1-Room Cronin School Named Historic City Site

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And just minutes later, at the same meeting, the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission's** seventh annual Historic Preservation Award was presented to the JJC Foundation, which preserved the old school and is responsible for maintaining it and making it available to school children and the public. It was a fitting tribute for both the historic building, which is celebrating its 150th year, and the foundation, which relocated the school to JJC and fully restored it. "It's a great project, and we're really very appreciative of what JJC has done with the old school," City Manager Tom Thanas said. About 300 school children tour the structure every week, and it's open to the public on special occasions, said Kristi Mulvey, executive director of the JJC Foundation. At-Large Councilwoman Jan Quillman said that's how she learned about it. "If you've never seen it, you wouldn't even know it was back there," Quillman said. "I noticed it last year when I did the Green 2012 (event) and it was open to the public. It's quite something. I'm glad we're going to preserve it." The proclamation honoring the foundation said the one-room school was built during the Civil War and served children in Troy Township for 87 years before being closed, relocated and restored. The award acknowledged everyone "dedicated to sharing this treasure with our community, bringing thousands of elementary school children to visit the schoolhouse to learn of by-gone days of one-room schools, and encouraging teachers, school groups, and community groups to visit and enjoy this authentic one-room schoolhouse experience." Mulvey, accepting the award on the foundation's behalf, noted the building's importance to Joliet. "It is a living history museum, and it's a great thing in our community," she said. ** Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said the award was presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. That was incorrect information provided by the city of Joliet. Also, a refernence to the school being relocated in the 1930s was incorrect and has been removed.