Franklin Grove High School “Wildcats”

Franklin Grove School Building – 1870

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http://www.franklingroveil.org/testt.htm

The History of Franklin Grove High School

Franklin Grove (population 1,052) is located in north-central Lee County in the eastern part of north-central Illinois. The town is located about seven miles east of Dixon. Illinois Route 38 is the main roadway to and from town. Interstate Highway 88 runs just to the south of town. The Chicago Northwestern Railroad travels alongside Route 38. Franklin Creek flows through the northwest side of Franklin Grove.

An incredibly informative website regarding Franklin Grove is available at http://www.franklingroveil.org/welcom2.htm. The history of the town and activities currently offered there are all documented on the site. In summary the area Franklin Grove is now located on was first settled in the 1830s. The village began to take shape in 1849. In 1857 it was incorporated as a village in the state of Illinois. Franklin Grove is named either after Franklin Dixon, son of John Dixon for whom the city of Dixon is named, or after James Franklin, an early settler of the area (Place Names of Illinois by Edward Callary).

By 1870 a solid school system was established. There was even a classroom of “higher learning” which eludes to offering high school courses. By 1923 Franklin Grove had established an effective and respected high school offering a wide variey of extra-curricular activities.

The early 1950s brought consolidation talks between Franklin Grove High School and its neighbor Lee Center High School. This effort was finalized in 1956. The new district was called the Franklin Center School District. The high school for the new district was located in Franklin Grove.

Back Side of Commemorative Plate

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Courtesy of Mike Pacione

Franklin Grove HS Commemorative Plate

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Submitted by Mike Pacione

The commemorative plate above belongs to Mike Pacione. The rear of the plate reads:

“Wheelock China

Made in Austria for J.D. Sitts

Franklin Grove Illinois”

If anyone has any information regarding Mr. Sitts or this plate please contact the Glory Days staff via the means listed below.

The fate of the original Franklin Grove High School is being sought. For more information on Franklin Grove High School please visit http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolfranklin.html .

Franklin Grove High School Quick Facts

Year HS courses offered: 1870

Year HS merged with Lee Center HS: 1956

New District name: Franklin Center School District

Franklin Grove HS team nickname: “Wildcats”

FGHS team colors: Maroon & Orange

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

It is a fact that boys basketball and cross country were offered at Franklin Grove High School. It is quite probable that track and baseball were offered as well. School fight song, team records, and coach’s names of the better teams in Franklin Grove High School history are all items we are seeking.

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Boys Basketball

A District title hi-lited the boys basketball success at Franklin Grove HS. Unfortunately the team record and coach’s name of this and other FGHS teams are currently not available.

Franklin Grove High School basketball scores from the IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below as they were available on the site.

1919-20 LaSalle District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Tonica 60-22

Streator Beat LaSalle in title game

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1920-21 LaSalle District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Tonica 32-17

Streator beat LaSalle in title game.

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IHSA tournament scores for Franklin Grove High School from 1921-22 through 1930-31 needed.

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1931-32 Sterling District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lee Center 36-14

Rock Falls beat Sterling in title game.

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1932-33 Mt. Morris District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Creston 18-16

Polo beat Mt. Morris in title game.

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1933-34 Oregon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd. – Beat Leaf River 32-22

2nd Rd. – Lost to Oregon 21-4

Oregon lost in semi-final round

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1934-35 Dixon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd. – Lost to Mendota 26-9

Mendota lost in 2nd round

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1935-36 Walnut District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd. – Beat Lyndon 34-13

Lost in 2nd round (game results unavailable)

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1936-37 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.

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1937-38 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Byron 34-22

Lee Center beat Byron in title game.

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1938-39 Franklin Grove District Champions! Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Harmon 42-24

Semi-Final Beat Byron 28-25

Title Game Beat Stillman Valley 29-24

Mount Morris Regional Tournament

1st Rd. – Lost to Leaf River 35-18

Leaf River lost in semi-final.

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1939-40 Steward District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

Early Round Scores Needed

Title Game lost to Paw Paw 41-26

Both teams advanced to Regional Tournament.

IHSA Dixon Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Prophetstown 38-26

Sterling beat Dixon in title game.

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1940-41 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Creston 39-26

Semi-Final lost to Paw Paw 60-44

Paw Paw beat Lee in title game.

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1941-42 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

Franklin Grove scores needed.

Steward beat Paw Paw in title game

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1942-43 Byron District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Byron 34-30

Title Game lost to Leaf River 26-21

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1943-44 Franklin Grove District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

Early Round Scores Needed

Title Game lost to Lee 37-28

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1944-45 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd. – Lost to Lee 57-44

Lee lost in title game

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1945-46 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final – Beat Harmon 46-42

Final – Lost to Steward 65-38

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1946-47 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd. – Beat Harmon (forfeit)

Semi-final – lost to Steward 50-39

Steward lost title game

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1947-48 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final – Lost to Steward 63-28

Steward lost title game

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1948-49 Franklin Grove District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final – Lost to Steward 43-34

Steward won title game

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1949-50 Dixon Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed