Troy School Board Approves New Name for Crossroads Elementary

Does your child go to Troy Crossroads Elementary? Well, not anymore.

While the address has stayed the same, the Troy Community School District 30-C board approved changing the name to Troy Cronin Elementary School. The change will take effect in the 2017-18 school year, according to a news release from district.

The school, located at 210 Black Road in Shorewood, educates pre-K through 4th grade students and is one of seven of the Troy District 30-C schools.

The Cronin family has served education in our community for many years. Early farming homesteaders, their commitment to education in Troy began in 1863 when the John Cronin family donated an acre of farmland for a one-room school house, which was named, Cronin School.

Nellie Cronin, granddaughter of John, taught at Cronin School, and another family member, Teresa Cronin, later taught at other Troy schools.

In 1950, Cronin School was closed, and in 1971, Teresa Cronin Elementary School, a larger K-5 school, was built on land just west of the original Cronin School.

The building became Troy Junior High School in 1975, then became Troy Crossroads Elementary School in 2001 when Troy Middle School was constructed.

This week, the Troy school board decided to return the Cronin name to the school.

The original one-room Cronin School is currently located at Joliet Junior College, where it has been turned into a living history museum. A member of the Cronin family is one of the school’s curators and continues to give tours of the building.

Troy 30-C School Board Vice-President Dr. Cynthia Rasmussen Grabavoy spearheaded the name change, and all school board members present at Wednesday’s meeting approved the measure.

“It is an honor to be able to bring the Cronin name home,” Grabavoy said after the meeting. “We are grateful to the Cronin family not only for their commitment to education, but also for their service to our community. I am pleased that the Cronin legacy will continue.”

“We are pleased to have this historical name across one of our schools,” Superintendent Dr. Todd Koehl said. “The Cronin name has been synonymous with education in our community for a long period of time.”

A rededication ceremony for the school will be held in September 2017.

photo courtesy of Troy School District