Hartsburg (population 358) is located in south-central Illinois in the northwestern portion of Logan County. Illinois Route 121 runs through the center of Hartsburg and connects it with Lincoln, its neighbor about 7 miles to the southeast. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad also angles through Hartsburg. The town was platted in 1871 by its founder, David Harts.
The history of the early educational system in Hartsburg is in need of research. It is thought that Hartsburg residents began schooling for their children in the late 1800s. A high school was established in town in the late 1800s / early 1900s. The high school functioned effectively in Hartsburg for about five decades. In the mid-1940s the towns of Hartsburg and Emden began talks of consolidating their high schools. In 1947 the talks were put into action with the development of the Hartsburg – Emden School District.
The high school for the new district was (and still is) located in Hartsburg. The photo above is of the original Hartsburg High which now serves as a part of Hartsburg-Emden HS. A new addition for H-EHS is shown below.
Photos taken are courtesy of Jon Wheat!!
Hartsburg High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s
Year closed: 1947
School building: now Hartsburg-Emden High School
School nickname: the “Stags”
School colors: Orange & Black
School Fight Song: unavailable
Hartsburg HS Baskeball Team of 1934-35
Athletics
Hartsburg High School definately offered boys basketball. An excellent season by season record of this is kept on the IHSA web site www.ihsa.org. We believe Hartsburg offered baseball and track as well. If you have any further information on the Hartsburg athletic program please drop us an e-mail. School nickname, colors, fight song, and conference affiliation are also being sought.
Boys Basketball
The Hartsburg High School boys basketball team had some incredibly successful seasons during the school’s short existence. The team’s exploits from the 1921-22 season through the 1946-47 season are covered on the IHSA web site including overall record and coach’s names. During this time the Hartsburg boys won four District titles. No less than 21 of the 26 seasons listed ended with the HHS boys having a winning record!! The best of the Hartsburg High School basketball successes are listed below.
1923-24 12 – 8 Coach Maxwell Suggs
1924-25 12 – 5 Coach Maxwell Suggs
1928-29 15 – 3 Coach Roy Oliver
1929-30 19 – 5 Coach C.E. Hull
1930-31 16 – 8 Coach Harold Bower
1932-33 22 – 1 Undefeated Regualr Season! Coach Harold Bower
1933-34 16 – 13 Coach Harold Bower
1934-35 18 – 6 Coach Harold Bower
1935-36 17 – 11 Coach Harold Bower
1936-37 19 – 13 District Champions Coach Harold Bower
1937-38 25 – 4 District Champions Coach Harold Bower
1938-39 20 – 4 District Champions Coach Bill Meyer
1939-40 14 – 10 Coach Bill Meyer
1940-41 17 – 9 District Champions Coach Bill Meyer
1941-42 25 – 1 District Champions Coach Bill Meyer
Undefeated Regualr Season!
1942-43 18 – 5 Coach Weldon Ryan
1943-44 21 – 5 Coach Weldon Ryan
1944-45 18 – 6 Coach Weldon Ryan
1945-46 19 – 7 Coach Weldon Ryan
1946-47 13 – 11 Last Season Coach Weldon Ryan
School overall record was 397 – 200 in this 26 year period!! Nice job Hartsburg High!!
Great Coaches
*Coach Harold Bower – 1930-31 through 1937-38 – Basketball
8 seasons – all with winning records
2 District Titles
2 seasons of 20 plus wins
1 undefeated regular season
144 – 66 overall .686 winning %
*Coach Bill Meyers– 1938-39 through 1941-42 – Basketball
4 seasons – all with winning records
3 District Titles
2 seasons of 20 plus wins
1 undefeated regular season
76 – 24 overall .760 winning %
*Coach Weldon Ryan – 1942-43 through 1946-47 – Basketball
5 seasons – all with winning records
2 seasons of 20 plus wins
89 – 34 overall .724 winning %
Led initial Hartsburg-Emden team to Regional Championship and 22 – 4
record!!
Special Thank You
The photos on this page are courtesy of a “road trip” taken by the Wheat boys, Jon, Jim, and Dan. Great job fellas!!
Seeking Further Information
If you have ANY further information regarding Hartsburg High School and its many accomplishments, please share them with us. We are especially interested in a photo of the original High School building. Items can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
