Woodstock (population 20,151) is located in far northeastern Illinois on Illinois Route 120 at
Illinois Route 47 in McHenry County. Woodstock is a far western suburb of Chicago. The town was incorporated
in the latter 1800's after well-rounded prosperation.
The history of the Todd Seminary dates back to 1873 and was founded by the Reverend Richard K. Todd. The grounds, which
had at least ten buildings during the time of it's existance, were located in a triangular block in Woodstock along McHenry
and Seminary Streets. The buildings were: Wallingford Hall, Clover Hall, Rogers Hall, Grace Hall, the Gymnasium, the Headmasters
Cottage, West Hall, Cozy Hall and North Hall. The Seminary welcomed boys from ages 6 to 18 from all over the country. It had
at least 110 students from 17 different states in the 1920's with ten grades being taught. The education was based on those
principles given by the Presbyterian Parish of Woodstock.
Noble Hill came to the Seminary in 1888 and purchased it in 1892, the year renovations were made. Noble ran the Seminary
until 1929, when his son Roger took over.
Below is an excerpt from the statures in the Todd Seminary rule book:
"Use of cards, gambling, tobbaco, bad language, firearms, reading of trashy books (et al The Catcher in the
Rye) and papers, contracting debts, going off-grounds, going downtown without being accompanied with a teacher, leaving
after evening prayers are prohibited."
Todd Seminary prospered for 81 years, closing down in 1954 and torn down some years later. Grace Hall, a former
building that was a part of the school, is still standing; however, plans have been made to raze the building. A
community movement is hoping to preserve the structure.
A nursing home now occupies the location where Todd Seminary once stood.
Todd Seminary "Quick Facts":
Year Opened:
1874
Year Closed:
1954
Building status: demolished
Religious
Affiliation: Presbyterian
School Colors:
N/A
School Song:
N/A
Nickname: N/A
Athletics
There is miniscule information out there about the existance of athletics and other extra-curriculars at Todd Seminary.
We do know that they had an Athletics Director. Tony Roskie was the A.D. at Todd Seminary before leaving for Woodstock High
School, where he was A.D. for a number of years.
