Whenever a few families settled in the early days, a school room was usually set up in a room of one of the cabins. Prophetstown was no exception, as the first school of instruction win the township, as well as in Whiteside County, was held in Asa Crook's home in the fall of 1835, taught by Lovica Hamilton of Lyndon, also the first teacher in Whiteside County.
The first public school in the township was a log structure built by William Hill in 1836 on Washington Street road, next to the cemetery across from the Smith farm. It was replaced in 1840 with the Benton Street school, the original building now used as a residence (1976). This school was the last remaining one-room school in the township, closing its doors in 1961.
An octagon shaped school building finished in 1860 was located on East second Street, now the location of the city water tower, and was taught and financed by a Quaker, Mark Averill. It was known as the Averill school or academy.
A new two story, four room, brick school was built on West Third Street, now the location of the Elementary School in 1881, with eleven grades taught including high school. The addition in 1891 added the fourth year of high school for the students of the area. Another addition was made in 1908 before the building of a new high school which was first used int he fall of 1928.
The old elementary school was condemned in 1933 but was not replaced until 1951, with an addition made in 1955, and another in 1959, totalling eight additional rooms. The consolidation of the area country schools took place in 1954, with three new schools being built in the vicinity, the last completed in 1958. With the formation of Unit Districts in 1969, all students in District 75 and the Lyndon schools, were placed under a seven-member board of education.
From the Daily Gazette July 1, 1976 written by Marge Sommers, Gazette Correspondent
This is Aunt Millie's (Mildred Reiley Pluemer) autograph book from Prophetstown...
Contributed by Stormy Reiley Ruth Loran (her father died December 11, 1931), Virginia Scanilin (sp?), Lillian V. Rakoror (sp?) has a picture of her on the page Mary Roman, Rita E. A?(can't read the last name), Mary Regan, Miss Mary Tyne, Ruth Bartel (has a picture of her), Agnes McGaw, Jane Louise Andrews, Miss Evelyn Teske, Grace Wentsch (TEACHER) has picture, Bernice McCormach, Marie Minertz (sp?), Ruth O'Malley, Johah Balthazan, Veth Love, "Joe Joe The Tiger of Rock Falls", Ethel Currie-Prophetstown IL April 7 1932 THE ON THE LAST PAGE IT SAYS (In Aunt Millies handwriting) graduating class of 1928 Eugene McDonald, Clarence Mcdonald, Richard Eberely, John Hanson, Paul Beckly, Paul Adams Lyle, Lundquist, Jerone Sleeper, Jack Neison, Robert Lendman, Jack Gartjer, Thomas Mosher, Patrick McDonnel, Andrew Creone, Ora Blanding, Jacki Crankburgh, Bill Evans, Dorothey Gofrroy, Mary Tyne, Ruth Bartch, Isabelle Blackburn, Mildred Reiley, Rita Owens, Rita Preston, Johah Bathalzar, Ruth O'Malley, Virgina Scandlin, Lilien Convoy, Marie Minertz, Ruth Loran, Paulette Concatalli, Bernice McCormick, Lillian Rakaw, Mary Regan, Doris Bradley, Vera Mcgee, Kathryn Milne, Leora Brandlin, Agnes McGava, Eileen Zbienden
The grade school honor roll for the first six weeks of school was announced Tuesday as follows: grade one, A, honor roll, Lila Lee Blumhoff, Ronald Weyburg: B, Charles Fadden, Ardith Lancaster, Charles Lindberg, Elizabeth Moothart, Duane Swanson, Sylvia Smith: C, Bobby Genenell, Hazel Thompson.
Grade two, A, George Wildman, Lois Taber: B, Dorothy Hunt, Robert Hummel: C, Doris Randall: grade three, A, Bernadine Moore: B, Gerry Dingman, Marian Johnson, Harlan Hansen, Darlene Anderson: C, Joanne Conrad, Margaret Walt, Harry Johnson, Dean Wagner, Eugene Waite, Theresa Roman.
Grade seven, A, Jana Clementia, Anita Mummart, Jane Shearer, Jean Gibson, Kathryn Raser: B, Belva Randall, Marie Rodee, Mable Currie, Keith Curry, Marian Olmstead, Richard Preston, Glenn Wheat, C. Donald Frary, Marilyn Hansen, Roberta Wildman, Stuart Warner.
Grade eight, A, Harriette Cady, Barbara Greene, Richard Randall: B. Jean Kilner, Kenneth Roman, Thora Wildman: C, Vere Meler.
Grade four, A. Marilyn Swanson, Betty Kiner: B, Jane Schryver, Martha Randall: C, Corinne Fadden, Leone Thompson, Wiley Hummel, Dorothy Matthews, Vernable Radshaw, Rita Rodee, Richard Sommers.
Grade five, A. Harold Hunt: B, Robert Ackeberg, Barbara Campbell, Allen Greene, James Mosher, John Tidmarsh: C, Eldon Martin, Jane Stewart, Robert Wheat.
Grade six, A, Donna Hunt, Jean Warner, Betty Warner: B, Edith Anderson, Richard McDougall: C, Geneva Presnell, Marian Thede, George Kiner.
Illinois - "Our Way"