Kaneville High School

Kaneville HS – now Kaneville Community Center

Photo by Cody Cutter – January 2010

Kaneville HS Bldg 2011 – Northeast View

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The History of Kaneville High School

Kaneville (population 452) is located in northeastern Illinois in the southwestern portion of Kane County. The town is located about 10 miles northwest of Aurora and 10 miles southeast of DeKalb. Kaneville is located at the intersection of County Highways 4 and 62. Interstate Highway 88 passes by the northeast side of town. The Welch Creek flows by the west side of Kaneville.

Kaneville was incorporated as a town in 2006 making it one of Illinois’ newest officially recognized towns. However Kaneville’s roots run much deeper into history. A nice history of the community can be found at the web address of http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ilkane/Kaneville.htm . This article states that Kaneville is named after Elias Kent Kane. The first school for Kaneville children was established in 1839. According to “Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary Kaneville was first platted in 1841. The book’s article goes on to state that Kaneville may be named after a famous soldier of the day, General Thomas L. Kane.

Last Class to Graduate From Kaneville HS – 1949

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Kaneville supported its own high school from at least the very early 1900s (1907?) through 1949. An original school building made of wood is still standing in town and is used as an apartment building. A “new” brick school building, likely constructed in the early 1920s, also survives and has been put to great use by the community. We were fortunate to view several items that remain proudly displayed in the Kaneville School building. The building now serves as a township building, library, and a pre-school.

There are high school graduation photos that are prominently displayed. They start with the class of 1922 and end with the class of 1949. The 1949 photo has a handwritten note which states “Last Class to Graduate From Kaneville High School”. This photo is available above. Once closed, the kids of Kaneville attended school as part of the Maple Park Kaneland School District. This arrangement continues today.

Deanna Crider provided the following bit of information regarding Kaneville High School:

“I was on the Illinois high school glory days website to research my grandmother’s high school in Kaneville, Illinois. I happened to have her high school diploma, dated June 6, 1912! So cool to have a piece of history that is 102 years old!

Kaneville High School Quick Facts

Year opened: early 1900s?

Year closed: late 1949

Consolidated to: Kaneland School District (Maple Park)

Kaneville HS team nickname: unavailable

Kaneville HS team colors: Purple & Gold

School Fight Song: “Go You Kaneville High School”

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As Proudly Displayed in the Trophy Case at Kaneville HS

ATHLETICS

As mentioned above, we do have evidence of Kaneville High School’s existence. That evidence comes in the form of an IHSA District Basketball Tournament score from the 1948-49 season. That year Waterman High School won the District Tournament for the area. In the first game of the tourney Waterman defeated Kaneville HS 50 – 47.

Kaneville High School therefore definitely competed in basketball. The Kaneville boys cmpeted in baseball from 1935 though 1949 as well. It is likely that track may have been offered too. We are searching for the Kaneville High School team nickname, coach’s names, season records, and any individual accomplishments that you might like to share.

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BOYS BASKETBALL

Several basketball scores involving Kaneville High School participating in the IHSA Annual State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores.” These scores are coped below.

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1930-31 St. Charles District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Hampshire 32-21

Chicago Harrison beat Elburn in title game.

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1931-32 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

1st Round Beat Yorkville 33-26

2nd Rd lost to Batavia 51-25

Aurora West beat Naperville in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Leland 23-19

Sycamore beat DeKalb in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Shabbona 33-25

Waterman beat DeKalb in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Hampshire 47-16

Burlington beat Plato Center in title game.

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1936-37 Elburn District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Burlington 23-14

Semi-Final Beat Elburn 22-18

Title game lost to Plato Center 15-13

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1937-38 Hampshire District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Elburn 32-27

Hampshire beat Kirkland in title game.

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1938-39 Hampshire District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Fairdale 2-0 (Forfeit)

Semi-Final lost to Huntley 58-33

Hampshire beat Huntley in title game.

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1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1940-41 Maple Park District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Malta 39-24

Maple Park beat Genoa in title game.

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1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1944-45 Waterman District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Malta 57-24

Maple Park beat Genoa in title game.

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1945-46 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1946-47 Maple Park District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Burlington 44-30

Maple Park beat Big Rock in title game.

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1947-48 Maple Park District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Plato Center 55-41

Semi-Final lost to Big Rock 48-41

Big Rock beat Burlington in title game.

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**1948-49 Hinckley District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

**1st Rd lost to Waterman 50-47

Waterman beat Hinckley in title game.

**Final boys varsity basketball game for Kaneville High School.

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Kaneville HS Gym Center Circle and Stage – 2011

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Kaneville HS Gym Bleachers

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Boys Basketball

Brian Hoxey sent us this information regarding Kaneville High School’s team that competed in that 1948-49 District Tournament mentioned above:

“Teams entered: Waterman, Kaneville, Burlington, Plato Center, Big Rock, Hinckley, Malta, Sugar Grove. (Note: ALL are schools on this site, “left click” on their name to visit their individual page)

Kaneville HS 1948-49 team members: Burdette Barret, Leo Bomleny, Lloyd Byerhof, Charles Flint, Bill Houtz, Roger King, Perry Lakin, Gene Lewis, Larry Mell, Ted Phelps, Richard Schicht, Gene Underwood

Manager: Claude Lee

Head Coach: J. Rex Thompson

1948-49 Coach J. Rex Thompson

Kaneville HS Jersey and Trophy

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Kaneville Bleacher Seats – 2011

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BOYS BASEBALL

The Kaneville boys competed in baseball for certain. A Dekalb Daily Chronicle Newspaper article dated May 29, 1935 states the boys were champions of the inaugural Little Eight Conference baseball season. Kaneville finished with a record of 7-1 to take the title. Other teams who played in the Little Eight Conference baseball season that year included the high schools from Big Rock, Burlington, Elburn, Hampshire, Maple Park, Plato Center, and Sugar Grove.

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If You Have ANY Further Information

If you have any further information you can share regarding the many accomplishments and the history of Kaneville High School, especially an older photo of the school building, please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

Kaneville HS Bldg Northwest View