This History of Jones Commercial High School Building

Image from Designslinger

There has been a lot of talk about the new Jones College Prep building that is being built at the corner of State and Polk.  As well as a lot of debate about what to do with the old Jones College Prep building at Harrison and State.

Well this story on designslinger doesn't really touch on those controversies, but it does provide an interesting historical look at the area and history of Jones Commercial High School.  Our favorite blurb from the post:

The school was located at the southern end of the city's central business district which was packed with train yards, smoke, and an ever expanding number of the 19th century's version of men-only, single room occupancy hotels. On November 20, 1885 a Chicago Tribune headlined declared, "The Jones School - Located in the Very Midst of the Vilest, Wickedest Part of the City." The article reported that the school was "surrounded by bed-flats, saloons, meat-markets, cigar stores and other undesirable places. Drunken men shouting at the top of their voices, swearing, cursing, and using ribald language as no innocent child ought to know."

Seems like a good place to go to school if you ask us!

(Hat tip: Curbed Chicago!)