Atlanta High School - Atalanta Yearbook (Atlanta, IL)

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Before the number of houses in Atlanta exceeded twenty, the old seminary building v as erected. This was in the early part of 1853. In February, 1855, the Atlanta Seminary was chartered, and Immediately after a school of higher order was opened. The first board of trustees consisted of five members who were given power to erect buildings, purchase land, appoint teachers, regulate the course of study, etc. The stockholders of the seminary were liable to one dollar tax on each share of stock in order to pay the school's debts. These shares were twenty dollars each and all those owning shares were entitled to one vote per share. In 1858, the board of trustees suggested that the school be .'laced under the control of the town, and in this way the interests of the town children would be better served. The school was thus conducted until 1869, when, at the organization of the city government, the school was also organized under the State School Law as a graded school. Measures were adopted to erect a larger building in 1870 when the old seminary building was unable to take care of the growing school population. While the new building was being constructed, the old building was removed to the corner of the lot. ... History The new building was three stories high above the basement and contained the school rooms, a large spacious hall, and a principal's office. A large town clock was placed on the top of the building , the strokes of which could be heard from any part of town. The entire cost, in -cl'iding the cloc:, which was ?e00, and the furniture--was '28,500. This school proved to be one of the best schools in the county. Misfortune struck on July 21, 1908 when an innocent brush fire burned this school house to the ground. Classes were resumed in different buildings fcout town, until the school, the present one was completed. In 1947, the consolidated district was formed. Country grade schools jdned with us at thst time. Then, in 1949 the governing boards 401 and 301 were joined and the Community Unit District 20 was organized. Building changes were slight until 1P49-50 when a cafeteria was added in what was once upon a time—the old gymnasium. A new bus garage was added to the North playground area. New locker rooms, offices, and drying rooms were built to accommodate the physical education department when the cafeteria took their former quarters.