Louis Sullivan (1856-1924)
Washington School 1884, Albumen Photograph. Marengo, Illinois, 1884.
McHenry County Historical Society, Union, Illinois.
Architect Louis Sullivan built Washington School in Marengo in 1883, on the base of a school that had burned down the year before. It was the only school building he ever designed. Sullivan developed pivotal architectural techniques to build skyscrapers a few years after building Washington school. The school bore several signature elements of Sullivan’s style. He drew heavily from shapes found in Egyptian architecture, and looked to incorporate organic designs found nature.
Washington School was the first of two schools built in the city to replace the older school, the second being Locust School in 1885. Until 1921 Washington housed the elementary and high schools. Unfortunately, better schools were built and Washington closed in 1985. It was torn down and replaced by a McDonald’s in the early 1990’s.
Twombly (1987); Pearson (1988)
Image Courtesy of the McHenry County Historical Society
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Stories, Structures, and Songs 