| Oakford School Building & Gym 2014 | |||||||||
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| District 22 / Built in 1927 | |||||||||
| Oakford Grade School Building 1927-1992 |
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The History of Oakford High School
The village of Oakford is located on Il. Rt. 97 approximately 35 miles northwest of Springfield. This places it in the northwest corner of Menard County. Oakford has a population of 309 residents according to the 2000 Illinois Census.
The following information regarding the Oakford school system was provided to us by Karen Short:
“The original Oakford Grade School was build in 1879-1880. Two rooms were added in 1904 and two years of high school were introduced. The high school only continued for three years at which time the students attended high school classes in nearby Kilbourne, Chandlerville or Petersburg.
The grade school housed grades one through eight until it burned in the fall of 1926. In the spring of 1927, a new brick building was erected (the one shown in the picture). Many area rural schools closed in the late 1940s and were consolidated into the Petersburg Unit District. The Oakford Grade School became a part of Petersburg District 201 in August 1948. Classes continued in Oakford until 1992 when the remaining students were transported to Petersburg which had become P.O.R.T.A. School District in 1963. (Kindergarten classes began here in 1962-63 school year. Grades K-8 were taught here until 1966 when grades 7-8 were moved to PORTA Junior High. In the fall of 1989, grades 5-6 were also moved to PORTA Middle School in Petersburg.)
The grade school building still stands but is privately owned – and currently vacant.”
Oakford High School Quick Facts
Year Opened: 1904 (2-year HS)
Year Closed: 1907
Consolidated to: P.O.R.T.A. School District (Petersburg) (1963)
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Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631