Roosevelt Junior High School, high school in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois
Roosevelt Junior High School is a public school building in Decatur, Illinois, constructed between 1917 and 1921 in the Collegiate Gothic style. The red brick structure features decorative terracotta ornaments, pointed arches, battlements, and tower-like elements that give it a castle-like appearance.
Built during Decatur's rapid industrial growth in the early 1920s, the school was the first dedicated middle school for the city's growing population. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and has since been converted into residential apartments while preserving its historic exterior.
The school was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, reflecting the community's values around patriotic education and national pride. The building served as a gathering place where families attended events, sports, and celebrations together for decades.
The building sits in a central location in Decatur and is easily accessible from nearby streets, though it now serves as residential apartments with limited public access to interiors. The best way to appreciate the architecture is to view the exterior and its detailed features from the sidewalk.
The architects Brooks, Bramhall, and Dague designed the school with castle-like features including towers and battlements to give the building a dignified and commanding presence. This bold choice made the school stand out distinctly from other public buildings of its era.
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