Greenup High School “Blue Devils”

Greenup High School Athletic “Letter”
A picture containing furniture, mat

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Courtesy of “Jack” (Class of 1944)

The History of Greenup High School

Greenup (population 1,532) is located in southeastern Illinois in south-central Cumberland County.  Interstate Highway 70, U.S. Route 40, Illinois Route 130, and Illinois Route 121 all travel to and from Greenup.  The Embarras River runs to the north of Greenup.  The Conrail Railroad has railroad tracks that run through Greenup as well.  A town of note for location purposes might be Effingham, located 20 miles southwest of Greenup.

The history of the town and its school system goes back many decades.  It is said that Greenup had a school building in 1840 (http://www.Cumberland.K12.il.us/DistrictInfo/History/History.htm).  A two story brick building was built in Greenup in 1876 for $3,478.  This building served the community until 1896, when fire damage forced its destruction.  A new, two-story, eight-classroom school was immediately built as a replacement and it stood tall and proud until its demise int he 1960s.  In 1908 an addition to the school was added and in 1927 a gymnasium added.  Additional annexes of a bandroom and cafeteria were later made.  The building eventually served “all eight grades and a high school”.

The first high school graduating class at Greenup High was the Class of 1890.  The final graduating class was the Class of 1949.  It was in this year that the towns of Cumberland County agreed to consolidate their School Districts.  Greenup, Jewett, and Toledo High Schools became Cumberland High School in 1949 with the school located on Illinois Route 121 between Toledo and Greenup.  As stated above, the original school building in Greenup was demolished in the 1960s.

Greenup High School Quick Facts

Year first school built:             1840

Year high school opened:        1874

Year 1st High School built:      1876

Year of 1st Graduating Class:  1890 (9 graduates)

Year 2nd high school built:      1896 (1st building destroyed by fire)

Year gymnasium built:            1927

Year High School closed:        1949 (33 graduates)

Year 2nd H.S. building razed:  1960s

School nickname:                   the “Blue Devils”

School colors:                        Blue & White

School Fight Song:                 (University of Illinois Fight Song Tune)

  We’re loyal to you Greenup High

                                                We’re blue and we’re white, Greenup High

                                                We’ll back you to stand

                                                ‘Gainst the best in the land

                                                For we know you have sand, Greenup High!

                                                Rah! Rah!

                                                So crack out the ball, Greenup High.

                                                We’re backing you all, Greenup High.

                                                Our team is our fame protector:

                                                On! Boys for we expect a

                                                Victory from you Greenup High!

Athletics

Greenup High School experienced IHSA success in boys basketball.  It is assumed baseball and track were also offered at Greenup High.  The team nickname and school colors are being sought.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball program at Greenup High had a great run in the mid to late 1930s.  Included was two District titles and a Regional title (1935-36) which put the Greenup boys as one of the top 64 teams in the State!!.  Team records and coaches names of these and other great Greenup High School teams are not available.

1933-34       District Champions

1935-36       Regional Champions

1937-38       District Champions

1940-41       Regional Champions

                   Beat Greenville 1st. Rd. of Sectional 35-30

                   Lost Sectional Championship                   

Looking For More Information

If you have any information you would like to share regarding Greenup High School and its many accomplishments, especially a photo of the original High School building, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

 

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