Dix (population 494) is located in south-cental Illinois in the north-central portion of Jefferson County. Dix is located on the east side of Interstate Highway 57. Illinois Route 37 passes through Dix as does County Highway 39. The Norfolk Southern Railroad curves through the west side of Dix. According to the Wikipedia web address of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dix,_Illinois , Dix is located on high ground that marks the boundary between the Big Muddy River and its tributary, Casey Creek.
The Wikipedia address listed above also gives a brief, excellent account of the history of the town of Dix. In summary, the area where Dix now sits was originally inhabited in 1830. A post office was established there in 1852, proclaiming the town to be named Rome. The town was incorporated in 1869 but was forced to change its name as there was already a town in Illinois named Rome. It is believed the townspeople named the town Dix in honor of Civil War hero General John Adams Dix.
We currently have very little concrete information on Dix High School, we only know that it did, in fact, exist. Our guess is that the residents of Dix had a school in place for their children by the mid-1800s. A high school was probably established in the late 1800s. We think that Dix High School may have fell victim to the state of Illinois’ push to consolidate school districts in the late 1940s. Dix High School closed in 1943. The high school-aged children of Dix now attend Mt. Vernon High School, its neighbor to the south.
Dix has continued to support a grade school for its children. Dix grade school supports grades PK – 8. Regarding the fate of the Dix High School building, Jay Bell provided the following information:
“After the high school closed, it became the Dix Masonic Lodge. Membership dwindled to just a few members 20 years ago and it was finally torn down. The site of the former Dix High School is now the Dix Township Park.”
Dix High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s?
Year closed: 1943
Consolidated to: Mt. Vernon High School
Dix HS team nickname: unavailable
Dix HS team colors: unavailable
School Fight Song: unavailable
Athletics
We are assured that the Dix High School boys competed in basketball as a member of the IHSA. We would bet that baseball and track were offered at the school as well. Coach’s names, team records, great athletes, and any other information regarding the athletic program at Dix High would be appreciated.
Boys Basketball
We know that the Dix boys of 1929-30 could play some ball. These kids nearly won the Carlyle IHSA District title finishing second to Centralia, a school many times the size of Dix. Some scores involving Dix High School in the IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below as well.
1929-30 Team Finished Second in Carlyle District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
1932-33 Sandoval District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Breese 34-22
Centralia beat Sandoval in title game
1933-34 Carlyle District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Keyesport 19-5
2nd Rd lost to Trenton 22-20 (3 O/Ts)
Trenton lost to Centralia in Semi-final
Centralia beat Ashley in title game
Centralia lost to Quincy in Sweet 16 Rd.
1934-35 Ashley District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Woodlawn 26-20
2nd Rd lost to Mt. Vernon 52-20
Mt. Vernon beat Centralia in title game
Mt. Vernon lost in Sectional Tourney
1935-36 Wayne City District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Belle Rive 33-25
Belle Rive lost to Bonnie in 2nd Rd
Bonnie beat Woodlawn 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 Patoka District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Edgewood 23-21
2nd Rd Beat Kell 30-25
Semi-final lost to Patoka 60-37
Patoka beat Odin in title game
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1942-43 Ina District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
**Semi-final lost to Waltonville 46-33
Waltonville beat Opdyke in title game
**Final game for Dix High School, consolidated to Mt. Vernon High School in the summer of 1943.
All other season records and postseason scores are needed.
Extra-Curricular Activities
School playes, dances, homecomings, clubs, parties, and student government all were likely a part of the Dix High School experience. Please let us know if you have more to share regarding the DHS experience.
Memories & Facts
**From Catarina Bell:
Dix Woods Elementary School Building – 2012
Served as Grade School from 1851-1951 / Submitted by Catarina Bell
“Hello! I read your article about the Dix High School on Illinoishsglorydays.com. I was trying to learn more about the old building that used to be in my backyard (see photo to the right). I knew it was a schoolhouse at one point, but I needed to know more as I had spent so much of my time there. The building still stands, but in shambles. I always thought I was the only one to care about it. I’m 17 and it’s been a part of my life since I was 12. It’s always interested me. I have attached a picture with this e-mail. It was taken around maybe two years ago (2012)? I just know the condition has worsened. I just really wanted to share this so that someone besides myself can know what has happened to this important part of Dix history. We have discovered that the building was once known as the Woods Elementary School and served as a school building from 1851 – 1951.”
**From Wanda (Bruce) Puleo:
“My maiden name was Wanda Bruce, and I walked to the one room Woods School my first three years of school. My parents lived one mile north of Dix on route 37, Woods school was maybe a half mile north of that and a short distance east of route 37. The Dix High School was located in the Village of Dix, two separate buildings. My father Harry Bruce also attended Woods School all 8
Grades and then the 3 year high school in Dix, and a 4th year at Mt.Vernon Twp. High school, graduating in 1926.
I will say that the Woods School may likely be the one in the picture, as it has been neglected and used for storage by a local farmer and was overgrown with weeds etc. Woods School and other rural schools were consolidated in 1947 and went to the 2 room Dix Grade School. That school was closed when the larger Rome Elementary school was opened in 1951.
Thank you for mentioning the Woods School. The teacher the last three years it was open was Miss Grace Quarterman. Principal at Dix grade school was Carl Jolly till 1950, Ivan Gibbs in 1950-1951
I moved away from Dix in 1955 and didn’t stay in touch with many of the students, but I do remember there were 2 Bell children at Woods , James and a girl maybe Catherine who were in the higher grades.”
We Need Your Assistance
The folks who made Dix High School thrive for so many years deserve to have its existence memorialized. A photo of the high school building and any other information is welcome to be shared on this page. You can contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. Items can be mailed to us via USPS at:
