| Dahlgren High School in 1949 | |||||||||
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| Submitted by Howard Allen | |||||||||
| Dahlgren High School |
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| Now Dahlgren Elementary School |
The History of Dahlgren High School
Dahlgren (population 514) is located in south-central Illinois about 15 miles southeast of Mt. Vernon. The town sits on Illinois Route 142 in northwestern Hamilton County. The Shelton Creek flows through the northeast side of Dahlgren. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad runs a line through town that was very instrumental in its early growth. Dahlgren’s settlement began in 1870 and was named after U.S. Army General Dahlgren. By 1884 the town had prospered into a thriving community. For more on the town’s history check out http://carolyar.com/Illinois/Villages.htm.
| Dahlgren High School – Addition of 1969 |
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| Courtesy of Jamie Driskill |
We believe that Dahlgren residents began a school system for their children in the late 1800s. It is probable that high school curriculum was offered by the early 1900s. Dahlgren High School served the town and its children well for over seven decades. In the early 1970s Dahlgren residents began talks of deactivating their high school. These talks became a reality in 1972 and Dahlgren High School was annexed into the McLeansboro High School system.
Dahlgren did maintain an elementary school in their town for grades K – 6. The elementary school is pictured above and we believe it once served as Dahlgren High School. The Dahlgren Elementary School website is found at www.unit10.com/DH/.
Dahlgren High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed: 1972
Annexed to: McLeansboro High School
School bldg. today: Dahlgren Elementary School (K – 6)
Dahlgren HS team nickname: the “Bulldogs”
Team colors: Purple & White
School Fight Song: unavailable
Athletics Dahlgren High School definitely offered boys basketball. Track and baseball were probably offered as well. We are not sure if the school was open when girls sports were required to be added to the school curriculum. The school competed in the Little Egyptian Conference. We are searching for the Dahlgren fight song. Team records and coaches names of other Dahlgren HS teams are also being sought.
Boys Basketball The Dahlgren High School boys basketball team had a nice run in the late 1950s and early 1960s. District Championships were won in 1958, 1962, and 1963. Unfortunately this is all of the current information we have available. We are hopeful an area resident can provide some of the better team records and coaches names of these and other great DHS teams. To view photos of several Dahlgren HIgh School basketball teams and other Dahlgren vintage photos, check out the website address of http://www.carolyar.com/Illinois/Photos/Schools/HamCo.htm as found for us by our good friend Jamie Driskill. 1940-41 11 – 6 Coach’s name unavailable —- 1957-58 19 – 6 Enfield District Champions Coach Ronald McMorris Semi-final Beat Mills Prairie 75-37 Title Game Beat Enfield 66-61 Mt. Carmel Regional Tournament 1st Rd Lost to Mt. Carmel 70-52. Mt. Vernon Beat Mt. Carmel in title game —- 1959-60 Coach Wayne Arnold 1960-61 Coach Wayne Arnold —- 1961-62 Enfield District Champions Coach Wayne Arnold Semi-Final Beat Mills Prairie 49-43 Title Game Beat Enfield 69-61 Mt. Carmel Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Mt. Carmel 82-47 Mt. Vernon beat Edwards County in title game. —- 1962-63 Enfield District Champions Coach Q. Sullins Semi-Final Beat Crossville 51-50 (O/T) Title Game Beat Enfield 64-62 Albion Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Albion 57-49 Mt. Vernon beat Albion in title game. —- 1971-72 Wayne City Class ‘A’ Regional **1st Rd lost to Sesser 86-78 Sesser beat Woodlawn in title game **Final varsity boys basketball game for the Dahlgren High School “Bulldogs.”
MEMORIES From Howard Allen as told by James Horaz: “The basketball team played on the second floor of a block of buildings in town. This was before the gym was built. Mr. Allen’s father owned one of the stores below the gym. Howard informs me that the buildings are still there. I would LOVE to find someone to allow me into the old second floor of the buildings to snap a few photos of the old gym. If there’s anyting left. He said the gym was heated by a huge wood burner on each side of the gym. He also said it was a miracle that nobody died up there considering the heating arrangments. It sound like an interesting situation back then!”
Seeking More Information If you have more Information about Dahlgren High School, especially win-loss records and other great teams and memories you would like to share please e-mail this web site at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You can also write to us via real mail at: Illiinois HS Glory Days 6439 N. Neva St. Chicago, Il. 60631
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