Rosiclare Community Consolidated High School “Bears”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Rosiclare High School and Gymnasium
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Courtesy of Chuck Ashford and http://www.rosiclare.com/rchs/rchs1.htm
Rosiclare High School – Original Building
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The History of Rosiclare High School

Rosiclare (population 1,213) is located in far southern Illinois on the banks of the Ohio River.  According to http://www.hardincountyil.org/history.org/history.htm the town was first settled in 1807 and was originally called Ford’s Ferry.  It is situated in the southwest area of Hardin County. It soon became clear that the area was abundant in lead. Flourite mining helped the town to grow rapidly.  The name of the town changed to Rose Clare and was named in honor of two young daughters of early settlers.  Over the course of a few years the name simply became Rosiclare. It was incorporated as a village in 1874.  Rosiclare’s population peaked at about 2,000 residents during World War II because of the need to mine its lead and other valuable minerals.  Rosiclare once boasted of having Illinois’ biggest Flouspar mining operation, however the mine ceased its operations in 1996.  Rosiclare is the home of the American Flourite Museum.

Illinois Route 34 begins in Rosiclare and travels north, connecting it to Illinois Route 146. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad built a line that goes directly to Rosiclare and ends there, probably to assist in transporting the mining products.  There is a lake on the northwest side of town and two unnamed creeks that flow through town. A town of note for location purposes would be Carbondale located 50 miles northwest of Rosiclare.

The history of Rosiclare’s educational past is very well documented on a website that was brought to our attention by Claude and Becky (Curtis) Brandt. The website is dedicated to the memory of Rosiclare Community High School and can be viewed at www.rosiclare.com.  The site’s webmaster, Charles “Chuck” Ashford, has done an excellent job in capturing the sentimental part of losing one’s high school in the name of “progress”.

According to www.rosiclare.com, Rosiclare High School was established in 1918 with the first freshman class beginning that fall.  By 1920 the school was an accredited 4-year high school.  A gymnasium was first added in 1927 and a newer gym added in 1947.  The Rosiclare Community High School “Bears” represented the school and town very proudly for over 50 years.

It was in the mid-1970s that talks began to arise regarding the consolidation of the Hardin County High Schools located in Rosiclare, Elizabethtown, and Cave-In-Rock.  These towns and their school districts agreed to consolidate their educational efforts.  The Hardin County School District was formed in 1977. Rosiclare High School building housed the Hardin County High School through the 1979-80 school year. In the summer of 1980 all grades were located to a new school built near Elizabethtown.

The fate of the original Rosiclare school building is a sad but all to common one.  The building was razed except for the gymnasium.  The gym is now used as a garage for a private business.

Rosiclare High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                       1918

Year 4-year hs established: 1920

Year closed                         1977

Consolidated to:                   Hardin County School District (Elizabethtown)

School nickname:                 the “Bears”

School colors:                      Navy, Orange, & White

School Fight Song:               Rosiclare Fight Song

Sung to the tune of Washington and Lee Swing
Rosiclare HS Gymnasium – 2009
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Submitted by James Horaz
Rosiclare HS Gym Entrance – 2009
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Courtesy of James Horaz

Athletics

Rosiclare High School offered boys basketball and girls softball for sure.  These sports won hardware in IHSA tournaments.  We believe that the boys also competed in baseball and track and the girls possibly basketball, volleyball, and track.  Rosiclare High School was a member of the Greater Egyptian Conference along with Shawneetown, Equality, Ridgeway, and Golconda.

School fight song and any other items regarding the athletic program at Rosiclare High are welcome.

Boys Basketball

The Rosiclare boys won two DIstrict titles in back to back seasons.  The years were 1933-34 and 1934-35.  Unfortunately the team records and coach’s names of these and other great Rosiclare teams are not available. Some basketball scores were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below.

1933-34               Metropolis District Champions         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Cave-In-Rock 37-35

                            2nd Rd Beat New Columbia 57-9

                            Semi-final Beat Brookport 23-22

                            Title Game Beat Metropolis 40-34

                            Mt. Carmel Sectional Tournament    

                            1st Rd Beat Casey 32-26

                            Semi-final lost to Eldorado 41-24

Eldorado lost to Lawrenceville in title game

Lawrenceville lost to Moline in Sweet 16 Rd

Moline placed 4th in tourney

1934-35              Metropolis District Champions         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Golconda 32-26

                           Semi-final Beat Brookport 30-28

                           Title Game Beat Metropolis 17-15

                           Carbondale Sectional Tournament    

                           1st Rd lost to West Frankfort 42-30

West Frankfort lost to Murphysboro in semi-final

Murphysboro lost to Marion in title game

Marion lost to Thornton in Sweet 16

Thornton lost to Springfield in State Title game

1935-36              Brookport District Runner-Up           Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Robbs 36-21

Title Game lost to Joppa 28-23

1936-37  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1938-39              Metropolis Regional Runner-Up       Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat New Columbia 33-20

                           Semi-final Beat Golconda 35-23

                           Title Game lost to Metropolis 27-24

1939-40  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1941-42              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 67-16

Metropolis won Regional

1942-43              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Vienna

Vienna won Regional

1943-44  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1944-45              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 51-39

Metropolis won Regional .

1945-46              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Joppa 70-15

Semi-final lost to Metropolis 59-35

Metropolis won Regional

1946-47              Metropolis Regional Runner-Up        Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Joppa 70-15

Semi-final Beat Brookport 47-29

                           Title Game lost to Metropolis 60-50

1947-48              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 48-28

Metropolis won Regional

1948-49              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Joppa 47-33

Semi-final lost to Vienna 58-51

Metropolis won Regional over Vienna

1949-50              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Karnak 79-31

Semi-final lost to Vienna 47-42

Vienna lost to Cave-In-Rock in title game

1950-51              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Cave-In-Rock 63-53

Cave-In-Rock won Regional over Brookport

1951-52              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Golconda 82-56

Semi-final lost to Metropolis 86-70

Metropolis lost to Brookport in title game

1952-53              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Golconda 57-44

Karnak beat Metropolis in title game

1953-54              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Cairo 80-56

Cairo lost to Metropolis in title game

1954-55              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 50-41

Brookport beat Vienna in title game

1955-56              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Joppa 86-56

Semi-final lost to Vienna 68-61

Vienna lost to Metropolis in title game

1956-57              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Joppa 106-57

Semi-final lost to Brookport 87-73

Brookport beat Metropolis in title game

1957-58              Metropolis Regional Runner-Up        Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Vienna 100-81

Semi-final Beat Cave-In-Rock 66-40

                           Title Game lost to Metropolis 54-46

1958-59              Metropolis Regional Runner-Up        Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Vienna 79-51

Semi-final Beat Joppa 71-65

                           Title Game lost to Metropolis 93-60

1959-60              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Brookport 52-45

Semi-final lost to Cave-In-Rock 56-51

Metropolis beat Cave-In-Rock in title game

1960-61              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Vienna 67-54

Semi-final lost to Joppa 73-44

Joppa beat Metropolis in title game

1961-62              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Vienna 61-60

ROSICLARE (61): Turlay 26, Carr 15, Phillips 8, Weathrington 6, Winchester 5, Steward 1.

VIENNA (60): Crews 19, Racey 17, Turner 14, Miles 6, Dameron 4.

Semi-final lost to Joppa 81-51

Joppa beat Metropolis in title game

1962-63              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Vienna 55-52

Vienna lost to Metropolis in title game

1963-64              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Pope County 64-55

Semi-final lost to Cave-In-Rock 83-69

Cave-In-Rock beat Metropolis in title game

1964-65              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Cave-In-Rock 77-60

Cave-In-Rock lost to Metropolis in title game

1965-66              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 92-59

Metropolis beat Vienna in title game

1966-67              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Joppa 46-43

Metropolis beat Brookport in title game

1967-68              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 85-40

Metropolis beat Joppa in title game

1968-69              Vienna Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 92-57

Metropolis beat Vienna in title game

1969-70              Vienna Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Pope County 71-54

Pope County beat Cave-In-Rock in title game

1970-71              Metropolis Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 76-70

METROPOLIS (76): Austin 23, Edwards 21, Mathis 10, Glass 9, Johnson 9, McDearmon 4

ROSICLARE (70): Miller 22, Stunson 18, Spivey 9, Drumm 9, Stone 8, Anderson 2, Logan 2.

Metropolis lost to Joppa in title game

1971-72              Vienna Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney      Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Joppa 74-70

                           Semi-final lost to Cave-In-Rock 87-65

Cave-In-Rock lost to Carrier Mills in title game

1972-73  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1973-74  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1974-75  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1975-76  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1976-77  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

(Last season for Rosiclare High School.)

Girls Softball

The Rosiclare High School girls softball program won the school’s only Regional title.  The team of 1976-77 brought this honor home to Rosiclare.  Unfortunately the team record and coach’s name of this group is also not available.

1976-77         Regional Champions
MEMORIES

**From Beth Ramsey Kossen:

“I attended Rosiclare High School until 1979.  We were consolidated with Cave-In-Rock High School in 1977, as you stated in your website, but we were not located in Elizabethtown until the school year 1980-1981.  My brother was the first graduating class from the new building that year.  I was the next class year.”

**From Corinne Dickman:

“I just wanted to share that I just had my grandmother Frances Rightmire’s class ring from Rosiclare (1929) resized so I could wear it, and looked up the history on the net and found your page. It was interesting to read about the town and the high school!”

Frances Rightmire RHS Class Ring 1929 Side View
Submitted by Corinne Dickman
Frances Rightmire RHS Class Ring of 1929 Side View
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Submitted by Corinne Dickman
Rosiclare Class Ring 1929 / Frances Rightmire
Courtesy of Corinne Dickman (left click on photo for larger version)

Need More Information

If you have any further information you would like to chare regarding the history and accomplishments of Rosiclare High School, especially a photo of the school building, please send us an e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631

Rosiclare HS Gym Side View – 2009
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Thank you to James Horaz (school once stood in foreground)
Rosiclare HS Gym Side View – 2009
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Submitted by James Horaz
The City of Rosiclare
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Hardin County, Illinois


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