Maercker School History

1855		Victor Fredenhagen, a township trustee and member of the Illinois General Assembly, donated a 1/2 acre parcel of land at the present 59th and Cass Avenue to be used to construct a schoolhouse.
1857/1858		The first frame schoolhouse was completed. The building became the center of community activities.
September 15, 1877		The Directors saw a need to replace the old schoolhouse. A motion was passed to errect and furnish a new schoolhouse with a limit of $1000 along with a stipulation not to borrow more than $500.
1878		The new schoolhouses doors opened with a total cost of $664.03. There were three buildings in the the back - a coal shed and two outhouses.
1923		The schoolhouse received an addition that created a second classroom.
1925		School officials saw a need to give the school an official name. Maercker was chosen to honor "Grandma Maercker" (Anna Oldfield Maercker) for all of her volunteer work.
1929		A two room brick addition was constructed behind the frame structure for additional classroom space.
1952 and 1957		Additions to the brick building were added in each of these two years.
2002-2003		A new 3 story Maercker building was constructed behind the old brick building and all of its additions. The old building was demolished in 2003.

Historical dates, pictures, and timeline information courtesy of:
Mr. Fred Mundinger, retired Maercker School teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent