Deer Park Bicentennial: Throwback Thursday | Deer Park Students “Come Home” for High School
The 1935 new school year in Deer Park was no doubt met with more excitement than what the typical start of a school year brings. There was a new group of pupils in the building – high school students! Prior to this time, Deer Park students graduated from Amity School at the end of eighth grade. For some this was the end of their formal education as they may have been needed to help on the family farm as this was still largely a rural area, or they may have gone to work to help their families as America was still living through the Great Depression. Those students wanting to continue their education, would attend other local high schools such as Norwood or Sycamore. This usually necessitated taking a bus or the interurban (trolley transit) to school each day.
As the community grew, the school board saw the increasing need for the district’s own high school. The opportunity presented itself when a federal government program offered aid to the extent of thirty percent of construction costs. The school board put the issue before the voters who recognized the need and benefit of a high school and passed a bond issue for $68,000. The over-all cost of the project was over $90,000.
Construction of the high school began in January of 1934. A west wing was added to Amity School, more than doubling the classroom space of the building. This new wing housed high school along with the 7th and 8th grade classrooms on the main and second floors. The science lecture room and laboratory, industrial arts room, home economics kitchen and school cafeteria were housed in the basement of this wing. The elementary students continued to use the original 1906 and 1919 classrooms in the center of the building and the east wing classrooms. It is likely the gym was primarily used by high school and junior high students at this time.
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Deer Park Village School - 1936 (The area between the lines indicates the new high school addition.)
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In order to allow for a gradual transition of Deer Park students attending other local high schools and to have time to fully equip and staff the school, the school board chose to offer only a freshman and sophomore class for the 1935-36 school year. The following year, a junior class was added, and finally in 1937 a senior class was added and became the first graduating class of Deer Park High School in 1938. At last, all twelve grades of Deer Park students were “home” under one roof.
First graduating class of Deer Park High School - 1938.
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End of a school day, Deer Park High School – 1939
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Deer Park High School chemistry lab - 1939 (Amity music room today)
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Deer Park High School science lab - 1942 (Amity chorus room today)
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Home Economics classroom kitchen - 1951 (Amity staff lunchroom today)
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Industrial Arts classroom - 1950 (Amity art room today)
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High school Commercial Class - 1938
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High school boys’ gym class - 1951 (Original Amity gym, demolished in 2017)
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“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”
Note: In 1947, to accommodate the growing student population, six more rooms were added to the high school portion of the building. These rooms, referred to as the Wagner Addition, were constructed on the north end of the west wing of classrooms. In 1960, the cafeteria was expanded which was the last construction project at Amity until the major renovation and expansion in 2017-18 allowing all PreK – 6th grade students to be educated together in one school.
Construction phases of Amity 1906 to 1960 (2017 – 2018, gym demolished and new major expansion completed)
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Sources:
- “History of Deer Park Schools,” an essay
- Amity, A Reflection, 1907-2007
- Antlers, 1938, 1939,1942,1950, 1951 (Deer Park High School yearbook)
- “Tom Tom,” September 25, 1936, (Deer Park High School newspaper)
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A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents and personal narratives in the district’s archives.
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Learn More
Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.
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Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!
Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.
Alumni & Community Story Submission
As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.
If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.
Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.