| DeLand High School | |||||||||
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| 1921 – 1947 | |||||||||
| DeLand High School | ||||||||||
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| 1880 – 1904 (destroyed by fire) | ||||||||||
The History of Deland High School
DeLand (also spelled “De Land” – population 447) is located in northern Piatt county in southeastern Illinois. A town of reference for location sake might be Decatur located about 20 miles southwest of DeLand. Illinois Route 10 is the main drag through town. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad parallels Route 10 and Goose Creek flows through the north side of DeLand. The town is named after James DeLand who had an important role in convincing the railroad to pass through town and / or French DeLand who was the surveyor who platted the town. DeLand reached a population peak of 542 in 1920. In 1980 the census showed DeLand enjoyed its last official population in excess of 500 with 509 residents.
DeLand traces its educational roots back to the late 1880s. A high school building existed in town as early as 1880. That building served the students until it burned down in 1904. A newer building was built which lasted until 1921. As DeLand grew it needed more space for its students. The 1904 building continued as DeLand Grade School until 1959.
A newer high school building was build in 1921. This building served proudly as DeLand High School until consolidation efforts between the residents of DeLand and Weldon, as well as several country schools, began in the mid 1940s. Votes in both towns made the consolidation effort a reality in 1947. The DeLand-Weldon School District was formed,effectively closing DeLand’s run as a solo high school. It is possible though, that the two high schools did not actually merge until 1949 as is evidenced by the District Championship recognized by the IHSA for DeLand High School in 1948.
The DeLand High School building served as DeLand-Weldon High School until a new building was built in 1957. DeLand Weldon High School still serves both communities today and is going strong, in spite of having one of the smallest high school enrollments in the state. A great deal of information for this history section was found on the DeLand-Weldon C.U.S.D. #57 website at http://www.geocities.com/dwes2001/History.html
DeLand High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1880
Year 1st Building burned: 1904
Year new building built: 1921
Year voted to merge with Weldon: 1947
Actual merger took place: 1948
School nickname: unavailable
School colors: unavailable
School Fight Song: unavailable
| Athletics
DeLand High School definitely offered baseball, basketball, and track. There is a possibility that football was offered as well. We are seeking the nickname, school colors, and school fight song. Conference affiliation would be interesting as well. As you will see below, we are missing coach’s names, team records, and mention of the other great teams and players of DeLand High. ————————————————————————————————————- Boys Baseball The boys of the diamond won two District titles in their hey day. Unfortunately coach’s names and team records are not available. 1940-41 District Champions 1944-45 District Champions ———————————————————————————————————— Boys Basketball The DeLand High School basketball team were the mightiest of the mites in the mid to late 1940s. The teams won an incredible four straight District titles from 1945 through 1948. Again coach’s names and team records are not available. Several basketball scores from the IHSA state tournamanet were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores.” Some of these scores are printed below. —– 1940-41 Wapella District Runner-Up Coach’s name & season record needed. 1st Rd Beat Weldon 28-26 Semi-Final Beat Kenney 49-37 Title Game lost to Wapella 23-22 —– 1944-45 Wapella District Champions Coach’s name & season record needed. 1st Rd Beat Downs 39-16 Semi-Final Beat Weldon 64-39 Title Game Beat Heyworth 46-31 IHSA Regional Tournament (Scores Needed) —– 1945-46 Wapella District Champions Coach’s name & season record needed. 1st Rd Beat Weldon 52-31 Semi-Final Beat Wapella 47-32 Title Game Beat Heyworth 43-38 Clinton Regional Tournament Runner-Up 1st Rd Beat Argenta 61-45 Semi-Final Beat Bloomington 41-31 Title Game lost to Clinton 43-41 —– 1946-47 Wapella District Champions Coach’s name & season record needed. 1st Rd Beat Waynesville 51-34 Semi-Final Beat Wapella 63-48 Title Game Beat Heyworth 43-41 (O/T) Clinton Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to LeRoy 45-33 Clinton beat Bloomington in title game. —– 1947-48 Wapella District Champions Coach’s name & season record needed. 1st Rd Beat Kenney 68-38 Semi-Final Beat Wapella 37-31 Title Game Beat Heyworth 31-29 Clinton Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat LeRoy 45-31 **Semi-Final lost to Bloomington 51-45 Clinton beat Bloomington in title game. **Final varsity boys basketball game for DeLand High School. ——————————————————————————————————————————- Boys Track & Field One DeLand High School thinclad left his mark in a big way for the folks at the Illinois High School State Track Meet. T. Chiles was the IHSA ‘B’ Meet State Champion in 880 Yard Run for two straight years in the early 1920s. 1921-22 Individual Medalist T. Chiles 880 Yard Run STATE CHAMPION!! 1922-23 Individual Medalist T. Chiles 880 Yard Run STATE CHAMPION!! |
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If You Have ANY Further Information Regarding DeLand High School… Please share any information you have regarding the great history of DeLand and its former high school. We realize DeLand-Weldon High School serves the towns proudly today. We would like to preserve the memories of both former high schools before those who were around then are no longer available to tell the stories. You can e-mail information to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.
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