Bismarck (population 542) is located in far east-central Illinois about 10 miles north of Danville. The town was platted in the upper-east portion of Vermilion County. The Indiana state line sits just two miles east of Bismarck. U.S. Route 136 passes by the west edge of town while Illinois Route 119 passes by the north side of town. The Painter Creek flows through the north side of town while the Louisville & Nashville Railroad also passes through Bismarck.
Bismarck’s history and the history of the Bismarck school system is in need of research. As with most schools on this site, Bismarck probably had a high school in place by the late 1800s, possibly the early 1900s. Bismarck High School served the community and surrounding farm kids for about 60 years. The early 1960s brought on consolidation talks with the town’s neighbor to the northwest, Henning. This consolidation effort was realized in 1964 with the creation of the Bismarck-Henning School District.
Bismarck landed the high school for the new district. We believe the original Bismarck High School building was used as the Bismarck-Henning High School building for many years until a new structure was eventually built (see photo above, more photos of the new building are available below). The original building has since been razed.
Bismarck High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed: 1964
Consolidated to: Bismarck-Henning School District.
Bismarck HS team nickname: unavailable
BHS team colors: unavailable
School Fight Song: unavailable
Athletics
Bismarck High School competed in boys baseball for sure (www.ihsa.org). We believe the school offered basketball and track as well. Please write to us if you know of any other sports or activities offered at BHS. School team nickname, colors, fight song, team records, and coach’s names are all items being sought for this page.
Boys Baseball
The boys brought home two District titles during their history at Bismarck High. The titles came in baseball in consecutive seasons accomplished in the early 1940s. Unfortunately the team records and coach’s names of these and other great Bismarck High School teams are not currently available.
1940-41 District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1941-42 District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1942-43 Games not played.
1943-44 6 – 0 North Vermilion County League Champs Coach Hugh Moss
1944-45 3 – 3 Coach Hugh Moss
Bismark HS Baseball 1945
Submitted by Terry Lefton (left click on photo for larger view)
Bismark HS Baseball Team of 1944
Submitted by Terry Lefton (left click on phonto for larger view)
Boys Basketball
The Bismarck High School boys competed in basketball as well. Though the program did not win any IHSA hardware they were very competitive, and often faced schools many times their enrollment on the hardwood court. We do not have any current season records or coaches’ names to report.
Several IHSA Tournament scores involving Bismarck were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores“. The scores we located are printed below.
Scores prior to the 1933-34 season are needed.
1933-34 Milford District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Lost to Milford 19-17
Milford lost in 2nd round.
1934-35 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Lost to Hoopeston 33-14
Hoopeston lost in 2nd round
1935-36 Westville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Lost to Fairmount 34-20
Fairmount won District title.
1936-37 & 1937-38 Postseaston scores, coach’s names, and records needed.
1938-39 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Armstrong 32-31
Armstrong lost in semi-final round
1939-40 Postseason scores, season record, and coach’s name needed
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1941-42 Hoopeston Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
Bismarck did not compete in District
Hoopeston Regional Tourney
1st Rd Lost to Watseka 30-28
Watseka lost in title game
1942-43 Postseason scores, records, and coach’s names needed.
1945-46 Milford Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Hoopeston 66-42
Hoopeston lost in semi-final round
1946-47 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Cissna Park 47-24
Cissna Park lost in semi-final round
1947-48 Hoopeston Regional Tourney 2nd Place Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Beat Potomac 49-30
Semi-final Beat Cissna Park 52-37
Title game Lost to Hoopeston 59-38
1948-49 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Potomac 44-28
Potomac won Regional title
1949-50 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1950-51 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Hoopeston 59-40
Hoopeston won Regional Tourney
1951-52 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Cissna Park 52-40
Cissna Park lost in Semi-final round
1952-53 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Watseka 71-57
Watseka lost in title game
1953-54 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Hoopeston 52-37
Hoopeston won Regional title
1954-55 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Cissna Park 67-55
Cissna Park lost in title game
1955-56 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Hoopeston 45-41
Hoopeston lost in semi-final round
1956-57 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Watseka 71-57
Watseka lost in title game
1957-58 Hoopeston Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
Bismarck did not compete in District
Hoopeston Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Rossville 42-40
Semi-final lost to Cissna Park 56-47
Cissna Park won Regional title
1958-59 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Rossville-Alvin 47-40
Rossville-Alvin lost in semi-final round
1959-60 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Sheldon 80-59
Sheldon lost in semi-final round
1960-61 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Cissna Park 59-52
Cissna Park lost in semi-final round
1961-62 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Watseka 61-49
Watseka lost in semi-final round
1962-63 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
1st Rd Lost to Watseka 66-60
Watseka won Regional title
1963-64 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Bismarck did not compete in District tourney
**1st Rd Lost to Sheldon 66-55
Sheldon lost in semi-final round
**Final game as Bismarck High School. Consolidation with Henning occurred after this school year.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Bismarck High School likely had many activities and clubs for the students to participate in. Band, choir, FFA, FHA, GAA, and other activities were probably a big part of the BHS experience.
Need Your Assistance
The Bismarck High School legacy should not be forgotten. School nickname, colors, fight song, great teams, and other noteable accomplishments at BHS should be remembered and shared with others. A photo of the original high school building is especially being sought. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
**The photos below are of the new Bismarck-Henning High School facilities completed around 2010. “Left click’ your cursor on any photo to view a larger version of that photo. The photos were taken in 2013.
