One of the fascinating aspects of participating in the research surrounding the early history of this area is that you get to imagine yourself as one of the professionals from the History Channel. The mysteries may not be thought of by some as being of the significance of, say, the correct shape of a Viking vessel or the details of the construction methods of the pyramids of Egypt, however, the methods of discovery are the same. The thrill of touching pages that were written almost 150 years ago is still very real.
Several early historical writings have placed the year of construction of the first schoolhouse of the Franzosenbusch community at 1853, although this date was very often confused with the earlier date of 1852.
"In 1853 the first school house was built, which at the same time had a teacher's residence. Pastors Brauer and Franke from Addison also preached afternoons once every two weeks in it."
The confusion over the exact date may be due to an imperfect interpretation of the following passage taken from a publication entitled "Golden Celebration and Short Stories", H. Fickenscher, Teacher; H. Rohrs, Pastor, Ev. - Immanuel - Parish, Proviso, Illinois, 1858 - 1908:
" In the year 1852, a few people had opened their hearts in the name of God and bought 40 acres of land for church and school. On this land the people of Proviso built in the next spring their first school." (Translation by Patricia Reaves)
It
is not hard to imagine someone missing the "next spring" reference if they are
translating quickly. Therefore, to clarify the true date of
construction, we were given permission to photograph the original page of an
early church record book, directly from the archives of the Immanuel Lutheran
Church in Hillside, Illinois. The page, shown at right, was entered in the
handwriting of Rev. Johannes Strieter, third Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
It clearly indicates that in 1852 several people purchased 40 acres for the
church and then, in the following SPRING - (1853), they began to build the
schoolhouse on that land. Careful study of these records has yielded the
following photographs and translations by Patricia and Drew Reaves:
" In the year 1852, a few people had opened their hearts in the name of God and bought 40 acres of land for church and school. On this land the people of Proviso built in the next spring their first school."
"In 1853 the first school house was built, which at the same time had a teacher's residence. Pastors Brauer and Franke of Addison also preached 14 daily afternoons in it."
Note: Also, in the year of 1852, the Franzosenbusch parishioners were given permission to organize a separate school district in their settlement in the year of 1852. It was in that year that the nine founding fathers, (as yet, lacking a schoolhouse), held classes in the home of Heinrich Degener. This date (1852) could easily have become confused over the years with the actual date of construction of the first school house building.
During
the constructions and occupation of the first schoolhouse, (1853 to 1858), the
United States saw at least three Presidents in office.
President
Fillmore held office until March 4, 1853, after which President Pierce was
sworn in.
President Millard Fillmore (1850-1853) on the left. He became President upon the death of President Taylor.
Franklin Pierce was President for most of the
time the Franzosenbusch schoolhouse was in use.
President Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) on the right. He served as President for only one term.
James
Buchanan was president for a short while, until the 2nd schoolhouse was built
in 1858.
President James Buchanan (1857-1861) on the left. As with his predecessor, President Pierce, he served for only one term. During the terms of these three presidents the country split farther apart on key issues which would erupt into the War Between the States--the American Civil War (1861-1865).
An interesting fact of U.S. Presidential
history is worth noting here:
The 12th amendment, ratified
in 1804, stated that a newly elected president must take office by the fourth
day of March. It was not until 1933, with the ratification of the 20th
amendment, that the presidential term ended and began at noon on the 20th
day of January.
Pictures from the Encyclopedia International, Grolier International, 1972.
For more information on the life and times of the mid-1800s, please see America in the Mid-1800's,
For more information on the history of the Immanuel Lutheran School please see Immanuel Lutheran School.
Information compiled by Lana Gits, Patricia Reaves, Drew Reaves, Jim Arbuthnot and Larry Godson.