The town of Karnak (population 619) is situated in the southern tip of Illinois in northeastern Pulaski County. Karnak was platted along Il. Route 169 two miles east of Il. Route 37. The Ohio River / Kentucky border sits just five miles to the south. Two railroad lines, the Missouri Pacific and Conrail, intersect in the middle of town. The village of Karnak was established in 1905 by the Main Brothers Box & Lumber Company. It is named after a town in Egypt of the same name.
It is not known when the town of Karnak and its educational system were established. It is known that in 1965 Karnak residents joined in a consolidation effort with several small towns in the area which included Ullin, its neighbor to the west, and Grand Chain. The effort became a reality and the Century School DIstrict was born. Karnak kids attend school in Ullin to this day.
Sign on Former School Building – 2010
Submitted by James Horaz
Mark Sauerbrunn, a native of Karnak, provided the following information regarding the former Karnak High School building:
“After the consolidation of the Century School District in the 1960’s, the high school became an unoffical community center and the old grade school building that was next to it became the headquarters for Shawnee Development incorporated. After Shawnee Development built a new building several years ago, the old grade school was abandoned and was destroyed in a fire approximately three years ago. The high school was used for the community Halloween Carnival for many years. The school has now been converted to a garage to house the towns utilitiy trucks, etc. My mother was in the last graduating class of Karnak High School which contained twelve graduates. The school still had classes for the Century district until the Century school was completed in 1965.”
Karnak High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s
Year closed: 1965
School nickname: the “Raiders”
School colors: Red, Black, & White
School Fight Song: unavailable
Karnak High School Gymnasium in 2010
Submitted by James Horaz
Athletics
Karnak High School definately offered boys basketball. It is thought that track was also offered at the school. A student of the class of 1946 tells us that baseball was not offered, however the boys did compete with other schools in the sport of softball. According to the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org), Karnak earned two post-season titles in basketball. We are sure there were many more great seasons in Karnak High School history. Please contact us if you have information you wish to share.
Boys Basketball
The Karnak boys’ basketball team finished with one DIstrict and one Regional title under their belts. Unfortunately, the team records and coaches’ names are not available. Several scores involving Karnak were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below.
1927-28 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Benton Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Elkville 17-12
Elkville lost to Benton in semi-final
Benton beat Carbondale in title game
1928-29 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, records, and coach’s names needed.
1933-34 Metropolis District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Vienna 26-9
Vienna lost to Metropolis in semi-final
Metropolis lost to Rosiclare in title game
1934-35 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1935-36 Brookport District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Elizabethtown 25-16
Semi-final lost to Brookport 30-26
1936-37 through 1943-44 Postseason scores, records, and coach’s names needed.
1944-45 Anna Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Cobden 55-41
Semi-final Beat Cairo St. Joseph 58-37
Title Game lost to Anna-Jonesboro 59-36
1945-46 Cairo Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Dongola 51-31
Semi-final Beat Mounds 38-35
Title Game lost to Anna-Jonesboro 54-35
1946-47 Anna Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to McClure 58-49
McClure lost to Anna-Jonesboro in title game
1947-48 Cairo Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Dongola 59-45
Dongola lost to Mounds in title game
1948-49 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Metropolis 72-31
Metropolis beat Vienna in title game
1949-50 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Rosiclare 79-31
Rosiclare lost to Vienna in semi-final
Vienna lost to Cave-In-Rock in title game
1950-51 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Vienna 80-48
Vienna lost to Cave-In-Rock in semi-final
Cave-In-Rock beat Brookport in title game
1951-52 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Metropolis 82-78
Metropolis lost to Brookport in title game
1952-53 Metropolis Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Vienna 62-57
Semi-final Beat Joppa 51-49
Title Game Beat Metropolis 75-58
Marion Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to West Frankfort 75-44
West Frankfort beat Marion in title game
West Frankfort lost in Elite 8 Round
1953-54 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Brookport 63-62
Brookport lost to Cairo in semi-final
Cairo lost to Metropolis in title game
Metropolis beat Vienna in title game
1954-55 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Vienna 68-53
Vienna lost to Brookport in title game
1955-56 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Brookport 89-73
Brookport lost to Metropolis in semi-final
Metropolis beat Vienna in title game
1956-57 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Brookport 93-79
Brookport beat Metropolis in title game
1957-58 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Metropolis 92-65
Metropolis beat Rosiclare in title game
1958-59 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Metropolis 117-45
Metropolis beat Rosiclare in title game
1959-60 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1960-61 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Metropolis 97-37
Metropolis lost to Joppa in title game
1961-62 Metropolis Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Metropolis 86-52
Metropolis lost to Joppa in title game
1962-63 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
Boys Baseball
It is probable that the boys of Karnak competed in baseball as well. Our good friend and fan of the southern Illinois area, James Horaz, tells us the baseball diamond near the school building is in excellent condition to this day and likely still in use. He snapped the attached photos in February of 2010.
Karnak Ball Diamond Scoreboard
Photo by James Horaz
Karnak Baseball Diamond 2010
Photo Taken By James Horaz
Seeking More Information
If you have ANY information you would like to share regarding Karnak High School, especially photos of the old HS building and great teams of the past, please e-mail them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
