Wellington High School “Dukes”

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Wellington High School
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Photo Submitted by Adrian ‘Magellan’ K
Wellington School Building March of 2016
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The History of Wellington High School

Wellington (population 264) 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.

This history of Wellington High School was offered by our good fan 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
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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
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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
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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.

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, 945, 1958, and 1959.  Conference or county championships won are being sought as well.  The best of the Wellington HS basetball seasons are listed below.

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

1st Rd lost to East Lynn 33-19

Champaign beat Urbana in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Rankin 17-13

Watseka beat East Lynn in title game

.

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.

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

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

1930-31               Postseason scores & record needed.             Coach Leminger

               

1931-32     14 – 8     Postseason scores needed                        Coach Ernest Martin

    

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

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 33-25

Potomac beat Armstrong in title game

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

                                1st Rd lost to Rankin 19-11

Potomac beat Watseka in title game

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

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

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

1937-38     Postseason scores & record needed.                       Coach Omer Estes

1938-39     Postseason scores & record needed.                       Coach Joe McGann

  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1st Rd lost to Stockland 41-28

Stockland beat Sheldon in title game

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

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

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

1st Rd lost to Sheldon 48-36

Sheldon lost to Rankin in title game

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

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

1st Rd lost to Potomac 70-55

East Lynn beat Potomac in title game

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

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

    

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

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

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

   

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

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

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

1st Rd lost to Potomac 74-49

Potomac beat Crescent City in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Crescent City 62-45

Sheldon beat Rankin in title game

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

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

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

     

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

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

    

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

1st Rd lost to Armstrong 66-51

Armstrong beat Sheldon in title game

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

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

1st Rd lost to Sheldon 76-46

Sheldon beat Cissna Park in title game

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five male tracksters brought home medals from the IHSA State Track Meet for Wellington High School.  Their accomplishments are listed below.

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

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

                 Alton Umburger     50 Yard Dash         5TH Place

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

1943-44     Earl Boyden            1 Mile Run            4TH Place

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.”

      

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 . You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

Wellington School Gym Side View 2016
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Wellington School Gym Rear View 2016
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Wellington School Rear View 2016
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Wellington School Building Fire Chute 2016
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Wellington School Classroom Addition 2016
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Wellington School Baseball Field 2016
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