The Rock

Everyone who visits Alcuin sees the “Rock” which sits on our front lawn.  They may even have stopped to read the plaque on the front of the rock, or to admire the numerous fossils it contains.  Over the years numerous students have successfully scaled it.  And it’s become a favorite spot for photos, including those of each year’s graduating classes.  Most recently Oak Park Village President and Alcuin grad David Pope posed there with his daughter, Elise, a current Alcuin student.  This year The Rock has become our emblem for our 45th anniversary celebration with the slogan “45 Years of Rock-Solid Education”.  But how many people know where the “Rock” comes from? 

In the late 1960’s the Village of Oak Park was digging up the street in front of Alcuin’s building at Ridgeland and Randolph to complete repairs below the street.  During the excavation, a large rock was uncovered by the Village crew.  Barbara Creevy, Alcuin’s Registrar and Executive Secretary, heard about the discovery and asked if Alcuin could have it.  Our Rock was placed on our property and soon became Alcuin’s mascot.  When Alcuin moved to River Forest in 1979 and back to Oak Park in 1997, “The Rock” was brought along. It currently rests on the lawn beside the First United Methodist Church in front of our school.