- This event has passed.
Think & Drink: Saving Lockport’s Central Square
Our next Think & Drink brings us a story at the very heart of Lockport’s history.
In the 1970s, the Old Central School building, a Lockport landmark since its construction in 1896, was threatened with demolition. A determined group of citizens, business leaders, and preservationists, including a young Jerry Adelmann, stepped in to save it. Their victory not only preserved the building as Central Square, home to city offices and community gatherings, but also launched Lockport’s modern preservation movement.
Adelmann will share this pivotal story, complete with courtroom battles, citizen action, and the vision that shaped Lockport’s future. It’s a rare chance to hear from one of the leaders who helped make preservation a cornerstone of our community.
Gerald “Jerry” Adelmann is a sixth-generation Lockport resident whose lifelong commitment to preservation and conservation has shaped both his hometown and the region. He played a key role in saving Lockport’s Central Square, restoring the Gaylord Building, and creating the I&M Canal Nation Heritage Area, the nation’s first National Heritage Area. From 1988–2023, he led Openlands, advancing landmark conservation projects across northeastern Illinois.
Registration is not required but appreciated to gauge attendance: https://