Hamburg High School

The History of Hamburg High School

Hamburg (populaton 126) is located in southwestern Illinois in the north-central portion of Calhoun County. County Highway 2, which is best known as the “Mississippi River Road” is the main route to and from Hamburg. Michael Hollow Road also takes you into Hamburg.  The Mississippi RIver flows to the west of town as Hamburg is seated right along its banks.

The town of Hamburg was platted in 1836 by a man named John Shaw. For many years the village showed great promise and was utilized as a shipping port. Over the last 50 years or so it has settled into its current population.

We know that Hamburg High School was a two-year high school due to the research conducted by Roberta VanBriesen. She located this information.while searching the internet and reading the page found at the Rootsweb address of:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcalhou/Education/ruralschools.pdf .

In summary this article states that as of 1932 Hardin County had a total of 32 school districts. In reference to Hamburg the article states:

“Since the early twenties, Batchtown and Hamburg had operated two – year high schools with enrollments of twenty to twenty-five students. The new unit district (Calhoun School District) was organized in 1951-52, and high school pupils of Batchtown, Hamburg, and Kampsville were being brought to Hardin by school busses. The new Calhoun High School one mile north of Hardin was dedicated in 1961.” 

Hamburg continued to support a grade school through at least 1967 when 32 children were enrolled at the school. It is likely that the grade school closed in the 1970s or 1980s.

Hamburg High School Quick Facts

Year Opened:          1920s (two-year HS)

Year Closed:           1951

Consolidated to:       Hardin Calhoun High School

Team Nickname:      unavailable

Team Colors:           unavailable

School Fight Song:   unavailable

Athletics

It is quite possible that Hamburg High School competed with other schools in the area in the sport of boys basketball. Our guess is that the boys competed in baseball and track as well.  We are in need of information on the team season records, coaches names, and other accomplishments at Hamburg High.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Did the Hamburg High kids have a band? Chorus? Did they host dances and have plays for the community?  If you have this information please write to us via the means listed below.

Seeking Information  

If you have any information on the history, accomplishments, and memories of Hamburg High School, please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  We are especially interested in a photo of the former high school building.  Items can be mailed to us at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il.  60631

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