Princeton High School (Illinois) - History

History

Princeton High School was founded in 1867 and graduated its first class in 1869. The school was started as a boarding school and taught subjects as English, mathematics, history, and the sciences. The school was enlarged in both 1894 and 1908 in order to accommodate for increases in attendance. The school was completely destroyed by fire on December 15, 1924. Plans were then drawn up to build a new school, but in the mean time classes were held in City Hall, the Post Office, and the Christian and Mission Covenant Churches in Princeton. The new school opened its doors on September 27, 1926. The building, 350 feet (110 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide, contained twenty classrooms; an auditorium seating 1,100; a library; a science lecture room; chemistry, physics and botanical laboratories; and a gymnasium. The building is still in use today, though several additions and remodelings have taken place since then.

The first addition was built in 1958 and contained a new English classroom, an art room, industrial arts classroom and shop, agriculture classroom and shop, cafeteria-study hall, and a new gymnasium. The main building was also remodeled which provided for the expansion of the speech-English accommodations, expansion of the business education space, and a new library. In 1970 another new addition was constructed at the south end of the campus to make room for the growing student population. The new addition is commonly known as the English Building, and, as its name suggests, it houses English classrooms. The building was originally intended to be temporarily used for a few years but is still in use today. In the spring of 1985 another addition began. Cherrie Science Addition was started which connected the 1926 building and the 1958 addition. The new facility was completed in 1986. It houses science, special education, and drama rooms. It also made the entire school handicap accessible.

Two major projects were undertaken during the 1990s. Due to changes in IHSA rules, Princeton needed a new all-weather track to replace the old cinder track. The auditorium had also fallen into direpair and needed to be renovated. An all weather track was completed on Bryant Field and was dedicated as the Frank and Marion Rathje Track in 1997 for their generous contributions to the effort. Mr. Rathje was a banker in the Chicago area like his father, Frank C. Rathje. The Princeton High School Foundation raised over 1 million dollars to renovate the auditorium. The new Sally Skinner Council Auditorium was dedicated in November 1999. Both projects were majorly funded by members of the community. In 2003 several classrooms were renovated. In the fall of 2004, Princeton High School began what turned into a somewhat controversial new addition to the school.

The school received a large grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to add on more classrooms and a new library. The controversy occurred mostly because of the timing of the addition. The addition was being built at a time when the school was struggling financially and was forced to make cuts in both faculty and classes. Enrollment was also declining so an addition did not seem practical. Many students and faculty members were frustrated that the funds were being put toward the addition instead of keeping teachers and classes. However, there was nothing the school board could do about it, because the State Board had allotted the funds solely for the purpose of building expansion.