Submitted by Jim White, Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge
The History of Steward High School
Steward High School Building, Approximately 1935
Courtesy of Jim White, Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge
Steward, Illinois is located seven miles south of Rochelle just off of Interstate 39-US 51 in Alto Township in northeastern Lee County. It has a population of 300 and is mostly a residental area save a couple businesses and a tavern. The town was founded in 1855 and the present-day Burlington Northern-Santa Fe line brought prosperity to Steward.
The first schoolhouse in Steward was built in 1859. In 1881, a high school was organized at the southeastern corner of Perry Road (Main Street, County Route 2) and Steward Road (County Route 8) and served the village until the 1953-54 school year after which the high school students were sent to Rochelle.
An update on the Steward school system and its former high school buildings was provided by John Metelko:
“The main part of the old Steward High School that was used for the Elementary school in the 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s was torn down and replaced by a new building. The new Steward School is still connected to the old Steward High School Gym which is still used. Steward School now has students in grades Kindergarten through Eight.”
**From Asheri Campbell:
” In regards to the old part of Steward School being torn down and the new building be attached to the old that was the year of 1998, i was a member of the graduating class, May 8th 1998. We had started school almost a full month ahead of time and went to school most holidays so we could graduate in early May because of the construction and the hopes of it being completed by the following school year. We spent the last couple of months in the Gym with big partitions separating class so they could start construction.”
Different High Schools in Steward: 3 (2 burned down)
Year Deactivated: 1954
Consolidated to: Rochelle High School
School Colors: Blue & White
Nickname: the “Blue Jays”
School Song: ??
Athletics
Steward High School Gymnasium Entrance 1935
Submitted by Jim White / Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge
As far as known, Steward offered Basketball as an extra-curricular and it was their prime sport, because the team brought home five IHSA District Championships according to the IHSA Website (www.ihsa.org). Steward Basketball was a surely a small school force in the 1940’s. We are still looking for more information about athletics and other activities in and about Steward High School.
Boys Basketball
Several scores involving Steward in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores” and are reprinted below.
1931-32 Mt. Morris District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd beat Forreston 42-9
2nd Rd lost to Kings
Polo beat Ashton in title game
1932-33 DeKalb District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd beat Compton 39-14
2nd Rd lost to DeKalb 70-6
Sycamore beat DeKalb in title game
1933-34 DeKalb District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd beat Compton 36-16
2nd Rd lost to Shabbona 54-17
Sycamore beat Waterman in title game
1934-35 19 – 3 District Scores Needed Coach E. Skaarhaug
Steward HS Basketball 1934-35
Submitted By Jim White / Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge
1935-36 Leaf River District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd beat Kishwaukee 48-24
Semi-final lost to Ashton 21-19
Ashton beat Leaf River in title game
1936-37 Leaf River District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd beat Monroe Center 32-14
Semi-final Beat Leaf River 21-16
Title Game lost to Kings 19-18
1937-38 Steward District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd beat Malta 38-18
Semi-final Beat Lee 38-20
Title Game lost to Rollo 48-34
1938-39 Steward District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat West Brooklyn 48-29
Semi-Final Beat Lee 56-8
Title Game Beat Paw Paw 35-19
Dixon Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Rock Falls 34-19
Semi-Final lost to Sterling 33-31 (O/T)
Dixon beat Sterling in title game
1939-40 Steward District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Steward Scores Needed
Paw Paw beat Franklin Grove in title game
1940-41 Byron District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lee Center 60-17
Byron Beat Leaf River in title game
1941-42Franklin GroveDistrict Champs Coach’s name & record needed
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Paw Paw 49-48
Dixon Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Sterling 47-38
Dixon Beat Sterling in title game
1942-43 Lee District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Paw Paw 37-27
Paw Paw beat Lee in title game
1943-44 Postseason scores, coach’s name, and season record needed.
1944-45 Franklin Grove District Champs Coach J.M. Thompson
Information on two of Steward High’s District Championship teams was provided to us by our good fan, Brian Hoxsey:
“In 1944-45 season head coach J.M. Thompson and the Blue Jays won a district title with a 43-26 victory over Lee High School in a game Donald Rednour scored a game-high 20 points.
Thompson led Steward to their second straight district title in 1945-46.
Head coach Maurice “Moe” Errion guided the Blue Jays to a 21-5 record and a district title in 1948-49. In the district tournament, Steward defeated Lee Center High School and then Franklin Grove High School 50-36 in the title game. The season ended with a 62-41 loss to Dixon High School in the Regional semi-finals.”
MEMORIES
We hope you enjoy these photos provided by Jim White from yearbooks of Steward High School from the years of 1934-36, courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge. Place your cursor over any photo and “left click” on your mouse to view an enlarged version of the photo.
Stewardson HS Parking Lot
Study Hall
Ladies at the Entrance, Check Out Those Skates!!
Steward HS Girls Club 1935
Submitted By Jim White / Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge
Steward HS Entrance
More Information Welcome
More information is being sought about Steward High School; use the Guest Commentary Form or the School Submission Form to submit. If you have more Information about Steward High School, including a photo of the school, nickname, school colors and especially win-loss records and other great teams you would like to share please e-mail this website at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .
You may also write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL 60631
