Lyndon (population 566) is located on the banks of the Rock River, along Il Route 78 and the former Il. Route 2. This places it in the south central area of Whiteside County about 15 miles southwest of Rock Falls. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad ran through north of the community. The town’s school system goes back to 1854. Lyndon has a rich history of supporting its school system and did so very well.
A two-story building was built in 1873. Another school was built sometime around the turn of the century and housed the high school until 1960, when the building above was built. This building is pictured to the right as well.
Sometime in the late 1960s a consolidation effort was initiated with nearby Prophetstown High School. This effort became a reality in 1969. The gymnasium is still in use, as the home court for the Sterling Christian (located in Galt) Basketball teams.
Former Prophetstown and Lyndon school students Harold Glazier and his son Kurt added the following information on the Lyndon School history:
“The Lyndon High School shown on your site was built or opened in 1915. It closed when the new Lyndon High School opened sometime in the 1960’s. When Lyndon and Prophetstown consolidated, the Lyndon High School closed after the 1968-69 school year. The Lyndon High School then became the Lyndon Junior High School housing the 7th and 8th grade classes. The original Lyndon High School housed just the 6th grade classes. Prophetstown-Lyndon and Tampico consolidated beginning with the 1996-97 school year. The schools in Lyndon then closed up completely.”
Lyndon High School Quick Facts:
Year school founded: 1854
Year newer building opened: 1960
Year closed: 1969
School nickname: the “Wildcats”
School colors: Purple & Gold
School Fight Song: “We’re Loyal to You Lyndon High”
Sung to University of Illinois Fight Song Tune
We’re loyal to you Lyndon High
We’re purple and gold, Lyndon High
We’ll back you to stand
‘Gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand, Lyndon High
Rah! Rah!
So crack out the ball, Lyndon High
We’re backing you all, Lyndon High
Our team is our fame protector:
On! Boys for we expect a
Victory from you Lyndon High!
Lyndon High School Gymnasium
Courtesy of Kurt Glazier
Lyndon School & Baseball Area
Courtesy of Kurt Glazier
Athletics
The Lyndon High School kids competed in the always tough Two Rivers Conference. Member schools included Annawan, Atkinson, Mineral, Tampico, Prophetstown, Erie, Hillsdale, Cordova, and Port Byron. Sports offered included football (6 – man), basketball, baseball, and track.
Boys Basketball
Lyndon HS brought home IHSA hardware in basketball winning two District titles. Some scores from the annual IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” The scores located are listed below. Season records and coaches’ names of these and other Lyndon High School teams are needed.
1933-34 Sterling District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat West Brooklyn 42-19
2nd Rd lost to Sterling 50-18
Sterling lost in semi-final round
1934-35 Morrison District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hooppole 44-30
2nd Rd lost to Morrison 59-20
Morrison won District title.
1935-36 Walnut District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Franklin Grove 34-13
Franklin Grove lost in 2nd round.
1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1938-39 District Champions Coach Marian Fickas
Record needed
District scores needed
East Moline Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Orion 26-22
Orion lost in semi-final round
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1944-45 Erie District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hooppole 36-29
Semi-final lost to Coal Valley 56-29
Coal Valley lost in title game
1945-46 Atkinson District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hooppole 35-17
2nd Rd lost to Mineral 48-32
Mineral lost in semi-final round
1946-47 Erie District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Port Byron 49-34
Port Byron lost in semi-final round
1947-48 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1948-49 Atkinson District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Buda 46-23
Buda lost in semi-final round
1949-50 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1950-51 Thomson District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Thomson 55-44
Thomson won District title.
1951-52 Port Byron District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Cordova 68-64
Other scores needed
1952-53 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1953-54 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1954-55 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1955-56 Sterling Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
District scores needed
Sterling Regional Result
1st Rd lost to Sterling 87-39
Sterling won Regional title
1956-57 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1957-58 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1958-59 0 – 20 Annawan District Tournament Coach Heaton
1st Rd lost to Annawan 103-32
Annawan lost to Atkinson in title game
1959-60 Buda District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Annawan 73-38
Annawan won District title
1960-61 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1961-62 Chadwick District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Chadwick 133-56
Chadwick won District title
1962-63 Lyndon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Shannon 56-54
Shannon lost to Chadwick in title game
1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1967-68Lyndon District Tourney 2nd Place Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Thomson 73-67
Title game lost to Chadwick 62-58
1968-69 19 – 7 Tampico District Champions Coach Jim Casson
Semi-final Beat Tampico 61-54
Title game Beat Chadwick 78-55
IHSA Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Lanark 55-51
*Stan Loechel scored 742 points
this season and was the 4th
leading scorer in the state, averaging
29.6 points per game!!
After the 1968-69 school year Lyndon High School closed and consolidated into the Prophetstown school district.
Notable Roundball Athlete
John Morse – Led Lyndon on the court during the early 1950s, and was named to the Two Rivers All-Conference team in 1952-53.
MEMORIES
From grade school student Mike Gray:
“I went to 3rd and 4th grade at the Lyndon Grade School. The photo with the school and small building attached was my 4th grade classroom. My family moved back to Sterling during my summer vacation in the mid-sixties. I really enjoyed going to Lyndon. Neil Johnson was a good classmate of mine at Lyndon and later won the 1975 state class a 100 yard dash and 2nd in the 220 dash while competing for Prophetstown High School.”
Need Your Help
If you can contribute any information regarding Lyndon High School and the town of Lyndon please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form. We are always interested in more photos of the school and/or the better athletic teams. You may also write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or:
