Spring Bay High School

Spring Bay High School Building 2013
A white building with cars parked in front of it

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Photo by Roberta Van Briesen
Spring Bay High School Building 2013
A white house with a red roof

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Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen

The History of Spring Bay High School

Spring Bay (population 436) is located in central Illinois in the lower western portion of Woodford County. Illinois Route 26 is the main roadway leading you to and from Spring Bay. The Illinois River forms the western boundary of the town and played a vital role in its early growth. Spring Bay is located about 12 miles northeast of Peoria.

According to a book titled “The Past and Present of Woodford County. Illinois”, Spring Bay was platted in 1838. A post office was established there in 1844. Spring Bay became a grain shipping port and a very vibrant town. At one time, early in its history, Spring Bay was home to three hotels. The invention of the train would eventually be the down fall of Spring Bay. As railroad lines came to pass through Peoria and other nearby towns, Spring Bay became less of an importance for shipping. Spring Bay continues to be a pleasant town with businesses going strong in the present day.

A book titled “The Woodford County History (1968)” reads that Spring Bay High School District 119 was established in 1915. At this time two years of high school courses were taught. In 1918 the grade school building where high school courses were taught was burned down. For a year or two high school courses were discontinued while a new building was built. Once built, the new building agained housed a two-year high school until 1937. In that year, once again a new school building was constructed in Spring Bay. The new building allowed for a four year high school course of study. This arrangement continued until 1951 when the state of Illinois forced the closure of the high school.

Upon closure, the high school-aged kids of Spring Bay were bussed to nearby Metamora High School. The fate of the school building that once housed Spring Bay High School is a good one. The former high school building how houses a food pantry for a local church. The high school building is pictured above, with the church building sittng directly behind it. Photos of the basement, which once housed a classroom and possibly a lunch room, are available below. Thank you to Roberta Van Briesen for submitting these photos!

Spring Bay HS Bldg Basement – Former Lunch Room
A picture containing text, indoor, ceiling, cluttered

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Photo Taken in 2013 by Roberta Van Briesen
Spring Bay HS Bldg Basement – Now a Food Pantry
A picture containing text, ceiling, indoor, counter

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Photo Taken in 2013 by Roberta Van Briesen

Spring Bay High School Quick Facts

Year opened as HS Dist 119: 1915 (2-year HS)

Year 4-year HS began:             1937

Year closed:                               1951

Consolidated to:                        Metamora High School

Spring Bay HS nickname:        unknown if athletics offered.

Spring Bay HS colors:               ?

Spring Bay HS fight song:        ?

ATHLETICS & EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

We are not certain if Spring High School ever competed in athletics with other schools in the area. We were unable to locate any basketball scores from the IHSA tournament on the IHSA website or the website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.”

We are confident many activities were available for the Spring Bay kids to participate in. If you have information regarding activities or athletics offered at Spring Bay HS, please contact us via the means listed below.

TO SUBMIT INFORMATION REGARDING SPRING BAY HIGH SCHOOL

You can contact us by submitting a Guest Commentary form or by sending us an e-mail at the address of ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also send mail to us via USPS at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il.   60631

Spring Bay Grade School Bldg – Now a Private Home
A white house with a tree in front of it

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Photo Taken in 2013 by Roberta Van Briesen
Former Principal at Spring Bay High School
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Submitted by John Bybee
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Submitted by John Bybee
    


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