Making New Use of Old Stuff: Garrison School Lofts-- Part 1

From the Northwest Quarterly magazine 2024.

I am all for finding new uses for old buildings rather than tearing them down, especially when they are architecturally significant.

GARRISON SCHOOL LOFTS, 1105 North Court Street, Rockford, Illinois.

Near the end of the 19th century, Rockford was growing quickly as families moved in, so did their kids.  There was great pressure on providing schools for them.  Several new schools opened around this time, including Garrison School which just had four rooms when it opened in 1887.

It was named for Thomas Garrison, a real estate developer from New Jersey, who in 1853 settled in Rockford's Signal Hill neighborhood where the school is located.

Of interest, the school's first four principals were women.  The first principal. Lizzi Shaw, ran the school until 1891.

--Cooter