25 Years of Preservation in Elgin A Preface Featuring a short history of Old Main
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25 Years of Preservation in Elgin
A Preface
Featuring a short history of Old Main
Old Main
2007 Photo
Old Main
1980 Photo
Every Good Story Needs …
• A visionary goal
• A few heroes
• A few pitfalls and challenges
• An ability to adapt to changing times
• A happy ending
Elgin Academy
• Chartered in 1839 as school for secondary education
• It was an idea bigger than the city of 150 residents could support.
The Vision
The Visionary
Elgin Academy
• The doors open December 1, 1856.
• Open to persons of all religious denominations
• Open to both men and women.
• Courses last 1, 2 or 3 years.
The Vision
A Bailout?
The Civil War slump in enrollment leads to financial problems. The Academy need $3,000 to avoid foreclosure.
Voters reject the idea of city money being used to buy shares in the school.
111 Nays, 45 Yeas.
The Challenges and Pitfalls
A Hero
“It’s a blame shame to the citizens of Elgin to permit this sale. I will be the one to redeem it.”
A new businesses plan
The Ability to Adapt
n
The Ability to Adapt
Elgin Public High School
• In 1884 a new, a free, public high school opens…
• Dependent entirely on tuition paying students the Academy runs into a series of financial crises.
• “Is the Academy a real need in our situation and times.” The Elgin Advocate
The Challenges and Pitfalls
Lovell Hall
The Ability to Adapt
Lovell Hall
The Ability to Adapt
3rd Floor : Wood Shop
2nd Floor: Machine Shop
1st Floor : Blacksmith and Foundry
Follow the Money
• What money?
• By 1902 a $4,000 donation by trustees saves the day.
• By 1911, a $40,000 fund raising drive insures that staff will be paid...
• …Once again.
The Challenges and Pitfalls
“Lightning Strikes Old Main”
“Fire leaves building in Ruins”
“Fate of school unknown.”
The Challenges and Pitfalls
Headlines from August 17, 1911
William Grote Judge Nathaniel SearsLaura Davidson Sears
The Heroes
A 1915 drive raises $65,000.
The Ability to Adapt
Open in 1924
The Ability to Adapt
Another new business plan
Draw more affluent students from a wider geographic area.
Opened in 1940
The 1960s
The Challenges and Pitfalls
The Academy survives by selling off the Sears family art collection and other assets.
In 1969 Old Main is abandoned.
Another fire, 1978
A new vision
New Heroes
• Marge Kruger
• Arno Gerbrecht
• Clarence Reber
• Mary Huddleston
• Leo Nelson
• Golden K Kiwanis
• Many, many , many others……
As a Museum
• 1987, First Floor opens
• 1991, Second Floor opens
• 1992, Third Floor opens
• December 2, 2010, you arrive for the plaque ceremony
Every Good Story Needs …
• A visionary goal
• A few heroes
• A few pitfalls and challenges
• An ability to adapt to changing times
• A happy ending
Old Main
2007 Photo
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