Pittsburg High School

Pittsburg High School (provided by Betty Moake)
A large building with trees in front of it

Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Submitted by Roberta McKisk (http://www.usgwarchives.org/il/williamson/photos/pittsbur1660gph.jpg)
Pittsburgh School Grounds & Memorial 2015
A picture containing sky, outdoor, grass

Description automatically generated

The History of Pittsburg High School

Pittsburg (population 575) is located in far south-central Illinois.  The town sits in the northeastern portion of Williamson County about three miles northeast of the county seat of Marion.  Pittsburg is situated on Pittsburg Road about 2 1/2 miles north of Illinois Route 13.  A county road called Perry Road also takes you to Pittsburg.

We have been able to find very little information on the internet regarding the town of Pittsburg and its school system.  The only information we have found is the above photo provided to us by our good friend Roberta Van Breisen. The photo was found on the U.S. War Archives website. There were two photos listed that were supplied by Betty Moake which were titled “Pittsburg High School.”  This information is found at http://www.usgwarchives.org/il/williamson/williamsonphoto.html . Also check out the web address of http://www.usgwarchives.org/il/williamson/photos/ .

It appears that Pittsburg did support a high school through at least the 1930s.  It is probable that Pittsburg High School began in the early 1920s and existed through the late 1940s.  If you have ANY further information regarding Pittsburg and its former high school please contact us.

Pittsburg High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                 late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                  late 1940s?

Consolidated to:             Johnson City High School

Pittsburg HS nickname:  unavailable

School team colors:       unavailable

School fight song:          unavailalbe

Athletics

The Pittsburg High School kids probably competed in boys basketball, track and baseball. If you have any information please take the time to write us and share it with others.  The efforts and accomplishments of the former alumni and townspeople who made this high school succeed should never be forgotten.  Information on other extra curricular activities such as band and chorus are welcome too.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Scores found on the website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” have been added below. The photo of the 1929-30 team was submitted by David John Frank, whose grandmother Alberta Phillips taught music at Pittsburgh High School during that school year.

Pittsburgh High School Basketball Team of 1929-30
A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Submitted by David John Frank

1932-33                    Herrin District Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Creal Springs 42-24

Creal Springs lost to Carbondale in 2nd Rd.

1933-34                    Johnson City District Tourney      Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Herrin 52-9

Herrin Beat Marion in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Creal Springs 47-14

Creal Springs lost to Johnson City in Semi-final

1935-36                    Valier District Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Ina 44-19

Ina lost to Valier in 2nd Rd.

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  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1940-41                    Creal Springs District Tourney     Coach’s name & record needed.

 1st Rd Beat Stone Fort 43-25

Semi-final lost to Crab Orchard 25-24

Crab Orchard lost in title game to New Burnside

This is the final score listed on the site titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.”

1941-42 through the closing of the school:   Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

Pittsburg School Photo
A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated
Robert Moake – back row, 6th from left / Submitted by Betty Moake

Special Gratitude

Thank you to our good friend and long-time contributor Roberta Van Breisen for her extensive research in finding information regarding Pittsburg High School.  Great job Roberta!

Can You Help Us Out?

Please share your knowledge of the Pittsburg school system with us.  You can see there are many gaps to be filled.  Let’s fill in the blanks before the many great memories are lost forever.  Please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. or via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago,  Il.  60631

Pittsburg Town Men’s Baseball Team
Baseball players posing for a photo

Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Ben Moake – Top Row Right (Submitted by Betty Moake)
Pittsburgh Baseball Diamond 2015
A field with trees in the background

Description automatically generated with low confidence
   


Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: