146 years of excellence...
1857
A group of Bloomington citizens selected Judge Owen T. Reeves to prepare a bill for the incorporation of the city into a single district and provide for the establishment of a school district. This bill was passed by the Illinois State Legislature and went into effect February 16, 1857 and established District 87 as one of the first school districts in the State of Illinois. The first Board of Education was formed on the first Monday in April and Bloomington High School officially opened on September 23.
1858
The district's first building (Emerson School) was erected at the "extreme south-eastern part of the city," at Taylor and Evans Streets at the cost of $6,000. Primary and intermediate grades occupied the basement, two grammar rooms were located on the first floor and the high school occupied the second floor. This building was replaced in 1907.
1859
Corporal punishment was banned in schools.

Mr. Ira Bloomfield becomes principal of BHS. He would later serve as Brigadier General in the Civil War.
1861
Latin was introduced as a subject.
1862
John Hull becomes principal of BHS. He would later become the President of Southern Illinois (State Normal School) University.
1864
The political and financial conditions of the country and the effects of the Civil War greatly affected enrollment at our high school. As a result, our first graduting class at Bloomington High School consisted of just two members - Lucretia Billings and Sarah W. Flagg. The next class to graduate from BHS would take place in 1871.
1865
Building principals were first hired at the elementary level.
1867
The District's second building (Franklin School) was erected on Park and Empire Streets at the cost of $35-40,000. It housed the high school and elementary grades from 1867-1869. The building was later replaced in 1899.
1868
The first building designed for high school level was erected at the corner of Monroe and Oak Sts. at the cost of $30,000 plus the cost of the cupola.
1869
The original Sheridan School built near the present site at a cost of $28,000.
1870
The "Number 3" School (later named Irving School) was built on W. Mill St. for about $29,000.

The "Number 5" School (later named Hawthorne, then Bent School) was built at a cost of about $19,000.
1872
The "Number 2" School (renamed Edwards School in 1897) was erected on Market and Oak Sts. for $5,765.

District 87 schools were integrated.

German language was first offered to students. It was offered until 1918 when it was discontinued due to "the ill wills engendered by WWI."
1873
Jefferson Street School was built on the corner of Monroe and Prairie Sts. for $8,245.

Sarah E. Raymond appointed Principal of Bloomington High School.
1874
• Sarah E. Raymond appointed Superintendent of Schools after serving as Principal of Bloomington High School and Principal of the #5 School (later Bent) and Sheridan Schools. Raymond was likely the first female Superintendent in the nation. She resigned in 1892.

• Miss Georgiana Trotter becomes the first female elected to the Board of Education.
1876
An exhibit of work by Bloomington students was displayed at the Centennial World's Fair at Philadelphia.

• Katie N. Post graduates from BHS. Post graduated from the University of Pacific Medical Department (later the Cooper Medical School) in 1879 and was not only Nevada's, but one one our nation's first licensed physicians. She practiced in Virginia City, Nevada (a booming mining town) and later married a Van Orden and practiced in California. Source also, BHS' The Alumni Aegis 1905.
1878
Adlai E. Stevenson becomes a member of the Board of Education. Thirteen years later, he becomes the Vice President of the United States.
1879
• Gordon M. Lillie "Pawnee Bill" graduated from BHS. He would later become world known for his "Wild West Shows." The show is still re-created at Pawnee Bill's Buffalo Ranch in the town of Pawnee, Oklahoma.

• Patrick Morrissey graduates from BHS. He would later become the Assistant VP of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. He was often summoned to discuss labor issues with President Theo. Roosevelt. Source

• Lizzie Irons graduates from BHS and becomes a court reporter for the Pantagraph. She left her job to move to New York City and would later receive the Society of Arts and Sciences O Henry Award in 1924 her for Short Story, "Towers of Fame." The story appeared in the August 1923 issue of McLure's magazine. At the time, she was writing under the name, Eizabeth Irons Folsom. Source
1880
Bloomington Public Schools becomes accredited.
1881
Robert B. Hayes graduates from BHS. He would later become a State Senator in South Dakota.
1884
M. Jeanette Loudon graduates from BHS. Loudon trained for several years in Europe and later taught at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She was the pianist for Chicago's Beethoven Trio for many years.
1885
John W. Henninger becomes principal of BHS. He would later become the President of Western Illinois (State Normal School) University.
1888
Sarah Raymond School built in the "Stevensonville" neighborhood for $5,000. At the time, it was the only school named after a person. Other schools were simply referred to by their City Ward number. The building was replaced in 1931.
1890
BHS students adopt the school colors of "Purple and Gold" out of respect for Don Murray, a classmate who drowned. Murray's favorite flowers were purple and gold pansies.

• Howard Marsh, Ph.D, gratuates from BHS. He would later teach philosophy at the College of the City of New York (NYU).
1893
Horatio G. Bent began serving on the Board of Education. His term lasted until his death in 1931. Bent School is named in his honor.

An outbreak of diphtheria and scarlet fever hits the city. Janitors and their families are asked to stop living in the basements of our schools due to health reasons.
1895
Abraham Lincoln School was built on the corner of Lincoln and Lee Sts. at the cost of $18,000.
1896
Washington School was built on the corner of Washington and Towanda Ave. at the cost of $9,000. Washington School is still proudly in use today.

Physical education added to curriculum.
1897
The 6th high school was erected on the corner of Monroe and Prairie Sts. at the cost of $55,000.

Bloomington High School students begin publishing the Aegis, the school's newspaper. Rates are 50 cents per year or 10 cents per copy.

BHS students began competing with outside schools in both football and basketball.
1899
Franklin School was torn down and replaced by a $25,041 - ten room structure. Built on the original Franklin site, this building served our district until 1970.

BHS' football team claims H.S. Championship for Illinois outside of Chicago.

Basketball was played in the high schools gymnasium twice each week by the boys and twice by the girls.