The History of DeWitt High School The town of DeWitt (population 188) is located in eastern DeWitt County. Illinois Route 54 runs through the center of town and connects DeWitt with its neighbor ten miles to the northeast, Clinton. A town of note near DeWitt is Champaign located about 30 miles to the east and a little south of DeWitt. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad also runs through town. DeWitt was settled in 1832 as Marion, although that would change in 1837 after learning there was another community called Marion in southern Illinois. The town founders, Benjamin S. Day, James Morrison, James McCord, Z.G. Cantrell, and James Hutchison, were involved in settling, then surveying and plotting the town from 1834 to 1837. DeWitt was incorporated in 1879. The town name of DeWitt was likely chosen by James Allen, an early influential settler, who was a supporter of then New York Governor DeWitt Clinton.
The DeWitt school system began in 1836 and evolved over the years to the point that two years of high school were taught in the late 1890’s. A new building was built in 1911 after a fire destroyed the original school building. The new school contained a gymnasium on the second floor. DeWitt students then went to nearby Weldon for grades 11 & 12 to receive their diplomas. It is not certain when the DeWitt High School was deactivated. It was difficult to find any mention of DeWitt High School after the 19-teens. However, a reorganization of school districts all over the state took place in Illinois in the mid-1940’s. It was decided at some point between the mid-19-teens and 1947 that DeWitt’s high school students would attend all four years in nearby Clinton. It is most likely that DeWitt stopped offering high school courses in approximately 1915. The school building in DeWitt served as a grade school for the Clinton school system through the early 1970s. A FaceBook post by Debra Jo Peavey stated the following: “(The school in 1972 included)…First to sixth grade. The experience is first and second was in one room and third and fourth in another room and fifth and sixth in another room. It was a great time. I believe their was seven kids in fifth grade and nine in sixth grade. I cherished the memories.” The DeWitt School building stood proudly in DeWitt through the middle 20-teens before it was demolished in approximately 2019. The brick grade school addition remains but is in poor condition. DeWitt High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1890’s Year closed: Between 1914 and 1938 Grade school closed: 1971 School nickname: unavailable School colors: unavailable School Fight Song: unavailable |
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