Pearl High School “Eagles”

Pearl High School Building & Gym
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Courtesy of Lisa Rubles
Pearl High School Building 2005
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Submitted by Evan Thomas
Pearl High School Building – 1960
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Courtesy of Dale Summers

The History of Pearl High School

Pearl (population 187) is located in lower western Illinois in the southeast corner of Pike County.  Pearl should not be confused with Pearl City or Old Pearl.  Pearl is located on the banks of the Illinois River along Illinois Route 100 at County Road 10.  Hill Creek and the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad run through the center of town. For more information on Pearl go to:  http://www.pikeil.org/communities/pearl.html .

The history of the school system in Pearl is in need of research by a local fan. It is assumed that Pearl High School was established in the late 1800s or early 1900s.  Its closing came in 1955 when Pearl residents agreed to pool their educational efforts with the residents of nearby Milton.  The result was the creation of the East Pike School District.  East Pike continued until 1979 when it too was closed.  The kids of Pearl are now sent to Pittsfield for their education upon the school’s closure.

Pearl High School Building – 1960
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Submitted by Dale Summers

The following information was supplied to us by Sue Cox:

“I can add for sure is that Pearl had a grade school K-8, probably using part of the H. S. building until the late 1970’s. I know for sure because I taught there in the year ’76-’77. At that time it was kdg, combination 1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8. Their grade school teams were known as the Lions. At that time Ray Davenport was principal.”

Unfortunately the Pearl High School building has been razed.

Pearl High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                 1955

Consolidated to:            East Pike School District

School nickname:         “Eagles”

School colors:              Purple & Gold

School Fight Song:       unavailable

Thank you to ONA DAY JOHNSTON for the Quick Facts info.

Athletics

Pearl High School definately offered boys basketball and boys track. They may have also offered baseball. Coach’s names, team records, and great accomplishments of Pearl High School are being sought.

Boys Basketball

The Pearl High School boys brought home one District title during their existence.  We are interested to know of the other great seasons at Pearl where IHSA hardware was not won, but a perhaps a conference title or 20 win season needs to be discovered.  The District basketball title is listed below.

1933-34                 Pittsfield District Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Hull 43-13

Pittsfield beat Kinderhook in title game

1934-35                 Pittsfield District Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Pleasant Hill 39-14

Pittsfield beat Kinderhook in title game

1935-36  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1936-37  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1938-39  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1939-40                 Milton District Champions                Coach’s name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

                              Title Game Beat Milton 36-32

                          Top 2 Teams Advanced to Regional

                              Pittsfield Regional Tournament

                              1st Rd lost to Pleasant Hill 37-35 (2 O/Ts)

Milton Beat Pittsfield in title game

1940-41                 Pittsfield District Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Pleasant Hill 39-14

Pittsfield beat Kinderhook in title game

1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1942-43                 Nebo District Tournament                    Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat New Canton 38-37

                              Semi-final lost to Milton 44-22

Nebo beat Milton in title game

1943-44  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1944-45                 Milton District Tournament                   Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final lost to Nebo 34-24

Milton beat Nebo in title game

1945-46                 Milton District Tournament                   Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Manchester 50-40

                              Pearl lost in Semi-final Rd.

Kinderhook beat Milton in title game

1946-47                 Milton District Runner-Up                 Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Alsey 58-38

                              Semi-final Beat Kinderhook 58-22

                              Title Game lost to Milton 45-34

1947-48                 Nebo District Tournament                    Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Baylis 2-0 (forfeit)

                              Semi-final lost to Alsey 63-43

Alsey beat New Canton in title game

1948-49                 Pittsfield Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Winchester 79-27

Pittsfield beat Winchester in title game

1949-50                 Pittsfield Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Milton 48-33

Winchester beat Pittsfield in title game

1950-51                 Barry Regional Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to West Pike 56-49

Griggsville beat Pittsfield in title game

1951-52                 Pittsfield Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Perry 80-64

Perry beat Pleasant Hill in title game

1952-53                 Pittsfield Regional Tournament           Coach George Lemons

                              Season record needed

1st Rd lost to Perry 69-40

Pittsfield beat Perry in title game

1953-54    2 – 21   Griggsville Regional Tournament        Coach George Lemons

1st Rd lost to Pittsfield 61-28

Griggsville beat Pleasant Hill in title game

Pearl High School Basketball Teams 1953-54
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

Names of players in photos above:

Tournament Squad L to Right  Coach George Lemons, Leroy Ashburn, Robert Heavner, Lyundle Scott, Benny Todaro, Larry Hauger, Donald Reeder, Don Patton, Richard Turner, Ronnie Turner, Bill Thurman, Jerry Miller (Manager)

Basketball Squad

Front Row L to R  Gladys Smith, , Jean Johnson, Barbara Martin, Donna Wyatt

Second Row Seated L to R Leroy Ashburn, Robert Heavner, Lyndle Scott, Benny Todaro, Larry Hauger, Donald Reeder, Don Patton, Ronnie Turner, Bill Thurman

Back Row  Coach George Lemons, Dean Booth, Kenny Donohoo, Paul Shanks, Harold Scott, Paul Dean Crater, Richard Turner, William Greenstreet, Manager Jerry Miller

Pearl HS 1953-54 Basketball Schedule from Yearbook
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

1954-55    17 – 6   School’s Final Season                         Coach George Lemons

                              Pleasant Hill Regional Tournament

**1st Rd lost to Perry 61-49

Winchester beat Pittsfield in title game

**Final boys basketball game for Pearl High School, consolidated to East Pike High School (Milton) in the summer of 1955.

Pearl High School Varsity Basketball Team 1954-55
Calendar

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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

Names for photos above provided by Judy Hurdle:

Tournament Squad L to R

Dale Akers, Harold Scott, Leroy Ashburn, Robert Heavner, Ronnie Turner,
Richard Turner, Benny Todaro, Lyndle Scott, Terry Edwards, Bill Thurmon,
Kenny Donohoo, Coach George Lemons

Basketball Squad

Back Row L to R Leroy Ashburn, Billy Joe Johnessee, Jay Atherton,
Warren Wheeler, Charles Fisher, Jerry Miller, Terry Edwards, William
Greenstreet, Virgil Carter, Coach George Lemons

Front Row L to R Harold Scott, Ronnie Turner, Robert Heavner, Richard
Turner, Benny Todaro, Lyndle Scott, Bill Thurmon, Kenny Donohoo

Cheerleaders L to R Margie Wyatt, Jean Johnson, Donna Laux, Gladys Smith

Pearl HS Varsity Basketball Results 1954-55
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

Basketball memories:

**From William M. (Bill) Thurmon:

“I attended Pearl High School in 1953-54 and 1954-55.  I was a Sophomore and a starting guard on the Pearl High School team that in 54-55 went 17- 6. Our coach was George Lemons and he was a former graduate of Milton High School class that went to the Sweet 16 of the Illinois State Basketball Championship in the late 30’s or early 40’s.”

   

Boys Track & Field

One male athlete at Pearl High School brought home a medal from the Illinois High School State Track Meet.  Henry Grubs claimed a 5th place finish in the mile run in 1950.  This was done under the old one-class system.  Great job Henry!

1949-50    Henry Grubs        One Mile Run          5th Place

Seeking Further Information….

…about the many successes accomplished at Pearl high School.  The great teams and individual efforts of those who attended PHS should forever be remembered.  If you would like to share information with us, especially a photo of the old high school building, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St. 

Chicago,  Il.   60631  

Pearl HS Baseball 1954-55
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

Back Row L to R Dale Akers, Harold Scott, Jerry Miller, Robert Heavner,
Terry Edwards, Virgil Carter, Coach George Lemons

Front Row L to R Kenny Donohoo, Ronnie Turner, Lyndle Scott, Benny
Todaro, Richard Turner, Leroy Ashburn, Bill Thurmon

Pearl HS Second Team of 1953-54
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

Second Team Front Row L to R

Harold Scott, Leroy Ashburn, Larry Hauger, Donald Patton, Paul Dean Crater, Kenny Donohoo

Back Row

Coach George Lemons, Paul Shanks, William Greenstreet, Dean Booth, Manager Jerry Miller

Pearl HS Basketball Second Team 1954-55
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle

Second Team Members Pictured Above

Back Row L to R Dake Akers, Jay Atherton, Warren Wheeler, Billy Joe
Johnessee, Jimmy Lemons, Coach George Lemons

Front Row L to R Jerry Miller, Leroy Ashburn, Terry Edwards, Charles
Fisher, Virgil Carter, Harold Scott, William Greenstreet, Kenny Donohoo

Pearl Basketball “Reserves” Results 1954-55
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Submitted by Judy Hurdle
Pearl High School Building Grounds – 2008
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Photo by Roberta VanBriesen
“Pearly” Street
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Pearl, Illinois
 


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