Why Is Grace Hall Important to Woodstock?

As time passes, I learn a little more each day about Grace Hall and the Todd School. Others here in Woodstock know far more than I, and I invite their participation here to educate Woodstock residents about the importance of both.

During a visit this afternoon with one Woodstock resident of more than ten years, I learned not just that Todd School was an early educational home to Orson Welles, but why the School was so important.

Just imagine a school that created a learning partnership between the faculty and the students. Imagine that students had not only responsibility, but also authority. And were taught to use it wisely.

Is that how it was at Todd School?

I invite Woodstock residents, and others around the country who might learn of this request, to comment.

How many teachers in Woodstock and McHenry County know the history of Todd School and Grace Hall?

What if the learning environment of that day spread to today's students? What if they didn't ask, "Who was Orsin Wells?" (His name was George Orson Welles.) Do Woodstock students today even know the significance of his 1938 broadcast of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds? Do they even know of it?

What if District 200 decided that beginning this year, and for the following years, it will educate students in ways that stimulate their curiosity and interest? Teach them to want to learn! Teach them how to learn!

Most have heard of No Child Left Behind. Well, let's make sure that NO child is left behind!

Save Grace Hall? Read this...

Received from a Woodstock resident. Message as posted on WellesNet. See www.wellesnet.com/

SIMON CALLOW, Actor and Orson Welles biographer on saving Grace Hall at The Todd School
September 7th, 2008 Lawrence French Posted in Criticism & Research, News, Plays and Theater

Simon Callow has undoubtedly written more about Orson Welles and his happy time spent at The Todd School in Woodstock, Illinois, than any other Welles biographer. So I’m happy to announce that Mr. Callow has sent along this message of support for all the citizens and politicians of Woodstock who are attempting to save Grace Hall from demolition:

"Todd School was one of the great pioneering American schools, and its unique qualities made Orson Welles what he was. He never forgot it, and was speaking to Roger Hill, its inspired and inspiring head teacher, almost to the day he died. It would be a sad day if he thought that all trace of Todd had disappeared, but it would be a sadder day for American education, of which this was one of the jewels." – Simon Callow

Save Grace Hall?

The Woodstock Plan Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, June 26, 2007 at 7:00PM in the City Council Chambers to consider a request from Woodstock Christian Life Services (WCLS) to demolish Grace Hall. How many are aware of the connection between Orson Welles with Todd School's Grace Hall and Roger Hill?

Grace Hall is a building on the site of the former Todd School - now owned by WCLS, which has submitted a petition for a special use permit to construct several new duplexes on their campus (Hearthstone Village, Hearthstone Manor, etc). The project includes the demolition of Grace Hall, which is currently used for WCLS corporate offices. Grace Hall housed students, faculty apartments and a suite of offices. A sound studio in the basement contained equipment to cut phonograph records, tape radio shows and edit movie film. There is an Orson Welles connection to this building.

The following information was provided to The Woodstock Advocate by those who are interested in Woodstock’s history.

“Orson Welles attended the Todd School from 1926-1931. Welles credited teacher and (Todd School) headmaster Roger Hill as exerting the single greatest and lifelong influence on his creativity. After spending several years of his adolescence studying and performing at the Todd School for Boys in Woodstock, Illinois, Welles returned there many times in later life. The 1934 Todd Drama Festival at the Woodstock Opera House, orchestrated by Welles and financed by Hill, played a crucial role in promoting Welles's career as an American stage actor.

OK, so who was Orson Welles?

Among other things he directed and narrated a CBS Mercury Theater radio program on October 30, 1938, called The War of the Worlds, adapted from H.G. Wells’ class novel of the same name. Many listeners believed they were hearing reports of an actual attack by Martians. (Source: Wikipedia)

To hear a portion of that radio broadcast, go to http://youtube.com/watch?v=4wf5TPVz56A The program is “interrupted” at 3:40 minutes for a “special announcement.” What would you have thought, had you been a listener on that day?

If you are interested in offering your opinion to the Plan Commission about the preservation, be sure to mark your calendar and attend this important meeting.