Chicago Heights Historic Preservation Advisory Committee

Ornamental railings in a spiral floral design border the staircase located inside the main entrance. The floors in the classrooms and the central part of the-halls are a combination of gray and black asphalt tile. The border of the halls, all stairs, landings and restrooms are terrazzo. The lockers are built in and painted so as to harmonize with the flooring and terrazzo wainscoting. In the center of the hall atop the main staircase, the famous copper relief Trojan head is embedded into the floor, a gift of the class of 1962.

Also located in the main entrance foyer, are 6 murals by Edgar Britton. They are Fresco murals (painted on freshly laid plaster with colors thinned with water and applied to the wet plaster to become permanently bound to the plaster). The 6 murals in this group represent 6 types of life work (“Agriculture”, “Art”, “Construction”, “Industry”, “Medicine” and “Aviation”). In each of the murals the students in the foreground are studying subjects that lead to the careers depicted behind them. Mr. Britton reported that while working on the murals he would sleep in the school library at night and eat in the school cafeteria, returning to his apartment in Chicago on the weekends.

"ARCHITECTURE"

"MEDICINE"

"INDUSTRY"

Edgar Britton was born in 1901 in Odessa, Nebraska. He was educated at the University of Iowa and studied and worked with Grant Wood. He was associated with the WPA/FAP mural Division from 1935-1937, and was its technical director from 1940-41. He has executed 3 Post Office murals, one at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C., and one entitled ‘The Evolution of Man’ at Lane Technical High School, Chicago, Illinois. Edgar Britton owned and operated the Edgar Britton Studio and Gallery in Denver, Colorado until his death in 1982.

There have been 2 additions to the main structure. The first addition, designed by the well known Chicago architectural firm of Schmidt, Garden & Erikson, was completed in 1956. This addition included a gymnasium, swimming pool, fieldhouse, cafeteria, music/art wing, auditorium, little theatre, and additional classrooms.

1950s rendering of Bloom, Schmidt, Garden & Erickson

This addition is designed to complement the original building with similarity of brick color and limestone entrances in a more simplistic design.

 The McCann Gymnasium (2nd floor) and swimming pool (1st floor) are annexed to the original structure at the northeast wing. The gymnasium and swimming pool annex is linked with the additional classrooms (1956) by the cafeteria (1956). This U-shaped addition to the original structure created a courtyard, which is utilized by different student organizations throughout the year.

The Nelson Fieldhouse (1956) is located north of the gymnasium / swimming pool annex and is connected to it by a hallway. The auditorium/little theatre annex (1956) abuts the original structure at the southwest corner. The Jean P. Workman Auditorium is located on the south side of the annex and contains 1311 seats. The Little Theatre is located on the north side of the annex and contains 230 seats.

The music/art wing (1956) abuts the auditorium/ little Theatre annex and contains band, chorus and drama classrooms as well as a music resource center and storage space for band and chorus uniforms and equipment. The auditorium /Little Theatre annex and music/art wing form the west courtyard.

The second addition, by architects Orput Associates, Inc of Chicago, to the original structure was completed in 1976 and includes the small Learning Center/Library Wing, which also contains science laboratories and additional classrooms. This addition abuts the original structure at the south­east wing. This addition is virtually seamless with the original building and first addition.  Inside the library, detail brick from the original building’s exterior wall is preserved. The Learning Center and Library are located on the 2nd floor, while the science laboratories and classrooms are located on the 1st floor.  At this time life safety and some remodeling was done in the main building.

Veazey gym abutting library addition

Large expanses of glass in this addition evoke the vertical feeling of the original structure. Additionally, the brick accents of the original structure are utilized in the new addition resulting in a total structure that is architecturally unified, making a meaningful aesthetic contribution to the community.

Criterion 7: By virtue of its location or activities held there, the structure(s) or site(s) is a current or former focal point of life in the city. Its unique or singular characteristics make it an established or familiar visual feature.

Bloom Township High School is an established and familiar visual feature to the City of Chicago Heights. The central tower is one of the City’s tallest structures and can be seen from many vantage points. It has a prominent location along two major thoroughfares and serves as the focal point of many lives in and around Chicago Heights as their local High School.

Criterion 8: The structure(s) have significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the community, county, or state.

Bloom Township High School important to the local community as well as to Cook County and the State of Illinois. Bloom is of exceptional importance as an outstanding example of Art Deco architecture, as well as displaying sculpture and mural creations representative of the era in which the building was constructed. The murals are prominent examples of the WPA sponsored mural program undertaken by the federal government in the 1930’s. The creations of a noted sculptor (Schlag) and muralist (Britton) add to Bloom’s significance as examples of sculpture and mural design representative of works created in the 1930’s. Additionally, Bloom Township High School has become a building known not only as an architecturally significant and historic structure, but also gaining widespread recognition as a symbol for Chicago Heights.