Anchor (population 175) is located in eastern McLean County on Illinois Route 165. The town began to form in 1879 when local farmer Daniel Stewart platted the town on his land to entice the railroad to build tracks through it. The town was dubbed “Anchor” by George Buck, an ordained minister of the day. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad owns tracks which take a curve through the center of town. A branch of the Mackinaw River also flows through town.
Anchor Township began an educational system for its children in 1858. Following construction of a new school in 1895, a first year of high school studies were added to the grade school program in 1896, followed by a second year in 1907. In 1916 the school gained state recognition as a high school when it added a third year to the curriculum. The fourth year was set in place in 1922, which required a gymnasium. classrooms, and an assembly hall to be added on in 1923-24.
Anchor Student Body of 1916
Submitted by Richard Savage
It is known that Anchor High School existed through the late 1940’s when a consolidation effort between the neighboring high schools of Anchor, Cooksville, and Colfax took place. It became a reality in 1949 when Octavia High School was formed and all students were brought to Colfax. The Anchor school building was used as a grade school for the Octavia school system for a while before eventually being phased out. The fate of the original Anchor High School building is, like all to many other small communites, a sad one. The Anchor School building was torn down in 1975.
A second consolidation effort took place between Octavia High School and Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School in 1989. The children of Anchor still attend school in Colfax but now as part of the Ridgeview School System. A good account of the history of Colfax Ridgeview High School and Anchor’s role in its development can be found at: http://www.ridgeviewfootball.us/story.htm.
Anchor High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1895
Year closed: 1949
School Building now: Torn down in 1975
School nickname: the “Aces”
School colors: Orange & Blue
School Fight Song: “Anchor High Loyalty”
Sung to the Illinois University Fight Song tune – click below left to listen.
We’re loyal to you Anchor High
We’re orange and blue, Anchor High
We’ll back you to stand
‘Gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand, Anchor High!
Rah! Rah!
So crack out the ball, Anchor High
We’re backing you all, Anchor High
Our team is our fame protector:
On boys, for we expect a
Victory from you Anchor High!
Che-he, cha-ha, cha-ha-ha-ha,
Anchor High School
Rah, Rah, RAH!
Fling out that dear old flag of
Orange and Blue,
Lead on your sons and daughters
Fighting for you
Like men of old, on giants.
Placing reliance, shouting defiance
Oskee-wow-wow———
Amid the broad green plains that nourish our land,
For honest Labor and for Learning we stand.
And unto thee we pledge our heart and our hand,
Dear Alma Mater, ANCHOR HIGH!
Athletics
It is a fact the Anchor High School Aces competed in boys’ basketball. The Aces also competed in baseball, cross country, and track. We are hopeful for some assistance from an area fan or resident to help us in researching this information. If you have any photos or information on the athletic program at Anchor High School please send them to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com.
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Boys Basketball
The Anchor High School “Aces” had a great run to close out their school. Did they sense their impending school closure and want to show some final pride for their town? Did they have a great coach move in and strike up this one last measure of glory? Perhaps a great athlete or group of athletes led them to this final last hurrah?
Whatever the case, the Aces went out with four straight District Championships to their credit! From 1946 to 1949 the Aces were, well, aces in their area. We are hopeful for some help regarding the Aces’ boys basketball of these and other great seasons. The four District title years, according to the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org), are listed below. Scores involving Anchor High School in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores.” https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/
1925-26 11 – 6 Coach Amacher
Anchor High School “Aces” of 1925-26
Submitted by Richard Savage
1932-33 Gibson City District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Bellflower 30-15
Rantoul beat Fisher in title game
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1933-34 Gibson City District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Strawn 27-19
Rantoul beat Fisher in title game
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1934-35 Bloomington District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Bloomington 25-19
Bloomington beat El Paso in title game
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1935-36 Colfax District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Downs 18-16 (O/T)
Chenoa beat Cooksville in title game
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1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1940-41 Colfax District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Colfax 44-21
Cropsey beat Gridley in title game
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1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1942-43 Colfax District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Cooksville 29-28
Semi-final lost to Arrowsmith 35-27
Arrowsmith beat Colfax in title game
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1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1944-45 17 – 5 Colfax District Runner-Up Coach Paul Orr
1st Rd Beat Arrowsmith 72-31
Semi-final Beat Ellsworth 54-33
Title Game lost to Cropsey 38-36 (O/T)
Anchor Basketball 1944-45
Team Record 17 – 5
1945-46 Colfax District Champions Coach Paul Orr
Semi-Final Beat Arrowsmith 47-41
Title Game Beat Cropsey 35-29
Chenoa Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Gridley 46-42
Normal U-High beat Normal in title game
Anchor HS Aces 1945-46
District Champs
1946-47 19 – 3 Colfax District Champions Coach Paul Orr
Tri-Valley Conf. Champs
District Scores
1st Rd Beat Cooksville 37-21
Semi-final Beat Colfax 61-31
Title Game Beat Bellflower 36-32
Lexington Regional Tournament
1st Rd BEAT NORMAL 44-42
Semi-final lost to Normal U-High 42-36
Chenoa beat Normal U-High in title game
Anchor HS Aces 1946-47
District Champions
1947-48 20 – 7 Colfax District Champions Coach Paul Orr
Tri-Valley Conf. Runner-up
District Scores
1st Rd Beat Cropsey 50-32
Semi-final Beat Arrowsmith 62-42
Title Game Beat Gridley 51-43
Chenoa Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat El Paso 38-36
Semi-final lost to Normal 47-39
Normal beat Chenoa in title game
Anchor HS Aces 1947-48
District Champions
1948-49 16 – 7 Ellsworth District ChampionsCoach Paul Orr
Tri-Valley Conf. Runner-up
District Scores
Semi-Final Beat Arrowsmith 43-36
Title Game Beat Gridley 56-45
Lexington Regional Tournament
**1st Rd lost to Lexington 51-43
Chenoa beat Normal in title game
**Final boys basketball game for Anchor High School.
Anchor HS Aces 1948-49 / School’s Final Team
District Champions
Boys Baseball
The Anchor HS Aces also faired well in baseball, a fall sport of the day. The records and accomplishments that could be researched are listed below.
1945 McLean County Eastern Division Champs Coach Paul Orr
Anchor Aces Baseball 1944-45
McLean County Eastern Division Champs
1947 4 – 2 Coach Paul Orr
1948 4 – 2 Coach Paul Orr
1949 4 – 2 Coach Paul Orr
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Boys Track
No state hardware, but a very competitive group nonetheless. The Anchor kids proved they were loyal to Anchor High, sending the school out on a good note.
1949 Tri-Valley Conference Champions Coach Paul Orr
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Cross Country
According to newpaper articles and historical accounts of Anchor High School, the Anchor Aces harriers were truly running among the big boys. The first state cross country meet was held in 1946 and the Anchor boys were smokin’. The team finished in 5th Place overall in spite of an entire high school enrollment of 42 students! The Aces duplicated their 5th Place finish in 1948. The Anchor boys of 1949 proved their incredible versatility by finishing an incredible 9th at the state meet. The Aces were led by their multi-talented, multi-tasked coach, Paul Orr. The Aces had a great rivalry with their neighbor Cooksville, who also placed at the state meet in two of the mentioned years.
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Small Town Pride Lives On
The pride of the Anchor High School Aces still lives strong in town today. Some of the Anchor High School athletes have stayed in Anchor their entire lives. Chet Eyer, member of the ’45 baseball champs as well as a member of the ’46, ’47, and ’48 basketball champs, still resides in Anchor. Two of Chet’s starting teammates of the ’47 and ’48 basketball champs, Donald “Diz” Bielfeldt and Eugene Reicks, are also life-long residents of Anchor. A fourth starter, Erwin Epperson, resides in nearby Leroy while the fifth starter, Donald Simpson, lives in Wisconsin.
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Memories
“What a great website!! Brought back many memories of Anchor HS (and grade school) Many excellent teachers (remembering Paul Orr-coach, science, biology, ag, and about all others). Keep up the good work. Thanks!”
Paul Morrison (1948)
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Special Thank You
Special thanks go out to Chet and Gladys Eyer, who opened their doors, personal scrapbooks, and hearts regarding their beloved Anchor High School to our own Kev Varney. Check out Chet in the photos above. Chet Eyer is #33 in the 1945-46 team photo and #37 in the 1946-47 and 1947-48 team photos! Chet is also in the photos of the baseball team below (middle row, 3rd from the left) and 1944-45 basketball team shown below (back row, 2nd from the left).
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Need Your Help to Take Anchor Away…
…to memory lane. The hard work and dedication of the Anchor forefathers should forever be remembered. If you can share any information about the Anchor High School accomplishments you can e-mail them us at dr.veeman@gmail.com. You can also write to us at:
