Woodhull High School

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Woodhull High School
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Woodhull, Ill.
Original Woodhull High School Building
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Courtesy of Joanne Carlson

The History of Woodhull High School

Woodhull (population 809) is located along Interstate Highway 74 at the intersection with Il. Route 17.  This places Woodhull in southwestern Henry County approximately 20 miles north and a little east of Galesburg. Mud Creek runs throught the center of town.

The first school was started in Woodhull in 1859, with a newer building replacing it in 1869. A High School was started in 1878, with the first graduating class of WHS commencing in 1879: William Richards, Effie Epperson, Nellie Russell, Ella Neeley and Lizzie Ridenour. The next graduating wouldn’t commence until 1882.

An 1894 fire destroyed the 1869 building, and the school was rebuilt. In 1925 the Woodhull HS building pictured above was completed.

A consolidation effort between nearby Alpha (also on this site) and Woodhull took place in the late 1940s.  Alpha and Woodhull High Schools were deactivated and the “Alwood” School District #225 was formed.  The high school was located in the Woodhull H.S. building until the current Alwood building was built in 1957.

The original school building is still in use as the Alwood Junior High School.  It sits adjacent to the current Alwood High School building.

Woodhull High School Quick Facts

Year opened:           1878

Year closed:            1948

Consolidated to:       Alwood School District (Woodhull)

School nickname:    the “Cardinals”

School colors:          Red & White (?)

School Fight Song:  “Woodhull High!”

Submitted by Dean Bentley

                                Woodhull High! We’re going to be loyal,

                                Woodhull High! We’re going to treat you royal.

                                You’re the school we’re going to stand by,

                                Lead us on to victory.

                   

                                Should we lose just grin and bear it,

                                Wear a smile and we will try to share it,

                                We’re good sports and we’ll have you know it,

                                And we’re for you Woodhull High!
Athletics

Woodhull High School offered boy’s basketball, track and field, baseball, football and even girls basketball for a short time during the turn of the century. There are several accomplishments listed for the Alwood HS kids. If you have any information regarding the athletic program at Woodhull HS please send us a note.

Football

The excellent 1946 season for Woodhull High School was researched and provided to us by our own Tom Sikorski!  The Cardinal grid-iron greats of 1947 followed up the 1946 season with yet another Corn Belt Conference Championship.  The photo below was sent to us fron Kent Nelson who scanned the photo from his father’s 1948 Woodhull HS yearbook. Kent’s dad, Art Nelson, is in the front row (#26) and was an all-conference selection in this, his junior year.

1946  5-0-1  Corn Belt Conference Champs       Coach Elner Lundeen

1947  6-1     Corn Belt Conference Champs       Coach Elner Lundeen

Woodhull HS Football Conf. Champs 1947-48
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Submitted by Kent Nelson

Boys Basketball

The 1940-41 Woodhull team posted a respectable record of 16-11 and were led by the Johnson brothers, George and Junior. George led that team in scoring with 312 points and Junior put up 283 points.  The boys of 1947-48 could also “shoot the rock”.  The Cardinals finished the season with a 16 – 6 record which included winning the Con Belt Conference Championship.  The photo below was submitted by Kent Nelson. Art Nelson (Kent’s father) is pictured in the back row in the center and was named to all-conference team that year as well.

Several scores involving the Woodhull HS Cardinals were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below.

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

Unknown what Round, only score listed

Macomb Normal 30, Woodhull 9

1922-23 through 1932-33  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s names needed.

1933-34              Galva District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Galva 21-16

Galva lost to Kewanee in semi-final

Kewanee lost to Cambridge in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Annawan 25-21

Annawan lost to Alpha in 2nd Rd

Alpha lost to Kewanee in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Galva 28-17

Galva lost to Lafayette in title game

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

1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1938-39  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

1940-41  16-11    Postseason scores needed            Coach’s name needed

1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1942-43  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1943-44  18-10    Postseason scores needed.           Coach Rex Pruitt

    

1944-45  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1945-46              Galesburg Regional Tournament    Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Galesburg Corpus Christi 45-36

Corpus Christi lost to Galesburg HS in title game

1946-47              Oneida District Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed

Unknown what Round – only score posted

Oneida 63, Woodhull 40

1947-48  16-6     Corn Belt Conf. Champs               Coach Elner Lundeen

                            Postseason scores needed

1947-48 was the final season for the Woodhull “Cardinals”. Woodhull consolidated with Alpha in the summer of 1948 to form the Alwood School District.

Woodhull HS Basketball Conf. Champs of 1947-48
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The Last Team of Woodhull High School “Cardinals” – Submitted by Kent Nelson

Boys Baseball

The Cardinals competed on the baseball diamond as well. So far we have located only one season record supplied to us b Dean Bentley. If you have any further information to add please contact us via the means below.

1943-44  8-4          Coach Rex Pruitt

     

Extra-Curricular Activities

We know athletics could not have been all of the functions offered at Woodhull High School.  It is probable that chorus, band, dances, clubs, plays, and other extra-curricular activities were offered as well.

Need Your Assistance

Help us document the many successes of Woodhull High School before the memories are lost forever.  Information on the High School, athletic program, town, ect. are all being sought.  We especially enjoy photos of the original school buildings.  If you would like to share any information regarding Woodhull and its high school please complete a Guest Commentary Form.  You may e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you also can write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631
 


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