Todd Seminary For Boys - History

History

The Todd School for Boys was an independent school founded by Reverend Richard K Todd who brought from his native Vermont the New England philosophy of "plain living and high thinking, and in harmony with Puritan traditions" Reverend R.K. Todd moved to Woodstock Illinois from Vermont in 1847 to be pastor of a newly formed Presbyterian Church. In 1848 he opened a day school in the parsonage, for both boys and girls. This parsonage school continued to 1859, the student population ranged between 6 and 15 students. During this time Reverend Todd also served as the School Superintendent for McHenry County from 1849-1855.
In 1858 the plans for the Parsonage Institute were announced in the Woodstock Sentinel to form a boarding school. The Parsonage Institute grew in students until, in 1861, the Woodstock University was incorporated by the state legislature. In 1864, the title of the school was again changed, this time to become the Woodstock Collegiate Institute. At this time the student body consisted of between 80 and 149 students, mostly from the McHenry County area.

In 1867 the school underwent "extensive improvements" at which time it became exclusively a seminary for boys, and became known as the Woodstock Institute. It held this name until 1873 when it became known as the Todd Seminary for Boys. The final name change occurred in 1930 when it became the Todd School for Boys.

Noble Hill joined the institution in 1888 as Reverend Todd's assistant. Hill resigned a year later due to differences in opinions with Todd. A year later Hill returned with a promise from Todd that he would have his full support. Reverend Todd's wife died during the winter of 1891 and the Reverend now in his 70s went to live with his son who was a professor at the University that would become Stanford University.

In June, 1892 Noble Hill arranged to purchase the Seminary from Reverend Todd, at a cost of $20,000. Noble Hill was headmaster at the school until the 1930s.

In 1921, Noble Hill transferred ownership of the school to his son Roger Hill. Roger Hill had no experience in education and previous to teaching at the school had been involved in advertising. As Headmaster, he rejected examinations and traditional academics in favor of practical experience. He was responsible for the construction of the airstrip and the theater at the school.

The school closed in 1954.