11 Feb revisiting george grant elmslie’s 1935 thornton township high school in 2025
the mottled reddish-orange slip glaze terra cotta was modeled by architectural sculptor fritz albert, who was assigned the job after head modeler kristian schneider died in 1935.
the terra cotta ornament was fabricated by the midland terra cotta company, chicago, ills.
emil zettler modeled the school’s exterior statues. the maker of the cast aluminum hexagonal-shaped grilles or “snowflakes” adorning the entrance is not known. the school was constructed by the patrick warren construction company of chicago.
surface spalling on mottled glazed statues worrisome. i don’t recall the advanded degradation of the slip glaze from prior visit 3-4 years ago.
