Sidney High School “Cardinals”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Sidney School Grounds 2015
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Sidney School Garage 2015
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The History of Sidney High School

Sidney (population 1,062) is located in east-central Illinois in the southeastern portion of Champaign County.  The town is about 10 miles southeast of Champaign/Urbana.  Railroads were what originally made this town prosper as the Missourri Pacific runs to the east of town and the Norfolk & Western runs directly through the heart of town.  The main roadways leading to and from Sidney are County Highway 12 and County Road 1000.  The Salt Fork Creek flows through the northwest side of Sidney.

According to “Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Calloway, Sidney was originally settled in 1837. It was named “Sydney” after one of the founders’ daughters. When the name was submitted to the state of Illinois a clerk changed the spelling to “Sidney” which it remains today.

The history of Sidney and its school system is in need of research.  According to the web address provided to us by Chris Christenson, http://www.prairienet.org/~ndalrym/schoolold.html , Sidney school was built in 1895 and housed grades 1 – 11.  Students who wished to attend a fourth year of high school in those early days had to do so at another location.

We are not certain if Sidney High School ever added a fourth year of curriculum.  Sidney High School served the community nicely for several decades.  At some point, we believe it to be the late 1940s, the folks of Sidney agreed to join several other Champaign County towns and became part of the Unity School District.

The high school for the new district was located in nearby Tolono.  The original Sidney High School building served as a grade school for many years for the Unity School District. Chris Christensen tells us that the Sidney school building was demolished in the late 1990s. At one time the building was possibly considered one of the oldest school buildings still in use for its original purpose in Illinois.

Sidney High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                               1895

Year closed:                                1949 (possibly later)

Consolidated to:                           Unity School District (Tolono)

Sidney HS team nickname:           “Cardinals”

Sidney HS team colors:                Red & White

Sidney School Fight Song:            unavailable
Athletics

Sidney High School had some success in boys basketball.  We believe that baseball and track were also offered. In the center of the Sidney school gym floor was a cardinal.  We believe the Sidney High School teams were known as the Cardinals with colors of red and white.  Sidney High School fight song, coach’s names, and team records of the SHS sports porgram are being sought.

Former Sidney School Grounds 2015
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Former Location of Sidney High School

Boys Basketball

Sidney High School boys basketball won a District Championship during the 1942-43 basketball season.  This is, however, the extent, at this time, of what we know regarding this and other great Sidney HS teams. Scores involving Sidney in the IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below.

1921-22            Urbana District Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Ogden 38-27

Ogden lost to Fisher in semi-final

Fisher beat Villa Grove in title game

1922-23 through 1931-32  Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Champaign 27-13

Champaign lost to Mahomet in title game

Mahomet lost in Elite 8 Round

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

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 26-25

Armstrong lost to Urbana in semi-final

Urbana beat Champaign in title game

Urbana lost in Elite 8 Rd

 

1934-35            Westville District Runner-Up       Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Chrisman 39-13

                         2nd Rd Beat Indianola 27-19

                         Semi-final Beat Catlin 34-19

                         Title game lost to Danville 26-20

Danville lost in Sweet 16 Rd

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

                         1st Rd Beat Philo 33-19

                         Semi-final score needed

Title Game lost to Gays 40-35

1936-37            Champaign Regional Tourney        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Urbana 45-19

Urbana lost to Champaign in semi-final

Champaign beat Mahomet in title game

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

1938-39  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

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

1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

District Scores Needed

                         Champaign Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Urbana U-High 39-34

Urbana U-High lost to Champaign in title game

Champaign lost in Elite 8 Round

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

1944-45  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1945-46            Mansfield District Runner-Up       Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Mansfield 53-41

                         Semi-final Beat Mahomet 44-41

                         Title Game lost to Bellflower 48-44

1946-47            Longview District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Seymour 50-28

                         Semi-final lost to Philo 42-40

Philo lost to Mansfield in title game

1947-48            Mansfield District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Homer 36-29

Homer lost to Tolono in title game

*1948-49           Longview District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Tolono 35-33

                         Semi-final lost (score needed)

*Final season as Sidney High School. Consolidated to Unity School District in Tolono in the summer of 1949.

Need More In-Put

If you have ANY further information regarding the achievements and successes attained at Sidney High School, especially a photo of the original school building, please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .  You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

Sidney School Grounds 2015
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