So this is my donation for this year's silent auction fundraiser for
Stone Academy in West Ridge, which my son attends. Built around 1928 and named in honor of
Leander Stone, this was likely designed by
John C. Christensen, who was the architect for the Chicago Board of Education at the time. It's a popular design for small neighborhood schools of that era, with an auditorium on one end and the gymnasium on the other. Separate entrances allow those portions of the school to operate independently if needed. This is a brick and terracotta school in fairly good shape, although it could benefit from new windows and central air conditioning.
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| Stone Academy, 6239 N. Leavitt |
Like many public schools in Chicago Stone struggles with underfunding, overcrowding, and high levels of poverty. To the credit of its teachers and administrators it manages to provide first rate programs for the
students. But this is also supported by active parents who are willing to raise
funds to maintain the school's emphasis on the arts and technology.
In an urban
school district it's really not enough to drop off your kids and hope
for the best. There has to be an involvement of both time and money on
behalf of the parents and the community. So for that reason I hope this drawing will do its part to bring in a little bit for the school. I think I need to put it in a frame...
If anyone out there wants to attend this fundraiser it will be at the Raven Theater on Sunday, March 2nd, and includes a play and food! Here's a
link to the event.
This is a stretch of buildings around 3300 N. Pulaski. It's basically a group of 1920s commercial/residential buildings overlapping some cottages built around 1905. The online auction begins on January 15th. The actual fundraiser will be a the Raven Theater on February 8th, and additional items will be on display. 
