Plato Center HS Building Floor Plan for New School
Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher (left click on photo for larger view)
The History of Plato Center High School
Plato Center (population 20?) is located in far northeastern Illinois in north-central Kane County. Plato Center is about 5 miles west and a little south of Elgin. The town is located at the intersection of the County Roads of Russell Road and Rippburger Road. The Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad also passes through the currently tiny hamlet.
It appears that Plato Center had a very interesting early life, including, for a brief time, having two cheese factories in town. One article written by Pastor Jack Hayford states that in the mid 1900s Plato Center consisted of the following:
“Two dozen houses … a gas station … schoolhouse … one store… all sandwiched between the black loam fields on all sides—many already plowed under, although much late feed corn still stood dry on the stalks in perfect road-wide rows. And the church house.”
Plato Center is probably going to grow immensely in the next several years, if this growth has not already started, due to its proximity to Chicago.
Plato Center has a very long and storied history of which some of it can be viewed at the following web addresses:
High school education was established in Plato Center in 1917 in the upstairs of the grade school building. The first graduating class was in 1921. We know through research by Mary Beth Fletcher that the Plato High School building burned in 1927. The building was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. For a few years classes were held in various places in town while the building was being constructed. Disaster stuck again in 1933, when a tornado caused damage to the building. Repairs were soon made.
Plato Center HS Building Destroyed by Fire 1927
Photo Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher
According to the three-volume book, “Plato Center Memories” by John Russell Ghrist (1999), the consolidation of Burlington and Plato Center high schools was finalized in 1951. Plato Center High School was phased out by year, and all area students attended high school in Burlington by 1953. The Plato Center high school building was still used for some classes under the administration of the Burlington school, until Central High School was completed in 1957.
The Plato Center High School building is still standing.
Plato Center High School Quick Facts
Year opened: early 1900s?
Year closed: 1951
Consolidated to: Central School District (Burlington)
PCHS team nickname: the “Clippers”
PCHS team colors: Purple & Gold
Newspaper: the “Plato Peptimist”
School Fight Song: (From the Yearbook of 1927)
Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher
Plato Center High School Fight Song 1927
Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher (from 1927 Yearbook)
Plato Center HS Gym 2012
Courtesy of Bruce Firchau
ATHLETICS
Plato Center High School definitely offered boys basketball and football. Baseball and track were likely offered as well. School team fight song, team records, and coach’s names are all items being sought.
Plato Center HS Bleachers 2012
Left Click on photo for larger view. (Photo by Bruce Firchau)
Plato Center HS Gym Enterance Stairs 2012
Left Click on photo for larger view. (Photo by Bruce Firchau)
BOYS BASKETBALL
The round-ballers of Plato Center High School brought home a DIstrict title in 1937. The boys competed in the annual IHSA State Tournament as well. Scores were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” We have reprinted these scores below. Season records, coaches’ names, and other information is welcome.
1920-21 Little 8 Conference tournament runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
1921-22 Little 8 Conference tournament champions Coach’s name & record needed
1933-34 Crystal Lake District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Elgin 74-17
Elgin lost in semi-final of District
1934-35 Crystal Lake District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Harvard 43-6
Harvard lost in 2nd Rd.
1935-36 Hampshire District Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Genoa 38-24
Semi-final Beat Hampshire 43-31
Title game lost to Burlington 29-26
1936-37 District Champions! Coach’s name & record needed
District scores unavailable
DeKalb Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Waterman 33-15
Waterman lost in title game.
Little 8 tournament champions
1937-38 Little 8 Conference tournament champions Coach’s name & record needed
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 Kishwaukee Holiday tournament champions Coach’s name & record needed
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1944-45 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1945-46 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1946-47 Maple Park District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Hinckley 80-28
Hinckley lost in semi-final round.
1947-48 Maple Park District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Kaneville 55-41
Kaneville lost in semi-final round
1948-49 HinckleyDistrict Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Burlington 59-42
Burlington lost in semi-final round
1949-50 8 – 18 Waterman District Tourney Coach Joe Kurchera
(2-8conf)
1st Rd lost to Hinckley 33-28
Hinckley won District title
Plato Center High School Basketball Team 1949-50
Left click on photo for larger view
1950-51 Hinckley District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
**1st Rd lost to Burlington 49-48
Burlington lost in semi-final round
**Final boys basketball game for Plato Center High School. Became part of the Burlington Central HS District in the summer of 1951.
FOOTBALL
The Plato Center High School Clippers competed in football in the early 1950s for certain. They played 6-man football against other area schools such as Stillman Valley. If you have any further information regarding the PCHS football program please contact us.
TRACK
Plato Center High School started their track program right from the starting gun well for its first 2 years.
1920-21 Little 8 Conference tournament champions
1921-22 Little 8 Conference tournament champions
MEMORIES & FACTS
**From Mary Beth Fletcher:
“I was on-line researching a fire that destroyed the Plato High School in 1926-27. I purchased a 1927 Plato High School Yearbook on Ebay . The yearbook states that in ’27 they were rebuilding and the students were displaced following the fire. The school fight song is listed in the yearbook as are the participants in the sports of Basketball, Baseball and Track. Other school activities noted are; Glee Club, Orchestra,Class Play, Declamation Contest, Peptimist Staff (yearbook).”
Plato Center HS Seniors 1927
Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher (left click on photo for larger view)
Plato Center HS Faculty 1927
Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher (left click on photo for larger view)
Need Your Assistance
If you have any further information or corrections to make regarding Plato Center High School please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.. You can also write to us via USPS at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
Plato Center HS Gym Entrance 2012
Left Click on photo for larger view. (Photo by Bruce Firchau)
Plato Center Gym Stage 2012
Left Click on photo for larger view. (Photo by Bruce Firchau)
Plato Center HS 1927 Yearbook Foreward
Submitted by Mary Beth Fletcher (left click on photo for larger view)
The first five years of Burlington Central High School are listed on the site called “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” as “Plato Center.” Here are the scores from the those seasons.
1951-52 DeKalb Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
(Did not compete in District tourney)
1st Rd Beat Shabonna 72-37
Semi-final lost to DeKalb 59-44
DeKalb won Regional tourney
1952-53 DeKalb Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
(Did not compete in District tourney)
1st Rd lost to DeKalb 59-45
DeKalb won Regional tourney
1953-54 Sycamore Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
(Did not compete in District tourney)
1st Rd lost to Hampshire 29-20
Hampshire lost in semi-final round.
1954-55 Genoa Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
(Did not compete in District tourney)
1st Rd lost to Sycamore 89-52
Sycamore won Regional tourney
1955-56 DeKalb Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
