Historical Background

In 1890, the Maplewood School was located on Rockwell and Schubert, about three blocks east of the present location on North Fairfield.  In 1893, the center section of the school was erected and the school was renamed after Lorenz Brentano.

Lorenz Brentano was a German immigrant who came to the United States in 1849.  He served as a member of the Chicago Board of Education and was its president in 1867.  Later he returned to Germany as United States Consul from 1872-1876.  In 1877, we was elected to Congress as Senator.  He died in 1891.

The date there have been fifteen principals at Brentano School.  The first was Mr. Washington Smyser (1893-1916).  He has been succeeded by:

• Mr. Henry Kling (1916-1919)

• Mr. Harold Roberts (1919-1921)

• Mr. Frank Chase (1921-1932)

• Dr. Eston Tubbs (1932-1933)

• Miss Ellen Saunders (1933-1934)

• Miss Emma Bilender (1935-1949)

• Mr. Arthur Fitzgerald (1949-1959)

• Miss Ursula Maethner (1959-1968)

• Dr. Ellen Gonnely (1968-1973)

• Mr. Edward E. Kwasigroc (1973-1975)

• Dr. Patricia Kubistal (1975-1989)

• Miss Sharon Rae Bender (1989-1990)

• Mr. Reynes Reyes (1990-2003)

• Miss Georgette Watson (2003-2007)

• Ms. Martha Rosa-Salgado (2008-Present)