The Robert Emmet School has been a landmark in the Austin Community since
1893. The school was originally called the Madison Street School of Austin.
The name was elected because the school was located in Austin, Illinois. In
1899, the town of Austin was annexed to Chicago. With this annexation, the
institution was renamed. On January 10, 1990 it became the Robert Emmet
School. (Named in honor of Robert Emmet, the Irish nationalist).
To compensate the community's growing population, a north wing was added
to the building in 1913. The Robert Emmet School, as it now stands, was
completed October 1, 1936. Prior to this construction, several children
attended a branch of the Emmet School which was located approximately one
mile from the present structure.
During the latter part of the 1960's the community witnessed a drastic
influx in the population. This population growth is evident int he school's
enrollment over the last ten years as shown in the table below:
Year: Enrollment: Year: Enrollment:
1968 1,252 1973 850
1969 1,475 1974 834
1970 1,233 1975 825
1971 1,365 1976 837
1972 1,035 1977 1,000
Designed to serve the community and its ever growing needs, the Emmet
School expanded. Several branches were erected: Emmet North, Emmet South,
Emmet Southeast and the Emmet West. By 1971, these branches had become
seperate administrative units: Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Oscar
DePriest. As a result of these branches the Robert Emmet School lost its
designation as Emmet Main and became known simply as the Robert Emmet Schoo
- serving children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
During the last decade several structural improvements were made. In 1970,
the entire building was decorated. Keeping with the modern trends in
education, in 1972, all fixed seats were removed and replaced with movable
ones. In 1976, the building underwent a massive rehabilitaion.
Within the school's eighty-four year history, there have only been eight
principals. These principals are as follows:
Mrs. Helen B. Eastman 1900-1935
Miss Marguerite O'Brien 1936-1946
Mrs. Adalaide Holterhoff 1947-1950
Miss Mary F. Driscoll 1951-1970
Mr. Vernon Robinson (acting)1970-2 months
Mr. Eugene A. Kaide 1970-1973
Ms. Cammille Chase (acting) 1973
Miss Carol Reardon 1973-unknown
Established as an education institution, Robert Emmet has withstood the
test of time. It not only met the needs of previous progenitors, it is
still carring the torch for educational, social and physical development of
its commnunity.

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