The history of School district No. 8, township 21, is somewhat in doubt. The original petition from residents of what is now district No. 8, to the old district, asking for a division, is in existence, but without a date. As near as can be ascertained, the present district was organized in April 1857 with J.L. Crawford, Gabriel Davis, and Hugh Wallace as directors, with R.C. Ross as the first teacher and his sister, Miss Rachel Ross as assistant.
The first building erected was a small frame building which stood on the corner of the block, about where the janitor's house stands at present. The buildings were changed from time to time as the needs of the school demanded, up to the time of the present large brick building, which was erected in 1874, when W.A. Sanborn, James Wallace and B.C. Church were directors, and Prof. Smith was the first principal. About 1878, or perhaps a little later, the school was named the "Wallace School" in honor of James Wallace and his antecedents, who had always taken a great interest in the affairs of the school.
As the school increased it was evident that more room was needed and another new building was erected, just north of the big building, in 1889, which is now occupied by the primary department, and in 1890 a cosy home was built for the janitor in the northeast corner of the block. At the first organization of the district, they owned only the corner on which the janitor's house now stands, but little by little the different lots were purchased until at present the entire block is owned by the district.
The principals of the school from the beginning were R.C. Ross, Grove Wright, C.C. Buell, Prof. Piper, Prof. Edwards, Prof. Smith, Prof. Coe, John Phinney, who was noted for his mental aritmetic, and then Prof. S.B. Hursh, who came in 1888 and has remained to the present day. At present there are twelve teachers besides Prof. Hursh, with an enrollment of 455. The school presents a high school course of three years, including a Latin and Science course. Grammer and Primary of eight grades. The property is valued at not less than $50,000 and the school has a library of 325 volumes and a fully equipped laboratory. The present directors are W.A. Sanborn, who has been a member of the board since 1864, and is now president; T.S. McKinney, secretary; Elmer Crawford, H.C. Ward, V.S. Ferguson, Henry Green and W.J. Bell.
The Sterling Standard Dec. 11, 1896
Article from the 1976 Bi-Centennial Edition of the Daily Gazette July 1.
On April 23, 1909, the Wallace School was partly destroyed by fire and then reconstructed.
In 1927 both of the old buildings were razed and the present school building erected at a cost of $95,000.
The first Wallace School was a brown, dingy, one-story frame building erected in 1856. It had but two rooms and an entry. As the school district grew, frame buildings were added. In 1865 an election was held for the purchase of more ground and this addition gave the school the entire block. Another election in 1874 paved the way for a building not to exceed $25,000. In 1889, additional bonds were approved and a primary building for four rooms was added to the main structure.
In 1884 the school was named "Wallace School" as a tribute to Hugh and James Wallace, father and son, who had long been identified with its growth and development.
Illinois - "Our Way"