Wellington High School “Dukes”

Wellington High School

Photo Submitted by Adrian ‘Magellan’ K

Wellington School Building March of 2016

A large brick building with trees in front of it

Description automatically generated with low confidence

The History of Wellington High School

Wellington (population 206) is located in far eastern Illinois about 25 miles due north of Danville. This places Wellington in southeastern Iroquois County. Wellington is located on County Highway 11 just east of Illinois Route 1. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad runs some tracks through town. A branch of the Gay Creek flows to the north and south of Wellington.

The town of Wellington was officially established in 1872. It was named by William Welling, the land owner who donated much of the land for the town’s early development. Besides his own name being Welling, he likely chose the name Wellington after the famed Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, who was a hero in England at the Battle of Waterloo. Choosing the name Wellington honored his own last name and that of the title of a famous English warrior. The name Wellington comes from an old English language which translates to “wealthy estate.”

This history of Wellington High School was offered by Lucy Briscoe Green:

“Wellington early school was north of the village about one quarter mile. In 1872 a two story wood structure was erected . It had eight grades of primary education and two years of high school education. E. J.Blake of Watseka was the principal. The first commencement was held in June 1873.

The Wellington four year high school was built in 1915. The board members were F. Pruitt, Pres. W. Scott, Sec., J.C. Benbow, H. I Evans, O. A. Clements, J. V. Phillips, and Oliver Bratton.

In 1941 a large gym was erected on the east side of the high school. School district No. 7 was formed. Two additions were later added to the high school, two classrooms, a farm shop, an industrial arts shop and classroom.”

Wellington School Building Constructed in 1915

Photo Taken in March of 2016

The high school in Wellington served the community proudly at least through the 1986 school year. The IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) lists all of the Wellington basketball seasons from 1925-26 through 1985-86. Former Wellington High School Unit 7 teacher Scott Davis (1980 – 1987) tells the us the following about the closing of Wellington High School:

“….for the record, WHS’ last year was actually 1987. I was a teacher there for the seven years before the district dissolved. The 1986-87 school year graduated five students fondly referred to as the “final five”.

The high school-aged children of Wellington now attend either Hoopeston Area High School or Milford High School. We could not find evidence that any school still is in operation in Wellington.

The fate of the Wellington High School building originally was a happy one. This information was provided by Jenifer Lunsford:

“I did want to let you that the Wellington High School has been purchased by one of my family members. He renovated it and rents part of it out as apartments. My family actually has Thanksgiving dinner in the gym every year.”

However, the Wellington school in 2016 appears to be unused and unfortunately is deteriorating.

Wellington School Entrance 2016

Wellington High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1987

Consolidated to: Hoopeston Area HS

Wellington team nickname: the “Dukes”

School colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Wellington High School Gymnasium March of 2016

ATHLETICS

Wellington High School offered the boys sports of basketball and track & field for sure. Baseball was offered as well. The Lady Dukes competed in basketball and volleyball, possibly even track. Welllington competed in the Iroquois Conference. Some of the teams in the 1970s and 1980s include: Armstrong, Potomac, Rossville-Alvin, Buckley-Loda, Cissna Park, Crescent City, Milford, Donovan, Sheldon, and Rankin.

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Boys Basketball

There is very nice coverage of the Wellington High School boys basketball program on the IHSA website. The boys did win four District titles, in 1942, 1945, 1958, and 1959. Conference or county championships won are being sought as well. The team of 1965-66 likely had the best overall season in school history finishing at 24-2. The best of the Wellington HS basketball seasons are listed below.

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1920-21 Urbana District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to East Lynn 33-19

Champaign beat Urbana in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Rankin 17-13

Watseka beat East Lynn in title game

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1922-23 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1923-24 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1924-25 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1925-26 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach Forrest A. Stewart

1926-27 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach Forrest A. Stewart

1927-28 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach Forrest A. Stewart

1928-29 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach Forrest A. Stewart

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1929-30 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1930-31 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach Leminger

1st Rd lost to Cisna Park 28-8

Armstrong beat Hoopeston in title game.

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1931-32 14 – 8 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach Ernest Martin

1st Rd Beat East Lynn 16-14

2nd Rd lost to Armstrong 16-8

Armstrong beat Alvin in title game.

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1932-33 18 – 8 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach Ernest Martin

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 33-25

Potomac beat Armstrong in title game

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1933-34 19 – 6 Milford District Tournament Coach Ernest Martin

1st Rd lost to Rankin 19-11

Potomac beat Watseka in title game

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1934-35 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Alvin 35-16

2nd Rd lost to Watseka 36-12

Watseka lost to Milford in semi-final

Milford beat Potomac in title game

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1935-36 Milford District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Woodland 21-15

2nd Rd lost to Cissna Park 37-16

Cissna Park lost to East Lynn in title game

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

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1937-38 East Lynn District Tournament Coach Omer Estes

Semi-Final lost to East Lynn 48-18

Stockland beat East Lynn in tltle game.

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1938-39 East Lynn District Tournament Coach Joe McGann

1st Rd Beat Gifford 35-12

Semi-Final lost to East Lynn 28-25

Cissna Park beat East Lynn in tltle game.

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

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1940-41 Cissna Park District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Stockland 38-37

Semi-final lost to Cissna Park 35-28

Cissna Park lost to Potomac in title game

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1941-42 Wellingont District Champions Coach Roy Paulson

Title Game Beat Potomac 42-41 (O/T)

Hoopeston Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Rankin 80-60

Rankin lost to Hoopeston in semi-final

Hoopeston beat Watseka in title game

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1942-43 Potomac District Tournament Coach O.W. “Bill” Smith (record needed)

1st Rd lost to East Lynn 36-31

East Lynn Beat Potomac in title game

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

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1944-45 16 – 12 Wellington District Champions Coach O.W. “Bill” Smith

Semi-final Beat Alvin 35-32

Title Game Beat East Lynn 45-41

Hoopeston Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 45-39

Cissna Park lost to Milford in semi-final

Milford beat Rossville in title game

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1945-46 15 – 11 Potomac District Tournament Coach Curtis Alexander

1st Rd Beat Potomac 35-31

Semi-final lost to Rankin 35-32

Rankin beat East Lynn in title game

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1946-47 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Stockland 41-28

Stockland beat Sheldon in title game

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

1st Rd lost to East Lynn 41-30

East Lynn lost to Potomac in semi-final

Potomac beat Sheldon in title game

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1949-50 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1950-51 Wellington District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Sheldon 48-36

Sheldon lost to Rankin in title game

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1951-52 Wellington District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Potomac 50-25

Potomac lost to Rankin in semi-final

Rankin lost to East Lynn in title game

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1952-53 Rankin District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Potomac 70-55

East Lynn beat Potomac in title game

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1953-54 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1954-55 13 – 11 Postseason scores needed Coach Andrew Bitta

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1955-56 14 – 9 Rankin District Tournament Coach Andrew Bitta

1st Rd Beat Sheldon 88-66

Semi-final lost to Rankin 69-63

Potomac beat Rankin in title game

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1956-57 Cissna Park District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Crescent City 50-45

Semi-final lost to Rankin 73-61

Rankin beat Sheldon in title game

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1957-58 11 – 11 Rankin District Champions Coach Rod Gawlick

1st Rd Beat Rankin 56-46

Semi-final Beat Potomac 64-45

Title Game Beat Sheldon 52-41

Hoopeston Regional TOurney

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 54-46

Armstrong lost to Watseka in semi-final

Watseka lost to Cissna Park in title game

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1958-59 19 – 5 Sheldon District Champions Coach Rod Gawlick

1st Rd Beat Henning 67-50

Semi-final Beat Potomac 68-41

Title Game Beat Stockland 62-57

Watseka Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Watseka 46-43

Watseka beat Armstrong in title game

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1959-60 Potomac District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Crescent City 64-54

Crescent City lost to Sheldon in semi-final

Sheldon beat Potomac in title game

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1960-61 Sheldon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Potomac 74-49

Potomac beat Crescent City in title game

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1961-62 Rankin District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Crescent City 62-45

Sheldon beat Rankin in title game

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1962-63 Potomac District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Crescent City 51-44

Crescent City lost to Potomac in semi-final

Potomac beat Sheldon in title game

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1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1964-65 19 – 8 Rankin District Runner-Up Coach Gene Morrison

1st Rd Beat East Lynn 76-60

Semi-final Beat Armstrong 81-53

Title Game lost to Sheldon 80-68

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1965-66 24 – 2 Great Record – Sheldon District Tourney Coach Gene Morrison

1st Rd Beat Cissna Park 78-70

Semi-final lost to Sheldon 56-55

Armstrong beat Sheldon in title game

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1966-67 19 – 7 Rankin District Tournament Coach Gene Morrison

1st Rd Beat Crescent City 71-60

Semi-final lost to East Lynn 73-65

Armstrong beat East Lynn in title game

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1967-68 Armstrong District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 66-51

Armstrong beat Sheldon in title game

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1968-69 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1969-70 Sheldon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Sheldon 76-46

Sheldon beat Cissna Park in title game

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1970-71 Armstrong District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 82-60

Cissna Park beat Sheldon in title game

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1971-72 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Buckley/Loda 66-47

Buckley/Loda lost to Watseka in semi-final

Watseka beat Cissna Park in title game

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1972-73 11 -10 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Don Ross

1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 78-71

Watseka beat Cissna Park in title game

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1973-74 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Don Ross

1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 65-51

Watseka beat Cissna Park in title game

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1974-75 13 -12 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Don Ross

1st Rd Beat Milford 60-51

Semi-final lost to Watseka 79-55

Watseka beat St. Anne in title game

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1975-76 12 -12 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Don Ross

1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 80-59

Watseka beat St. Anne in title game

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1976-77 Watseka Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Crescent-Iroquois 67-55

Crescent Iroquois beat Watseka in title game

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1977-78 Clifton Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Watseka 77-61

Watseka beat Sheldon in title game

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1978-79 13 -13 Rossville Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Craig Voigt

1st Rd lost to Oakwood 102-68

Oakwood beat Bismarck-Henning in title game

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1979-80 Bismarck Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Rossville-Alvin 59-47

Danville Schlarman beat Rossville-Alvin in title game

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1980-81 Danville Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Schlarman 75-35

Danville Schlarman beat Hoopeston-East Lynn in title game

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1981-82 Rossville Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 62-38

Schlarman beat Hoopeston-East Lynn in title game

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1982-83 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name needed.

1st Rd Beat Potomac 73-63

Semi-final lost to Danville Schlarman 65-49

Hoopeston-East Lynn Beat Schlarman in title game

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1983-84 15 -10 Armstrong Regional Tournament Coach Pete Sollars.

1st Rd Beat Rossville-Alvin 45-41

Semi-final lost to Hoopeston-East-Lynn 73-34

Hoopeston-East Lynn Beat Schlarman in title game

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1984-85 Bismarck Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Pete Sollars

1st Rd lost to Danville Schlarman 51-50

Hoopeston-East Lynn beat Schlarman in title game

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1985-86 Rossville Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Pete Sollars

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 56-48

Hoopeston East Lynn beat Armstrong in title game

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1986-87 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. – May not have had a team

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Boys Track & Field

Five male “tracksters” brought home medals from the IHSA State Track Meet for Wellington High School. All did so under the one-class system, pretty impressive! Their accomplishments are listed below.

1921-22B Morris Lockhart 50 Yard Dash 4TH Place

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1922-23B George Collins 50 Yard Dash 4TH Place

Alton Umburger 50 Yard Dash 5TH Place

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1923-24B Roy Sanders 50 Yard Dash 5TH Place

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1943-44 Earl Boyden 1 Mile Run 4TH Place

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MEMORIES

**From Russell Garman:

“My dad, Herb Garman, was superintendent of Wellington Schools from 1953- summer 1960 when we moved to Wisconsin and he became an elementary school principal with an enrollment of over 800. We moved from Cissna Park. where he had been the superintendent there, before that he was high school principal and basketball coach in Buckley. For your record Coach Gawlick was our neighbor his first name was Rod not Ron. I have all the Wellington yearbooks from 53-60 since I went to school at both Prairie Green and Wellington Grade school. I was born in Paxton, Illinois.”

**From Regina Rice Barker:

“My father, Edward Rice, taught and coached for Wellington Jr. High, I know this site is about the high school but he had many successful basketball seasons – one in which they were undefeated and won three championships. He still maintains online friendships with some of the young people he worked with, he was a much beloved teacher and coach.”

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Seeking More Information

Wellington High School existed for over nine decades. We are obviously missing a ton of facts about the school and its many achievements. Girls athletics and other extra-curricular activities are being sought. A photo of the high school building is of special interest to this site. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

Wellington School Gym Side View 2016