Camargo High School

Former Camargo High School Building

Former Unity Grade School Building

Camargo School Bell

The History of Camargo School

Camargo (population 469) is located in east-central Illinois about 25 miles south-southeast of Champaign.  It is the earliest settlement of Douglas County and was nearly named the county seat, losing out to Tuscola in the 1850s. According to www.mapquest.com , U.S. Route 36 runs east and west through town and intersects with the north and south running roadway Illinois Route 130 in Camargo.  The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad runs parallel to U.S. Route 36.  The Embarrass flows to the west of town with a branch also flowing to the south of town.

According to the Illinois Trails website address http://iltrails.org/douglas/camargotwphistory.html the following is the history of Camargo:

“The original town of Camargo was laid off in November, 1836, by Isaac Moss, being surveyed by Joseph Fowler, and was called “New Salem.” Mr. Moss made an addition in 1840; the name was then changed to “New Albany,” the voting precinct being known by the name of Albany, and finally, when, upon the suggestion of J. B. McCown, the name of the precinct was changed to Camargo, the village accepted the same name. It is the most ancient village in the county, antedating Tuscola, Arcola and Newman, and even time-honored “Bourbon,” which was laid off in 1853. Camargo, with her 1836 record, leading Bourbon by seventeen years. This village in the long years preceding the advent of the east and west railroad, languished and was long considered finished; the final completion of the road, however, gave it somewhat of an impetus, that may end in some distinction, it being the place of residence of some of the leading men of the county, and the starting point of several of its most successful business men. The town proper comprises an area of about eighty acres…”

Schooling in the area of Camargo began almost immediately upon its settlement.  Camargo definitely supported a high school, likely one with a 3-year course of study. The high school probably served Camargo through the 1948 school year.  It seems that the school became a 2-year high school in the early 1930s. In 1947 it was mandated by the state3 of Illinois that all 2-year and 3-year high schools in Illinois be closed.

According to the Villa Grove School District website page found at http://www.vg302.org/education/school/schoolhistory.php?sectiondetailid=16&sc_id=1135532128 , several area schools including that of Camargo consolidated to form one school district in 1948.  The high school was located in Villa Grove (four miles to the north) with a grade school remaining open in Camargo.  In 1967 it was voted to close the Camargo Grade School with all students now bused to Villa Grove to attend school.

The photos on this page were taken by our own Richard Soseman in December of 2005.  As you can see in the photo below, the brick building has been covered by aluminum siding.

Camargo School Quick Facts

Year opened:                          late 1800s

Year closed:                           1967

Consolidated to:                      Villa Grove School District

Camargo team nickname:        unavailable

School colors:                         unavailable

School Fight Song:                  unavailable

Former Camargo School Rear View Athletics and Extra-Curriculars It is quite possible that the students of Camargo Grade School competed in athletics and other extra-curricular activities.  Basketball, baseball, and track were probably offered to the boys.  We are in need of several “quick facts” bits of information as well. Please write to us if you can add to the history of the Camargo High School activities. BOYS BASKETBALL The Camargo High School boys definitely competed in boys basketball. several newspaper articles from the 1920s in the area confirmed this. However scores of Camargo HS games on the website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores” were not located.  FOOTBALL One article located in the Tuscola Journal from October 16, 1924 has the boys losing a game to the Tuscola High School boys 32-0. So football was also a part of the athletic curriculum.  Need Your Assistance If you have any information regarding the history and achievements of of Camargo Grade School please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us via real mail at: Illinois HS Glory Days 6439 N. Neva St. Chicago,  Il.   60631