Assumption School
Encyclopedia
The Assumption School was a Catholic
elementary school
in Chicago
, Illinois
from 1899 to 1945. Located at 317 West Erie Street, it was founded by Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American to be made a Catholic saint. The school originally served Chicago's Near North Side Italian American
immigrant community and charged no tuition.
The school building, noted for its intricate brick and stonework and copper cornice, was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architect Frederick Foltz (1843-1916).
After the final class graduated in 1945, the structure was mainly used for commercial purposes, and for a time it fell into disrepair. On July 10, 2003, the Chicago City Council named the building a Chicago Landmark
due to its historical and architectural significance. According to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
, "Assumption School stands as a fine example of a late nineteenth century urban school building, and its legacy is a testament to the work Mother Cabrini accomplished.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
from 1899 to 1945. Located at 317 West Erie Street, it was founded by Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American to be made a Catholic saint. The school originally served Chicago's Near North Side Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
immigrant community and charged no tuition.
The school building, noted for its intricate brick and stonework and copper cornice, was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architect Frederick Foltz (1843-1916).
After the final class graduated in 1945, the structure was mainly used for commercial purposes, and for a time it fell into disrepair. On July 10, 2003, the Chicago City Council named the building a Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
due to its historical and architectural significance. According to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
, "Assumption School stands as a fine example of a late nineteenth century urban school building, and its legacy is a testament to the work Mother Cabrini accomplished.