Cornell (population 511) is located in upper-eastern Illinois in the northwest area of Livingston County. Illinois Route 23 connects Cornell with its neighbor 8 miles (as the crow flies) to the southeast, Pontiac.
The town is named after settler Walter Cornell, who came to the area as an engineer for the Illinois & Michigan Canal. He also served as a school commissioner in 1849, was a postmaster, held the treasurer, collector, and assessor positions for Livingston County. Mr. Cornell laid out the village that bears his name on June 15, 1871. In addition, he also established the first Sunday School in the county.
The first school that opened in the Cornell area was a subscription school in 1840, called Scattering Point Institute, but it closed in 1849. Years later, a grade school was opened in the village and began offering a two-year “extension” of their grade school program in 1885 after which the kids would have the option of finishing high school and gaining their diploma from nearby Streator or Pontiac. For some time, the school offered a third year, but it was not until 1921 that Cornell High School became a four-year entity when voters approved the formation of a community high school.
Cornell HS Building Cornerstone 2013
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Cornell HS Building Cornerstone
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In September of that year, 58 students were enrolled in classes at the Cornell Methodist Church, and the first four-year class of students graduated in 1922, made up of all boys. From the fall of 1922 until March of 1924, classes were held at Woodman Hall in the village before the new building was ready for occupancy. That building was added onto in the 1950’s with a gymnasium, then had another addition with a remodeling in 1962.
Cornell High School boys’ basketball success is noted on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) as winning SEVEN District titles. The last year of operation for Cornell High School was in 1987 when the school deactivated and sent the students to Flanagan High School.
After years of having a board of education for the high school and grade school, the town of Cornell voted to annex their high school district to Flanagan in February 2008 and keep its grade school. The new high school is now called Flanagan-Cornell High School and uses the facility in Flanagan.
Cornell “Centennial Plate”
Submitted by Dick Albright
The fate of the Cornell High School building was a sad one, with the building being demolished in 1994. A park now occupies the land of what was the high school. The park includes a wonderful school memorial for good ole CHS. Also remaining is the former HS Ag / Shop building, now used for storage.
Ag /Shop Building of Cornell High School – 2013
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School Grounds of Former Cornell High School
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Cornell High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1885
Year became a four-year HS: 1921
First graduating class: 1922
Year closed: 1987
Students now attend: Flanagan-Cornell High School
School nickname: the “Cardinals”
School colors pre-1962: Maroon & White
School colors post-1962: Red & White
School Fight Song: Two Fight Songs for the Cardinals of Cornell High!!
(#1) On Dear Cornell
On, on dear Cornell,
Cornell must win.
Fight to the finish,
Never give in.
Rah Rah Rah!
You do your best, boys,
We’ll do the rest boys.
On, on to VICTORY!
Ch-hee, Cha-ha, Cha-ha-ha-ha,
CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL
Rah, Rah, RAH!!!
(#2) Hail Cornell High
Hail Cornell High,
Oh, let our song rise on high.
Our team is the BEST!
As they will prove by any test!
Rah Rah Rah!
Let’s give a cheer,
For there is nothing that we fear!
So we will fight to gain a VICTORY!
For Dear Old Cornell High !!!
C – O – R – N – E – L – L
CORNELL, CORNELL
RAH!!!
Athletics
There is a great listing of most of the Cornell High School Cardinal boy’s basketball seasons on the IHSA web site. The Cardinals also had one male athlete excel in track and cross-country. Football was offered through the 1970 school year, too. Baseball was also offered to the boys. The girls competed in basketball and volleyball, and probably track as well.
The Cornell Cardinals competed in the Midstate Conference (El Paso, Gridley, Chenoa, Lexington, Flanagan, and Streator Woodland) and the Vermillion Valley Conference. Please forward any further information on the Conference championship teams or great seasons in CHS history so we can add it to this page.
Boys Basketball
The Cornell High School boys’ basketball team won a total of 7 District Titles!! Five of those titles came in the 1920’s and the other two were earned in the early 1960’s. The win-loss records and coaches’ names of the early Cardinal teams are not available. We are told the Cornell Cardinals hosted their own basketball tourney in the early 1980’s during Thanksgiving as well. The Cardinals maintained their competitive edge all the way to the end, having two nice seasons to complete their existence. In addition, the Cardinals won the conference sportsmanship award in 1959, 1961, 1962, and 1967. The years of the titles, better records, and coaches’ names which are listed are available below.
Several scores from the IHSA Tournament were located on a site titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are printed below as well.
1921-22 Fairbury District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Cropsey 33-20
(Subsequent scores needed)
1922-23 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Peoria Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Galesburg
1923-24 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Peoria Sectional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Pekin 20-16
(Subsequent Scores Needed)
1924-25 Postseason scores, records, and coach’s name needed.
1925-26 IHSA District Champions Coach Maurice Macy
Pontiac Holiday Tourney–2ND Place
(Normal U-High – Champions)
(Season Record & District Scores Needed)
Peoria Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Canton 26-15
Canton beat Tremont in title game
Canton Finished SECOND in State Tourney!
1926-27 IHSA District Champions Coach Maurice Macy
Pontiac Holiday Tourney Champs
Defeated Chicago Tilden for Title
Livingston County Tournament Champs
(Season Record & District Scores Needed)
Urbana Sectional Tournamnent
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 15-14
Normal U-High lost to Champaign in title game
Champaign placed FOURTH in State Tourney
1927-28 IHSA District Champions Coach C.S. Mendenhall
Pontiac Holiday Tourney Cons. Champs
Livingston County Tournament Champs
(Season Record & District Scores Needed)
Normal Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Streator 40-23
Streator beat Champaign in title game
Streator lost in Elite 8 Rd.
1928-29 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1929-30 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1930-31 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1931-32 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1932-33 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1933-34 Dwight District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Chenoa 32-16
2nd Rd lost to Fairbury 23-19
Fairbury lost to Mazon in semi-final
Mazon lost to Dwight in title game
1934-35 Streator District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Harding 89-16
2nd Rd lost to Seneca 37-29
Seneca beat Streator in title game
1935-36 Kempton District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Kempton 27-16
Semi-final lost to Reddick
Reddick beat Cullom in title game
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.
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1966-67 2-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach John Jacobson
1967-68 5-16 Odell District Tournament Coach Ronald Lawson
1st Rd lost to Saunemin 73-47
Saunemin lost to Reddick in semi-final
Mazon beat Reddick in title game
1968-69 3-18 Odell District Tournament Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd lost to Odell 72-62
Odell lost to Reddick in title game
1969-70 11-14 Odell District Runner-UpCoach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd Beat Mazon 68-59
Semi-final Beat Flanagan 51-44
Title Game lost to Reddick 57-50
1970-71 11-12 Lostant District Tournament Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd Beat Cullom Tri-point 61-54
Semi-final lost to Odell 59-52
Odell lost to Reddick in title game
1971-72 3-19 Streator Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd lost to Tonica 70-36
Tonica lost to Streator Woodland in semi-final
Woodland beat Lostant in title game
1972-73 1-21 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jim Stowe
1973-74 5-18 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jim Stowe
1974-75 2-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Kurt Lauritzen
1975-76 3-21 Postseason scores needed. Coach Kurt Lauritzen
1976-77 0-23 Postseason scores needed. Coach Kurt Lauritzen
1977-78 0-23 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jerry Gray
1978-79 2-21 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jerry Gray
1979-80 3-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1980-81 8-14 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1981-82 7-16 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1982-83 8-15 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1983-84 2-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Will Van Weeldan
1984-85 6-17 Postseason scores needed. Coach Will Van Weeldan
1985-86 17-9 Postseason scores needed Coach Will Van Weelden
*1986-87 12-13 Postseason scores needed Coach Will Van Weelden
*1986-87 was the final season for Cornell High School.
**Cornell may be the only town with a population of 500 that has produced two high school basketball coaches who have each aquired over 500 wins. John Snyder, (Bloomington Central Catholic), and Jack Murphy (Tremont, Taylorville and Pontiac) accomplished this feat coaching high school basketball in Illinois after their graduation from Cornell High School and Illinois State University. More information of each coach is written below.
Girls Basketball
The Lady Cardinals competed in basketball with only one season listed on the IHSA web site. The year and team’s coach are listed below.
1979-80 8-11 Coach Jody Smith
Boys Cross-Country
One athlete at Cornell High excelled in Cross-Country. John Jacobson medaled in three consecutive years, winning the State Individual Championship in 1982 with a time of 14:43.2!!
Cornell did not compete in cross-country as a team or school. However, they realized John’s talent and found ways for him to compete in several meets in the area.
John became associated with the Streator Woodland team and entered several meets in which they were a part of. John then entered the State meet as a solo athlete from Cornell. John’s three great seasons are listed below.
1980-81 John Jacobson 9th Place
1981-82 John Jacobson 6th Place
1982-83 John Jacobson STATE CHAMPION !!
Boys Track & Field
John Jacobson didn’t rest on his laurels from cross-country. John added to his state medaling ability in Track as well. In fact, John Jacobson’sefforts won him a total of 6 medals including 4 individual gold medals!! His efforts further gave the Cornell High School thinclads two consecutive top ten finishes in the Class A State Track Meet. John’s incredible efforts are listed below.
In addition to Jacobson’s efforts, the Cardinals of 1954 finished second to Chenoa in the Mid-State Conference track meet. Two Cardinal tracksters were three-time conference champions as well. John Snyder (see famous alumni below) won the mile in 1949-50-51 as well as adding the 880 championship in 1950. Roger Ernhardt took the 880 championship in 1951-52-53.
1953-54 Mid State Conference Runner-up
1980-81 John Jacobson 800 Meter Run 3rd Place
John Jacobson 1600 Meter Run 5th Place
1981-82 Cornell High School Cardinals Finished 5th at the Class A Track Meet
Individual Medalist
John Jacobson 1600 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION!
John Jacobson 3200 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION!
1981-82 Final Team Standings – Class A State Track Meet
1) St. Anne – 52
2) Rochester – 28
3) Lisle – 25
West Frankfort – 25
5) CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL – 20
Buffalo Tri-City – 20
Providence St. Mel – 20
8) Tiskilwa – 18
Glasford Illini Bluffs – 18
10) Paxton – 17
1982-83Cornell High School Cardinals Finished 6th at the Class A Track Meet
Individual Medalist
John Jacobson 1600 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION !!
John Jacobson 3200 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION !!
1982-83 Final Team Standings – Class A State Track Meet
1) Cairo 45
2) St. Anne 40
3) Chicago Leo 34
4) Walther Lutheran 29
5) Christopher 23
6) CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL 20
McLeansboro 20
Riverton 20
9) Tuscola 19
10) Fulton 18
Football
The Cardinal athletic program included football through the 1970-71 school year. The team was one of the charter members of the Mid-State Conference competing against the likes of El Paso, Gridley, Flanagan, Lexington, Chenoa, Minonk-Dana-Rutland, Fairbury, and Streator Woodland. The Cardinals had some very strong teams.
Their best year in the conference was in 1959 when the boys of the gridiron shared the conference title with El Paso. The team was led by running back Claude Jacobson (leading scorer with 61 points), along with all-conference selections Francis Hinshaw (offfensive tackle), Bill Meyer (defensive back), and Bob McMenamin (quarterback/defensive end).
The best of the Cornell High School football seasons from 1949 through 1970 are listed below.
1953-54 5-3-1
1954-55 5-5
1959-60 6-2 Conference Champions Coach Marty Stromberger
(5-1 in Conference Play)
1960-61 4-4 Finished 3rd in Conference
1961-62 4-3
The football team won the conference sportsmanship award in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965!
Baseball
Cornell Baseball Field 2013
Left click on photo for a larger view
The Cornell High School Cardinals baseball teams of 1959 and 1960 also finished well in Mid-State Conference play. Both finished in second place.
1958-59 4-2 in conference play – Conference Runner-Up
1959-60 Conference Runner-Up
GREAT ATHLETES / ALUMNI / COACHES
*John Jacobson has to be one of the greatest long distance runners in Class A history in Illinois. John won a total of 9 individual medals in IHSA competition. Truly incredible performance and athletic career at Cornell High by John Jacobson!!!
*Coach John Snyder (Cornell HS Class of 1951) – Member of Illinois High School Coaches Association Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame for compiling over 500 victories as a head basketball coach for Bloomington Trinity/Central Catholic High School (Trinity was renamed Central Catholic). Coach Snyder is also a member of the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.
*Coach Jack Murphy (Cornell HS Class of 1950) – Also a member of the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for compiling over 500 victories as a head basketball coach in Illinois at high schools in Tremont, Pontiac, Taylorville, Pawnee, and Minonk-Dana-Rutland.
*Cornell Grads who played for Illinois State – Normal University and Coach Joe Cogdal in the 1930’s include: Charles Beck, Pete Miner, and Mose Moore. Dick Murphy, who played at CHS in the early 1940’s, also went on to compete at ISNU.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Sports were not the only thing that occupied the time of the kids of Cornell High School. Chorus, FFA, Band, Student Government, Dances, and Plays were all offered at CHS.
To view a very brief video clip of the Cornell High School Marching Band in action during the 1980 Northern Illinois University Homecoming parade in DeKalb check out this YouTube video sent to us by “Tom”:
The village of Cornell and the Cornell High School Alumni have created a very nice park on the site of the former Cornell High School building. The park includes a memorial stone, personalized brick display, the cornerstones of the former high School building, and a wonderful mural on the side of the former school agriculture and shop building.
Cornell HS Memorial Park Brick Display
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Cornell HS Dedication
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Cornell HS Mural
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SPECIAL ALUMNI GATHERING FOR CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND TOWNSPEOPLE
From Jo Morrison (Class of 1967):
It was a very special event in Cornell that took place on October 02, 2010.
This was a glorious day. A great celebration of our school, community, roots, and memories being rekindled.
“Cornell Alumni Tribute to Mrs. Godden.”
We honored all alumni and faculty by a tree planting and plaque at the site of the former school and we paid tribute to longtime teacher Jean Godden. “
Cornell Tree and Plaque Dedication 2010
Cornell Tribute October 02, 2010
Need Photos and Information
Help us keep the memories of Cornell High School and the Cardinal athletes alive forever. We are not limited to athletics only, any and all information and facts of Cornell High are welcome and sought. Additional photos of the school, teams and other persons associated with Cornell are especially welcome. You can e-mail us photos and information at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:
