Historical Facts about District 123
1900 - 1919
Cook County School District 123 was established in 1902 and the first brick-structured school (Cook School) opened in 1906. Dr. John Hopkins, Wilhelm Brandt, and Alfred H. Singleton served as the trustees and hired Joseph Covington, a Civil War veteran, to teach at the new school.
Pictured above is Cook Avenue School's Eighth Grade Class of 1915. The two-room school was once located at 9526 S. Cook Avenue. In 1915, a second floor was added to provide additional classrooms. Another addition in 1925 provided Cook School with three more classrooms and the first auditorium in the village.
1920 - 1939
In the 1900's schools would have photo postcards to document moments in time. This photo postcard is believed to be of the eighth grade class of 1923 at Cook School. Students are seated at their desks with their teacher, Mr. Wiley Simmons, standing on the left.
In 1924, District 123 held some classes in the former Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 9536 South Minnick Avenue, due to overcrowding. This picture is Miss Pohlman's first grade class from Cook Avenue School.
In addition to his legacy as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in Oak Lawn, Carl A. Sward was also a talented composer. He even wrote the Sward School Song in 1952, which is now proudly framed in Sward's hallway. The above image also shows a holiday greeting card he sent to a couple in Gary, Indiana, in 1937, which includes a special Christmas song he wrote.
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Covington School's first class graduated in 1939 and was named after Joseph Covington, a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. He also enlisted in the Civil War, acted as a guard of honor to President Lincoln, and spent much of his life teaching in Logan, Champaign, and Cook Counties.
1940 - 1959
In 1947, the Covington Boys' Basketball team was District 123 Champions and the Girls' Volleyball team ranked second place in the District.
Agnes McDonald was heavily involved in the District 123 Parent-Teacher Association, and she passed away after a plane crash in 1951. After World War II, District 123 opened several schools in the 1950s and 60s due to a large population boom and named one of the attendance centers in her honor in 1954. The Agnes L. McDonald School, once located at 99th and Kostner, closed in 1980.
On November 8, 1953, School District 123 welcomed Hometown School with a dedication event. The above was the cover to a program handed out to attendees. Included was the order of ceremonies, names of the Board of Education and a list of school personnel. At the time, James M. Hannum was the Superintendent.
Built between 1955 and 1956, Brandt school was named after Albert H. Brandt, the Oak Lawn Village President from 1935 to 1945. He was heavily involved in many community organizations and was instrumental in getting funds for the first unit of a firehouse to be built in Oak Lawn before he passed away in 1956. Brandt School closed in 1985 and District 123 opened the Science and Environmental Center in 1992. Currently, the building at 8901 S. 52nd Avenue is rented to Parkland Prep Academy.
T.H. Gasteyer School opened in 1958 and closed in 1980 due to declining enrollment. District 123 leased the space to different groups until 2002 when the building was demolished for the construction of Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School on the lot.
Pictured here is Carl A. Sward circa 1960. He was a teacher, principal, and superintendent in Oak Lawn. Sward School, which was built and opened in the early 1950s, was named in his honor.
1960 - 1979
The above is from an archived October 1962 edition of the Covington Courant, a newsletter published by the Covington PTA. Included in the newsletter is a program for the next PTA meeting, important dates, and information about the fall dances. Listed were the winners of the Decorated Sock Contest from the Sock Hop, the Waltz Contest, and the Jitterbug Contest.
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Kolmar Avenue School was built in 1962 and has gone through several renovations since first opening including roof repairs in 1999, a new gym in 2003, and a flooring replacement in 2022. Most recently, the media center was renovated in 2024, providing an enhanced space for excellent learning and collaboration opportunities for students to succeed both in and out of the classroom.
Hannum School was built in 1964 and officially opened in 1965. As part of the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 long-range facility plan, the school has underwent construction projects over the years to enhance the learning environment for students, staff, and the community. Some projects include building an addition in 2001, constructing a new gym in 2003, and renovating the media center in 2023.
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On October 10, 1965, District 123 held a dedication ceremony for The Roy Clark School, once located on a five acre site at 105th Street and Lockwood Avenue. This K-8 School was named after Roy Clark, the superintendent of School District 123 from 1960 to 1963. At the time of the ceremony, Douglas A. McGugan was the superintendent, and after Clark School closed in 1980, the building was later named McGugan Junior High when 7th and 8th graders stared attending in 1985.
In 1971, three new principals joined District 123. Mary C. Lange at Hannum School, Terrence Bopp at McDonald School, and James A. Paziotopoulos at Kolmar School are pictured above with members of the District 123 Board of Education. Paziotopoulos, or Dr. Paz, was later named the Principal of McGugan Junior High School before becoming the District 123 Superintendent until his retirement in 2005.
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The Gaddis School PTA put together a Publicity Book full of news releases, program handouts, event advertisements, and photos from the years 1974 and 1975. The scrapbook pages include information about the Founders Day — where they honored leadership in the PTA — photos from Santa's Shop, advertisements for the Fun Fair, and news releases for the Potluck Dinner.
For the American Bicentennial Celebration event in 1976, Gaddis employees, students, and families contributed to a community quilt. The former Gaddis School is now home to our new D123 Early Learning Center.
1980 - 1999
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During the 1992-93 School Year, District 123 made significant changes to the building that was once Brandt School and transformed it into a Science and Environmental Center. The center contained labs for physical science, life science, and earth/environmental science experiments and investigations. A "Discovery" room allowed students to observe a wide array of live animals and experiment with a number of self-directed science oriented displays. the photos above were featured in the 1992 Fall Issue of "Focus on District 123," a mailed newsletter from the District.
Douglas A. McGugan Junior High School opened in 1985 with an enrollment of 440 7th and 8th grade students. Named after a former D123 superintendent, McGugan Jr. High was home of the Mustangs before Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. Our community garden is located on the property and the building is currently used by Advocate Aurora Health.
2000 - 2019
In 2005, School District 123 brought 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the community together in one place with the opening of Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, replacing Mcgugan Jr. High. Construction began in 2003, and the Dedication/ Open House Celebration was held on August 20, 2005. At the time, Dr. Paul Enderle served as Associate Principal of the new building.
In 2018, Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 hosted its third State of the District Dinner with a series of diverse breakout sessions to demonstrate how the District and community work together to develop positive and inspirational growth. In 2021, District 123 hosted a virtual event with a Future Ready Panel. D123 is bringing the event back to Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School this year on March 13, 2025.
2020 - Now
In 2023, the D123 4-WARD program launched. This is an opportunity to reconnect with alumni and share the stories of those who once walked the halls in District 123. From doctors and entrepreneurs to teachers and creatives, our D123 alumni make us proud, and this E-Newsletter illustrates the variety of paths our students take to success, exemplifying how District 123 is "preparing today's learner for tomorrow's world."
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