New Salem High School

Former New Salem HS Building – Now Apts.
A picture containing outdoor, tree, building, grass

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Submitted by Dennis Downey
Former New Salem GS Building
A picture containing tree, outdoor, house

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Courtesy of Dennis Downey

The History of New Salem High School

New Salem (population 136) is located in the lower western portion of Illinois.  The village sits in the northwestern portion of Pike County.  The nearest city of note might be Quincy, located about 30 miles west-northwest of New Salem.  County Highways 2 and 3 intersect at New Salem.  County Highway 3 is also named Pittsfield road and connects New Salem to the county seat of the same name.  Interstate Highway 72 passes by town about 2 miles to the south. The Norfolk Southern Railroad passes by the south edge of town as well.

The history of this town and its former high school is in need of research.  We could find no historical account of its origin on the internet.  We do know that it must often get mistaken for the historical site of Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home in Menard County. If you have any information on the history of New Salem please write to us and share it on this site.

The only knowledge of New Salem High School that we have comes from the contents of a 1941 yearbook from New Canton High School submitted to us by B. Waters. According to this yearbook, New Canton HS defeated New Salem HS in boys basketball twice that season. We believe that like many of the smaller town high schools in the area, New Salem was a three-year high school whose kids would finish there fourth year of education at Griggsville or Pittsfield.

It is probable that New Salem High School closed in the late 1940s, either 1948 or 1949.  It is likely the kids of New Salem now attend high school at Griggsville-Perry, Barry Western, or Pittsfield high schools. We are interested in any information you can share about the former New Salem High School.

New Salem High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                         1920s?

Year closed:                           late 1940s

Consolidated to:                     Griggsville or Pittsfield high schools

New Salem HS nickname:       unavailable

New Salem HS colors:            unavailable

School Fight Song:                 unavailable

ATHLETICS

New Salem High School competed in boys basketball.  It is likely that baseball and track were offered too.  We are interested in any information you may have regarding the athletic program at New Salem High School.  We are also looking for the nickname of the teams, the uniform colors, school fight song, coaches names, and season records of New Salem High School teams.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Activities such as school plays, FFA, FHA, GAA, band, and chorus may have been a very important part of the New Salem High School student experience.  Please contact us if you have information on these activities.

If You Have Any Information You Wish to Share:  

Especially a photo of the New Salem High School building, please contact us by e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .  You can also mail items to us at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva Av.

Chicago, Il.  60631

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