Old Central School – Lockport

Lockport is a town rich in history with the first settlers arriving in the area in 1830. Soon after settlers arrived, school classes began in a log cabin on what is now Division Street, near Grandview Avenue.

In 1857, a three-story stone schoolhouse, designed by architect Julius Scheibe, was erected on the Public Square in town. This stone building was the first village schoolhouse and was built from limestone quarried locally and boasted a large four-sided clock tower on its roof. The first graduation commencement at the school was in June 1888, with seven graduates. A large fire destroyed the school building August 10, 1895, and classes were held in nearby churches and other buildings until a new public structure was erected.

The schoolhouse was replaced the following year with a handsome three-story Romanesque Revival structure on the same site. The new school building was built using native limestone locally quarried by architect John H. Barnes of Joliet.

Buildings of the Romanesque Revival style are most easily identified by their unique qualities, such as pronounced round arches, cavernous entryways, window openings, and heavy, massive stone or brick construction. Most have round towers with conical roofs, squat columns and decorative plaques with intricate or interlacing patterns. The Romanesque style especially was suited to churches, courthouses, schools, university buildings, prisons, train stations and other public buildings.

Locally, the Romanesque Revival style can be seen in the work of architect John H. Barnes. Barnes graduated from the University of Illinois in 1888 and began his career in Colorado.

After working out west, Barnes arrived in Joliet in the early 1890s. He was typical of many new architects of the era in that he probably was more of a self-taught builder than a professional architect.

The old Central School, which served the educational needs of the community for nearly 70 years, was considered highly innovative for the 1890s because the architect plans placed emphasis on large interior spaces with many big windows to let in light and air.

Today, the old school building serves as the Lockport Township Government Offices and the Lockport Area Genealogical and Historical Society.

We Need Your Help:

David Belden is a history teacher at Minooka Community High School and currently is publishing local postcard books with Arcadia Publishing in his Local History classes. He and his students currently are looking for old Joliet photos and postcards, and images from Joliet’s parks, for a new publication. Photographer and editor Christine O’Brien is an English teacher at Minooka Community High School and edits and authors books with Arcadia.

If you are interested in contributing a postcard image, please email him at: dbelden@mchs.net or localhistory@mchs.net call 815-467-2140, ex. 260. You also can like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/localhistory.