Simpson High School

Simpson School Building – 2011

Photo Taken by James Horaz

Simpson School Photo – 2011

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Courtesy of James Horaz

The History of Simpson High School

Simpson (population 54) is located in the far southern portion of Illinois in the east-central portion of Johnson County. The main road leading to and from Simpson is Illinois Route 147. Simpson is located on Route 147 about seven miles east of Interstate Highway 24. A town of note near Simpson might be Carbondale, about 30 miles to the northwest (as the crow flies, of course). Cedar Creek flows through Simpson as well.

Simpson was established in 1888 along the St. Louis, Alton, & Terre Haute Railroad line. It is named after J.M. Simpson who donated the farm land on which the town was begun.

Simpson likely began school operations for its children shortly after its beginning. , Highschool courses were likely begun in the late 1800s or early 1899s. We know that by 1920 Simpson had a 3-year high school. It is quite possible that it was the middle 1940s, when the state-wide consolidation effort took place, that the high school in Simpson was deactivated. We do know that at some point the kids of Simpson began attending high school with their neighbors seven miles to the southwest, Vienna.

The history and fate of Simpson High School are in need of research. Very little is available on the internet. We are hopeful that a local resident or history buff can help us with the details.

Simpson High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1940s (1945?)

Consolidated to: Vienna High School

School nickname: unavailable

School colors: unavailable

School Fight Song: unavailable

ATHLETICSIt is a fact that Simpson High School competed in the sport of boys basketball. It is quite possible that track and baseball were offered as well. We know of the school’s participation in basketball because of its mention on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). As you can see in the “Quick Facts” area, we are in need of a lot of information on the school’s athletic, as well as overall, history.BOYS BASKETBALL

The boys basketball team at Simpson High School had three seasons in which they were the “king” of the small schools in their area. District Championship trophies were won in 1929, 1931, and 1940. Unfortunately team records and coaches names are not available.

1928-29 IHSA District Champions Coach Clyde Stewart (record needed).

District Scores Needed

Harrisburg Sectional Tourney

– Lost to Pinckneyville 42 – 18

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1930-31 IHSA District Champions Coach Loren Anderson (record needed).

IHSA Sweet 16 Finalists

District Scores Needed

Carbondale Sectional Tournament Results

Beat Pinckneyville 19 – 17

Beat Murphysboro 12 – 10 (O/T)

Lost Sectional Championship (Sweet 16)

– 14 – 12 in O/T to Johnson City who would

– go on to finish in 4th place.

(See Below)

Simpson HS Basketball Newspaper Article 1931

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1931-32 Metropolis District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Buncombe 31-17

Metropolis beat Vienna in title game

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1932-33 Metropolis District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Rosiclare 31-30

Joppa beat Cave-In-Rock in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Buncombe 23-22

Rosiclare beat Metropolis in title game

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1934-35 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Brookport 43-34

Joppa beat Rosiclare in title game

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

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

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

District Scores Not Available

Metropolis Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Metropolis 64-33

Metropolis beat Rosiclare in title game

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1939-40 Creal Springs District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

Title Game Beat Creal Springs 43-28

Metropolis Regional Tourney

1st Rd Beat Golconda 71-30

Semi-Final lost to Brookport 39-32

– Metropolis beat Brookport in title game.

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

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1941-42 Creal Springs District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

**Title Game lost to Crab Orchard 43-26

**Final basketball game score located for Simpson High School on the website Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores.

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Jim Jones provided us with this tidbit of information regarding the Simpson High School boys of 1930-31, who set a record that will never be broken:

“I have this great piece of information for you concerning Simpson High School, taken from page 39 (the 1931 tournament) of _100 Years of Madness: The Illinois High School Association Boys’ Basketball Tournament (an excellent book if you don’t know about it – I got a copy from the IHSA store):

“Johnston City rallied past Benton in the sectional semifinals at Carbondale and then beat Simpson in overtime in the finals. With an enrollment of just 25 students, Simpson was the smallest school EVER to make the final 16 of the state tournament.”

Truly incredible to think that Simpson almost made the “Elite Eight” with just 25 kids! Johnston City would finish 4th that year.”

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WE NEED YOUR HELP…..

…in making the memories and hard work of those who made Simpson High School a success never be forgotten. ANY information you may have about Simpson or its former high school is being sought. You can e-mail photos and 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

Simpson Vs. Johnson City, March, 1931