Kankakee in Kankakee County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Central School Bell

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 30, 2026

1. Central School Bell Marker

Inscription. This bell summoned generations of students to Kankakee's Central School, a tall red brick structure that stood on the southeast corner of Indiana Avenue and Merchant Street for nearly a century. The school was erected in 1869, and the bell installed a year later after being cast at the Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati, Ohio. The building housed students from five formerly separate school districts and provided classes from first grade through high school. Although the building survived into the early 1960's, the bell had ceased ringing in the 1930's, when the school's third floor and bell tower were removed. The Kankakee County Historical Society acquired the bell in 1953.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 41° 6.764′ N, 87° 52.728′ W. Marker is in Kankakee, Illinois, in Kankakee County. It can be reached from 8th Avenue near Water Street, on the right when traveling south. The bell is on the campus of the Kankakee County

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Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 South 8th Avenue, Kankakee IL 60901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Baker School Bell (a few steps from this marker); Taylor One-Room Schoolhouse (a few steps from this marker); Memorial Day Order (within shouting distance of this marker); Let Freedom Ring Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Columns of the Eastern Illinois Trust and Savings Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Historical and Arts Building Governor Small Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Governor Len Small (within shouting distance of this marker); History of Bird Park Quarry (approx. half

Central School Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 30, 2026

2. Central School Bell

a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kankakee.

Regarding Central School Bell. Postcards of the school that can be found online show a three-story Victorian building with a mansard roof, and a bell tower that rises another two stories. The intersection of Indiana and Merchant is in downtown Kankakee, across the street from the county Kankakee County Courthouse. Today, the site of the old school includes a grassy area and a parking lot.

School artifacts on the Kankakee History Museum campus image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 30, 2026

3. School artifacts on the Kankakee History Museum campus

While not explicitly explained, the "PUBLIC SCHOOL 1869" sign likely came from the old Central School, which opened that year in downtown Kankakee.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.