Demolition begins at 113-year-old former Rock River School in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Demolition work has started at a more than century old former school building that had been a source of complaints about vandalism and illegal dumping for years.
N-Trak Group of Loves Park is tearing down the old Rock River Elementary School, 2729 Kishwaukee St., on the city’s south side. The property deteriorated into a state of disrepair during two decades of vacancy after a religious organization abandoned its plans for the property.
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The property has been publicly owned by the Winnebago County trustee program for the past four years after it was obtained over unpaid taxes. The trustee program is designed to take abandoned and blighted properties and get them into the hands of responsible owners and taxpayers.
N-Trak, which is demolishing the building at no cost to the city, will become the property owner after the work is complete. City Council members approved that deal last month.
Aldermen and residents had inquired about demolition because of the building’s deteriorated state and illegal dumping of tires and other materials, according to city staff.
The property was purchased for $171,000 by Fountain of Life Church of God in Christ in April 2005 during the auction, according to Rockford Register Star archives.
The building, however, was never used again. In 2011, the church’s pastor was convicted of federal bankruptcy fraud, mail fraud and bank fraud charges and sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
