The History of Ray High School Ray (population 50?) is located in western Illinois in the northeastern portion of Schuyler County. Ray sits on Township Highway 4 about 5 miles northeast of Rushville and has about four streets (according to www.mapquest.com). At one time a local railway passed through the small village however this railroad line no longer exists. Ray also had a church and several businesses over the years. We have been unlucky in our quest to find historical infomation on Ray. If you have any information we can share about its beginning and history please write to us. We do know that Ray once supported a grade school and a 2-year high school. Our good friend John Bybee spoke with a local resident and sent us the following information. “Isobel Fordyce (85 years old) tells me she took her Freshmen and Sophomore years at Ray HS. Five girls made up the Sophomore class. Isobel completed Jr and Sr. classes at Beardstown HS. Ray School is the polling place for Oakland Township, Schuyler County, IL. She believes some photos of the graduating classes are displayed on the 2nd floor.” John Bybee sent us this information as well: “John Haney who grew up near there, remembers that Ray had a real small athletic program, but they were big in bravado and there were many times–depending on the winners–a brawl/fistfight after the games, especially if they played the Browning Bobcats. Haney also rememvbers there were three grcoery stores, a savings and loan, a tile mill, and a brickyard in the ‘glory days’.”
It is likely that Ray High School was open from the early 1920s through the late 1940s. We believe when Ray High School closed the school remained open as a grade school for a few more years before that was closed as well. We also believe the kids of Ray today attend school in Rushville. The school building in Ray is still staning and is used periodically. The photos on this page were taken and submitted by John Bybee. Ray High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1920s? Year closed: late 1940s? Consolidated to: Rushville High School (?) Ray HS Team Nickname: not available Ray HS Team Colors: not available Ray HS Fight Song: not available
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
