Lockport Township High School - Lock Yearbook (Lockport, IL)

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Leo H. P0201 During the course of a student's education, he comes in contact with many different teachers. Yet there is always that one teacher for whom the student gains the deepest respect and admiration. One of these teachers, whom we believe to leave a lasting impression upon his students, is Mr. Leo H. Pryor. During the past years, Mr. Pryor has come in contact with a great number of students of Lockport Township High School, East and Central campuses, through his teaching and sponsorship of extra-curricular activities. His main teaching objective has been revealing the mysteries of Chemistry to countless bewildered students. He has always had patience, understanding, and time to advise students both in and out of the classroom. Under his sponsorship, the Student Council has benehted the entire student body. A hardworking man, he never leaves a task until it is com- pleted, and he expects students to do the same. Outside of school, Mr. Pryor has shown leadership in the First Congregational Church. He has served as Chair- man of the Board of Deacons and as a sponsor of the high school youth group. We are sure Mr. Pryor has encouraged many young people and adults to lead a Christian life and has gained many rewarding experiences through his church work. Mr. Pryor also has taken great pride in his family. He is the father of two daughters who have only the highest regard for him. His wife is as active as her husband, and together they face the problems of everyday life. We feel that Lockport, our town,,' is a better place be- cause a man such as Mr. Pryor lives and works here. He is an enthusiastic supporter of home, school, church, and com- munity. F or all your efforts, your fighting spirit, your honest opinions, your humor and your knowledge, we dedicate the 1966 Lock to you-Mr. Leo H. Pryor. DEDICA T10

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One hundred and thirty-six years ago the future of our town was only an insecure promise and the present a challenge. To transform the forest and the prairie into farms and to build a civilization to replace the wilderness took blood, sweat, and tears. In October 7830, Armstead Runyon and his family came into the little valley. The next few years were to see a few more families come and settle in Runyontown. But with the outbreak of the Black Hawk War in 7832, all the families that had settled left their scarcely finished home- steads to take refuge in Fort Dearborn. When the war ended, the men returned and built a block house for the protection of their families. Soon the women and children returned and the settlement of Runyontown commenced again. Work began on the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 7836. As engineers came to the area, they literally moved the townffrom the northern end of the village to the location we know as Lockport, a name which replaced that of Runyontown when the first series of locks was built here. The first of several early churches in Lockport was the First Congregational Church, founded October 37, 7838, by the Rev. Isaac Foster. Shortly thereafter St. Dennis, the Methodist, and the Episcopal Churches were established. The pioneers were interested in providing educational facilities as well as places of worship. Therefore, in 7839, they built the first village school at the corner of Eighth and Hamilton Streets, but not until 7857 was a permanent building, housing both elementary and high school classes, erected in the square block bounded by Hamilton, Washing- ton, Eighth, and Ninth Streets. It remained in use until destroyed by the fire of 7895. It was then replaced by the present Central School building which served grades one through twelve until the erecting of L. T.H.S, in 7909. With the completion of the I dr M Canal, Lockport began to prosper, leaving many of the dangers and hard- ships of earlier years far behind. However, in 7849 the young village su-Hered a major catastrophe in the form of a cholera epidemic which took many lives. Undaunted, Lockport continued to progress and was incorporated as a village some twenty-three years after the arrival of the first white settlers. In the great fire of 7895, the entire business district was destroyed but within four years, many stone and brick buildings were built, some of which still house the business establishments of today. Work on the Chicago Sanitary Canal, a channel almost parallel to the I dr M Canal, was begun in 7900. Thirty- three years later the Lockport Lock, which is the first of a series on the canal, was completed after many setbacks. Today Lockport is no longer a little wooded valley but a rapidly growing community consisting of home, school, and church with many old traditions, yetfull of spirited new ideas looking forward to growth in the future. OUR TOW