The History of New Boston High School The village of New Boston is located on the banks of the Mississippi River along Il. Rt. 17. New Boston (population 632) is located in the western portion of Mercer County placing it approximately 40 miles due southwest of the Quad Cities. The town origin and school history are not clearly known. What is known is that New Boston took part in a consolidation effort after the 1959-60 school year of all of the schools in western Mercer County. The result was the Westmer School system of which New Boston is now a part of along with Joy, Keithsburg, and Eliza. The high school for the new DIstrict is located in Joy. Lu Ann Krengle, who was a freshmen when New Boston High School closed, provided the following information on the school building: “Both the grade school and the high schools were housed in the same building. When a student came in the front entrance, straight in front of them was a stairway going to the second floor. Once you climbed the first set of stairs you either turned to the left and went to the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade class rooms or continued up another flight of stairs to the high school homeroom and class rooms.”
New Boston does have an elementary school for the Westmer School District for grades PK – 5. A portion of the original New Boston school building still stands and is used as part of the Westmer elementary school. New Boston High School Quick Facts Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s Year closed: 1960 Consolidated to: Westmer School District (Joy) School nickname: the “Bears” School colors: Blue & Gold School Fight Song: unavailable Athletics The New Boston High School boys definitely participated in basketball, as you will see below. No evidence of other sports offered at the school could be found on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) . It would be a good bet that New Boston offered Track, Baseball, and Cheerleading. Assistance with this information is being sought. The best seasons in which IHSA hardware was won by the Basketball team are listed below. Some scores involving New Boston High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below as well. Boys Basketball New Boston’s boys could shoot the rock! Two streaks define New Boston HS basketball. District titles were won in 41, 42 and 48, 49, 50 , and 51. The District Championships were followed up with Regional titles in 42 and 49. Unfortunately Coaches names and team records are not available, though one would assume the ’42 and ’49 records were quite impressive. All information prior to the 1933-34 season is needed. 1933-34 Rock Island District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to East Moline 46-11 East Moline lost to Moline in title game
1934-35 Moline District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Joy 20-17 Joy lost to Aledo in 2nd Rd Aledo lost to East Moline in semi-final East Moline lost to Moline in title game 1935-36 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1936-37 Moline District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Rock Island 62-13 Rock Island lost to Moline in semi-final Moline beat East Moline in title game 1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1940-41 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed Early Rd Games Needed Title Game Beat Seaton HS IHSA Regional Qualifier Regional Scores Needed
1941-42 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Needed Joy Regional Champions 1st Rd Beat Alpha 36-21 Semi-final Beat Alexis 36-29 Title Game Beat Viola Moline Sectional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Geneseo 30-21 Geneseo lost to Rock Island in semi-final Rock Island lost to Moline in title game 1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1944-45 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1945-46 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1946-47 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1947-48 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Needed Joy Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Alpha 49-27 Semi-final lost to Joy 36-26 Joy lost to Aledo in title game
1948-49 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Needed Aledo Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Alexis 63-46 Semi-final Beat Sherrard 54-47 Title Game Beat Aledo 59-49 Moline Sectional Tournament Semi-final lost to Morrison 45-41 Morrison lost to Moline 46-40 in title game 1949-50 New Windsor District Champions Coach’s name & record needed Semi-final Beat New Windsor 48-33 Title Game Beat Viola 42-40 Joy Regional Runner-Up 1st Rd Beat Alexis 54-44 Semi-final Beat Joy 57-44 Title Game lost to Aledo 73-56 1950-51 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Needed Aledo Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Joy Joy lost to Sherrard in semi-final Sherrard beat Aledo in title game
1951-52 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name 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 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1956-57 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 1957-58 Joy District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed Early Rd Scores Needed Title Game lost to Joy 61-57
1958-59 Joy District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed Semi-final Beat Little York 67-66 Title Game lost to Joy 66-60 1959-60 Joy District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed **Semi-final lost to Joy 78-56 Joy beat Little York in title game **Final game for the New Boston High School “Bears”. Consolidated with Joy to form the Westmer School District in the summer of 1960. Memories, Facts , and Information From our good fan Lou Ann Krengle: “The boys used to play their basketball games, in the 1940’s, in Baner Hall on Main Street in the upstairs portion of the building. The building is now the New Boston Community Center but the up stairs part has been closed. There is a New Boston High School reunion. This year there were about ninety attendees. Some memorable people from New Boston High School’s past include Bus Thoman, coach in the 1940s, and Miss Mable Knox, principal through the late 1950’s.” Seeking Further Information School fight song, team records, great coaches, town history, school history – all of these are items we are seeking information to from a New Boston fan. We are especially seeking a photo of the old high school building. If you can help us send a School Submission Form or Guest Commnetary Form with the information you possess. You may also write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or: Illinois HS Glory Days 6439 N. Neva St. Chicago, Il. 60631
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