Poplar Grove High School

Poplar Grove Grade School
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On site of former Poplar Grove H.S.

The History of Poplar Grove High School

Poplar Grove, Illinois (population 1,368) is located in the center of Boone County in Northern Illinois. Poplar Grove Road and Ill. Rt. 173 cross through the community that has seen a recent growth spurt as of late and is home to “Mean Gene’s” Pizzaria.

In 1838, the first school was built and it was replaced twice in 1849 and 1877. The first high school was established in 1905 in a building built in 1900 as a two-year high school but it eventually became a three-year school and then a four-year school. However, according to a book on the history of Poplar Grove, the school was changed again to a three-year school because “full credit was not given to graduates upon college.”

In 1946 and 1947 all of the country schools around Poplar Grove consolidated and crowded the building. As a result, high school-aged students were taken by bus to either Capron or Belvidere High Schools. As a result, the school in Capron and it’s High School (also listed on this site) became the North Boone School District. The IHSA.org website lists North Boone’s football and basketball records dating back to 1948 when this school was located in Capron. In 1957, the high school was relocated to a site north of Poplar Grove (near the small settlement of Beaverton Crossroads) and is listed as Poplar Grove North Boone high school.

The original Poplar Grove High School building was destroyed by fire in 1950 and replaced by another structure, which you see above as Poplar Grove Elementary School.

Poplar Grove High School “Quick Facts”:

Year of school origin:                           1835

Year H.S. established:                          1905

Year of ceasing of H.S. curriculum:      1947

Building status:                                     Burned down in 1950, replaced

School Colors:                                      Unknown

School Song:                                        Unknown

School Mascot:                                     Unknown

Athletics

Poplar Grove offered basketball as a sport. The original gymnasium for the basketball games was the Poplar Grove Grange Hall. A new gym was built in 1940 and the dedication was on November 8, 1940. Did they offer other sports? They might have not won any IHSA hardware, but we are sure there were many successful seasons over the years.

Boys Basketball

We do know, through research conducted by Brian Hoxsey, the Poplar Grove boys of 1941-42 were a special group.  This team won the Meridian Conference tournament held at Polar Grove! Check out the tournament scores below:

The 1941-42 Meridian Conference Basketball Tournament 

Jan. 28th

Poplar Grove 40, Fairdale 19

Kishwaukee 19 Seward 16

Compton 27, Cherry Valley 21

Jan. 29th 

Lee 34, Kings 33 (Lee dressed six players, two fouled out, so they finished with four players on the floor at the end)

West Brooklyn 38, Caledonia 20

Poplar Grove 13, Kishwaukee 12

Jan. 30th

Semifinals

Poplar Grove 25, Compton 13

Lee 36, West Brooklyn 21

Feb. 1st

Compton 39, West Brooklyn 36 (Third place)

Poplar Grove 26, Lee 19 (Championship game)

Seeking Your Assistance

If you have ANY further information about Poplar Grove High School, please share it with us.  Photos and information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.    60631

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