The History of Warrensburg High School Warrensburg (population 1,289) is located in central Illinois about six miles northwest of Decatur. Illinois Route 121 is the main roadway taking you to and from this near-northwestern Macon County town. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad also makes its way through Warrensburg. The town was first discussed being platted in 1841. It was in 1861 that the Illinois Central Railroad was established through the area where Warrensburg was eventually inhabited. The town was officially incorporated in 1882. More on the history of Warrensburg can be read at the town’s official website address of http://www.warrensburgillinois.info/. The following history of the educational system in Warrensburg was provided by Sally Hursh as reprinted from a book titled “Warrensburg 1882-1982 – Warrensburg, Illinois.” **From pp. 33-34: “By 1879 a two-room school was built and later became the grade school. In 1890 enrollment had increased to fifty-six students which included thirty-seven males and nineteen females. The enrollment was larger than what the building could accommodate so part of the advanced students were taught in the Church of God chapel.” “Warrensburg was just a plain district school until sometime in the 1890s when it became a grade school and the first Commencement exercises were held on May 12, 1899 in the Methodist Church (first built in 1875) . . .
In 1917 the old wooden building was replaced with a fine new building. It opened with J. E. Hursh, Miss Goodwin, Julie Faith and Millie Vaught as teachers. Since that day, however, the fine brick building has become the village grade school when the Community High School was erected on the northeast corner of the town of Warrensburg in 1925.”
**p. 35: “Prior to 1920 high school age students who wanted to go to high school were required to pay tuition to attend schools outside the area. Most attended Stephen Decatur.” “Residents of Illini Township passed a referendum in 1920, establishing the right to tax for funds to operate and build a new high school in Warrensburg. Following the passing of the referendum, little time was lost in establishing a high school. The ninth and tenth grades began their class room studies that fall in the old grade school building. The new building was completed in 1922 in time for the 1922-1923 school year to open. Dedication of the new building followed in the spring of 1923.” **On p. 37 is a picture identified as: “Student body of Warrensburg High School in its first year of operation, 1920-1921.” In the 1950 the towns of Warrensburg and Latham agreed to pool their educational resources. it was after the 1949-50 school year that the Warrensburg-Latham School District was established. The high school for the newly established district was, and remains today, located in Warrensburg. Ralph Whitsitt provided the following information on Warrensburg High School and the fate of the original high school building: “My father graduated from Warrensburg-Latham High School in 1951. This was the first year for the consolidated schools in Warrensburg and Latham. The old Warrensburg H.S. building was used as Warrensburg-Latham High for several years until a newer facility was built on the other side of Warrensburg in (I’m guessing here…) the late 1950’s. The old building survived until the 1980’s when it was finally torn down. I’m not sure what the building was used for (if anything)between the time the newer high school was built and when it was razed, but the old ag shop building which was next to the old high school was still standing as of a few years ago and appeared to be used for storage.” Warrensburg High School Quick Facts Year opened: late 1800s (1877?) Year closed: 1950 Consolidated to: Warrensburg-Latham School District Warrensburg HS team nickname: the “Cardinals” WHS team colors: Red & Gold School Fight Song: unavailable |
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