News Release
Homer CCSD 33C
Goodings Grove Luther J. Schilling William E. Young William J. Butler
Hadley Middle Homer Jr. High
Contact: Charla Brautigam, Communications/Public Relations Manager
cbrautigam@homerschools.org | 708-226-7628
For Immediate Release:
Sept. 5, 2017
Efforts underway to save one-room schoolhouse
Please consider making a donation to preserve a piece of our community’s history
A piece of community history is threatened with collapse.
Ross School, one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses in our area, may disappear forever if fundraising efforts are unsuccessful.
The school, which now stands at the entrance to Homer Junior High School on South Bell Road, is in dire need of repairs, including:
- Structural repairs
- A new roof
- Siding, windows, doors
- Hardwood flooring repair/replacement
Homer CCSD 33C is trying to raise money to restore the school, which was built circa 1850 and served generations of students up until 1956 when the district was established with the consolidation of six one-room schoolhouses: Hadley, Wells Corner, Goodings Grove, Harrington, Barrington and, of course, Ross.
Many of the schools have been demolished or converted into homes.
Ross School was saved from the wrecking ball in 1997 when a group of civic-minded individuals (the Homer Township Educational Foundation) raised $40,000 to restore the school and move it from its original location on 159th Street to its current home on Bell Road.
They also furnished it with antique desks and a coal-burning stove, enabling students to see what school was like in the 1800s.
Unfortunately, the school was closed a few years later due to safety concerns.
Efforts are now underway to save the school once again — this time from the ravages of Mother Nature.
The roof is unstable and must be replaced before winter. Filotto Roofing has donated the shingles and Richards Building Supply Company has donated the plywood, roof felt, ice & water shield and nails.
Three Homer 33C staff members, Phil Ackland, Ed Malley and Bill Kocanda, who have experience with construction, have volunteered to install the roof.
Once the roof is in place, work can begin on the exterior siding, windows and doors. Needed for that phase of the project are:
- 392 square feet of Dutch Lap cedar siding
- Two 7-foot doors that are 34 inches wide (Original doors had 6 lights on top and three horizontal panels below) One door is left swing; the other door is right swing
- 40 linear feet of 1X6 cedar for door trim
- 5 14-foot pieces of 1X6 cedar for window trim
- 8 8-foot pieces of 1X4 cedar for corner trim
So far, the district has received pledges from Ultimate Driving School, United Express Delivery, Gaston Bistro, Jet’s Pizza and Time 4 Sweets.
In addition, Crockett Construction has agreed to donate the labor to install the new siding and doors. Will-Cook Ace Hardware has agreed to donate the paint to complete the project.
If you would like to join the effort to Save Ross School by making a donation, please contact Homer 33C Communications/Public Relations Manager Charla Brautigam at 708-226-7628.
