A fire that devastated a school in Jo Daviess County 65 years ago caused students to take classes in church basements, a furniture store and a local physicianâs living room.
The fire that destroyed the school in Stockton, Ill., burned for 12 hours and sent school officials scrambling to find space to hold classes for elementary, middle and high school students.
Construction of new school buildings to replace the burned structures was completed in fall 1956.
Here is how the Telegraph Herald reported on the fire and its aftermath in its Dec. 5, 1955, edition.
FIRE DESTROYS STOCKTON SCHOOL
School officials worked Monday to make arrangements for emergency classrooms for Stockton grade and high school pupils left school-less by Sundayâs fire, the worst in the townâs history.