Former Motley Elementary School

Built in 1884, the Former Motley Elementary School stands as a testament to Chicago’s evolving history. The school’s initial purpose was to accommodate the burgeoning student population in West Town, fueled by an influx of immigrants and the 1883 Compulsory Education Law of Illinois. Former Motley Elementary School’s design, a striking Renaissance Revival style, was the brainchild of John J. Flanders, who became the chief architect of the Chicago Board of Education the same year. His asymmetrical blueprint, a departure from the symmetrical Italianate designs of older Chicago schools, included unique features like small side entrances, decorative brickwork on the chimneys, and a prominent metal cornice. As the neighborhood continued to grow, so did the need for more educational space. In 1898, an addition to the Former Motley Elementary School was constructed to meet this demand, designed by architect Norman Smith Patton. The school served the community continuously until its closure in 2013. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, solidifying its historical significance. After its closure, the Former Motley Elementary School underwent a transformation. Repurposed as apartments, the building now known as Motley School Apartments retains some of its original charm. Floors from the old gym, chalkboards from classrooms, and transom lights above doorways serve as reminders of the building’s past life. These echoes whisper stories of children who once filled these halls, their laughter and learning now replaced by the quiet rhythm of residential life. Though its purpose has shifted, the Former Motley Elementary School’s legacy lives on, woven into the fabric of the West Town neighborhood.