About Chappell, Eliza Chappell Elementary School

The history of Eliza Chappell Elementary School begins with Roald Amundsen Junior High School, which was constructed over a two-year period from 1928 to 1930 at 5110 North Damen Avenue. Designed by Paul Gerhardt, the school was named Amundsen February 13, 1929, and was opened November 10, 1930.

On July 26, 1933, Amundsen Junior High became Amundsen Senior High. A small elementary unit, known as Amundsen Elementary, was also established in the building for eighth-grade pupils from the McPherson district, 7A to 8A pupils from the Budlong district east of California, and first and second-grade pupils of the Amundsen district. Amundsen Elementary (in the Amundsen High School building) closed in June of 1935 except for a tiny unit of first and second-grade pupils maintained as a branch of Goudy Elementary. On January 8, 1936, this Amundsen Branch of Goudy became the Amundsen Branch of Hamilton.

In 1937 a new school was erected at 5145 North Leavitt Street, on the same block as Amundsen. When this school opened October 18, 1937, the Amundsen Branch of Hamilton was rendered obsolete by the new school and closed. The school at 5145 North Leavitt remained nameless for two days before officially becoming Eliza Chappell Elementary on October 20, 1937. Chappell Elementary is still open today at the same location, though its address is now 2135 West Foster Avenue.

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