Palmyra High School “Panthers”

Posted on by margienanningagmailcom in Uncategorized
The History of Palmyra High School

Palmyra (population 733) is located in northwestern Macoupin County in the lower-western portion of Illinois.  Illinois Route 111 is the main roadway to and from Palmyra.  The Solomon Creek flows past the west edge of town.  Palmyra is situated about 25 miles southwest of Springfield and 30 miles northeast of East St. Louis.

A history of the town can by found on the Roots Web website page of  http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmacoup/history/palmyran.txt.  In summary the first home located in the Palmyra area was a log cabin constructed in 1835.  Originally the town was named Newburg, then Cummington, before being platted as Palmyra in 1855.  Businesses and houses soon sprung up in this one time bustling town.

Palmyra HS Graduation Agenda – 1906
Text Description automatically generated
Submitted by Regina LeMarr Mooney (Click on Photo to View Enlarged Version)
Palmyra HS Graduation Invitation – 1906
A picture containing text, picture frame Description automatically generated
Submitted by Regina LeMarr Mooney (Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)

The history of the school system in Palmyra is in need of research.  Palmyra High School was established in 1892.  We know that Palmyra High School served the village and surrounding farm kids quite well through the late 1940s.  It was then that the small towns (Hettick, Modesto, Scottville, Palmyra) and country school districts of the area agreed to combine their efforts into one school distrct.  In 1948 the Northwestern School District was formed.

The high school for the new district was located in Palmyra.  The original Palmyra High School building, however, has been torn down.

Palmyra High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                                 1892

Year closed:                                  1948

Consolidated to:                             Northwestern School District (Palmyra)

Palmyra HS team nickname:           the “Panthers”

Palmyra HS team colors:                Orange & Maroon

School Fight Song:                         unavailable
Athletics

Palmyra High School Panthers had some great seasons in basketball and great athletes that earned medals at the Illinois State Track Meet. We believe the boys of PHS competed in baseball as well.  School fight song is one item we are seeking at this time.

Football

One fascinating fact about the program was that it holds claim to one of the first night games in Illinois H.S. Football history. This happened in October 20, 1920. Palmyra hosted Mt. Olive in what was supposed to be a regular day game. However, the Mt. Olive squad allrived very late. The people had a solution to this, though. They took their automobiles and pointed their headlights toward the playing field. With the newly “lit” field, the two teams played with Palmyra putting a load of points up against the unfortunate team: 98-0.

The following team records were sent to us by Ken Mayes:

1914       5 – 3                                                              Coach Ogg

1915       8 – 1         Macoupin County Champs            Coach Ogg

1916       5 – 4                                                              Coach Ogg

1917       4 – 4                                                              Coach Ogg

1918                       No team, World War I in Progress

1919       3 – 5 – 1                                                         Coach Huffords

1920       3 – 6                                                              Coach Huffords

1921       5 – 5 – 1                                                         Coach Huffords

1922       3 – 6                                                              Coach Huffords

1923       3 – 5 – 1                                                         Coach Bramley

1924       2 – 6 – 1                                                         Coach Parcel

1925       3 – 6                                                              Coach C E Reischauer

1926       8 – 1                                                              Coach Joe Wylder

1927       8 – 2                                                              Coach Joe Wylder

1928       5 – 4 – 1                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1929       5 – 4 – 1                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1930       6 – 4                                                              Coach Joe Wylder

1931       2 – 7                                                              Coach Joe Wylder

1932       2 – 6 – 1                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1933       1 – 6 – 1                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1934       2 – 6 – 1                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1935       1 – 7       Football Discontinued                        Coach Joe Wylder

after this season

Boys Basketball

The Palmyra boys basketball team had some nice seasons in the 1940s.  Ken Mayes provided the records for all of the Palmyra basketball teams in the school’s existence.  The Palmyra Panthers did not officially start a basketball program until the 1920-21 school year.

1920-21          1 – 2

1921-22          1 – 4

1922-23          1 – 1

1923-24          1 – 2

1924-25          2 – 4                                                           Coach Parcel

1925-26          2 – 5                                                           Coach Reisshauer

1926-27        10 – 8                                                            Coach Joe Wylder

1927-28          9 – 10                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1928-29          9 – 11                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1929-30          8 – 12                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1930-31          9 – 13                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1931-32          7 – 12                                                         Coach Joe Wylder

1932-33        13 – 11                                                          Coach Joe Wylder

1933-34        12 – 10                                                          Coach Joe Wylder

1934-35        10 – 14                                                          Coach Joe Wylder

1935-36        13 – 13                                                          Coach Symons

1936-37        14 – 13                                                          Coach Symons

1937-38        10 – 16

1938-39        10 – 15

1939-40        10 – 15

1940-41          8 – 15

1941-42        12 – 11                                                          Coach Joe Wylder

1942-43        15 – 1         Undefeated Regular Season      Coach Joe Wylder

1943-44        14 – 8                                                            Coach Parcels

1944-45          8 – 14                                                          Coach Parcels

1945-46        13 – 13      District Champions                       Coach Parcels
1946-47        16 – 11      District Champions                       Coach Clary

1947-48        18 – 10                                                           Coach Clary

Boys Track & Field

The Palmyra High School thinclads had some nnice success in their early years. Six athletes brought home medals from the State Track Meet including THREE STATE CHAMPION Perfomances!!  The effort of Mullin in the 1928 Javelin led the Palmyra team to a TENTH place finish overall.

1914-15B         R. Eades             880 Yard Run              STATE CHAMPION!!

                       Team Won Macoupin County Championship

1915-16B         ?? Crabtree       Shot Put                       STATE CHAMPION!!

                       Team Won Macoupin County Championship


1920-21B         ?? Hudson         120 Yard Hurdles         2ND Place

                       ?? Bramley        50 Yard Dash              4TH Place
?? Cooper          440 Yard Dash            4TH Place

1926-27            Team Won Macoupin County Championship

1927-28            Team Finished TENTH in STATE MEET Competition!!

                        Team Won District Championship in Jacksonville

                            Individual Medalist

                            ?? Mullin             Javelin                          STATE CHAMPION!!

                             Final Team Standings

1)  Chicago (Tilden)                               22

2)  Urbana (H.S.)                                     17¼

3)  Evanston (Twp.)                                12

4)  West Frankfort (Frankfort)                11

5)  Carbondale                                           9

5)  Enfield                                                    9

7)  Chicago (Hyde Park)                           8

7)  Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest)             8

9)  Lostant                                                   6

10)  PALMYRA HIGH SCHOOL                   5

10)  Edwardsville (H.S.), Sadorus, Havana, Highland Park, Goreville,

Hinsdale (Twp.), Elgin (H.S.), Harrisburg

Seeking More Information

We are seeking assistance regarding further research on Palmyra High School.  School fight song, year opened, and some of the better athletic successes are being looked for.  If you can help us please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. .  You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.      60631

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: