Glenbrook High School turns 70 this month

On July 4, 1953, area residents celebrated one of the most significant moments in Northfield Township's history.

That Independence Day 70 years ago marked the culmination of a dream many years in the making. Along with the usual Fourth of July festivities, the day featured the official opening of Glenbrook High School.

The high school's dedication came more than six months later on Feb. 28, 1954. Glenbrook then became Glenbrook North in 1962.

According to "Northbrook, Illinois: The Fabric of Our History," the July 4, 1953, ceremony at the school was attended by an estimated 1,500 people. If that number does not seem overly impressive, keep in mind the 1950 populations of Northbrook (3,348) and Glenview (6,142).

The day's activities included tours of the new school and placement of the cornerstone.

It included a copper box inside containing the names of all the teachers employed at Glenbrook at the time, a list of all registered students, copies of the Northbrook and Glenview newspapers, and a duplicate of the testimonial scroll - a document read to the crowd by then-Glenview Village President Elmer Palmgren.

Also, there was the raising of an American flag gifted by the American Legion posts of Northbrook and Glenview.

July 4,1953, served as a sort of official ending to years of controversy regarding construction of a Northfield Township high school.

Before 1930, Northbrook-area students attended high school at various locations such as Deerfield-Shields (Highland Park), New Trier (Winnetka), and Carl Schurz (Chicago). In September 1930, Northbrook High School opened as a three-year school located in the elementary school building on Waukegan Road that eventually was repurposed as Crestwood Place.

Space was a problem from the beginning. As early as 1946, District 28 began discussions with neighboring districts about the possibility of starting a new high school. On April 12, 1947, Northfield Township voters approved formation of a new high school district (225) by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

The township appeared poised to begin solving its high school space problem. But for five years, officials debated the site for the new school. Would it be in Glenview or Northbrook?

By early 1952, Northfield Township District 225 found itself in a crisis with no school, almost no money, and having to use virtually all its resources to pay for the tuition of township students at other area high schools.

On March 29, 1952, a fifth site-selection election was scheduled. Adding to the legal complications was that District 28 had said the Class of 1952 would be the final Northbrook High School class housed in its building.

Fortunately, the results of this election were decisive. Of about 8,400 registered township voters, roughly 6,500 cast ballots.

The clear choice (3,825-2,646) was the Oldfield Farm location on Shermer Road in Northbrook.

Soon after, the district got the approval to obtain needed materials despite wartime restrictions, and ground was broken for Glenbrook High School on June 1, 1952.

Despite the contention between Northbrook and Glenview residents regarding the location of the new high school, the mood changed quickly. One newspaper editorial noted: "The bitter inter-town controversy has given way to a spirit of cooperation."

Just 13 months after the groundbreaking came the official opening of Glenbrook High School.