Elkville (population 1,001) is located in far southern Illinois in the northwest portion of Jackson County. Carbondale and Southern Illinois University are located just 12 miles south of Elkville. U.S. Route 51 is the main roadway through Elkville. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad travels through Elkville as well. A branch of the Little Muddy River flows just south of town. Elkville was officially established in 1861 and named after the elk that roamed the prairie up until the 1830s.
The history of Elkville’s educational efforts is in need of research. We are confident that Elkville had at least a grade school started by the late 1800s. We are also confident that Elkville had a high school established by the early 1900s. Elkville High School served the town quite proudly through the early 1960s. In the late 1950s and early 1960s consolidation talks were started between the residents of Elkville, Vergennes, and Dowell. This effort was finalized in 1962 with the creation of the Elverado School District. The high school was located in Elkville and remains there even today.
Adam Rosoho, a long-time contributor to the Glory Days website, tells us of the fate of the Elkville High School building:
“The old Elkville High school was torn down in the late 90’s, early 2000’s. Not sure of the exact year but I will get it for you. They built the new high school behind the old one, then tore the old school down. Only remaining part is the basketball gym.”
Elkville High School Quick Facts
Year opened: early 1900s
Year closed: 1962
Consolidated to: Elverado School District (Elkville)
Elkville HS team nickname: the “Bluebirds”
Team colors: Blue & White
School Fight Song: unavailable
Elkville High School Gymnasium – 2010
Photo by James Horaz
Elkville Gymnasium Dedication – 2010
Photo by James Horaz
Elkville High School Athletics
Elkville High School boys competed in basketball for sure (www.ihsa.org). Football was also a prime sport for the Bluebirds. We are confident that baseball and track were also offered. School fight song, team records, and coach’s names are being sought.
Boys Basketball
The Elkville Bluebirds were a force to be reckoned with in their neck of the woods. A total of SIX District titles and one Regional title were won by the Bluebirds during their existence as a solo high school. To win a Regional title for a small school in the 1930s meant you had to beat high schools from some much larger towns. If you have any information behind these title years, or any other years of EHS basketball, please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . Team records and coach’s names, as you can see, are being sought.
1927-28 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Benton Sectional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Karnak 23-22
Semi-final lost to Benton 17-12
Benton Beat Carbondale in title game
Benton lost to Canton in Elite 8 Rd
Canton won IHSA State Tourney
1937-38 Elkville District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Title Game Beat Cambria 44-21
IHSA Regional Qualifier
Regional Scores Needed
1938-39 IHSA District & Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Herrin Regional Champions
1st Rd Beat Carbondale U-High 27-23
Semi-final Beat Herrin 24-23
Title Game Beat Marion 22-19
Mt. Vernon Sectional Qualifier
1st Rd Beat Vandalia 33-31
Semi-final lost to Centralia 33-29
Centralia beat Mt. Vernon in title game
Centralia placed 4th in State Tourney
1940-41 Elkville District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Valier 40-29
Semi-final Beat Royalton 53-16
Title Game Beat Hurst-Bush 20-18
West Frankfort Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Benton 34-26
West Frankfort beat Ziegler in title game
1941-42 Valier District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Hurst 36-29
Benton Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Benton 34-32
West Frankfort beat Johnson City in title game
West Frankfort lost to Centralia in Sweet 16 Rd
Centralia won IHSA State Title.
1961-62 Elkville District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Gorham 76-49
Title Game Beat Carbondale Attucks 74-46
Murphysboro Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Carbondale 58-54
**Semi-Final lost to Marion 78-72
Marion beat Herrin in title game
Marion lost to McLeansboro in Sweet 16 Rd
McLeansboro finished 4th in IHSA State Tourney.
**Possibly school’s last game as Elkville High School.
Elkville Football Field – 2010
Photo by James Horaz
Football
The Elkville Bluebirds won or shared 6 conference championships in a 10 year stretch from 1952 to 1961. The records and coach’s names for these teams are listed below, coutesy of Tom Sikorski!
1952 6-1-1 Black Diamond Conference Champions Coach Red Moore
1953 6-1-1 Black Diamond Conference Champions Coach Red Moore
1954 6-2 Black Diamond Conference Champions Coach Red Moore
1955 5-2 Black Diamond Conference Co-Champs Coach Red Moore
1958 4-4 Coach James Zancha
1960 3-4-1 Black Diamond Conference Champions Coach Bob Groves
(3-0-1 in the league)
1961 5-4 Black Diamond Conference Co-Champs Coach Bob Groves
1962 first year as Elkville-Elverado
Sign on Press Box – 2010
Photo by James Horaz
Elkville Football Press Box & Concession Stand
Photo by James Horaz
Always Looking for More Information
If you have ANY more information you would like to share regarding the history and successful accomplishments of Elkville High School we hope you will write to us so we can share it with others. We are especially interested in a photo of the original Elkville High School building. You can e-mail information and photos to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us via real mail at:
