Thornton Fractional North High School gyms, Calumet City
T.F. North – Purple & Gold Gyms
Illinois varsity high school basketball game between the Wildcats of Thornton from Harvey and the Meteors of Thornton Fractional North from Calumet City, Saturday, January 12, 2019, in Calumet City. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
T.F. North’s Purple & Gold Gyms
An almost empty Purple gym at Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Like many high schools today, T.F. North has two gyms. The newer Purple Gym (seen above) is a 2006 addition to the school’s west side that includes a sweeping crescent-like atrium that houses the concessions stand, locker rooms, and lobby area.
The rafters in the atrium outside the Purple gym are decorated with banners to the school’s more well known alumni, who happen to have been on the football field at Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. They include Mirko Jurkovic, John Jurkovic, and Mike Tomczak. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
The school’s second gym is the older Gold Gym (see below), located on the east side of the building and looks to have been constructed in the 1960s. Like most secondary gyms it is used for practices and underclassmen games. If you look closely it has an elevated press box above the bleachers.
The Gold Gym at Thornton Fractional North High School is used mainly for practices and underclassmen games, in Calumet City on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Old School, Old Gym Covered Up
T.F. North High School’s main entrance, in Calumet City on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Looking at the outside of T.F. North’s building, you can tell it was built early in the Twentieth-Century. The school opened as Thornton Fractional in 1926. Previously students had been attending a school called Wentworth High School in Calumet City. The new school however perished in a fire in 1933 and the current oldest portion of the school was built in 1936. Its art-deco exterior reflecting a popular look at the time.
There was in fact a gym in that original section of the school, and in a way it still exists, but has been converted in to office space for the school administration.
One would assume the school built in 1926 had a gym as well, but currently I have no information on it.
The school is also set to have their football field redone in 2025 or 2026. A new turf field will be installed, replacing one of the last few larger high schools that still have a grass field. The alignment of the end zones will also be changed. Going from an east-west to a north-south orientation.
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