E.P. McClure … An Early Proponent of Green Space

While a student at Oberlin College in the early 1890’s, Elmer McClure studied Greek and Latin. His success as a student was reflected in his receiving a Phi Beta Kappa key. But, although an academic, he also played football for Oberlin. And, as a result, he was a big proponent of both academics and physical education.

Later, as a local resident and successful businessman, McClure agreed to serve on the school board, eventually becoming its president. In this role, he was always concerned about planning for future growth and making sure that students had a balanced education. It was this type of dedication that prompted the school board to name the junior high school after McClure.   

While not widely known at the time, McClure personally acquired a vacant 5-acre tract of land on Wolf Road and, later, donated it to the School Board as a site for the Junior High School that would eventually bear his name. But, to insure that sufficient land would always be reserved for athletics, he placed a restriction on the deed.

Specifically, it required that the land south of the then-existing school remain green space for athletics. To show how serious he was, McClure even added a condition that, if the land was not used for this purpose, ownership would revert to him or his heirs.

By the 1950’s, McClure had long since retired from the School Board. But, when the need for another school addition became evident, architects wanted to build to the south. So, the Board wrote to McClure asking that the restriction be lifted to allow for the proposed addition. But, McClure was adamant and so the addition was built to the north.

Only the School Board knows whether this deed restriction is still in effect. But, regardless, the athletic field is still there and the village owes a great deal to McClure and his foresight. 

Each week, the Western Springs Historical Society presents a “Blast from the Past”. To view prior stories, visit us at www.westernspringshistory.org.