Welcome to the Youth Campus School

The Youth Campus, located at 733 North Prospect, has served children for over 100 years at this site.  The school component is funded by the orphanage act and monitored by District #207. 

District #207 and the Youth Campus organization work hand in hand to serve the residential youth that live on the campus.

A little bit of history:

In 1876, a surgeon and his wife were sent to Cairo, Illinois to close a military hospital after the Civil War.  The surgeon’s wife, Delia Lousie Rockwood Wardner, realized the great need for a place to care for the many homeless, orphaned girls that needed care.

When Mrs. Wardner returned to Chicago, she convinced Myra Bradwell, the first woman lawyer in the state of Illinois, to assist in establishing a residential home and school for girls left homeless by the war.  On October 22, 1877, a charter was granted to the Industrial School for Girls.

From 1877 until around 1907, the home was located in Evanston.  By 1908, arrangements were made to move to a 40 acre farm in Park Ridge.  Historical sources indicate that Mrs. Talcott purchased the land.

Hannah Solomon, a Chicago activist, was especially dedicated to the beginnings of the school.  Her focus was on the welfare of women and children.  She organized the first ever charity sporting event in Chicago – a baseball game that was held in National League Baseball Park (later to become Comiskey Park) for the school.

Solomon also brought to the Board of Directors – her friend, Jane Addams, founder of Hull House and creator of t he profession of social work. Jane Addams was also the Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1931.

The buildings on the campus were designed by the architectural firm of Holabrind and Roche.  This firm designed the Chicago Board of Trade and t he original Soldier Field.

The first home built and still standing, is the Solomon Cottage.  The funding for this building came from another notable source, Mr. Julius Rosenwald.  Mr. Rosenwald became a partner with Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1895.  In 1908, Rosenwald became President until 1924 and Chairman of the Board until his death in 1932.

Eight of the buildings on the campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1913, the name changed to Park Ridge School for Girls, but in 1980 when boys were accepted, the name changed to, the Park Ridge Youth Campus.

The last name change occurred in the 1990’s to the current name of, the Youth Campus, because the organization also included foster care and an adoption program.

The Youth Campus has adapted and changed with the times to meet the ever demanding needs for children who need a home, education, medical care or any other specialized service.