| Alto Pass High School Building | ||||||||||
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| Courtesy of Dean Thompson | ||||||||||
| Alto Pass Grade School Bldg – 2011 |
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| Submitted by Dean Thompson |
The History of Alto Pass High School
Alto Pass (population 388) is located in far southern Illinois about 30 miles north of Cairo and 10 miles east of the Mississippi River. This location also places Alto Pass about 15 miles southwest of Carbondale in northern Union County. Illinois Route 127 passes though town as does a county road known as Skyline Drive. The Cave Creek and a branch of Cedar Creek flow through town. There is also an unnamed railroad line and a lake on Alto Pass’ west side. This information was found on www.mapquest.com .
Alto Pass was established in 1882 and first named Quetil as a station along the Cairo & St. Louis Railway. This name was in honor of Julian Quetil who donated the land for the village in 1870. The railroad soon changed the name to Alto due to the high elevation of the land. The word Pass was later added to avoid confusion between Alto and Alton. (Place Names of Illinois by Edward Callary).
The history of the Alto Pass school system is in need of research. It is believed that Alto Pass’ educational history extends back to the late 1800s. A high school was likely established by the late 1800s. It was 1969 when the Alto Pass High School was annexed into the Cobden School District.
Donna Hubbs (Alto Pass High School Class of 1969) provided the following information about Alto Pass High School:
“This is a drawing (top of page) of Alto Pass High School which closed in 1969. I was in the last class of 10 graduates. The gym, locker rooms, and restrooms were in bottom level. The second level included the entry to bleacher seats for gym, a class room, and a room with vending machines. The top level included classrooms, study hall, principal’s office and library. Our mascot was the “Apaches” basketball team. Our uniform colors were scarlet and gold. We were small but our education was as good or better than many larger schools.”
The fate of the Alto Pass High School building was a sad one in that the building has been torn down. If you have any of the information regarding the history of Alto Pass and its former high school please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.
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Alto Pass High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s
Year closed: 1969
Consolidated to: Cobden High School
Alto Pass HS nickname: the “Apaches”
School colors: Scarlet & Gold
School Fight Song: unavailable
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Athletics
Alto Pass High School offered boys basketball. It is probable that baseball and track were offered as well. We are missing information regarding the history and success of Alto Pass High. The school fight song is needed. Information on the athletic program such as conference affiliation and foes are needed as well.
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Boys Basketball
The boys basketball program brought home a total of four District Championships. Two were won in the 1940s and two were won in the early 1950s. Unfortunately the records and coaches names of these and other great Alto Pass teams are not available.
1930-31 Murphysboro District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Cambria 12-11
Murphysboro beat Elkville in title game.
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1931-32 Herrin District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Royalton 29-22
Johnson City Beat Herrin in title game.
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1932-33 Anna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Cairo 34-12
Cairo beat Ullin in title game.
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1933-34 Johnson City District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Carbondale Teachers College H.S. 27-24
Herrin beat Marion in title game.
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1934-35 Anna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Ullin 30-14
2nd Rd lost to Cobden 20-18 (O/T)
Mound City beat Cobden in title game.
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1935-36 Dongola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to 17-15
Buncombe beat Mounds for title.
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1936-37 Dongola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Dongola 24-20
McGuire beat McClure in title game.
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1937-38 District Results Needed.
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1938-39 Dongola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Wolf Lake 50-26
Wolf Lake beat Mound City in title game.
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1939-40 Carbondale District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Title Game lost to Vergennes 26-15.
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1940-41 Vergennes District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Grand Tower 28-22
Title Game Beat Vergennes 28-26
Carbondale Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Carterville 35-34
Carbondale beat Carterville in title game.
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1941-42 Post season results, coach’s name & season record needed.
1942-43 Post season results, coach’s name, & season record needed.
1943-44 Post season results, coach’s name, & season record needed.
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1944-45 Gorham District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final Beat Ava 41-35
Title Game Beat Gorham 28-26
Carbondale Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Carbondale University HS 46-38
Carbondale beat Herrin in title game.
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1945-46 Hurst Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Title Game lost to Royalton 48-41
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1946-47 Vergennes District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Vergennes 31-27
Semi-Final lost to Royalton 54-50
Hurst-Bush beat Royalton in title game.
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1947-48 Hurst District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Vergenes
Semi-Final lost to Royalton 51-50
Hurst-Bush beat Royalton in title game.
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1948-49 Dongola District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Cairo St. Joseph 41-40 (O/T)
Semi-Final Beat Dongola 41-36
Title Game lost to Goreville 39-30
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1949-50 Dongola District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final Beat Wolf Lake 51-48
Title Game Beat Dongola 31-29
Cairo Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Mound City 55-47
Anna-Jonesboro beat Cairo in title game.
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1950-51 Dongola District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final Beat Goreville 55-42.
Title Game lost to Dongola 62-58 (O/T)
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1951-52 Dongola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Wolf Lake 52-40
McClure beat Dongola in title game.
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1952-53 Dongola District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final Beat Dongola 55-54 (O/T)
Title Game Beat Goreville 54-35
Anna Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Cobden 61-52
Anna-Jonesboro beat Cobden in title game.
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1953-54 Carbondale District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Title Game lost to Carbondale Attucks 68-54
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1954-55 Post season results, coach’s name & record needed.
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1955-56 Elkville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Elkville 98-61.
Carbondale Attucks beat Hurst-Bush in title game.
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1956-57 Carbondale District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Gorham 61-49
Carbondale Attucks beat Hurst-Bush in title game.
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1957-58 E;lkville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Elkville 51-45
Semi-Final lost to Royalton 65-55
Carbondale Attucks beat Royalton in title game.
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1958-59 Carbondale District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Vergennes 63-50
Semi-Final lost to Hurst-Bush 77-56
Carbondale Attucks beat Hurst-Bush in title game.
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1959-60 Carbondale District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Gorham 66-39
Carbondale Attucks beat Gorham in title game.
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1960-61 Carbondale District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Gorham 59-46
Hurst-Bush beat Elkville in title game.
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1961-62 Elkville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st lost to Carbondale Attucks 74-37
Elkville beat Carbondale Attucks in title game.
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1962-63 Cobden District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Goreville 89-75
Cobden beat Goreville in title game.
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1963-64 Post season results, coach’s name & record needed.
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1964-65 Dongola District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final lost to Gorham 110-56.
Gorham beat Dongola in title game.
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1965-66 Dongola District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final lost to Gorham 75-57
Gorham beat Goreville in title game.
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1966-67 Post season results, coach’s name & record needed.
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1967-68 Cairo Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1968-69 Meridian Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
*Alto Pass did not compete in District Tournament this season.
1st Rd lost to Meridian 96-28
Cairo beat Meridian in title game.
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*Alto Pass did not compete in District Tournament this season.
1st Rd lost to Meridian 97-25
Meridian beat Dongola in title game.
**Final game for Alto Pass High School boys basketball.
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SEEKING MORE INFORMATION
We are in need of a lot of research in order to do justice to the former students, faculty, and townspeople who made Alto Pass High School a success for so many years. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.
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