Reno High School

Reno Gymnasium Building 2017
A picture containing grass, outdoor, tree, field

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Submitted by Dennis Downey

The History of Reno High School

Reno is a small village located in northwestern Bond County in southwestern Illinois.  The population of Reno is not listed on the 2000 Illinois Census.  A aerial view of the town was found and shows it having a total of 7 or 8 streets and maybe 20 to 25 houses. A “guesstimate” of the population would be about 75 – 100 residents.  There does not appear to be a major roadway to or from Reno.  Two roads that intersect there are county roads, 16th Avenue and Reno Road.  The At & St Railroad angles through town.  A town of note would be East St. Louis about 40 miles to the southwest of Reno.

The following historical information regarding Reno High School was provided to us by our good friend Gerry Halpin:

“The following information is summarized from a local historical booklet titled “History of Shoal Creek Township”, an excerpt of which was forwarded to me by Dale Eccles of Panama , IL. :

Reno had a 3-year high school for a number of years.  The Reno building was a two-story square wooden building.  The highest recorded enrollment (for grades one thru eleven) was 108 students.  In 1934, a brick gymnasium was built at a cost of $17,000.  It was considered “the best in the county” for a few years.  The gym had two locker rooms with two cistern systems to provide water for showers.  Reno High was closed in 1947, with the grade school continuing until the late 1950’s.  The school building was sold and torn down for salvage.  The gym was used as a community center (and may still be standing today).”

Reno HIgh School kids then, as they do even today, attend Greenville High School for their education.

Reno High School Quick Facts

Year opened:            late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:             around 1948 ??

Consolidated to:        Greenville High School

School nickname:     unavailable

School colors:          unavailable

School Fight Song:   unavailable

Reno Gymnasium Building 2017
A picture containing tree, outdoor, grass, building

Description automatically generated
Submitted by Dennis Downey

Athletics

Reno High School definately competed in boys basketball and track.  They may have also competed in baseball. If you have any other information you can provide regarding the history of the Reno High School athletic program please forward it to us so we may share it on this page.

Boys Basketball

The Reno High School boys basketball team brought home a District title during the 1942-43 season.  This is the only accomplishment listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) .  If you have any more information such as coaches names, team records, conference affiliation/championships, please forward it to us. The year of the District Championship is listed below.

Several scores involving Reno High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below as well.

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

1st Rd lost to St. James 27-17

Greenville beat Vandalia in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Coffeen 31 – 2

Vandalia beat St. Elmo in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Sorento 25-23 (O/T)

Hillsboro beat Litchfield in title game

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

  1st Rd Beat Sorento 50 – 9

                            Semi-final lost to Ramsey 45-17

Ramsey beat Panama in title game

1936-37 through 1939-40:  No scores available for Reno High School.

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

1st Rd lost to St. James 27-17

Greenville beat Vandalia in title game

1941-42   Scores not available.

1942-43               Sorento District Champions         Coach’s name & record needed.

 Semi-final Beat Mulberry Grove 44-29

                            Title Game Beat Panama 27-21

                            Staunton Regional Tournament

                            1st Rd lost to Staunton 61-19

Staunton lost to Greenville in title game 

  

1943-44  No scores available for Reno High School.

  

1943-45               Sorento District Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Panama 50-28

St. Jacob beat Panama in title game

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

1st Rd Beat New Douglas 67-23

**Semi-final lost to Fillmore 36-18

Livingston beat Fillmore in title game

**Last score listed on this site for Reno High School.

Reno Gymnasium 2017

From Dennis Downey:

“Here are four photos taken of the Reno High School gymnasium in 2017: two front, one side, and one rear of what is left of the Reno high school’s gym. Through the brambles, bushes, down wet farm fields and a rock road sets the gym surrounded by all sorts of things and falling apart. The little town is a collection of three churches and about 15 houses at a crossroad. And, here sits the building. If only we could go back to its glory days. I asked a couple about it, and they said kids play inside now and then, but the roof is falling in.”

Seeking More Information

As you can tell there is a lot of information that needs to be added to the Reno High School history of this page.  There were many people and residents of the town that made the era of Reno High School a successful one. The efforts of these people should not be forgotten.  We are especially interested in photos, most importantly one of the old school building.  You can e-mail this information to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.   You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.  60631

Reno Gym Building 2017
A picture containing grass, outdoor, track, bridge

Description automatically generated
Submitted by Dennis Downey
Reno Gym Building 2017
A picture containing grass, outdoor, bridge, outdoor object

Description automatically generated
Submitted by Deniis Downey
 


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