20th Century

The 1940's was a decade of annexing and construction for District 47. Haligus rural school district was annexed into District 47 in 1946 followed by South Prairie school district in 1947 and Holcombville rural school district in 1949.

In 1948, construction began on Union School and the 1883 portion of the building was removed. In order to house the students after the 1883 building was torn down but before the new school was completed, the District erected temporary buildings (barracks from Camp Grant). The new addition was attached to the remaining 1906 and 1914 portions of the building making the school a single structure. The new school was named Central Elementary and was the first school built by Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 for $660,000. Central Elementary School's first principal was Leon Lundahl.

In 1950, students started the school year in the new Central School facility and Munshawville rural school district was annexed into District 47.

In 1952, and exterior stairway was added to the 1906 section of Central School, interior remodeling added several classrooms. The voters approved the building of a new school on Golf Road which previously housed a gold course.

In 1953, South School opened its doors on Golf Road having space for 7 classrooms for K - 6th grades. Residing on 11 acres of property, South School was adjacent to St. Mary’s Minor School for Boys, which was owned by the Franciscan Order and today is known as Dole Mansion. South School’s first principal was John Husmann. Voters approved the building of another elementary school on Woodstock Street.

In 1954, North School opened its doors to 200 students enrolled in K - 6th grade on 12 acres of land. North Elementary School’s first principal was Corbin Hamby.

In 1955, the first addition was built to South School. This addition allowed South to house a double string of grades K - 6th grade.  

In 1956, the first addition was built to North School. This addition allowed North to house a double string of grades K - 6th grade.  

In 1958, voters approved the construction of a junior high on Nash Road. In 1959, South Junior High School opened to students with Robert Wolf as the first principal.

In 1960-61, second additions were built to North and South Elementary Schools allowing them to have three strings of grades K - 6. The addition for North included a continuation of the east side of the building facing Woodstock. Eight classrooms were constructed as well as a basement to serve the primary grade levels. North now had 20 classrooms used for K-6th grade, one room for special education, a library, multi-purpose room, and an office. The addition for South included six classrooms on the west side of the building creating an L-shape to the building. The grade of the land allowed for a well-lit basement addition at the south end of the new wing addition. South now had 20 classrooms used for K-6th grade, a library, multi-purpose room, and an office.

In June 1962, the Terra Cotta school district was annexed into District 47 after 115 years of operation in a one room schoolhouse. It was the last one room county school in the area. The District planned to use the building as a space for special education students for the county.

In September of 1962, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for West School on Briarwood. The school was constructed to contain 14 classrooms, a library, multi-purpose room and office facilities. West first opened it doors for the 1963/64 school year to a double string of students grade K - 6.  West School's first principal was John Hillwick.

In 1964-65, the first addition was built to South Junior High due to increasing population so that the building could house grades 5 through 8. The addition added 10 classroom on the top to floor and a classroom and 2 music rooms at the basement level. 

In 1966, South Junior High was renamed Lundahl Junior High School in honor of Leon J. Lundahl, the retiring Superintendent for District 47. Lundahl Junior High was the first school in District 47 to be named for an individual.

In 1967, Coventry School opened on Darlington to staff and a triple string of students grades K - 6th. Coventry's design was a new and upcoming school design that stressed adapting a building to the educational techniques. It was said that the design for Coventry broke from the typical "egg-crate" structure of schools of the past with built classrooms down either side of the hallway. Coventry was constructed around the library-learning center, which stood as the center of the school.  Coventry School's first principal was Richard Cherry. 

In 1968, the outdoor education center opens.

In 1969, North Junior High opened its doors on North Oak Street after the 69/70 school year started due to construction delays. The open house and parent night were not held the first year the building was open due to the on-going construction to complete the building its first year. The building was designed to house up to 720 students in grades 6, 7, & 8 and provide temporary relief from the "population explosion" the community was having at the time. The opening of North Junion High marked the beginning of the first "5 year plan". North Junior High's first principal was Charles Lapp.

In 1969, the District Administrative Offices moved from the 27 North Main Street location to North Junior High School.

In 1971, Canterbury opened its doors to staff and students. It was the eighth school to become part of School District 47.  The school was built in a “pod” style configuration to facilitate and support team teaching, which still holds true today.  Canterbury School's first principal was Lloyd Mueller.

In 1972, West underwent renovations with the construction of a west wing/end of the building. This addition housed the Library Media Center and many additional classrooms.

In 1973, Ridgefield elementary school was annexed to the District. The building was designated as a primary attendance center. Dee Davis served as the coordinator for Ridgefield from 1973 to 1979. Dick McDowell served as the coordinator from 1979 to 1981 when the center was closed.

In 1974, additions were built to Canterbury and Lundahl. This was a second addition to Lundahl and included a new gymnasium, learning center, locker room area, and science complex. The addition was the first to Canterbury. The opening of these two additions marked the beginning of the second "Five Year Plan", which was a $3,000,000 bond issue.

In 1977, the 1906 and 1914 portions of Husmann School were removed. Twelve new classrooms were constructed at one end of the 1949 building. Ridgefield school was remodeling on the inside.

In 1978, a new gym was completed on the site of the 1906 and 1914 buildings at Central School.

In 1979, a music room was added at Coventry, gyms were added at North Junior High, South, West, and North, and various improvements for Art was made at North Junior High, North and West.

In 1981, Ridgefield Primary Center closed and was sold at auction for $115,000. The second "Five Year Plan" was completed.

In 1985, Central Elementary School was renamed Husmann Elementary School in honor of John Husmannm who had been the principal of the building from 1965 to 1984.

In 1986, basement areas in North, West, and North Junior High were converted into classrooms.

In 1987, the District Administrative Offices moved from North Junior High to a separate building located at 221 Liberty Road.

Due to a growing community population, two additional classrooms were added to West in 1988.

In 1989, a new triple k-6 building and additions to North and Lundahl Junior High were approved by the voters.

In 1991, Lundahl and North Junior High (now Bernotas Middle School) both received additions. Lundahl received a new north end classroom addition, cafeteria, locker room area, and second gymnasium. 

In 1991, Indian Prairie Elementary School opened. Constructed on Village Road on the south side of town in what had once been a prairie, the school was named to honor the first school in Crystal Lake called South Prairie. Martin Anderson was Indian Prairie's first principal.

In 1993, an addition was built onto North Elementary which provided additional classrooms on the west side of the building.

In the spring of 1995, Lundahl Junior High became an accredited middle school and its name was officially changed to Lundahl Middle School Campus for the opening of the 1996-97 school year.

In 1996, Hannan Beardsley Middle School opened its doors on East Crystal Lake Avenue. HBMS's first principal was Ron Ludwig.

In 1997, Woods Creek opened on Alexandra Boulevard to staff and students. Woods Creek’s first principal was Dr. Betsy Les.