Latin School of Chicago

looking back 56 Looking Back Celebrate events, people and places from Latin's history with a visit to the school's archives. At Play in the Fields When Latin moved into its first school building on Division Street, it boasted a gym, but no outdoor play lot or athletic fields. Mabel Slade Vickery firmly believed in the benefits of fresh air and insisted that students have ample time for outdoor recreation and sports. As the 1899 admissions brochure states: "For the grammar and primary grades, there is a recess of half an hour beginning at 11 o'clock, for recreation in the open air. e playing of games is on the lake front, one block from the school." Only recently did we come to understand that this empty lot one block from the school was in fact the Potter Palmer lot, just north of the famous Potter & Bertha Palmer Mansion. e mansion is visible in the background of a photo of students playing at the lot in 1908. Robinson's 1886 map of Chicago shows the Palmer mansion and lot, and also details the large swath of land from Schiller to Burton owned by the Catholic bishop. is land remained largely undeveloped through the early 1900s and was often referred to as the bishop's cow pasture. Latin documents indicate that the "bishop's pasture" was a popular and frequent location for football games and practices. Students from the boys and girls school continued to use the Palmer lot for athletics and recreation until the 1940s. Site of Latin School, Division Street School 1899-1926 Palmer Lot Palmer Mansion For the grammar and primary grades, there is a recess of half an hour beginning at 11 o'clock, for recreation in the open air. The playing of games is on the lake front, one block from the school." – 1899 Admission Brochure 56 looking back

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