Elizabeth (population 761) is located along United States Route 20 in the hilly Northwest Illinois area. It is about 15 miles east of Galena. The town was first settled as a fort in 1825 and played a vital role in the Black Hawk War of the 1830’s. One legend regarding the naming of the town states that in 1832 a group of Sauk Indians attacked the fort while the men of the town were away hunting. A lady named Elizabeth Armstrong organized the women to defend the fort and fight off the Indians. The town was subsequently named in her honor.
It is believed that Elizabeth residents started their high school system in the early 1900’s and served the community until 1985 when they consolidated with nearby Hanover to form River Ridge High School, now located north of Hanover on Ill. Route 84. In 2003, all lower level grades from Elizabeth and Hanover schools moved into the new campus. The original Elizabeth High School building is vacant, but an annex (which was added in the 1950s) now houses the Highland Community College West Campus.
Today the Elizabeth High School building serves as an Antique Mall! Visit the Mall’s website at https://www.grandantiqueco.com/ .
Consolidated to: River Ridge High School (Hanover)
Year all school functions ceased: 2003
School team mascot: Terrapin Turtle
School team nickname: “Terrapins”
School team colors: Blue & Orange
School song: “Sing for Dear Old Betsy High”
Lyrics provided by Lynn Kloft
Sing for Dear Ole Betsy High!
Shout to til the anthems ring!
Stand and sing the song once again!
Let every loyal Terrapin sing (RAH RAH)!
And sing for all the happy hours,
Sing for the careless days,
Sing for Dear Ole Betsy High School,
The school of our hearts always!
T-E-R-R-A-P-I-N-S
Terrapins, Terrapins, are the BEST!
YES!
Elizabeth High School “new” gym
Elizabeth High School “old” gym and stage
Athletics
Elizabeth High School had a very unique nickname for their athletic teams. Lynn Kloft explains that the Terrapin is a small turtle and many were found to live in the area in ponds that surrounded nearby Terrapin Ridge.
Boys Basketball
The EHS Basketball program enjoyed great success, especially in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The boys basketball program took home all of the school’s IHSA hardware in the form of District Championships: 11 of them in all. Coach’s names of many of the early teams are needed.
Check out the records of the Elizabeth teams of 1948-49 through 1953-54. How about a 142 – 33 record for that period which included 6 consecutive 20+ games-won seasons!!
Coach Brad Albrecht led the Terrapin charges from 1972-73 until the school consolidated after the 1984-85 season. Coach Albrecht’s final team at Elizabeth was his best, a Regional Champ with a 23 – 4 record!
Special recognition goes to Charles See for his extensive research into the Elizabeth High School boys basketball seasons of 1946-47 through 1969-70. Several scores involving Elizabeth High School during other seasons were located on a web site titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” and are reprinted below.
1921-22 Freeport District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Pecatonica 30-6
Freeport beat Orangeville in title game
1922-23 through 1930-31 Postseason scores, records, and coach’s names needed.
1931-32 Savanna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Hanover 27-13
Savanna beat Fulton in title game
1932-33 Savanna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Savanna 36-16
Savanna beat Hanover in title game
1933-34 Savanna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Elizabeth scores needed
Hanover beat Fulton in title game
1934-35 Stockton District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Shannon 17-15
2nd Rd lost to Mt. Carroll 38-16
Stockton beat Hanover in title game
1935-36 Savanna Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Chadwick 20-16
Fulton beat Hanover in title game
1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 10 – 11 Elizabeth District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-Final Beat Scales Mound 32-21
Title Game Beat Hanover 26-25
Freeport Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Warren 39-22
Warren beat Freeport in title game
Warren lost to Rockford in semi-final of Sectional
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1940-41 Elizabeth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Shannon 45-20
Shannon beat Chadwick in title game
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1942-43 Shannon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Chadwick 52-38
Hanover beat Shannon in title game
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1944-45 Shannon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1946-47 11 – 12 Lena District Tournament Coach Robert Murphy
1st Rd Beat Scales Mound 50-35
Semi-final lost to Winslow 65-33
Winslow beat Lena in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 3rd Place (6 – 6)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 3rd Place
1947-48 18 – 8 Lena District Runner-UpCoach Robert Murphy
1st Rd Beat Warren 55-31
Semi-final Beat Lena 35-32
Title Game lost to Pecatonica 54-51 (O/T)
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (8 – 2)
Jo Davies County Tourney – Champions
Beat Stockton in title game 35-33
1948-49 21 – 7 Winslow District Champions Coach Robert Murphy
1st Rd Beat Pecatonica 55-44
Semi-finalBeat Durand 83-54
Title Game Beat Lena 70-46
Freeport Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Stockton 75-46
Freeport beat Freeport Aquin in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (9 – 1)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
Lost title game to Stockton 34-32
1949-50 20 – 7 Lena District Runner-UpCoach Fred Pratt
1st Rd Beat East Dubuque 62-53
Semi-final Beat Warren 51-50
Title game lost to Stockton 36-30
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (8 – 2)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
1950-51 26 – 5 Scales Mound District ChampionsCoach Fred Pratt
1st Rd Beat Pearl City 86-45
Semi-final Beat Winslow 77-44
Title Game Beat Lena 46-41
Freeport Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Orangeville 69-46
Semi-final lost to Rockford West 46-41
Rockford West lost to Freeport in title game
Freeport won IHSA State Tournament
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (10 – 0)
Jo Davies County Tourney – Champions
Beat Hanover in title game 58-47
Mt. Carroll Invitational Tourney – 2nd Place
1951-52 29 – 2Winslow District ChampionsCoach Fred Pratt
Semi-Final Beat Lena 53-48
Title Game Beat East Dubuque 60-51
Freeport Regional Runner-Up
1st Rd Beat Dakota 59-49
Semi-final Beat Freeport Aquin 46-44
Title Game lost to Freeport 66-47
Freeport lost to Quincy in Sweet16 Rd
Quincy lost to Hebron in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (10 – 0)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
Lost to East Dubuque in title game 57-52
Mt. Carroll Invitational Tourney – Champions
Beat Scales Mound 67-45 in title game
1952-53 21 – 9Winslow District ChampionsCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-Final Beat Lena 73-58
Title Game Beat Winslow 71-61
Freeport Regional Runner-Up
1st Rd Beat Freeport Aquin 65-53
Semi-final Beat Orangeville 76-58
Title Game lost to Freeport 61-56
FREEPORT (61): Anderson 14, Stewart 12, Penticoff 10, Dame 9, Luedeking 8, Doherty 8
ELIZABETH (56): Steinberger 15, Krug 12, Lloyd 11, Allen 9, Eustice 9.
Freeport lost in Sectional
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (6 – 4)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
Lost title game to Galena 63-62
1953-54 25 – 3 East Dubuque District Champions Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-Final Beat Scales Mound 66-56
Title Game Beat East Dubuque 59-51
Freeport Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Stockton 51-45
Semi-final lost to South Beloit 65-61
South Beloit lost to Freeport in title game
Freeport lost in Sectional
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (10 – 0)
Jo Davies County Tourney – Champions
Beat Stockton in title game 63-53
1954-55 18 – 9 East Dubuque District Tourney Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-Final lost to Scales Mound 71-61
Had beaten Scales Mound in 3 previous meetings
East Dubuque beat Scales Mound in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (8 – 2)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
Lost title game to East Dubuque 68-55
Mt. Carroll Tourney – 2nd Place
Lost title game to Chadwick 83-56
1955-56 8 – 16 East Dubuque District Runner-UpCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat Scales Mound 60-56
Title Game lost to East Dubuque 58-56
U.S. Grant Conference – 5th Place (4 – 8)
1956-57 16 – 11Scales Mound District Runner-UpCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat Warren 81-56
Title Game lost to East Dubuque 66-58
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (10 – 2)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 3rd Place
Beat East Dubuque in 3rd Place Game 66-55
1957-58 19 – 8Scales Mound District ChampionsCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat East Dubuque 65-60
Title Game Beat Scales Mound 72-53
Stockton Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Winnebago 63-54
Winnebago lost to Lena in semi-final
Lena lost to Freeport in title game
Freeport lost in Sectional
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (10 – 2)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
Lost title game to Hanover 59-58
1958-59 17 – 9 East Dubuque District Runner-UpCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-Final Beat Scales Mound 38-36
Title Game lost to East Dubuque 59-47
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (9 – 3)
Jo Davies County Tourney – 2nd Place
Title Game lost to Hanover 50-47
1959-60 23 – 7Elizabeth District ChampionsCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat Hanover 73-55
Title Game Beat Scales Mound 66-46
Stockton Regional Topurnament
1st Rd Beat Galena 68-48
Semi-final lost to Freeport 73-62
Freeport beat Stockton in title game
Freeport lost in Sectional.
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (11 – 1)
Jo Davies County Tourney – Champions
Beat Galena in title game 48-40
1960-61 7 – 16 Galena District Runner-UpCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat East Dubuque 63-56
Title Game lost to Hanover 53-51
U.S. Grant Conference – 6th Place (3 – 9)
1961-62 18 – 7Elizabeth District ChampionsCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat Hanover 58-41
Title Game Beat East Dubuque 60-56
Stockton Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Freeport Aquin 63-56
Aquin lost to Lena-Winslow in semi-final
Le-Win lost to Freeport in title game
Freeport lost in Sectional
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (11 – 1)
Jo Davies County Tourney – Champions
Beat Hanover in title game 43-32
1962-63 15 – 9Elizabeth District ChampionsCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat Pearl City 65-53
Title Game Beat East Dubuque 68-67
Freeport Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Warren 45-44
Warren lost to Freeport in semi-final
Freeport beat Lena-Winslow in title game
Freeport lost in Sectional
U.S. Grant Conference – Champions (10 – 2)
1963-64 9 – 14 Pearl City District Tourney Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-Final lost to Hanover 65-51
Hanover beat Pearl City in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 4th Place (6 – 6)
1964-65 9 – 14 Hanover District Tournament Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-Final lost to Hanover 68-64
Hanover lost to Pearl City in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 4th Place (6 – 6)
Forreston Holiday Tourney Consolation 2nd Place
1965-66 13 – 13Elizabeth District ChampionsCoach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final Beat East Dubuque 64-58
Title Game Beat Pearl City 66-48
Freeport Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Freeport Aquin 69-37
Aquin lost to Freeport in semi-final
Freeport beat Warren in title game
Freeport lost in Sectional
U.S. Grant Conference – 4th Place (7 – 5)
Forreston Holiday Tourney Consolation 2nd Place
1966-67 14 – 9 Pearl City District Tournament Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final lost to Pearl City 67-61
Pearl City lost to Orangeville in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (8 – 4)
1967-68 18 – 8 Elizabeth District Tournament Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
Semi-final lost to Pearl City 65-59
Pearl City beat Orangeville in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 2nd Place (9 – 3)
Jo Davies County Tourney Runner-Up
Lost title game to Galena 61-51
Forreston Holiday Tourney Runner-Up
Lost title game to Forreston 61-46
1968-69 5 – 17 Hanover District Tournament Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
1st Rd Beat Pearl City 68-59
Semi-final lost to Orangeville 64-60
Hanover beat Orangeville in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 6th Place (3 – 9)
1969-70 6 – 15 Pearl City District Tournament Coach Richard “Dick” Carroll
1st Rd lost to Orangeville 75-72
Pearl City beat East Dubuque in title game
U.S. Grant Conference – 5th Place (4 – 8)
1970-71 1 – 20 Elizabeth District Tournament Coach Clark Campbell
1st Rd lost to Scales Mound 81-71
Pearl City beat Orangeville in title game
1971-72 3 – 19 Stockton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Clark Campbell
1st Rd lost to Galena 78-46
Galena beat Warren in title game
1972-73 2 – 20 Galena Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Clark Campbell
1st Rd lost to Warren 67-58
Stockton beat Galena in title game
1973-74 8 – 18 Stockton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd lost to Warren 81-73
Stockton beat Scales Mound in title game
1974-75 8 – 17 Stockton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd Beat Warren 77-76
Semi-final lost to Stockton 73-60
Stockton lost to Galena in title game
1975-76 10 – 15 Postseason scores needed Coach Brad Albrecht
1976-77 17 – 8 Stockton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd Beat Scales Mound
Semi-final lost to Galena 57-55
Galena lost to Warren in title game
1977-78 9 – 17 Stockton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd lost to Warren 69-57
Stockton beat Warren in title game
1978-79 14 – 13 Stockton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd Beat Hanover 71-44
Semi-final lost to Galena 73-71
Galena beat Warren in title game
1979-80 15 – 10 Postseason scores needed Coach Brad Albrecht
1980-81 18 – 9Stockton Regional Runner-UpCoach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd Beat East Dubuque 59-56
Semi-final Beat Stockton 74-59
Title Game lost to Warren 71-50
1981-82 14 – 15 Savanna Regional Champions Coach Brad Albrecht
1st Rd Beat Warren 58-44
Semi-final Beat Hanover 53-52
Title Game Beat Stockton 60-56 (O/T)
Pearl City Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Chadwick 42-36
Chadwick beat Freeport Aquin in title game
Chadwick lost to Monmouth in Sweet 16
Monmouth lost in state title game
1982-83 16 – 10 Postseason scores needed Coach Brad Albrecht
1983-84 17 – 10 Postseason scores needed Coach Brad Albrecht
1984-85 23 – 4 IHSA Regional Champions Coach Brad Albrecht
Regional Scores Needed
Pearl City Sectional Tournament
**Semi-final lost to Dakota 63-56 (O/T)
Dakota beat Annawan in title game
Dakota lost to Princeville in Sweet 16
Princeville lost to Providence St. Mel in Elite 8
Providence St. Mel won state title
**Elizabeth High School Terrapins’ final game. Became part of River Ridge School District in the summer of 1985.
Submitted by Charles See
Submitted by Charles See
Submitted by Charles See
Submitted by Charles See
Girls Basketball
The Lady Terrapins had some nice seasons in their early years. Coach Sharon Smith may have been the only girls coach in school history. If you have this information please forward it to us.
1975-76 13 – 1 Nice Season! Coach Sharon Smith
1976-77 11 – 4 Coach Sharon Smith
1977-78 10 – 3 Coach Sharon Smith
1978-79 8 – 8 Coach Sharon Smith
1984-85 School’s Last Season Coach Sharon Smith
Music Program
Elizabeth High School was also a great place to learn about music and compete with it as well. In back-to-back years, 1983 and 1984, Elizabeth High School’s Music Program won the Class D State Championship in the IHSA Music Sweepstakes. Class D enabled the program to compete with fellow small schools in the state.
Scenes from inside EHS
Classroom, hallway and stairwells looking down
Seeking More Information
More information is being sought about Elizabeth High School; use the Guest Commentary Form to sumbit. Corrections are welcome as well. If you have more Information about Elizabeth High School, including the school song and other great teams and high school memories you would like to share please use the Guest Commentary Form or you may also write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL 60631
