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There was very little information available regarding the athletic program at Xenia High School. The only team we found information on was the boys basketball team.  We are confident Xenia also offered track and possibly baseball, and or football.

Boys Basketball

The Xenia boys had one real nice run the the mid 1940s, winning back to back to back IHSA District titles from 1943 – 45.  We are hopeful a fan or alum of Xenia can fill us in on the details of the better teams in Xenia HS history.  The three championship teams are listed below.

IHSA Tournament scores for Xenia High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” and are printed below.

1921-22                                                                Coach’s name & season record needed.

Olney District Tourney

1st Rd. Beat Bone Gap 19-16

                      Lost in 2nd Rd.

Olney beat Louisville in title game

1922-23 through 1930-31  Coach’s names,season records, and IHSA Tourney scores unavailable

1931-32         Flora District Tourney                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Geff 17-15

2nd Rd lost to Mt. Erie 22-7

Noble beat Olney in title game

1932-33         Flora District Tourney                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Dietrich 41-7

2nd Rd Beat Farina 13-12

Semi-Final lost to Kinmundy 28-18

Effingham beat Kinmundy in title game

1933-34         Flora District Tourney                     Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd. Lost to Iola 23-20

Salem beat Olney in title game

1934-35                                                        Coach’s name & season record unavailable.

Olney District Tourney

1st Rd Lost to Clay City 35-22

Olney beat Noble in title game

1935-36                                                        Coach’s name & season record unavailable.

 Flora District Tourney Runner-Up

 1st Rd Beat Sailor Springs 43-28

 Semi-final Beat Iuka 33-32

 Title Game lost to Cisne 33-29

1936-37  Coach’s name, season record, and IHSA Tourney scores unavailable

1937-38  Coach’s name, season record, and IHSA Tourney scores unavailable

1938-39                                                        Coach’s name & season record unavailable.

Fairfield Regional Tourney

1st Rd Lost to Wayne City 39-22

1939-40  Coach’s names, season records, and IHSA Tourney scores unavailable

1940-41        Flora District Tourney              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Bible Grove 48-30

Semi-Final lost to Mt. Erie 42-25

Burnt Prairie beat Mt. Erie in title game

1941-42  Coach’s names, season records, and IHSA Tourney scores unavailable

1942-43        Flora District Champions      Coaches name & record not available

1st Rd Beat Sailor Springs 44-17

Semi-Final Beat Ingraham 23-22

Title Game Beat Parkersburg 34-26

Flora Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Noble 29-26

Flora beat Cisne in title game

1943-44        Clay City District Champions     Coaches name & record not available

Early Rd Scores Needed

Title Game Beat Ingraham 59-30

Flora Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Clay City 46-25

Flora beat Noble in title game

1944-45         Flora District Champions     Coaches name & record not available

Semi-Final Beat Ingraham 25-17

Title Game Beat Mt. Erie 65-9

Flora Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Noble 37-32

Flora beat Olney in title game

1945-46         Flora Regional Tournament    Coaches name & record not available

Xenia did not compete in District this season

1st Rd lost to Noble 46-25

Flora beat Olney in title game

1946-47         Bluford District Tourney          Coach’s name & season record unavailable.

1st Rd Beat Ina 88-34

2nd Rd Lost to Waltonville

Bluford Webber beat Waltonville in title game

1947-48         Breese District Tourney          Coach’s name & season record unavailable.

1st Rd lost to New Baden 71-43

Breese beat Odin in title game

1948-49         Breese District Tourney          Coach’s name & season record unavailable.

**1st Rd lost to Trenton 63-13

Breese beat Trenton in title game

*1949 was the last score located on the Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores website.

Famous Alumni

*Delyte Morris

President of Southern Illinois University from 1948-1970, was a graduate of Xenia High School .  Under the leadership of Morris, SIU grew from a small college to two major Universities at Carbondale (the library bears his name) and at Edwardsville (where the University Center bears his name.)

Seeking More Information

We are anxiously seeking further information on the town of Xenia and its high school.  When did the high school close?  Who were the coaches?  Why the great run in the mid 1940s?  We especially enjoy photos of the old school buildings and great teams, players, and coaches of past in Xenia.  If you have any of this information you would like to share please complete a Guest Commentary Form.  You can also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.  60631

The Virden High School “Bulldogs” athletic program enjoyed many successes throughout the years.  Several Regional and Sectional team titles were won.  Also a few appearances in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 of IHSA State Tourneys were enjoyed.  On an individual level there were several medalists in track & field including some state championship performances.

We are missing many bits of information including the school fight song. If you have other items you would like to see posted on this page please write to us at eganann@sbclgobal.net.

BOYS FOOTBALL

The boys football program offered many great memories for the folks of Virden to enjoy.  The Bulldogs had a total of 7 undefeated regular seasons, 19 trips to the IHSA State playoffs, 6 trips to the Sweet 16, and 3 trips to the Elite 8.  It is also noted in the IHSA record books that the Bulldogs of 1926 recorded 8 shutouts during their season, and they only faced 8 opponents that year!

The IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) only shows the program beginning in 1944.  However, research conducted by Phil Shadid found that the program was in place as early as 1912. The information from 1912 through 1935 was supplied by Phil with the remaining records located on the IHSA website.

1912    2-2                                                                   Coach J. Pennington

First recorded instance of football at Virden was 1912.  .

1918:   1-2   Began season at 1-2, rest of season cancelled due to Flu epidemic.

1919:   2-1   Coal miners strike resulted in closing of schools, forcing cancellation of rest of season.

1926:   7-0-1                                                                Coach Carl Lane

They tied Carlinville 0-0 in first game, then shutout rest of opponents. Scored 253 points.  First MSM Conference champs.

1927    7-0-1                                                                Coach Carl Lane

Local newspaper referred to Virden as the “Hornets” but the nickname never caught on with students or the public.

1928     6-2                                                                  Coach Carl Lane

1933: played its first night game at Springfield High’s field against Spfld Cathedral (0-0 tie).

1934: nickname “Bulldogs” appeared for first time in local paper because of student vote.

1935: played first night game in Virden, defeated Kincaid 37-6.

**Information from former Bulldog Harry Dubinick (Class of 1944):

“The 1941- 42 season  was coached by Ralph Allan who left and went into the United States Navy.  His replacement  coached the football team but left and was replaced by a Coach Irving who left shortly thereafter, and was replaced Coach Carl Lane. 1942-43 was a total mess. VIrden lost every  game in each season. In the 1943-44 season Coach McMullin coached the entire year and for several seasons after. The team lost  40 plus games in a row over the period 1940- 1944. Coach Mac broke that losing streak in his first year. He was quite successful

considering the circumstances. Hope this helps.”

1940-41

1941-42                                                                         Coach Ralph Allan

1942-43                                                                         Coach Irving/Coach Carl Lane

1943-44                                                                         Coach M.O. McMullin

1944-45    5 – 4                                                              Coach M.O. McMullin

1945-46                                                                        Coach M.O. McMullin

1946-47    4 – 2 – 1                                                         Coach M.O. McMullin

1947-48                                                                        Coach M.O. McMullin

1948-49    4 – 5                                                              Coach M.O. McMullin

1949-50    5 – 4                                                              Coach M.O. McMullin

1950-51    6 – 4                                                              Coach K. Evitt

1951-52    7 – 3                                                              Coach K. Evitt

1952-53    7 – 1 – 1                                                         Coach Joe Kruzick

1953-54    3 – 6                                                              Coach Everette Lamar

1954-55    7 – 2                                                              Coach Jim Lovin

1955-56    6 – 3                                                              Coach Jim Lovin

1956-57    7 – 2                                                              Coach Tom Innis

1957-58    5 – 4                                                              Coach Tom Innis

1958-59    5 – 3 – 1                                                         Coach Tom Innis

1959-60    9 – 0          Undefeated Season!!                   Coach Tom Innis

1960-61    7 – 2                                                              Coach Tom Innis

1961-62    4 – 5                                                              Coach Tom Innis

1962-63    6 – 3                                                              Coach Tom Innis

1963-64    5 – 4                                                              Coach Tom Innis

1964-65    6 – 3                                                              Coach Eldon “Bud” Grossner

1965-66    5 – 3 – 1                                                         Coach Eldon “Bud” Grossner

1966-67    5 – 4 – 1                                                         Coach Eldon “Bud” Grossner

1967-68    8 – 2                                                              Coach Eldon “Bud” Grossner

1968-69    6 – 2 – 2                                                         Coach Richard Deckard

1969-70    2 – 7                                                              Coach Richard Deckard

1970-71    3 – 7                                                              Coach Fred Thompson

1971-72    2 – 7                                                              Coach Fred Thompson

1972-73    6 – 4                                                              Coach Mike Graville

1973-74    5 – 4                                                              Coach Mike Graville

1974-75    3 – 2                                                              Coach Wayne Joplin (partial)

2 – 2                                                                               Coach Jay Lornton (partial)

1975-76    5 – 4                                                              Coach Robert Weber

1976-77    4 – 5                                                              Coach Robert Weber

1977-78    3 – 6                                                              Coach Robert Weber

1978-79    2 – 7                                                              Coach Jerry Lane

1979-80    1 – 8                                                              Coach Jerry Lane

1980-81    6 – 3                                                              Coach Jerry Lane

1981-82    0 – 5                                                              Coach Jerry Lane(partial)

1981-82    0 – 4                                                              Coach Wayne Joplin [partial]

1982-83    0 – 9                                                              Coach John Wilson

1983-84    3 – 6                                                              Coach Don Borgini

1984-85    7 – 2                                                              Coach Don Borgini

1985-86  10 – 1    IHSA Class 2A Sweet 16!                    Coach Don Borgini

                          Undefeated Regular Season!

                          Beat Rushville 24 – 7

                          Lost to Hamilton 21 – 0

Hamilton lost in semi-finals

1986-87  11 – 2    IHSA Class 2A Elite 8!                         Coach Don Borgini
Beat Petersburg PORTA 38 – 6

                          Beat Tremont 30 – 26

                          Lost to E.St. Louis Assumption 34 – 32

Assumption lost in semi-finals

1987-88    8 – 3    IHSA Class 2A Sweet 16!                    Coach Don Borgini

                          Beat Carlyle 24 – 14

                          Lost to Columbia 35 – 0

Columbia lost in quarter-finals

1988-89    6 – 4    IHSA Class 2A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Don Borgini

Lost to Macon 74 – 14

Macon lost in 2nd Round

1989-90    3 – 6                                                               Coach Don Borgini

1990-91    6 – 4    IHSA Class 2A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Don Borgini

Lost to Gillespie 42 – 19

Gillespie lost in Championship game

1991-92  10 – 2    IHSA Class 2A Sweet 16!                    Coach Don Borgini

                          Beat Shelbyville 14 – 6

Lost to Greenfield 14 – 7

                          Greenfield lost in Championship game

1992-93  10 – 1    IHSA Class 1A Sweet 16!                    Coach Don Borgini

                          Undefeated Regular Season!

                          Beat  Martinsville 18 – 12

                          Lost to Arcola 26 – 0

Arcola lost in quarter-finals   

1993-94    9 – 1    IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Don Borgini

                          Undefeated Regular Season!

                          Lost to Carrollton 9 – 7

Carrollton lost in 2nd Round

1994-95    5 – 4                                                               Coach Don Borgini

1995-96    7 – 3    IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Don Borgini

                          Lost to Hardin Calhoun 35 – 10

Calhoun lost in quarter-finals

1996-97  11 – 1    IHSA Class 1A Elite 8!                         Coach Don Borgini

                          Undefeated Regular Season!

                          Beat Carrollton 15 – 12

                          Beat Cerro Gordo 13 – 6

                          Lost to Greenfield 35 – 34 (O/T)

Greenfield lost in semi-finals

1997-98    9 – 1    IHSA Class 2A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Don Borgini

                          Undefeated Regular Season

                          Lost to Rushville 28 – 14

Rushville lost in 2nd Round

1998-99    9 – 2    IHSA Class 1A Sweet 16!                    Coach Don Borgini

                          Beat Tuscola 39 – 20

                          Lost to Galena 47 – 12

Galena lost in quarter-finals

1999-00  11 – 1    IHSA Class 1A Elite 8!                         Coach Don Borgini

                          Undefeated Regular Season!

                          Beat Hardin Calhoun 41 – 0

                          Beat Flanagan 32 – 22

                          Lost to Dakota 16 – 13

Dakota lost in quarter-finals

2000-01    8 – 2    IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Bruce Paisley

Lost to El Paso 13 – 9

El Paso lost in 2nd Round

2001-02    5 – 5    IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Bruce Paisley

Lost to Monmouth Yorkwood 36 – 0

Yorkwood lost in quarter-finals

2002-03    2 – 7                                                               Coach Bruce Paisley

2003-04    8 – 3    IHSA Class 2A Sweet 16!                     Coach Bruce Paisley

Beat Mt. Olive 24 – 14

Lost to Casey-Westfield 34 – 7

Casey-Westfield lost in quarter-finals

2004-05    3 – 6                                                               Coach Bruce Paisley

2005-06    6 – 4    IHSA Class 2A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Bruce Paisley

Lost to Decatur St. Theresa 48 – 0

St. Theresa lost in quarter-finals

2006-07    3 – 6                                                               Coach Bruce Paisley

2007-08    5 – 5    IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Bruce Paisley

Lost to Greenfield 29 – 20

Greenfield lost in quarter-finals

2008-09    6 – 4    IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier          Coach Bruce Paisley

Lost to Greenfield 15 – 14

Greenfield lost in 2nd Round

2009-10    3 – 6    School’s Final Season                           Coach Bruce Paisley

School’s overall football record 360 – 247 (.592 winning %)

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Bulldog netters of the mid-1980s faired very well on the hard-wood court.  The girls won a total of 1 District Championship and 5 Regional Championships, all coming in consecutive years. The team of 1982-83 won the Sectional and advanced to the Sweet 16 round as well under the direction of Coach Dianne Leonard.

1976-77    2 – 12                                                             Coach Mary Alice McNaught

1977-78    5 – 11                                                             Coach Mary Alice McNaught

1978-79    4 – 15                                                             Coach Mary Alice McNaught

1979-80    6 – 11                                                             Coach Dianne Leonard

1980-81  17 – 5                                                               Coach Dianne Leonard

1981-82  20 – 5        District Champions                          Coach Dianne Leonard

1982-83  22 – 5        IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 Finalists!   Coach Dianne Leonard

                              Regional Champions

                              Sectional Champions

                              Lost Super-Sectional Match

1983-84  24 – 9 – 1   Regional Champions                       Coach Dianne Leonard

1984-85  20 – 12      Regional Champions                       Coach Dianne Leonard

1985-86    9 – 21                                                              Coach Karen Atkins

1986-87  23 – 10      Regional Champions                       Coach Dianne Leonard

1987-88                  Regional Champions                       Coach Rita Rudd

BOYS BASEBALL

The Virden Bulldogs had several successful seasons, and one to remember for the ages.  The team of 1978-79 won the Regional and Sectional championships, advancing to the Elite 8 round of play.  The team would lose there to eventual state champion New Athens.

1975-76    8 – 7                                                             Coach Jerry Lane

1976-77  13 – 6                                                             Coach Jerry Lane

1977-78  14 – 7                                                             Coach Jerry Lane

1978-79  14 – 9      Class ‘A’ Elite 8 Finalist                   Coach Jerry Lane

Regional Champions

                            Sectional Champions

                            Elite 8 Finalist

Lost to New Athens 11 – 1

New Athens won State Championship

1979-80  18 – 6                                                             Coach Jerry Lane

1980-81  11 – 10                                                           Coach Jerry Lane

2004-05    5 – 20                                                           Coach Steve Humphrey

2008-09    8 – 13                                                           Coach Marty Perry

GIRLS SOFTBALL

The Lady Bulldogs competed on the ball diamond as well.  Below are the seasonal records listed on the IHSA website.  Please contact us if you have further information regarding the Virden High School softball program.

1991-92    1 – 10                                                                Coach Jim Simmons

1992-93    6 – 10                                                                Coach Jim Simmons

2004-05    4 – 17                                                                Coach Rob Handy

BOYS BASKETBALL

Though football appears to have been king among the Virden boys, there were some great seasons on the basketball court as well.  Four Regional Championships were recorded.  In addition, the team of 1991-92 advanced to the Sweet 16 round of play after winning the Sectional title.  Research conducted by IHSGD’s Phil Shadid discovered that Virden built a new gymnasium in 1921. It was in this year that the basketball program began in full swing, having its first team since 1911.

1924-25  12 – 12                                                           Coach Carl Lane

1925-26  18 – 10                                                           Coach Carl Lane

1926-27  12 – 16                                                           Coach Carl Lane

1927-28  16 – 8                                                             Coach Carl Lane

1928-29  12 – 13                                                           Coach Sam England

1929-30    7 – 15                                                           Coach Sam England

1930-31  11 – 14                                                           Coach Sam England

1931-32  20 – 4                                                             Coach Ira Fanning

1932-33  20 – 3                                                             Coach Ira Fanning

1933-34  14 – 14                                                           Coach Ira Fanning

1934-35                                                                       Coach Sam England

1935-36                                                                       Coach Sam England

1936-37  18 – 7           Regional Champions                 Coach Sam England

1937-38                                                                       Coach Sam England

1938-39                                                                       Coach Pop Mahan

1939-40                                                                       Coach Pop Mahan

1940-41                                                                       Coach Pop Mahan

1943-44  18 – 10                                                           Coach Pop Mahan

1944-45  14 – 14                                                           Coach Pop Mahan

1945-46  15 – 10                                                           Coach Pop Mahan

1946-47  10 – 14                                                           Coach Pop Mahan

1947-48  12 – 15                                                           Coach Pop Mahan

1948-49  19 – 6                                                             Coach Pop Mahan

1949-50    7 – 17                                                           Coach Ken Evitt

1950-51    2 – 20                                                           Coach Ken Evitt

1951-52    9 – 13                                                           Coach Joe Krusick

1952-53    8 – 14                                                           Coach Everett Lamar

1953-54  19 – 8                                                             Coach Everett Lamar

1954-55  11 – 12                                                           Coach Robert Braden

1955-56  10 – 14                                                           Coach Jim Lovin

1956-57  18 – 8                                                             Coach Robert Morrison

1957-58  14 – 11                                                           Coach Robert Morrison

1958-59  17 – 9                                                             Coach Robert Morrison

1959-60  24 – 3                                                             Coach Robert Morrison

1960-61    9 -13                                                            Coach Robert Morrison

1961-62  17 – 3                                                             Coach Bob Cicota

1962-63  15 – 8                                                             Coach Bob Cicota

1963-64  14 – 10                                                           Coach Bob Cicota

1964-65  18 – 9                                                             Coach Bob Cicota

1965-66  10 – 12                                                           Coach Jim Julian

1966-67    6 – 17                                                           Coach Rich Taylor

1967-68  12 – 12                                                           Coach Rich Taylor

1968-69    3 – 19                                                           Coach John Emerson

1969-70    2 – 20                                                           Coach John Emerson

1970-71    2 – 20                                                           Coach Stan Girdler

1971-72    9 – 13                                                           Coach Stan Girdler

1972-73  13 – 11                                                           Coach Stan Girdler

1973-74    4 – 16                                                           Coach Stan Girdler

1974-75  12 – 15                                                           Coach Larry Mosley

1975-76  16 – 12                                                           Coach Mike Kaczmarz

1976-77  20 – 8                                                             Coach Mike Kaczmarz

1977-78  19 – 9           Regional Champions                 Coach Mike Kaczmarz

1978-79  21 – 6                                                             Coach Mike Kaczmarz

1979-80  12 – 11                                                           Coach Mike Kaczmarz

1980-81  15 – 11                                                           Coach Mike Kaczmarz

1981-82    3 – 19                                                           Coach Brian Hill

1982-83  11 – 14                                                           Coach Brian Hill

1983-84    9 – 15                                                           Coach Roger Albright

1984-85    9 – 16                                                           Coach Roger Albright

1985-86  13 – 14                                                           Coach Al Taylor

1986-87    3 – 19                                                           Coach Al Taylor

1987-88    6 – 16                                                           Coach Al Taylor

1988-89  10 – 15                                                           Coach Al Taylor

1989-90    5 – 17                                                           Coach Jerry O’Brien

1990-91  11 – 14                                                           Coach Jerry O’Brien

1991-92  27 – 3            IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16!!          Coach Jerry O’Brien

Regional Champions

                                  Sectional Champions

                                  Sweet 16 Finalist

                                  Lost to Augusta Southeastern 77-50

Southeastern finished 4th

1992-93  21 – 5                                                             Coach Jerry O’Brien

1993-94  20 – 8                                                             Coach Jerry O’Brien

1994-95    4 – 19                                                           Coach Kerry Crum

1995-96    9 – 15                                                           Coach Scott Lewis

1996-97  10 – 14                                                           Coach Scott Lewis

1997-98  20 – 7                                                             Coach Scott Lewis

1998-99  13 – 14                                                           Coach Scott Lewis

1999-00  16 – 13          Regional Champions               Coach Scott Lewis

2000-01  22 – 6                                                             Coach Joe Oller

2001-02    6 – 18                                                           Coach Joe Oller

2002-03    9 – 16                                                           Coach Joe Oller

2003-04    9 – 16                                                           Coach Joe Oller

2004-05    6 – 20                                                           Coach Bob Etter

2005-06  12 – 14                                                           Coach Brent Stewart

2006-07    5 – 18                                                           Coach Brent Stewart

2007-08    2 – 19                                                           Coach Marty Perry

2008-09    6 – 17                                                           Coach Marty Perry

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Lady Bulldogs won a Regional Championship in 1995 as well.  There are several missing season records and coaches names.  If you have this information please contact us.

1977-78    1 – 9                                                              Coach Kathy Nichols

1978-79    1 – 16                                                            Coach Peter Genta

1979-80    0 – 17                                                            Coach Mary Anne McNaught

1980-81    4 – 17                                                            Coach Wayne Joplin

1981-82    5 – 17                                                            Coach Wayne Joplin

1982-83    6 – 17                                                            Coach Wayne Joplin

1983-84    0 – 22                                                            Coach Wayne Joplin

1984-85    0 – 23                                                            Coach Wayne Joplin

1985-86    4 – 19                                                            Coach Wayne Joplin

1986-87    2 – 17                                                            Coach Angela Dorks

1987-88                                                                        Coach Loren Fouts

——  

1994-95                Virden Class ‘A’ Regional Champs  Coach Lynn Johnson 

Semi-Final Beat Hillsboro 69-53

Title Game Beat Carlinville 62-41

White Hall North Greene Sectional 

Semi-Final lost to Carrollton 72-46

——

2008-09    8 – 14                                                           Coach Jon Langellier

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

There were many individual athletes in Virden High School’s history who earned medals at the IHSA State Track meet.  The best of the boys efforts came in 1998 when Steve Royer won the IHSA Class ‘A’ State Championship in the high jump!  In all, a total of 16 medals were earned by the Virrden High School boys thinclads.

1921B    Individual Medalist

             ??  Belton           220 Yd, Hurdles          4TH Place

1922B    Individual Medalists

             ?? Belton            220 Yd. Hurdles          2ND Place

             ?? Bradley          120 Yd. Hurdles          4TH Place
?? Hopson           220 Yd.  Dash             4TH Place

1938      Individual Medalist

             James Bruna       200 Yd. Hurdles          3RD Place

1944      Individual Medalist

             Jim Evans              880 Yd. Run               4TH Place

1975A    Individual Medalist

             Tim Coleman         Long Jump                8TH Place

1976A    Individual Medalist

             John Molen            120 Yd. Hurdles         7TH Place

1981A    Individual Medalist

             Todd Maddox        High Jump                5TH Place

1983A    Individual Medalist

             Brian Johnson       300 Meter Hurdles     3RD Place

1985A    Individual Medalist

             Mike Hamman       High Jump                4TH Place

1986A    Individual Medalist

             Mike Hamman       High Jump                4TH Place

1992A    Individual Medalist

             Chris Scheldt         High Jump                5TH Place

1998A    Individual Medalist

             Steve Royer           High Jump                STATE CHAMPION!!

1999A    Individual Medalists

             Steve Royer           High Jump                4TH Place
Aaron Smith           Pole Vault                4TH Place

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

The lady tracksters won several medals as well at the IHSA State Track Meet finals.  A total of 11 individual medals were earned by the girls. The best efforts were recorded by Lindsey Defevers, who was the IHSA Class ‘A’ State Champ in the shot put in 2002 (and who won a total of 5 medals between 2000 and 2002), and by Breanna Branson who won back-to-back state titles in the same event (Class ‘A’ shot put) in 2004 and 2005!

1989A    Individual Medalist

             Carmen Wolfe        200 Meter Dash         7TH Place

1997A    Individual Medalist

             Darcy Lane             300 Meter Hurdles    5TH Place

1999A    Individual Medalist

             Darcy Lane             300 Meter Hurdles    4TH Place

2000A    Individual Medalist

             Lindsey Defevers    Discus                      9TH Place

2001A    Individual Medalist

             Lindsey Defevers    Shot Put                   2ND Place 

                                            Discus                       3RD Place

2002A    Individual Medalist

             Lindsey Defevers    Shot Put                   STATE CHAMPION!! 

                                            Discus                       4TH Place                        

2004A    Individual Medalist

             Breanna Branson    Shot Put                   STATE CHAMPION!!

2005A    Individual Medalist

             Breanna Branson    Shot Put                   STATE CHAMPION!!

2008A    Individual Medalist

             Rose Sanders          100 Meter Dash        7TH Place

BOYS GOLF

The boys competed in golf as well. The linksters had two nice season records in 1963 and 1964.  If you have any further information on the golf program at VHS please contact us.

1962-63  10 – 6                                                                  Coach Dick Lounsberry

1963-64  12 – 4                                                                  Coach Dick Lounsberry

BASS FISHING

The boys proved they had some talent in the angling business as well.  The team qualified for the State Bass Fishing Tournament in 2008-09.

2008-09           Team Qualified for State Tournament     Coach Bruce Paisley

COMPETITVE CHEERLEADING

The cheerleading team of 2005-06 won a Sectional title and qualified for the IHSA State Tournament under the tutilage of Coach Dawn Willoughby.

2005-06           Team Qualified for State Tournament     Coach Dawn Willoughby

                       Sectional Champions

DRAMA

Athletics were not all that the Virden HIgh School kids were talented in.  The school competed in other IHSA competitions as well including Drama.  In 1954-55 in fact, the team won a Sectional title and advanced to the IHSA State finals.

1954-55             Team Qualified for State Tournament   

                         Sectional Champions

SCHOLASTIC BOWL

Virden kids were afforded many opportunities to compete in various events.  Included in this was the schools Scholastic Bowl teams.

2008-09    3 – 9                                                                 Coach Angie McCall

SPEECH SWEEPSTAKES

More IHSA State hardware was earned by the Speech Sweepstakes teams of the mid-1950s. Two District Championships and a Sectional title added to the many talents of the Virden High School students.

1952-53             District Champions

1954-55             District Champions

                        Sectional Champions

OTHER EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

We are certain that band and chorus were offered at Virden High School. It is likely that other clubs and activities such as FFA were offered as well. If you have any information or memories you would like to share regarding activites offered at Virden High School please contact us via the means listed below.

NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

As with every page, we are seeking some in-put from an Virden High School fan or alum regarding the many great successes accomplished at the school.  If you can provide us with information please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or via “real” mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago,  Il.   60631

Submitted by Mark Rutherford

Viola High School

Viola, Illinois

The History of Viola High School

Viola (population 956) is located in upper western Illinois on Iliniois Route 17 at the intersection of U.S. Route 67. The town sits in the eastern portion of Mercer County. Viola is situated about 20 miles south of the Quad Cities.

A good fan of the Glory Days site, Jeff Crummy, provided this bit of history regarding the former Viola High School:

“The first high school was built on present day Ill. Rt. 17 on the same  block as the later high school (NW of the present school) in 1888.  A new brick High School was completed in 1924 and still stands; it became Winola H.S. in 1953. The new brick Grade School was completed in 1923 (by the same contractor that built the H.S. the next year), replacing a wooden structure on the S.E. corner of that same  city block. This building served the Viola kids until the new present day brick building was built in 1979 on the east edge of Viola.  This facility is still known as Winola Grade School, and serves as part of the Sherrard School District . The previous Viola Grade School is being used as an apartment complex today.”

The communities of Viola and New Windsor took on a consolidation effort between their schools in the early 1952. The new school system was called “Winola” with the high school occupying the Viola High School building.

Winola High School existed for many years until a consolidation effort with Sherrard High School became a reality in the 1988. To check out a web site regarding Winola High School please visit  http://groups.msn.com/winola .

Year High School Opened: 1895

Year High School Closed:  1948

Consolidated to:                ROWVA High School

School mascot:                 the “Trojans”

School Colors:                   Purple & Gold

School Song:                     unavailable

Victoria High School Gym

Victoria High School

Baseball Team – 1927

ATHLETICS

Through the history of Victoria High School, several sports were offered for their students.  Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Track, and Baseball were offered at least at some point at VHS.

VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASEBALL

As you can see by the photo to the right, the Victoria High School boys definitely competed in baseball. If you have the chance, click on the photo for an enlarged version.  Then read the caption underneath.  It appears this group of boys were hard workers but dd not fair to well overall.

During the 1926-27 baseball year, the Vix went 6-3 including taking championship honors at the tournament they hosted.  The Vix drubbed Altona in that tournament 15-3 that also included teams from Oneida and Wataga.

Game Time in Victoria

VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

Not much is known about their teams, except one district title was won by the Vix.  That title came in the 1938-1939 school year.  Scores involving Victoria High School boys basketball located on a website titled “Illinois High School Post Season Basketball Scores” are printed below.

—-

1920-21                             Galesburg District Tournament                 Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd lost to Yates City 23-21

Galesburg beat Wyoming in title game.

—-

1921-22                             Galesburg District Tournament                 Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd lost to Gilson 21-15

Galesburg beat Williamsfield in title game.

—-

1924-25     12-7                Postseason scores needed.                         Coach’s name needed.

—-

1931-32                             Galesburg District Tournament                  Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Altona 12-10

Galesburg beat Abingdon in title game.

—-

1932-33                           Galesburg District Tournament                   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Matherville 23-11

2nd Rd lost to Rio 33-9

Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Matherville 31-17

2nd Rd Beat Oneida 27-11

Semi-Final lost to Galesburg (?) (score needed)

Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat New Windsor 15-13

2nd Rd lost to Knoxville 19-16

Galesburg Beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Rio 40-15

Semi-Final lost to Altona 31-13

Altona beat Avon in title game.

—-

1936-37                           Galesburg Regional Tournament                 Coach’s name & record needed.

(Victoria did not compete in District Tourney this season.)

1st Rd Beat Avon 25-20

Semi-Final lost to Knoxville 36-16

Galesburg Beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

1937-38                           Maquon District Runner-Up                         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Prairie City 25-22

Semi-Final Beat Maquon 24-20

Title game lost to Altona 22-19

  —- 

1938-39                           Maquon District Champions                        Coach’s name & record needed.

Knox County Tournament Champs

District Tourney Results

1st Rd Beat Gilson 34-15

Semi-Final Beat Maquon 25-17

Title Game Beat Yates City 16-12

Galesburg Regional Tournament Qualifier

1st Rd Beat Knoxville 26-19 

Semi-Final lost to Abingdon 19-17

Galesburg Beat Abingdon in title game.

—-

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

—-

1940-41                           Oneida District Tournament                         Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd Beat LaFayette 37-19

Semi-Final lost to Maquon 35-29

Maquon beat Oneida in title game.

—-

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

—-

1942-43                          Oneida District Tournament                          Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd lost to Brimfield  52-27

Altona beat Oneida in title game.

—-

1943-44                          Oneida District Runner-Up                            Coach’s name & season record needed.

Early Round Scores Needed.

Title Game lost to Altona 44-30

—-

1944-45                          Galesburg Regional Tournament                  Coach’s name & season record needed.

(Did not compete in District Tourney this season.)

1st Rd lost to Altona 40-35

Galesburg beat Altona in title game.

—-

1945-46                          Oneida District Tournament                          Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd lost to LaFayette 50-31

Oneida beat Altona in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Altona 38-32

Oneida beat Woodhull in title game.

—-

1947-48                           Oneida District Tournament                         Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd Beat Woodhull 37-29

*Semi-Final lost to Wataga 46-37

Oneida beat Wataga in title game.

*FINAL GAME FOR VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL.

—-

VICTORIA GIRLS BASKETBALL

The sport was offered for the ladies, at least in the 1924-25 school year.  They played 3 games against other schools, a loss to Altona and 2 losses to Galesburg.  The other two games featured that year was a first team win over the grade school team, and the 2nd teamers also beating the grade school team.

—-

VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK & FIELD

Again, the only information for this sport comes during the 1924-25 season.  A name that was unanimously talked about that year was a gentleman by the name of Olmstead.  Olmstead set several meet records that year.  According to the 1925 yearbook, Olmstead set a new record at every meet except for a track meet in Macomb where he placed 2nd.  The Victoria Tracksters took part in meets in Macomb, Urbana, Lombard, and Bradley University and earned a 2nd place team finish at the Oneida Invitational that year.

Victoria Baseball Field – West of School

Photo by Richard Soseman

Lunch Hour at Victoria School

MEMORIES

We hope you enjoy the following memories and facts as shared by former Victoria school alum Wayne E Swedeen:

“My Years at Victoria School were 1949-1955.  When I started school in Victoria (1949) the consolidation of schools into ROVA had taken place.  At that time Victoria had grades 1-8 and HS 9-12 were consolidated in Oneida IL.  The opening of the new HS building in Oneida in 1954 (Dedicated Dec. 1954), the old Oneida HS building was used for Oneida grade School and Jr. High (grades 7-8) from the four district towns of Rio, Oneida, Victoria and Altona. Victoria School was then grades 1-6 and remained that way until long after I left the area in 1971.

Grade School Games at Victoria

Photo from Wayne Sweeden

The gymnasium is a real piece of work.  I’m sure it would be ruled a hard hat area today! The windows are at ground level.  The playing surface below grade.  The spectator balcony is at about ground level, suspended out over court.  Windows on East, West and south sides.  The balcony from the floor up was slightly higher than the basket, but with heating pipes hanging below the balcony floor, there wasn’t much head room and not many over-the-head inbound passes.  The Bank board and basket were hung flush on the balcony, not extended out over the floor as they are today.  There was padding on the balcony edge by the baskets in case anyone were tall enough, and foolish enough to try a driving lay-up, or what today may be called a slam dunk.   There was barely enough room on the edges of the court to put a chair and players and coach had to always be alert to keep their feet and body parts off the floor and out of the way.  As you can imagine, the noise levels were intense.

The gymnasium then, like today’s “mega gyms”, was a multipurpose area.  It was used for basketball, volleyball, dance lessons, band practice, special occasion parties and probably a lot of other things I have forgotten.”

Thanks for the great information and memories Wayne!!

Victoria Senior Class of 1928

Courtesy of Wayne Sweeden

Victoria Cheerleaders

SEEKING MORE INFORMATION

More Information is needed on Victoria High School. We are seekng information regaring the more successful teams, players, and coaches who graced the courts and fields of Victoria High School.  If you can offer any assistance in documenting this information please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net ..You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631

Victoria High School

Girls Basketball – 1924

It is known that Versailles High School competed in boy’s basketball.  This is evidenced by their lone season of success as recorded on the IHSA web site www.ihsa.org.   It is quite likely the Versailles High male athletes also competed in track and baseball.  If you have any further information about Versailles High School’s athletic program please e-mail us at eganann@sbcglobal.net.

1940-41 District Champions!!

Boy’s Basketball

As stated above, only one season is listed on the IHSA web site.   The team of the 1940-41 school year won the school’s only District title.  Information on the 1941 Champs was provided by the Versailles Area Genealogical and Historical Society.

RE: The 1940-41 District Tournament Win.

“The coach of this team was Nelson Workman,  Rupert Brim was the manager.

.

The team members were: Starting players – James Stone, Raymond Bradbury, Bob Sides, Bob Walsh, Bob Wilson, and Harry Clark.

Other players on the team – Fred Brown, Lyle Kleinlein, Eddie Stone, Jim Barnett, Rich Aikens, Bill Davenport, Thomas Root, Jr. Foster, Clifford Orr, Bill Glaze, David Foiles, Cecil Pruden and Charles Benson Burgessor.

In the victorious game, March 1^st, 1941, Versailles pulled an upset by winning the district tournament over Littleton, which was held at Browning school. Quoting the Democrat Message article covering the event, “Coach Workman’s five nosed out the Littleton basketeers by a one point margin to take the classic by a score of 24 – 23.” The others in the tourney, Browning, Littleton and Hersman, had each defeated the Versailles team twice in the season play and everyone knew it was a long shot for Versailles to win the contest. The trophy awarded the successfully proud team was on display in the window of  Roy and Fay Stone’s restaurant in Versailles for all to admire.

Since the Versailles High School did not have a gymnasium at this date, all home games and practice were held in the Versailles Community Building.”

1940-41          District Champions

Need Your Assistance

School nickname, team colors, school spirit song, great coaches, teams, athletes, and other great accomplishments attained at Versailles High School deserve to be remembered and shared.  A school photo is especially being sought.  If you have any of this information you can e-mail it to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .   You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631

We know for certain that Vernon High School competed in boys basketball.  We believe that baseball and track may also have been offered.  School team nickname, uniform colors, fight song, coach’s names, and team records are all items we are seeking.

Boys Baskeball

Research conducted by Mark Jurenga revealed that Vernon High School certainly existed in 1933.  A Greenville High School yearbook from that year revealed that Vernon HS boys competed in the IHSA District Tournament at Vandalia High School.  The Vernon boys beat Herrick High School in the first round of the tourney 32 – 19. The boys were defeated in the second round of the tournament by Brownstown 27 – 10. Other scores involving Vernon High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.”

If you have any further information on the Vernon High School boys basketball program, please contact us via the means listed below.

1932-33              Vandalia District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Herrick 32-19

2nd Rd lost to Brownstown 27-10

Brownstown lost to Greenville in semi-final

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

1st Rd Beat Panama 25-24

2nd Rd lost to St. Elmo 39-18

St. Elmo lost to Vandalia in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Keyesport 36-11

2nd Rd lost to Vandalia 69-17

Vandalia lost to Fillmore in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Spfld St. James 21-19

Ramsey beat Panama in title game

1936-37              Salem Regional Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Salem 64-15

Kinmundy beat Flora in title game

1937-38 through 1950-51  Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Dances, plays, clubs, initiations, and many other activities were probably a part of the Vernon High School experience.  If you have information on these activities please write to us so we can share it with others on this page.

To Contact Us With More Information For This Page

You can reach us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  We would love to share any information and a photo of the school building on this page.  You can also mail items to us at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.    60631  

Vermont HS Built 1927 – Submitted by Gerry Halpin

Credit: Lake County Discovery Museum/Curt Teich Postcard Archives

Vermont HS Bldg Inscription

“PUBLIC SCHOOL / Dist No. 8 / Erected 1924” Photo by Roberta Van Briesen

Vermont HS Building 2009

Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen

Vermont Abandoned Store Bldg 2012

Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen

Vermont Store 2012

Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen

Vermont Store Front 2012

Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen

Vermont Bank Building 2012

Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen

Steam Engine Traveling Through Vermont – 1800s?

Submitted by John Bybee

Vermont High School – 1911

http://www.rootsweb.com – Fulton County, Il.

Vermont South HS Bldg

Submitted by John Marshall 

Vermont North School History

Submitted by John Bybee 

Vermont School Song from 1911 Yearbook

Courtesy of John Marshall

Athletics

Vermont High School offered boys basketball and boys track & field.  It is probable that baseball was offered as well.  The basketball and track programs had a measure of success listed on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org.  The girls competed in basketball in the early 1900s as well.

  ——————————————————————————————————————

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team won two District titles in the late 1930s.  Unfortunately very little information is available on them.  We are searching for the coach’s names and team records of these and other great Vermont teams of the school’s storied past. Basketball scores from the IHSA State Tournament recorded below were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores.”

The caption under the above photo reads:  “With the basketball team in the late 1920’s is Hobart Engle on the left, the principal at the School, and Clifford C. Mercer, the coach on the right. The basketball team is identified by the surnames of the members.  First row, left to right: Fry, Smith, Marshall, Crouse, Bader, Corbitt, Farr, and Corbitt; back row:  Geer, Nielsen, Kost, Miles, McCLelland, Harris, and McDonald.”

Several scores involving the Vermont High School boys basketball team playing in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below.

  —–  

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

                          1st Rd lost to Ipava 32-27

                          Canton beat Glasford in title game

  —–  

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

  —–  

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

                          1st Rd Beat Table Grove 26-22

                          2nd Rd score needed

                          Canton beat Fairview in title game

  —–  

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

                          1st Rd lost to Macomb 37-24

                          Macomb beat Bushnell in title game

  —–  

1935-36             Beardstown Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          1st Rd lost to Ashland 29-27

                          Ashland lost to Rushville in semi-final

                          Rushville lost to Beardstown in title game

  —–  

1936-37             IHSA District Champions                     Coach’s name & record needed

                          District scores needed

                          Canton Regional Tournament

                          1st Rd Beat Fairview 28-27

                          Semi-final lost to Canton 25-22

                          Canton beat Lewistown in title game

  —–  

1937-38             Beardstown Regional Runner-Up        Coach’s name & record needed

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          Regional Title Game: Beardstown 36, Vermont 19

  —–  

1938-39             IHSA District Champions                     Coach’s name & record needed

                          District scores needed

                          Rushville Regional Tournament

                          1st Rd Beat Macomb 31-23

                          Semi-final lost to Beardstown 38-33

                          Beardstown lost to Rushville in title game

  —–  

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

  —–  

1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

  —–  

1941-42             Beardstown Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          1st Rd lost to Rushville 45-19

                          Rushville lost to Beardstown in title game

  —–  

1942-43             Rushville Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          1st Rd lost to Rushville 55-24

                          Rushville beat Beardstown in title game

  —–  

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

  —–  

1944-45             Rushville Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          1st Rd lost to Macomb Western 65-23

                          Macomb Western beat Rushville in title game

  —–  

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

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          1st Rd lost to Beardstown 88-24

                          Beardstown beat Mt. Sterling in title game

  —–  

1946-47             Rushville Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

                          (Vermont did not compete in District Tourney)

                          **1st Rd lost to Rushville 81-29

                          Rushville lost to Beardstown in semi-final

                          Beardstown beat Mt. Sterling in title game

**Final basketball game as Vermont High School, became part of Table Grove V.I.T. High School in the summer of 1947.

  ————————————————————————————————————

Boys Track & Field

One Vermont trackster brought home some pride and excitement for his classmates from the IHSA State Track Meet.  Carroll Rankin took third place honors in the long jump in 1907.  This was accomplished in the one-class system in Illinois at the time!

1906-07      Carroll  Rankin        Long Jump           3RD Place

Carroll Rankin can be viewed in the photo below.  He is in the back row, third from the right. The photo was submitted by Vermont resident John Bybee who also tells us that the American Legion Post #26 is named after Carroll Rankin as he was killed in action in World War I.

  ——————————————————————————————

Girls Basketball

Yes, the Vermont High School girls completed in basketball as well.  Most high schools in Illinois had girls basketball teams in the very early 1900s. But the Illinois High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), the governing body for the public high schools, had taken a dim view of girls athletics, other than for intramural sports, prohibiting member schools from having a girls team play against another school.

This ban became effective in 1908, but was not widely known or enforced. Some high schools which came along in the early 20^th Century would organize girls teams without realizing they were violating IHSAA rules.

In late 1927, the IHSAA sent a strong letter to school administrators admonishing them to not allow girls to compete in athletics against other schools (“too rough and unladylike?”). So, shortly after the 1928 season, girls were banned from playing interscholastic sports. The ban lasted into the 1970s! (Source for above two paragraphs: IHSA article by Scott Johnson, entitled “Not Altogether Ladylike.”)

The photo below was sent to us by John Bybee.

1910-11     0 – 1

From the 1910-11 VHS yearbook:

“Only one game of basketball was played this year, being defeated in that. Failure was due to lack of practice. Hardly enough girls turned out to make one team, and therefore it was impossible to practice to any benefit. The team did not receive support of the students it should have.” 

  —————————————————————————————————–

Football

The boys competed in football too.  This photo is from the 1909-10 Vermont HS yearbook called “The Comet”. No results from this season were available however.

1909-10

1910-11    1 – 0 – 1

From the 1910-11 Vermont HS yearbook submitted by John Marshall:

“Foot ball could hardly be called a success this year. In fact, it was a discouragement. THere was as good material in the school for a first class team as there has been. However, many were prohibited from playing because of parental objections, and several would not practice. THe result was that the men practiced for a time, then the number dwindled down until there were not enough left to compose a team. Only two games were played during the season, with the city team, resulting in a tie, 0 – 0, and with Table Grove, score 9 – 5 in our favor.”  

From the 1910-11 Vermont HS yearbook…must have been a lot of controversy that year!

“SCHOOL SPIRIT

 As far back as 1896 Vermont High School is remembered as a great athletic center. In all athletics, base ball, foot ball, and track, they had no superior and hardly an equal. They played Glaesburg, Canton, Lewistown, Bushnell, Macomb, and all of the larger towns and for several years knew not what the word defeat meant.

 For three years in succession they won the Fulton County athletic banners and also the relay cup.

 Those were glorious old days for V.H.S., but look at us now. We are not as strong in athletics as we used to be, but we have material. We now the ancient saying, “Practice makes perfect,” and we are going to practice. We will never be perfect, we know, but we have school spirit and will try. Watch us.”

*The photo below shows a Vermont HS football team of the late 1920s. The caption under the photo reads as follows:

“This photograph taken in front of the front entrance to the new Vermont Community School building shows the fooltball team ready for play in the late 1920’s.”

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Boys Baseball

The boys fielded a team on the baseball diamond as well. Results for each season are being sought.

1909-10

1910-11    5 – 1

From the 1910-11 VHS yearbook:

“The base ball team has made a good record this spring. Out of the six games played, five have been won, giving a percentage of 833.30. Prospects for a winning team next year are bright, as the lineup, with the exception of one or two, will be the same.

Players: Dean Geer, Guy Kirkbride, Ralph Mercer, D. Kirkbride, W. Wyne, Herbert Durcell, Tom Fair, W. Geer, Ghlee Walters, Verne Price.

The Scores

Beat Rushville 10 – 9 (10 innings)

Beat Rushville 18 – 4

Lost to Table Grove 9 – 2

Beat Lewistown 11 – 0

Beat Lewistown 10 – 4

Beat Astoria 21 – 11″

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Facts & Memories

**From John Marshall:

“I read in a ’47 Vermont HS Yearbook that the football team’s nickname was the Crusaders while the basketball team was called the Yellow Jackets!  This was the last year for the Vermont HS as the VIT consolidation began in the fall of ’47.”

**From Charles Wickwire:

“Bob Barrett designed the winning “VIT” athletic letter in 1948.  There were numerous designs and all of them took up too much space.  He logically  remembered that the single letters were easy to apply and did not take up much space.  He used the “V” as a solid base or foundation, capped it with the “T” which made the triangular symmetry complete, and the only place the Ipava “I” could be seen was on top of the stack in front.”

**From John Bybee:

“(Regarding the school building fire ) I knew that several dozen books went up in the flames.  One of them was a 1950s “Speak to the Earth” about geology and oil exploration.  I tried to strike a deal with the then owner of the VHS, Bobbie Queen.  She had an auction and moved back to CA. in the early 1990s.  The books stayed behind, guess I should have just “liberated” the volume afterwards.  I think the last stage productions were in around 1958/59 when  a trio of singers from Chgo–“The Three Twins” presented a program.  Alan Douglas was one of the singers and  originally from Vermont and my wife’s uncle.

In about the fall of 1970 or so, Chuck Wickwire and I attended a talk and film presented by an USAF officer from NORAD on the subject of a Soviet nuke attack..  The school at that time was a designated fallout shelter.  I still have one of the empty 50 gallon olive drab barrels that once held Civil Defense rations.  CD stored a large quantity of food and water in the basement of the school.  I think I have a play bill for the stage in the 1930s.”

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Need Your Assistance

If you have any further information you can provide about the history of Vermont High School, especially a photo of the old high school building, please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . 

Names of Students in Photo Above  (1939-40 Soph Class)

Front Row, L to R: Rosalie Jeffries, Ila Danner, Beulah ?, ? Vance, Betty Martin, History Teacher Irene Hamer, ??, Betty Haines, Margaret Robinson, Barbara Price 

Middle Row, L to R:  Lydia Dohner, Carmen Kost, ??, Lillian Sexton, Virgil Cox, Junior Fordyce, Marshall McClellan, ? McFadden

Back Row, L to R:  Russell Baum, Wendell Copes, James Kerley, John ?, ? Corbitt, Carrol Kost, Frederick Haines, Junior Corsage, ? Strode, Paul Foster

From John Bybee:

“Clifford C. Mercer “Eph” was a coach and teacher at the old VHS in the 1930s etc.  I well remember his store.  Back in 1959, when I was 10, I would go into his store to buy comic books.  To me the store was eerie, dark, dank, and Eph was beyond old.  I spent my dime for Sgt. Rock comics and got out fast. Eph died in 1977 and there was something like 12 hay wagon loads of his antiques sold at auction.  His son Whitney and I still talk VT history on occasion.”

TWO TRAGIC DEATHS IN VERMONT

by

John Bybee

     One hundred and seven summers ago, Friday, August 11, 1905 was a day of evil in Vermont, Illinois.  Two of the village’s citizens—one a young schoolteacher, the second a middle-aged storekeeper– both died violent deaths within the same hour.

     Miss Minnie Carnahan was born in Vermont on May 18, 1884 to William Fielder and Sarah “Sally” Ann (Webster) Carnahan.  Fielder was a black-haired, black-eyed veteran of the Civil War.  He had been a blacksmith in his younger years, but was now a poultry dealer.  The Carnahans maintained a modest home in the south part of the village.

     Minnie was the youngest child.  Her older siblings being Alma D. (1871), Angeline (1873), Maud (1876), and Harvey (1879).  Minnie was of a quiet disposition and devout.  In September 1903 she united with the Vermont Christian Church.

     Minnie in the spring of 1904 taught school near Lewistown.  In April of 1905, she became ill and consulted Vermont’s Dr. C.H. Hamilton.  Minnie complained of spinal pain and attacks of blindness.  She had no appetite and was quite nervous.

     On Friday, August 4, 1905, Minnie was in Lewistown attending a summer school institute.  A series of blinding headaches forced her to return to Vermont on the afternoon train.  She did not sleep well Wednesday night August 9^th and on Thursday she felt her mind was wrong and she again consulted with Dr. Hamilton in his 3^rd Street Office.  She questioned the doctor if he thought she was losing her mind.

     That night, Minnie’s mother noticed that Minnie was more confused and sicker than usual.  Minnie went to bed at her regular time.  Sally Carnahan looked in on her daughter at 1:30 A.M., and she appeared to be sleeping soundly.

      The Carnahan family awoke at 5:00 A.M. and discovered that Minnie was gone.  Thinking perhaps that she may have sleepwalked the half-mile to the railroad trestle, which spanned the Vermont-Astoria Road, Richard Alexander, her ten-year-old nephew from Lewistown was dispatched south to the railroad.  Minnie’s brother-in-law Charles Beaty headed north to search for her.

      C.B. & Q. engineer M.J. Steinmiller of Rushville was running engine #411 and bringing the morning passenger train to Vermont.  Number 22 was due in Vermont at 5:35 A.M. but was behind schedule.  At about 6:15 A.M. Steinmiller whistled for the station board about a mile west of Vermont.  He notched the throttle back and drifted towards Vermont.  A hundred yards ahead, Steinmiller saw an object on the track.  He whistled but saw no response from the unknown shape.  As the train closed the distance, he was startled to see the unknown object transform itself into a woman!  Steinmiller whistled a series of short urgent shrieks of the whistle.

      The woman had her shoes off and appeared to be changing her hose.  Steinmiller slammed the brake handle into emergency and again whistled.  The woman rose to her feet and stared at the oncoming train.  She still had plenty of time to get clear of the track, instead, she dropped and layed across the rails!

      Richard Alexander arrived on the east side of the trestle only seconds before the train came along.  He could only stare helplessly as the train struck his prostrate cousin.

   The sliding locomotive struck Minnie in the head and the entire train of engine, tender and three cars passed over her and carried her mangled body to the east side of the trestle.

     Steinmiller climbed down from his cab and tried to calm the distraught youth who was screaming, “You have killed my Aunt Minnie!”  Minnie’s body was carried to the baggage car and the train proceeded to the Vermont Depot where station agent Ed Thomas took charge of the body.  Thomas sent word of the tragedy to the Carnahan family and summoned by telegraph Coroner Zeigler from Canton.

     At the exact moment the Carnahan tragedy was occurring, Jesse Burr Witchell was eating breakfast.  Burr’s health had been declining and he had not slept well Thursday night either.  Born in Vermont on June 11, 1853 he was the eldest son of I.B. and Sarah Witchell.  Burr had two brothers, John and Walter.  Two sisters, Eva and Mrs. Adaline Branson.  Burr left the family farm early and spent two years in Kansas.

      Burr was back in Vermont by 1885 and entered into a parternership with his uncle Hiram S. Thomas.  The businessmen opened a book and stationary store on the west side of North Main.  Two years later, Burr bought Hiram out.  Burr served one term as Postmaster.  He never married, said he never had the time.  Friends and customers later recalled that he was more despondent in the summer.

      After his skimpy breakfast Burr stopped at the post office and opened his mail.  He arrived at his store at about 6:30A.M. and swept the floor.

     Drayman Frank Van Antwerp had a consignment of merchandise for Burr.  Frank pulled his team and wagon up in the front of Burr’s store and went inside.  Frank saw nothing of Burr and went to the back door and looked out.  Still no sign of Burr, Frank ducked back into the store and soon discovered Burr’s body hanging in a kneeling position by a small rope tied to the knob of a showcase, about four feet above the floor.

     Coroner Zeigler impaneled a six-man inquest jury headed by village marshal William Austin Fair.  Zeigler conducted both inquests on Friday evening.  On Saturday at 9:00 A.M. Christian Church Elder G.W. Ross presided at Minnie’s funeral, which was held at her home.  After lunch, at 2:30 P.M. Elder Ross conducted services for Burr at the Branson home located in the two-story brick house at the corner of West Fifth and South Liberty; now known as the former Price and Midge Nielson home.

     Minnie and Burr slipped from this world to the next with hardly a whisper of memory.  We struggle for a rationale that explains the chain of circumstances or events, which flooded over the vibrancy of Minnie’s youth and negated the middle-aged wisdom of Burr.

*From John Bybee reference Sonny Miller:

“Sonny was a sports jock in HS days.  He worked for a short time after graduation for the C.B.&Q RR section gang at Vermont.  He ran a grocery store in Vermont for the majority of his adult life.  I believe he was the town clerk etc.  He always set next to the front window of his store in his later years, he had a heart attack and passed away there.”

Vermilion Academy High School

Sent to us by Jamie Driskill

Vermilion Academy School Bell

The History of Vermilion Academy High School in Vermilion Grove

Vermilion Grove (population aproximately 50) is located in far east-central Illinois.  The town sits in the southeastern corner of Vermilion County about 5 miles west of the Indiana / Illinois state border.  Vermilion Grove is about 15 miles south of Danville.  County Roads E 400 North and 1500E intersect in town.  U’S. Route 150 passes by about a quarter mile to the east.  CSX Transportation Railroad passes through Vermilion Grove too.  The small hamlet is about 2 blocks from north to south and 3 blocks from east to west.

The town has a storied history, being one of the first settlements in the county. Most of the first settlers of the area were Quakers.  According to an internet article located at

http://www.haworthassociation.org/Schools/newspaper_article_text.htm

Vermilion Grove was first settled in 1822. The town was settled four years before Danville became a town. The town remained a small settlement for many years, benefitting from the railroad which passed through town in the mid-1800s.

Haworthassociation.org/Schools/newspaper-article-text.htm

Townspeople eventually saw the need to educate their children.  In 1874 area churches cooperated to build what was only the second school in the county.  The school was named “The Academy” and eventually would focus on providing secondary, or high school, education. The cost to build the school building as well as the cost to operate the school came from donations.

According to the aforementioned article, the school was built to hold up to 300 students, however at its peak the enrollment reached to the 160s.  The school became a staple in the area for nearly 60 years.  In 1910 the facility added a gym, athletic field and more classrooms.  A dorm was added to the complex a few years later.

Activities at the school included a school newspaper, plays, speech program, and sports.  Financial aid was available for students who could not afford the tuition.  Students went on to become ministers, teachers, and other types of professional careers and were ecouraged to “give back” to the school via financial means after leaving.

The article states that the Academy lasted into the early 1930s when the Great Depression took its toll.  The Academy closed in 1932.  The building was given to the local public school district in nearby Ridge Farm.  It was used a grade school until 1965.  The residents of Vermilion Grove continued to utilize the facility as a community center for several years.  After a stint as a private residence, the building was torn down in 1987.  A memorial for the school was erected by the school’s alumni in 1988 which stands to this day.

Vermilion Academy High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                             1874

Year closed:                              1932

Students went on to attend:         Ridge Farm High School

Vermilion Acad. team nickname: unavailable

Vermilion Acad. uniform colors:   unavailable

School Fight Song:                     unavailable