it, Schaumburg High School looms large against the surrounding area of homes and open land. The football field and track jutting north behind the school seemingly offer close by Sheffield Park homeowners an instant sound replay of sporting events.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1973
Anne W. Fox Grade School groundbreaking ceremonies were held in the Highlands section of Hanover Park. The school is named in honor of Miss Anne W. Fox, a district teacher with 43 years of teaching experience. Participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies were Hanover Park Village Pres. Eugene Domingue, left, Gene Maxwell, sales manager of Hanover Highlands who donated the land for the school, Miss Fox, and District 54 Supt. Wayne Schaible.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1967
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