Farnsworth School celebrates 100 years, with April 25 anniversary celebration planned

by BRIAN NADIG

In its 100 years, Farnsworth School has had only a handful of principals, become well known for its special education programs and has seen numerous families with generations of kids graduate from the NW Side elementary school.

The Friends of Farnsworth will be honoring the school’s traditions and history when it hosts a 100th anniversary celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Bagio Events and Catering, 4242 N. Central Ave. Tickets (21 and over only) are available at https://givebutter.com/centennialmingle
Farnsworth has been an integral part of the Jefferson Park area since the school opened in 1926 at 5414 N. Linder Ave.

“We have current students whose parents, and even grandparents, once sat in these same classrooms. The majority of our staff spend their entire careers here. They bring not only experience and strong qualifications, but a deep commitment to helping every child succeed. As of today, ten of our current staff members are either former students or parents who came to work here because of what Farnsworth means to them, because of the values we uphold and the impact we have,” current Farnsworth principal Julie M. Walsh-Nikolich wrote in a document which she and staff members compiled about the school’s history for Nadig Newspapers.

In some instances generations of the same family even had the same principal at Farnsworth, as Dr. Catherine Wells served at the helm of the school from 1973-2011.

In addition to Wells and Walsh-Nikolich, the schools other principals have been Flora Dunning from 1926 to 1935, Lillian Ackerman from 1935 to 1953, Wesley Thorson from 1953 to 1957, Marie Weseman from 1957 to 1973 and Barbara Oken from 2012 to 2023.

The school was named in honor of James Birney Farnsworth, an accomplished educator who served the Chicago Public Schools for 54 years, including holding positions as principal and superintendent of several public schools, and he organized the first Jefferson Township High School, the forerunner to Schurz High School.

James Farnsworth, who served as a drummer in the military during the Civil War, also was an early member of the Congregational Church of Jefferson Park and sung in the choir for 50 years, according to the NW Chicago Historical Society. On a January evening 133 years ago he met with other church members to discuss paying off the church debt, which they did.

One of Farnsworth’s early graduates was George Zima, who went on to have a distinguished dancing career, including performances on Broadway and television shows. He is now 99 years old and lives in Illinois.

About 30 years after its opening, Farnsworth began a program for blind students, and it was believed at the time to be the only public school in Chicago with such a program, and Farnsworth has since welcomed several additional cluster programs for students with disabilities.

In 1972 blind students from Farnsworth went to Wrigley Field and played baseball with hall of famer Ernie Banks and other Cubs players.

Other highlights include President George H.W. Bush’s visit to Farnsworth in 1990 when he met with students and in 2003 the awarding of the prestigious Gold Apple Foundation teaching award to Paula Ann Sprecher, herself legally blind, and who taught visually impaired students.

Around 25 or so years ago modular units were installed on school grounds to help accommodate Farnsworth’s growing population.

In 2018, after fundraising efforts and the awarding of grants, Farnsworth received a new playground — something city planners years earlier had promised the community when a tax increment financing district was created for a nearby industrial corridor.

Over the years Farnsworth stayed in touch with the general community by teaming with the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce for business fairs, and the PTA has sponsored a variety of school events, including art fairs, Halloween events and graduation activities.

Meanwhile the Friends of Farnsworth helps fundraise for the school, and the school hosts annual plays and has a growing Lego Robotics program.

The school also has a diverse population.

“One of the things that sets Farnsworth apart is our diversity. Diversity of cultures, languages, experiences, programs, modes of learning… and we celebrate all of it with an unparalleled commitment to student inclusion.

“Whether a student is learning English, learning braille, writing a story, or working through an algebra equation, they are part of a large supportive community where every child is seen, valued, and challenged to reach their full potential. This diversity strengthens our classrooms, expands perspectives, and teaches students empathy from an early age,” the principal wrote.

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