Glenbard West.

Nearly 90 years ago, what was once “Honeysuckle Hill” became the site for the new high school in town after the 120 students who attended Glen Ellyn High School had out grown the second floor of the DuPage Bank Building.

The land was a wild patch of weeds and trees---where today’s football field sits, Lake Ellyn blanketed the area. The cost for the land…100 cents.

So where does its name come from?

After the site was chosen, Lombard, a non-high school district, was asked to be included in the Glen Ellyn district. Merge the two names and you have Glen-Bard.” Voila.

As the population of Glen Ellyn grew, so did the need to increase the size of the school. In 1926, the first addition was added on to the building’s footprint; in 1931 the auditorium was added, Hilltop gym was the final addition in the 1930s. Twenty some years later, the East Wing was added and in 1958 Biester Gym was built.

It was in 1959 when Glenbard East was built in Lombard and the original school in Glen Ellyn became Glenbard West. The additions have continued as in 2001 the new library and field house were completed. Many of us also know of the addition of Memorial Field this past fall.

But a school without students is just a building; fortunately the students have bonded well with the red brick building set up on the hill, and many have gone on to do some pretty amazing things. We have actors, an Olympian, playwrights, doctors, congressman and many other notables---one of the better-known people who have graduated from West is Bobby Rahal the winner of the 1986 Indianapolis 500.

If you have not visited Glenbard West recently, there have been some changes, but all in all it has kept its heritage. One thing I have noticed over the years, as I have explored its surroundings, is how much history there is at the school. I guess when you are 90 years old, you are entitled to tell a good story.

Thanks for stopping by.