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In the Spring of 2008

Volunteers Sought to Work on 1867 Schoolhouse 

Pringle School, 1867

The McHenry County Historical Society is looking for volunteers who might have time on Thursday mornings to help with the continuing restoration work on Pringle one room school. The Society acquired the 1867 limestone building in 2002. It is located in Marengo Township on River Road about ¼ mile west of Route 23, north of Marengo. Pringle School closed down in 1951 joining what was then the Hawthorne District.  

For the past two years members of the Sauk Chapter for the Advancement of Illinois Archaeology have shovel probed areas of the grounds finding what is thought to be a well site. Inside, Historical Society volunteers replaced most of the rotted original floor joints, removed the two layers of flooring, saved what was salvageable of the original floor and acquired period flooring to replace what couldn’t be salvaged. Last year the roof was reshingled with wood shake shingles.  

More remains to be done on the inside of this mid 19^th century structure including lots of paint stripping, window caulking and floor replacement. At least twice a year the Society opens the building for public viewing to help tell the history of early education.  

Anyone interested in a hands-on opportunity to help preserve one of the very few remaining county mined limestone buildings should contact Nancy Fike at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum in Union at 815-923-2267.