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Boubonnais Academy of the Sisters of Mercy

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized

  The History of the Academy of the Sisters of Mercy

 

Bourbonnais (population 15,256) is located in northeastern Illinois in central Kankakee County, just north of Kankakee. The town was home to the Pottawatomi Indians, who were befriended by French explorer Robert Cavalier deLaSalle during an expedition in 1679, but it wasn’t until 1830 when Canadian fur trader Francois Bourbonnais established Bourbonnais Grove. Slowly but surely, more French-Canadians made their way to the area and settled. The community was incorporated in 1875. 

 

Bourbonnais is approximately 15 miles west of the Indiana state border. The following roadways now lead to and from this busy metropolis: Interstate Highway 57, U.S. Route 45, Illinois Routes 17, 50, and 102. The Kankakee River flows to the west and south of town. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad also has tracks which pass through town.

The Sisters of Mercy (who had only come to Illinois only six years earlier to set up several schools and convents within a short time) branched out to Bourbonnais in order to educate young ladies in the area,

 

About 90 students were enrolled after the school opened in the spring of 1852, as they learned from an order of nuns that was dedicated to teaching the fine points of life as well to live in a Christian manner.

 

However, the school closed in 1854 due to numerous difficulties, including the lack of room for boarding students as well as the amount of hard labor needed to educate the students and few privations given to the sisters for their efforts.

 

This was not the end of Catholic education in the Bourbonnais area, which was a stronghold to the French-Canadians who settled in Bourbonnais and in surrounding towns like Kankakee, St. Anne, and Irwin. Another school would form in 1860 when Notre Dame Academy would open its doors in Boubonnais and stay there until 1949.

FACTS ABOUT BOURBONNAIS ACADEMY OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY

 

Year opened:            1852

Year closed:             1854

 

 

WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE DETAILS…

 

so if you have them about the history of Academy of the Sisters of Mercy, please contact us immediately. We’re interested in its history, course offerings, descriptions about life at the school, and even photos or sketches of the school buildings. Please contact us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or thru the mail at:

 

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631

(Boody) Decatur East Park Baptist Academy “Eagles”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Decatur East Park Baptist Academy Building
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Located in Boody, Illinois (Former Boody Grade School, photo taken in 2007)
East Park Baptist Academy Side View – Gym on Right
Located in Boody, Illinois (Now a Private Residence)

The History of (Boody) Decatur East Park Baptist Academy

Decatur (population 81,860) is located in central Illinois about 30 miles east of Springfield.  The city is named after Stephen Decatur, naval war hero of the War of 1812.  It  It is the county seat of Macon County and is located in the center of the county.  Decatur is nicknamed “The Pride of the Prairie” and has its own airport. Milikin University and Richland Community College claim Decatur as their home. According to www.mapquest.com the following roadways lead to and from Decatur; Interstate Highway 72, U.S. Routes 51 and 36, Illinois Routes 48, 105, and 121.  The following waterways flow into Decatur;  the Sangamon River, Finley Creek, Big Creek, Long Creek, Stevens Creek, Spring Creek, and Sand Creek. The following railroads also own tracks that are laid through the town of Decatur; Illinois Central Gulf, Norfolk & Western, Baltimore & Ohio, I.t., and I.c.  The city is also home to a nice lake in Lake Decatur.

An article was found on the internet which provided a historical overview of the creation of Decatur East Park Baptist Academy which was located in Boody.  The article was compiled by the Oral History Office of Sangamon State University in Springfield.

In summary, the article stated the following:

East Park Baptist Academy was started as a kindergarten class in the Decatur East Park Baptist Church in 1970.  Each year classes were added until all grades, from kindergarten through 12th grade, were added.  Due to the growing student population, the school was no longer able to be housed at the church facility in Decatur.

In 1976-77 the school opened up all classes in the former grade school building of Boody, Illinois.  That was, in fact, the first graduating senior class as well, the Class of 1977.  East Park Baptist Academy High School flouished over the next 10 years. In the early 1980s high school enrollment reached into the upper 60s for grades 9 – 12 with a graduating class high of 23 students in 1984. However the decline in enrollment in the lower grades was becoming a factor.

After reaching a high of 335 students for all grades in the early 1980s, the school had slipped to 115 total students in 1989.  Reasons for the falling enrollment included some difficult economic times in the Decatur area.  The seven students in the class of 1989 became the last of 13 classes to graduate from East Park Baptist Academy.

The East Park Baptist Academy school building, located in Boody, is now (in 2007) being used as a private residence.

(Boody) Decatur East Park Baptist Academy Quick Facts

Year Academy opened GS:     1970

Year HS courses begun:         1976

Year closed:                          1989

East Park team nickname:      the “Eagles”

East Park uniform colors:        Red & White

School Fight Song:                 “Go Eagles”
Decatur East Park Baptist Academy Gymnasium – 2007
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Former Boody Grade School, Boody, Illinois

Athletics

We are fairly confident that East Park Baptist Academy competed in the boys sports of basketball and baseball with teams from other schools. East Park alum Dennis Johnson tells us the athletic program at East Park included soccer, baseball, basketball for the boys while the girls competed in volleyball and softball (only for a few years between 86-89) and cheerleading (throughout).  We are searching for any other information you might have to share regarding East Park Baptist Academy’s athletic program.

Boys Basketball

Our good friend and long-time contributor Mark Jurenga found the following information on two seasons (1985-86 and 1986-87) of EPB basketball. Other season records were provided by John C. Baginski who relayed the following information regarding East Park Baptist Academy basketball:

“My dad kept all the basketball results for all Decatur schools until he died a few years ago.  I have tried to continue his work.  His name was Kurt Baginski.

     

*Coach Jack Moore has the 6th highest percentage of wins at a Decatur high school at .643.”

1976-77      9 – 10                                                                            Coach Jack Moore

1977-78    12 – 12                                                                            Coach Jack Moore

1978-79    14 – 8                                                                              Coach Jack Moore

1979-80    16 – 3                                                                              Coach Jack Moore

1980-81    15 – 5                                                                              Coach Jack Moore

1981-82    15 – 15                                                                            Coach Jack Moore

1982-83    19 – 5                                                                              Coach Jack Moore

1983-84    22 – 2                                                                              Coach Jack Moore

1984-85    16 – 13                                                                            Coach Jack Moore

1985-86    24 – 6   Illinois Association of Christian Schools     Coach Jack Moore

State Quarterfinals.

Leading scorer: Jack McCammack 15 ppg.

Leading rebounder: Jack McCammack 10 rpg.

1986-87    17 – 7                                                                              Coach Jack Moore

1987-88    14 – 21                                                                            Coach Jack Moore

Extra-Curricular Activities

Choir, band, intramurals, Homecoming celebration, and music festivals were all a part of the extra-curricular activities at East Park Baptist Academy.  The lower grades competed in spelling bees, writing contests, and other academic activities.

If You Have Any Further Information…

…regarding the former Decatur East Park Baptist Academy High School located in Boody, Illinois please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via the U.S. Postal Service at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il.  60631 

Boody High School “Bullets”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Boody Public School Building
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Submitted by Dennis Downey
Boody Public School Building
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Sumbitted by Dennis Downey

The History of Boody High School

Boody (population 156) is located in central Illinois in the southwest portion of Macon County.  The town is located on Illinois Route 48 about five miles southwest of Decatur.  The Norfolk Southern Railroad travels parallel to Route 48 and travels through Boody as well.

A nice history of the town of Boody can be viewed at the webaddress of http://macon.ilgenweb.net/blmound.html .  In summary, the article states the following:

Boody was established along the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway in eastern Blue Mound Township. The town was platted in 1870 and named after Colonel William Boody, president of the railway. After the town was established, a post office and several businesses soon followed.The first school in the town of Boody was established in 1872.

Boody High School was mentioned in local newspapers as early as 1915. A newspaper article from 1931 describes Boody High School as being officially recognized as a 2-year high school since 1924. A newspaper article dated October 29. 1943 states the Boody High School was closed at the conclusion of the 1942-43 school year.

We know at some point Boody High School consolidated with nearby Blue Mound High School to create the Blue Mound – Boody School District. Boody kids continued to attend high school in Blue Mound until 1994, when that school, too, was closed.  Students who reside in Boody today attend high school in Macon as part of the Meridan School District.

A school building still exists in Boody, however it is no longer used in that capacity.  Joe Crump tells us the original Boody High School building was destroyed by fire in the early 1960s.  A replacement was constructed.  This school would later serve as East Park Baptist Academy from 1976 – 1989.

Thank you to Joe Crump!

Boody High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                    1915

Year closed:                      1943

Grades supported:            2-year high school only.

Consolidated to:                Blue Mound – Boody High School

Boody HS nickname:         the “Bullets”

Boody HS team colors:      unavailable

Boody HS fight song:         unavailable

Athletics

The Boody High School Bullets competed in boys basketball. It is possible that baseball and track were a part of the athletic program as well.  If you have any further information on Boody High School’s athletic program, including the team uniform colors, school fight song, coaches names, and season records please forward them to us.

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Extra-Curricular Activities

Activities such as plays, chorus, band, FFA, FHA, and any other activities are af great interest.  What was it that made the Boody High School experience a great one?  Drop us a line and let us know so we can share it on this page.

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Memories

From Boody resident Joe Crump:

“I have been a life long resident of the town of Boody (except for when I was in the Navy).  The question was asked in the Blue Mound High School writeup as to whether Boody ever had a high school.  In fact, it had two at two different times.  I started going to school there in 1967 and at that time it was grades K-5.  The junior high and high school kids were bussed to Blue Mound.  We did at one time have a high school there though, before the consolidation with Blue Mound took place.  Grades K – 12 were all in the same building.  The basketball team was called the Boody Bullets.  I don’t know when the school was built, buit I do know that in the late 60’s it burned down, and it was rebuilt.  Sometime in the 1970’s, the school was sold and all of the kids went to Blue Mound.  A private school called East Park Baptist used the school as a private school with grades K – 12 for a number of years.  The high school kids there used to come to Blue Mound HS for their drivers ed classes.  I know this because some of them were in my drivers ed class.   The Baptists sold the school in the late 80’s and it was bought by a person that wanted to turn it into a bingo hall.  That didn’t go over so well here in Boody and after a year or two of that it closed down.  Now the school sits empty and is pretty run down.”

From Helen “Smith” Estes:

“I started at Boody School in 1945. At that time there were two class rooms on the main floor. The upstairs was an auditorium and stage.  The one room had 1st thru 4th grade and Lillian Knowles was the teacher/principal. The other room was     5th thru 8th grade and I believe Mrs. Pumphrey was the teacher. After a year or two they turned the upstairs into two more classrooms and then there were two grades per room.

Also, after a couple of years, Mrs. Lorton and Mary Beckham started cooking hot lunches for us and they made a lunch room in the basement. There was a two story wooden school house first a little farther back from the two story brick one. The first one was built in 1874 and the new brick one was built in 1912, at that time they tore the wooden one down.”

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If You Have Any Further Information…

…you can provide regarding Boody High School before its consolidation with Blue Mound High School, especially stories and photos of the original high school building, great teams, athletes, and coaches, you can e-mail them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.
   

Bonnie High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Bonnie High School Building – 1940s
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Courtesy of Wayne Arnold
Bonnie Water Tower
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Bonnie, Illinois

The History of Bonnie High School

Bonnie (population 424) is located in south central Illinois (and not over the ocean, or the sea).  Illinois Route 37 runs through the center of this south central Jefferson County village.  Interstate Highway 57 runs through the west side of Bonnie and Interstate Highway 64 runs about 5 miles north of Bonnie.  The town was named for a prominent resident’s daughter named Bonnie in 1895.  It was not until 1914 that Bonnie was officially incorporated.  The Missouri Pacific Railroad cuts through the middle of Bonnie and a small, unnamed creek flows through town as well.  More information about Bonnie can be viewed on the Bonnie web site by going to http://www.villageofbonnie.com/ .

The history of the Bonnie school system is in need of research.  Bonnie did support its own school system through 1947. The following history of Bonnie High School was provided to us by a former student of the school, Wayne Arnold, who was a freshmen at Bonnie High when it closed:

The Closing of Bonnie High School

“Bonnie High School was a 3 year high school, freshman, sophomore and junior years. After completing all three years, students could attend the high school in the county of their choice to complete their high school education. The four year high schools in Jefferson County were, Waltonville, Woodlawn, Mt. Vernon and Bluford(known now as Webber Twp High School). During the era of the three year high school, the majority of the Bonnie students attended Mt. Vernon; however; those students who preferred a smaller high school than Mt. Vernon chose to attend Waltonville, Woodlawn or Bluford.

The state mandated that all 3 year high schools were to close at the end of the 1946-47 school year.   The Bonnie School Board of Education  contacted Mt. Vernon Twp High School; however, at that time Mt. Vernon Twp High School did not have school buses and would not/could not transport the Bonnie student there.  During the early part of  August, 1947, just before school started, Elmer D. Murray, Principal of the Goode-Barren Twp High School, Sesser(now known at Sesser/Valier High School), met with the Bonnie Board of Education and agreed to drive to Bonnie to transport the Bonnie students to Sesser.  The final decision wasn’t made until about 2 weeks before school started, Fall, 1947. The parents of a small number of Bonnie students wanted their children to go to Mt. Vernon and provided transportation for them to do that.

This arrangement continued until Fall, 1950 when Bonnie consolidated with Mt. Vernon Twp High School.  I graduated from GBTHS in Sesser.

Bonnie Grade School continued to operate until 1967, when the school district merged with Ina Grade School.  The Bonnie/Ina Grade School is located in Ina.  After  the Bonnie grade school closed in the spring 1967, Rend Lake College used the large gym for their Agriculture program and shop until the building was destroyed by a tornado in the middle 1970s.  The school building, the gym, a baseball field, parking in front of the building and two outdoor toilets(one for girls and one for boys) were on an area approximately 2 to 3 acres. A local resident bought the salvageable lumber for his use. The space where the school was located has been developed and family homes were built on the property.”

Thank you Wayne!!

Bonnie School Memorial 2015
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Grounds of the Former Bonnie School Complex

Bonnie High School Quick Facts

Year opened:               early 1900s

Year closed:                1947

Consolidated to:           Mt. Vernon High School

School nickname:        none

School colors:             Black & Red

School Fight Song:      none
Athletics

Bonnie High School definitely competed in boys’ basketball. It is probable the school also fielded a baseball and track team. If you have any information you can add regarding the Bonnie athletic program please forward the information to us.

Boys’ Basketball

The Bonnie “boys” won three District Championships during their existence. Two were back-to-back. Bonnie High also won a District title in 1945. Unfortunately, coaches names, team records, and great players of these and other Bonnie High School teams are not known. The years of the District Championship teams are listed below. Scores from the IHSA State Tourney involving Bonnie High School which were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Scores” are also listed below.

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

1st Rd lost to Waltonville 57-18

Benton beat Christopher in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Nashville 25-20

                           2nd Rd lost to Centralia 43-12

Mt. Vernon beat Centralia in title game

1935-36              Wayne City District Champions     Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Opdyke 35-16

                           Title Game Beat Woodlawn 35-24

                           Mt. Vernon Regional Tourney

                           1st Rd lost to Waltonville 27-19

Mt. Vernon beat Waltonville in title game

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

District Scores Needed

                           Salem Regional Tournament

                           1st Rd Beat Sandoval 39-22

Semi-final lost to Flora 26-25

Kinmundy beat Flora in title game

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              Waltonville District Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Belle Rive 49-29

                           Semi-final lost to Okawville 28-26

Okawville lost to Waltonville in title game

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

1942-43              Ina District Tournament                      Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Opdyke 51-24

Waltonville beat Opdyke in title game

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

1944-45              Bluford District Champions             Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Belle Rive 51-15

                           Title Game Beat Ina 47-19

                           Fairfield Regional Tournament

                           1st Rd lost to McLeansboro 43-32

Mt. Vernon beat Fairfield in title game

1945-46              Waltonville District Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Opdyke 33-32

Opdyke beat Waltonville in title game

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

**1st Rd lost to Waltonville 49-40

Bluford Webber beat Waltonville in title game

**Final basketball game for Bonnie High School, consolidated to Mt. Vernon High School in the summer of 1947.

Bonnie HS’s Final Basketball Team 1946-47
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Submitted by Wayne Arnold (“left click” photo for enlarged view)
Bonnie HS Cheerleaders of 1946-47
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Submitted by Wayne Arnold (“left click” photo for enlarged view)

Need More Information

The folks who worked to make Bonnie High School a reality and a success should not be forgotten. There are many missing items that should be shared and remembered forever.  A photo of the original high school building is especially being sought.  If you have this information please e-mail it to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631
 


Bonfield High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Bonfield High School Building – Built in 1921
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Photo Taken in April of 2006 by Gerry Halpin
Bonfield High School – 1922
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Courtesy of Salina Township History Book & Sherree Benoit

The History of Bonfield High School

Bonfield (population 364) is located in Salina Township, western Kankakee County, in upper-eastern Illinois.  Bonfield was incorporated as a town in Illinois in 1882.  The town is situated about 10 miles west of Kankakee. County Road West 2000N is the main roadway to and from Bonfield. County Road North 9000w connects Bonfield to Illinois Route 17 just 2 miles to the south.

The history of Bonfield High School was sent to us by long-time Glory Days site fan and photographer, Gerry Halpin. The information was gathered from history books on Kankakee County written by Jim Ridings; “County West,  A Sesquicentennial History of Kankakee County West” , and “County West Companion, A Further History of Western Kankakee County”:

“Bonfield (first known as Verkler) was incorporated in 1882.  A stone school building was built in 1885 and used until it burned down in 1920.  A two-story cement-block school building replaced it in 1921.  Beginning in 1921, a 2-year high school course was offered, which was expanded to a 3-year course in 1932.  In 1940 a vote was taken to establish a new community high school district with Bonfield as its center.  The vote failed by just three votes, 339 – 342.  After two years of recounts and law suits, this result was finally upheld in court.  Bonfield’s high school program was discontinued in 1941.

Bonfield High School Student Body – 1934
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Submitted by Sherree Benoit

After this time some Bonfield’s students attended Herscher High School, but most went to the smaller but highly regarded high school at Reddick. In 1949 Herscher filed a last-minute petition to form a unit district of 175 square miles, which would include Salina Township and Bonfield.  In the ensuing vote, Salina Township voted 201 to 95 against joining the Herscher district. However, the overall vote was favorable and under the rules of the time, Salina Township was forced to go with Herscher.  The loss of this territory was a severe blow to Reddick, which did form a smaller unit district in 1950.  Reddick prospered for many years, but was forced to annex to the Herscher district in 1988.

Bonfield Grade School Bldg – 2011
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Bonfield’s 1921 building (pictured at the top of the page) was used as part of Bonfield Grade School. Sherree Benoit tells us the following regarding the fate of the Bonfield School building pictured above:

“I just wanted to let you know that the former Bonfield High School building has been razed. It it being replaced by a new 2 story addition to the Bonfield Grade School.”

To view more great information on the town of Bonfield check out www.villageofBonfield.org .

Bonfield High School Quick Facts

Year 2-year HS opened:                  1921

Year expanded to 3-year HS:           1932

Year HS program discontinued:        1941

Consolidated to:                              Reddick and Herscher, ultimately only Herscher

Bonfield HS team nickname:            (“Jets” is current GS team name)

Bonfield HS team colors:                 Blue & White

School Fight Song:                          unavailable

Bonfield HS Gym and Rear View
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Courtesy of Salinas Township History Book & Sherree Benoit

Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities

We believe the Bonfield High School boys competed with other schools in the area in sports.  Boys basketball, baseball, and track were offered.  Girls competed in basketball as well.  Other activities such as band, chorus, FAA, GAA, FHA, and FFA may have been a part of the Bonfield High School experience.  We would be happy to add information on any part of the BHS life that once existed.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball program at Bonfield High was a competitive one.  We currently only have coach’s names for a few of the teams.  Team records are welcome for these and other Bonfield teams.

1931-34                                                          Coach Aloysius Taylor

1934-35                                                          Coach James Laffey

1937-39                                                          Coach Lester J. Soucie (and Principal)

1939-40  Junior Six Tourney Champs                Coach Edward Bossert (and Principal)

1940-41  Kankakee Valley Conf Tourney – 4TH   Coach Edward Bossert (and Principal)

Bonfield HS Varsity Basketball Team of 1931-32
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Courtesy of Sherree Benoit

Team of 1931-32 Pictured Above:

Back Row:  Coach Al Taylor, Howrad Schwark, Billy Chapman, James Voight, Ira Wiggins, Art Jensen, Henry Gerretse

Front Row:  Frank Hansing, George Dahn, Emmerson Wenzelman, Edward Healey, Ted Tofari

Bonfield HS Basketball Team 1937-38
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Submitted by Sherree Benoit

Team of 1937-38 Pictured Above:

Back Row:  Paul Soucie, Les Soucie, Ed Kukuck

Front Row:  Joe Antosz, Eddie Schutters, Clarence Jensen, Robert McGregor, Henry Walter 

More Interesting Facts About Bonfield HS Boys Basketball:

*The boys of 1939-40 won the Junior Six Tournament held in Crete. Coach Edward Bossett’s team was honored at a banquet held at the Bonfield Evangelical Church after their great win in the championship game!

*The 1939-40 team also placed fourth in the Kankakee Valley Conference tournament, in spite of being the only three-year high school entered!

*The 1939-40 team scored a total of 1,211 points averaging 34 points a game.  The team had a record of 18 – 18, winning 13 of their final 15 games.  The team was captained by Francis Winters, and at 5′ 11″ was the team’s tallest player.  Francis scored 428 points which ranked him #9 in the entire state!! Francis also led the Kankakee Valley Conference in scoring that year with 72 points in conference games. Francis’ brother Dick was the team’s second leading scorer with 345 points.  Remember, Francis was only a junior but since Bonfield was a 3-year high school, Francis played his last game at the school that year.

Bonfield HS Basketball Team of 1940-41
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Submitted by Sherree Benoit
Bonfield HS Basketball Team of 1939-40
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Submitted by Sherree Benoit

*The team of 1940-41 won its final three regular season games to go into the District Tournament with a lot of confidence.

*The team of 1940-41 beat Kankakee St. Patrick, a 4-year private school with a much larger enrollment than Bonfield, 26 – 19.  This team started the season 4 – 1 under the leadership of team captain Dick Winters.

Girls Basketball

Bonfield High School did field a girls basketball team as well.  The years and coach’s names are not currently available.

Boys Baseball

We know that the Bonfield High School boys competed with other neighboring schools on the baseball diamond as well.  Information on this program’s successes and coaches are needed.

Boys Track & Field

The boys competed in track & field as well.  Information on their successes in this sport are needed.

BHS Class 1930s – Charlotte Kinsella, Teacher
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Courtesy of Sherree Benoit

Bonfield High School Principals

1922-25      Candace Bally Black

1925          Charlotte Kinsella

1926-29      Margaret Kinsella

1930           Ruth Cole

1931-36      Esther Callaghan

1937-38      Lester Soucie

1939-41      Edward Bossert

Extra-Curricular Clubs and Activities

From our good friend Sherree Benoit:

“The first year of the 3-year high school (1931) there were only 12 students and 1 teacher. This grew to 50 students and 3 teachers in 1934.

There was a “Parent Faculty Club” started in 1939. There were movies shown, debates, programs with the grade school children and a fund raising oyster

supper.

I have lots more info and photos on the early Bonfield community, clubs, 4-H, churches, music, farming and sports programs and activities, but they are not directly related to the school.”

Thank you Sherree!

MEMORIES

From a former Bonfield High School student:

“In 1935 there was no gym so they practiced basketball on the stone behind the school. They played games at other schools. Players were Art Jensen, George Dahn, Edward Healy, Ralph DuBois and Ted Tofari. Coaching was Pete Laffey. (The school) had no telephone. Had an outside pump with water to drink and wash hands. Going in front door went up to grade school. On each side were steps going to rest rooms. There were no flushing toilets. 3 stalls which had to have chemicals poured in them. The furnace (area) was where students put their lunch on top of furnace pipes. On right side of basement where they had freshman and sophomre classes. On the other side was not finished, walls were stone so they would hide notes between the stones for playing hide and seek. In winter would go across the road and skate on the ice. Later the junior grade was added.”

Regarding a former Bonfield HS coach and a former player:

“Bonfield coach Pete Laffey, went on to coach at Kankakee St. Pats Catholic high school a few years later. And Bonfield basketball player Lester “Les” Soucie went on the become the coach/prinicipal at Bonfield some years later.”

Need Your Assistance 

If you have ANY further information to offer regarding Bonfield and its former high school please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. Information can also be mailed to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631

Bonfield HS Classroom – Early 1920s
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Courtesy of Sherree Benoit

Bone Gap High School “Cardinals”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Bone Gap Community High School
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Courtesy of Doug Evans
Bone Gap High School Aerial View
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Submitted by Lane Yarbrough (http://loosephotos.blogspot.com/)

The History of Bone Gap High School

Bone Gap (population 272) is located in southeastern Illinois in the eastern portion of Edwards County.  There does not appear to be a major roadway leading into town. Edwards County Road 1 and County Road 1375 intersect at Bone Gap.  The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad runs through Bone Gap from north to south.  A town of reference in the area might be Lawrenceville located 25 miles northeast or Mt. Carmel located 12 miles to the east.  Bone Gap was originally called Bon Pas (good path).  The name then evolved to Bon Gap (like Cumberland Gap), and eventually Bone Gap.

A history of the town from resident Doug Evans:

“Bone Gap was founded on the site of an old Indian encapement.It was situated about half a mile East of the present site.There is evidence of a settlement in the area with arrowheads and pottery shards being found occasionally. Also more modern “remains” being pieces of brick and old dinnerware.The name was supposedly chosen because of an abundance of buffalo bones being found in a “gap” between 2 stands of trees.Thence the name “Bone Gap”.Bon Pas is the name of the creek about a mile east of the settlement.The town was moved to its present location when the railroad came through (which has since been abandoned).”  

The history of Bone Gap’s school system is being sought.  It is known that Bone Gap supported its own high school in the early 1900s.  It was after the 1947-48 school year that Bone Gap High School joined a consolidation effort of several Edwards County schools.  In 1948 a new school was established in Albion and named Edwards County High School.  The kids of Bone Gap to this day are a part of the Edwards County School District.

The fate of the Bone Gap School building and information about the school has been provided by current Bone Gap Mayor Chris Kelsey:

“Chris Kelsey here, I am the current Mayor of Bone Gap, and President of the Bone Gap Community Club.  The old school still stands right across from my house.  It is our understanding that it was the first consolidated school in the State of Illinois.  With it’s opening in the late 1800s it closed 5 local one room schools and consolidated them.  A majority of the graduating class photos still hang in the building to this day. 

The school stopped being a high school in the early 50s or late 40s and was a junior high until the mid 60s.  It remained a grade school until 1988.  It was closed to consolidate a majority of the county into one school.  Today the Village of Bone Gap is seek grants and donations to convert the building into a museum of education history to make each classroom a display for every decade from 1890 until 1990 to insure the children of tomorrow understand how there parents and grandparents were educated.  This is of course a tough battle, it is an old building and we have very limited resources.  Many old school artifacts are stored either in the old school, or in the Restored Train Depot that I received a grant to restore in 2001.  We have several newspaper articles and photos.  My grandfather, father, brothers sisters and myself graduated from the school.  We have a school reunion in Aug of each year to coincide with the Village Chowder.  

The major use of the building is now a Haunted house that we run the last two weekends in October every year, this is a big fund raiser for us as it brings in up to $5,000 each year.” 

Former student and current Bone Gap pastor Dave Rigg tells us that though the Bone Gap High School technically closed in 1948, the school building continued to host the freshman class of Albion Edwards High School through the late 1950s.

Bone Gap High School Quick Facts

Year opened:             late 1800s

Year closed:              1948

Consolidated to:         Edwards County High School (Albion)

School nickname:      “Cardinals” (“Red Devils” until mid-1930s, possibly Bulldogs” before that)

School colors:           Red & White

School Fight Song:    unavailable

Athletics

Bone Gap High School definately offered boys basketball.  They probably offered baseball and track as well.  As stated before very little is known other that assumptions we can gather from different internet sites.  We are hopeful a resident or alumnus of Bone Gap High will help us fill in the “gaps”.

The following informatino regarding the Bone Gap High School team nickname was sent to us by Dave Rigg:

“I’ve talked with some former students (of Bone Gap High School). The name of the team may have been the Bulldogs back in the 1920s, but they were known as the Red Devils in the early 1930s. They became the Cardinals sometime in the late 1930s.  They were still known as the Bone Gap Cardinals when the high school closed in 1949. The grade school which was closed sometime in the late 1980s was always known as the Cardinals.”

The photo of the boys basketball team of 1924-25 was lent to us by Don Worthen and http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/edwards/basketball.htm .  Site manager Laurie Selpien has done an excellent job in capturing a great deal of Edwards County history on this Geneology Trails website.

Bone Gap HS Basketball Team of 1938-39
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Submitted by Dave Rigg (left click on photo for enlarged version)
Bone Gap HS Basketball Team of 1924-25
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Courtesy of Don Worthen and http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/edwards/basketball.htm

Boys Basketball

Bone Gap High School earned two District titles in boys basketball.  Unfortunately the records and coaches names are currently not available.  The years are listed below.

1935-36      District Champions

1942-43      District Champions

Bone Gap Bulldogs of 1947-48 / The Final Team
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Thank you to Dave Rigg

Members of the team of 1947-48 pictured above:

Front row: Fred Fawkes, Ron Simmons, Bill Rigg, Jake Bunting, Ernie Thomason, Gene Hulfachor.

2nd row: Principal Alvin Brough, Vince Doty, Murvin Gill, Melvin Byford, Jim Scott, Junior Coale, Coach Marshall Provines.

3rd row: Herschel Root, Harol;d Brokaw, Victor Inman, and George Edward Root.

**Note about the team of 1947-48:  Ron Simmons is the father of Marty Simmons who led Lawrenecville to the State Class “A” Championship and was named “Mr. Basketball” in 1982. Marty went on to star for the Universitry of Evansville where he is now the head coach.  Fred Fawkes scored 49 points in one game for Edwards County High School.  He turned down a basketball scholarship at Tennessee.

Bone Gap High School Band of 1938-39
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Submitted by Dave Rigg (left click on photo for enlarged view)

More Information on Bone Gap Schools

From Mayor Chris Kelsey:

“The grade school Girls Volleyball team won the State Championship in 1988 (kinda like the movie “Hoosiers”, but with volleyball) and was a Regional Champ several years.

The boys basketball team held several regional and tournament titles in the 20s and 30s, they were good enough that money was raised and volunteers build a new gym in the 1920s. My grandfather ran one of the mule teams that dug the underground portion. The school had a Basketball team every year, Track team, Baseball some years. The girls played Softball and Volleyball.”

NEED SOME HELP HERE

Help us record the great stories and facts of Bone Gap High School before there are no longer those around to tell us about them. As always we are looking for school photos and items to share with others. You can e-mail us photos and information at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .  You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago,  Il.    60631

Train Depot and Grain Elevator
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Bone Gap, Illinois
Train Depot
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Bone Gap, Illinois
 

Blue Mound – Boody High School “Knights”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Blue Mound – Boody High School
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Blue Mound, Illinois
Rear View of Blue Mound-Boody HS
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The History of Blue Mound High School

Blue Mound (population 1,129) is located on Illinois Route 48 fifteen miles southwest of Decatur. This places the city in the southwest corner of Macon County.  The Norfolk & Western Railroad cuts right through the center of town.

The origin of the town and its school system is not known by this writer. A guess would be that the high school in Blue Mound, like thousands of other Illinois towns, was established in the late 1800s, early 1900s.  The High School existed and was quite successful for several decades.

A consolidation effort with nearby Macon High School became a reality in 1994 with the creation of Meridian High School. The high school for the new district was located in Macon.  The Blue Mound High School building is now used as the Intermediate School for the Meridian School System.

The Boody school building, once used as a grade school for the Blue Mound-Boody School District, still stands and is pictured on the Boody East Park Baptist High School page. It is now used as a private residence.

Blue Mound High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                 probably late 1800s

Year closed:                  1994

Cosolidated to:               Macon Meridian School District

School Bldg. today:        Meridian Middle School

School nickname:           the “Knights”

School colors:                Blue & White

Fight Song:                    “When the Knights Go Charging In”

Sung to When the Saints Go Marching In:

School Song:                 “On Blue Mounders”

Sung to On Wisconsin

Blue Mound – Boody HS Gymnasium
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Dick McDonald Gymnasium
Blue Mound – Boody Football & Track Field
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Athletics

There was an abundance of trophies and titles won at Blue Mound.  The Knights had excellent success in many sports.  They excelled especially in basketball.  The school also offered track, cross country, and volleyball.  The successes listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) are listed below.

Boys Basketball

The Blue Mound Knights have an extensive basketball history with seasons recorded on the IHSA web site dating back to the 1925-26 season.  The Knights earned eight Regional titles and 5 District titles!  In addition they produced two 30 game-winning seasons and twenty 20-game winning seasons!  The best seasons for the Knights follow below.

The school’s gymnasium, pictured above, was named the Dick McDonald Gymnasium in honor of their Hall of Fame coach who led the Blue Mound-Boody kids for 19 years.  See coach’s credentials below!

1926-27     31 – 3    (great record)             Coach G. Gauman

1943-44     39 – 12  District Champions     Coach Ben Wabuch

1950-51     20 – 9    District Champions     Coach Howard Brown

1951-52     23 – 5    (good record)                Coach Howard Brown

1953-54     21 – 6    (good record)                Coach Howard Brown

1954-55     20 – 6    (good record)                Coach Bob Miller

1955-56     25 – 4    District Champions     Coach Bob Miller

1958-59     24 – 3    (great record)                Coach Bob Miller

1959-60     28 – 2    Regional Champions  Coach Bob Miller 

1962-63     20 – 7    (good record)                Coach Bob Miller

1963-64     24 – 3    (great record)                Coach Bob Miller

1964-65     25 – 3    District Champions      Coach Bob Miller

1965-66     21 – 8    DIstrict Champions      Coach Dick McDonald

1969-70     23 – 4    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald

1973-74     21 – 6    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald

1974-75     24 – 2    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald

1976-77     27 – 1    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald 

1977-78     26 – 1    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald

1982-83     20 – 9    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald

1983-84     26 – 2    Regional Champions   Coach Dick McDonald

(SUPERB !!)

One of the best players to step foot onto the Blue Mound hardwood was a player by the name of Terry Coffman, who played during the Bob Miller era. Coffman scored a school record 54 points in a December 13, 1960 game against Mt. Auburn. Terry’s incredible feat was actually accomplished in the Blue Mound Grade School gym as the “new” gym near the high school was not completed until later in 1961.

Another nice player for Blue Mound was Dave Pistorius who brings these credentials:

* Named all-conference for the Meridian Conference.

* Led the Meridian in scoring at 27.0 ppg.

* Led Blue Mound to a record of 24-2 in 1974-75

*Bill Younger – 1980 Decatur Herald & Review All-Area team with 19.9 points per game average.

Boys Cross Country

The Knights could hoof it too.  Blue Mound X-Country boys qualified for the State Meet during three seasons, winning two District titles.

1973-74        Qualified for State Meet

1977-78        District Champions / Qualified for State Meet

1978-79        District Champions / Qualified for State Meet

Individual Placer at State Meet

1977    Mike Jackson         15th Place

1978                                   21st Place

Girls Volleyball

The Lady Knights had great success of their own qualifying for the Volleyball Sweet Sixteen on three occassions.  We are looking for the team records and coaches names if possible.

1980-81   25 – 2       IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16!!                   Coach Barb Baker

                              (JV went 14 – 3 this year)

Blue Mound High School Volleyball Team 1980-81
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Submitted by Melissa (Fox) Wright

                              Athens Invit. Tourney Champs

                              Macon County Tourney Champs

                              District Champions

                              Beat Decatur St. Teresa (15-3, 15-13)

                              Beat Warrensburg (15-4, 15-3)

                              Sectional Champions

                              Beat Shelbyville (15-12, 15-10)

                              Beat Vandalia (9-15, 15-11, 15-6)

                              Super Sectional Finalist

                              Lost to Tolono Unity (13-15, 15-6, 3-15)

Tolono Unity finished in 3rd Place

1982-83   33 – 2     IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 Finalist!!         Coach Barb Baker

                            (JV went 16 – 2 this year)

Blue Mound High School Volleyball Team 1982-83
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Submitted by Melissa (Fox) Wright

                              District Champions

                              Sectional Champions

                              Sweet 16 Finalists!

1983-84    28 – 5      IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 Finalists!!          Coach Barb Baker

                              2nd Place Central Illinois Invite Tourn.

                              Macon County Tourney Champs

                              Regional Champions

                              Beat Illiopolis (15-3, 15-0)

                              Beat Cerro Gordo (15-9, 15-2)

                              Warrensburg (15-3, 15-1)

                              Sectional Champions

                              Beat Arcola (15-6, 15-11)

                              Beat Tolono Unity (15-8, 15-13)

                              Sweet 16 Finalists!

                              Lost to Shelbyville (7-15, 10-15)

Shelbyville would finish in 4th place.

Boys Track & Field

The boys track team had several athletes bring home State Meet medals.  The Knight thinclads even won a District title as a team during the 1975-76 season.  The medal winners are listed below.

1931-32   Dean Trainer        Javeline             3rd Place

1976-77                             2 Mile Relay          3rd Place

1976-77   Mark Houser        Triple Jump        6th Place

1977-78   Mike Jackson     880 Yard Run       STATE CHAMPION!!

               David Scales       880 Yard Run     5th Place

1978-79   Mike Jackson     880 Yard Run      STATE CHAMPION!!

              Mike Jackson     330 Yard L. H.      4th Place

1980-81   Steve Williams     Triple Jump      5th Place

Girls Track & Field

One Lady Knight brought home some IHSA hardware as well.   

1976-77   Rachel Tucker    Discus       4th Place

1977-78   Rachel Tucker    Discus       6th Place

   

Great Coaches

Two basketball coaches at Blue Mound High School enjoyed a great many seasons of success on the hardwood.

Coach Bob Miller  –          Boys Basketball   1954-55  –  1964-65

                                        231 Wins – 63 losses

                                        Also Coached at Mattoon H.S.

                                        1 – Regional Championship

                                        2 – District Championships

                                        7 – 20+ game-winning seasons (11 years)

                                        Career Record of 300 wins – 143 losses

Coach Dick McDonald  –  Boys Basketball   1965-66  – 1983-84 

                                        373 Wins – 193 losses  (#172 ALL-TIME in IHSA History)

                                        7 – Regional Championships

                                        1 – District Championship

                                        8 – 20+ game-winning seasons (19 years)

                                                               

Administrators and Faculty

Gordon Eckols –  From 1960 to 1990 taught at Blue Mound High School and served as building principal from 1963 to 1990.

MEMORIES

From Bob Marshall (Class of 1956):

“I just discovered the “Knights”website.  My family attended Blue Mound schools beginning with my parents in the early 20s.  I was last of five children to have been graduated in 1956 from Blue Mound Community Unit District 10.  I had attended country schools my first four years consolidating into Blue Mound, Stonington, Mount Aurburn, Niantic-Harristown and Boody when I was in the fifth grade.  My first three years were at my local rural school, Salem, in Christian County, one-half mile south of my rural family home.

My parents attended high school in the building in which I attended grade school.  This building burned after I left sometime in the late 50s early 60s.

My brother-in-law, Dr. Albert J. Kuhn, was one of the basketball team members that holds the record for most high school games played.  He attended 1940-44 and went on to becoming academic vice president at Ohio State.

John W. Robinson was high school principal and superintendent when I attended and I believe former coach, industrial arts and history teacher Howard Brown. Robinson, later to become Macon County Superintendent.  This should be verified before dissimenation as should the rest of my information as memory often does not correctly reflect reality!

The basketball team during my tenure, 1952-56 also had enviable records coached by Brown and Miller. My classmates that played on these teams were Tom Little, Ron Tucker, Jimmy Powell, “Pokey” Logue and Merle Holt.  One of Miller’s teams played Decatur High School (Super Sectional?) in the state finals losing only by a very few points in a game that I remember as being so close that each team traded the lead back and forth and it was only that the clock ran out that determined the winner, quite an achievement by such a small school against a much larger one, typical of midwestern basketball.

Hope you get more information as consolidation has more or less made The Knights non-existent.  I would think pictures and records would be available of these early teams and their achievements.  I also understand extreme rebuilding is going to replace the old Blue Mound high school facility, according to a story in the Decatur Herald in June.”

More Information Needed

We are looking to fill in the question marks regarding the team records, coaches names, and other great accomplishments at Blue Mound High School.  We especially seek photos of the high school building and great teams.  If you have any information you would like to share regarding Blue Mound High School please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form.  You may also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631

Boody School, Former Boody High School?
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Now a Private Residence
Boody School Side View
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Boody School Gymnasium
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Blue Island Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls “Stingers”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
BLUE ISLAND MOTHER OF SORROWS HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS 2025
BLUE ISLAND MOTHER OF SORROWS DORM AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2025
Mother of Sorrows High School (main building)
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Courtesy of “A History of Offices, Agencies, & Institutions in the Archdiocese of Chicago”

The History of Blue Island Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls

Blue Island (population 23,463) is located in northeastern Illinois. The city sits in south central Cook County and is a south suburb of Chicago. Interstate Highway 57 passes by the east side of town and Blue Island is connected to it by 127th Street. The Soo Line Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad cross paths in Blue Island. The Calumet Sag Channel river flows by through the southside of town.

According to the web address of www.blueislandhistoricalsociety.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Island,_Illinois, Blue Island was named because of its location on a ridge that stuck up above the flat prairie land, making it look like an island. The town was originally settled in 1835. Its location made it a great stopping place for travelers heading south from Chicago. The town grew quickly, especially after the addition of the Rock Island Railroad in 1870.

The history of the catholic high school called Mother of Sorrows is in need of research. We have been able to determine that Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls opened in 1954. According to alum Mary Ann Zeszutko (Class of 1973), the following is a brief overview of Mother of Sorrows School:

“Mother of Sorrows was founded, funded and operated by the Sisters, Servants of Mary (Mantellates). The convent originally was in Chicago, I think on “Hobie Street,” in an Italian neighborhood. The sisters later moved to Blue Island. The grammar school was a boarding and day school, and yes, it was co-ed. Most of the students were boarders. At the time I attended, it was likely because the kids had lost one parent and the other one had to work.

The girls and boys were separated, other than when they were in the classroom. Eating arrangements were in one big room, with the boys’ tables on one side, and the girls’ tables on the other. I remember that two nuns had charge of all the boys, and two other nuns had charge of all the girls. Incredible strength was shown by those women!

Sr. Raphael told me that the school became “only day” late in the ’80’s, and the grammar school closed shortly after that.

I had heard that the school building was being rented by an “alternative” high school for a while, and that the cafeteria area was rented out as banquet space, but I don’t know if this is still true.

I do know that some of the Sisters are still living in their own buildings on the campus.”

It was in 1983 that Mother of Sorrows School ceased operations of its high school curriculum.

UPDATE ON BUILDING USAGE FOR 2025

A visit to the former Mother of Sorrows High School revealed that today the building is no longer being utilized by the Catholic Church in any capacity. The old cafeteria is utilized by a private entity for banquets and get-togethers. The main high school building is also utilized by a private, non-profit organization called “Unlimited Potential NFP, Inc.” This organization goal is to “help families find the care, support, and services that they need.” Those working on the day I visited were extremely courteous and helpful. It is great that these buildings are still being used for a noble purpose!

Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls Quick Facts

Year opened:                                 1954

Year closed:                                  1983

Mother of Sorrows team nickname:  “Stingers”

Mother of Sorrows team colors:       Blue & Gold (school colors)

School Fight Song:                         “Dear M.S. High”

                                                                      Submitted by  Margaret M. (Cetera) Gemperline (C ’71)

                                                     In a beauty spot,
Near the poplars tall,
Where the skies are blue,
And the songbirds call,
By Our Lady’s daughters we are led
Through the path of life
To the goal ahead.

Dear M.S. High,
To you we sing,
To you our heartfelt homage bring,
As the blue and gold
We with joy unfold,
And our colors wide we fling!

We will pledge our love and loyalty anew,
For united now we stand.
M.S. High to you
We will be true,
You’re the fairest in the land.
Dormitory at Mother of Sorrows
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Courtesy of “A History of Offices, Agencies, and Institutions in the Archdiocese of Chicago”

Athletics

Basketball, volleyball, softball, and track were likely offered at the school.  Other sports may also have been offered.

If you have any information you can share, including the missing “quick facts” information listed above, please contact us so we can share it on this page.

**From Michelle (Darden) Henderson (Class of 1978):

“I was a member of the Stinger’s Softball Team and GAA girls athletic association. We wore our T-shirts, pins and jackets proudly. Our gym teacher was our softball coach where we mostly defended our team at Kennedy Park “

Memories

**From Devra (Wylie) Jensen (Class of 1982):”I was a member of the graduating class of 1982.  I remember rumors that the school might close but thought it stayed open one more year after I left. My favorite teacher was Sister Agatha. She was also my 8th grade teacher at St. Benedict’s. The year I graduated and went to Mother of Sorrows, she followed and taught there too.”

**From Lisa Jackubowski (Class of 1983):

“I was in the last graduating class. There were 60 of us in the class, 1983 was the last year the school was opened.”

**From Marcia (Schicht) Maurer (Class of 1961):

“I graduated from MSHS in 1961. I transferred there in 1959 following the closure of St. Louis Academy located in Roseland IL, which closed d/t it being a fire hazard following the inspection of all schools that was mandated after the Holy Angels Grammar School fire in which many children and teachers perished. I started MSHS as a junior. Some of my teachers were Mr. Cummings who used to attend St. Michael’s parish in Orland Park so I assume he lived there. Mrs. Michalski who taught English, Ms. Caputo who taught science.  The Principal was a sister with an Italian name. Sorry can’t remember it!  \We wore a uniform that was a periwinkle blue suit with a white blouse. Of course we all rolled up our skirts as soon as school let out so that they would be short which was the style then! There were two curriculums at the time, a college prep and a non-college prep which consisted of learning secretarial skills or homemaking skills. The honor society was very active as was student government. We all thought it was a pretty tough school but after being at St. Louis Academy we thought it was heaven b/c it was so beautiful to us. When you were a junior, you were allowed to drive to school if you had a car. Dances were typically held in the School cafeteria which we decorated to the nines.  Most commonly, the boys from Mendel High School were invited and in fact many MSHS girls had boyfriends form Mendel. My husband went to Mendel and dated a classmate of mine, but of course, I did not know then that he was to be my future husband!”

*From Billie Landis Nix (e-mail address ggram072@aol.com):

“I WAS A BOARDER AT MOTHER OF SORROWS FROM GRADE 3 1954 TO GRADE 5 1957. I STILL HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF MY STAY AT THE SCHOOL. I STILL REMEMBER MY BEST FRIEND DONNA MATTEONNI AND HER SISTER JULIA. I CAN STILL PICTURE  THE COMMON ROOMS THE BOYS COMMON ROOMS (WE WERE ALL ALLOWED TO GO TO THEIR DAY ROOM TO WATCH TV ON OCCASION),THE DINING AREA,THE STAIRWAYS LEADING TO THE UPSTAIRS, MOTHER SUPERIOR’S OFFICE WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR, I THINK THE CLASSROOMS WERE ON THAT FLOOR.

ALSO,OUR BEDROOMS WERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND WERE ALSO CONNECTED TO ANOTHER BUILDING WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER LARGE DORM ROOM. THERE WAS AN ATTIC STORAGE AREA THAT WAS FULL OF FURNITURE, THAT WAS ALSO WHERE OUR LOCKERS WITH EXTRA CLOTHING WAS KEPT.  I WOULD LOVE TO SEE PICTURES OR TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE SCHOOL.”

**From Cheryl  L.  S.  Sarna,  M. A., J. D. (Class of 1967):

“I attended Mother of Sorrows High School as a student from 1963-1967 and returned there as a teacher in the Fall of 1971 (after graduation from Loyola University). I taught upper level English courses, many that I developed, and  some of which were  courses in Shakespearean Drama, Greek & Roman Drama, Novels, World Literature, English Literature, American Literature, and Creative Writing.

I taught until 1982 (when I graduated from Loyola Law School and began the practice of law). During  the 11 years I was there, I was a teacher and at different times, Senior Class Moderator, Dean of Discipline; a member of the Advisory Board, and Head of the Attendance Committee; etc.

The nuns, Sisters of the Servants of Mary, were a dedicated, hard-working, loving group who genuinely cared for the students.  It was a great place to work and I enjoyed my time there tremendously. I would like to think I helped some students with their educational endeavors.

It was very sad to see that era come to an end. We need more schools like MOS H.S., where learning is stressed, and treating students as part of a family is important.

My love to all former faculty, administration and students–you are all terrific!”

**From Diane C. Bradford:

My aunt was Sister Mary Felicita, the one and only principal Mother of Sorrows High School ever had. Family stories tell us that Sister Felicita and another nun planned the initial layout of the high school, saying “We can put the chapel here, the study hall here, etc.” Sister Felicita was a dynamic and hardworking leader, and an excellent cook. She once was known as the “Julia Child of the Convent.” Standing all of 4’9” tall, she was a bundle of energy, as were all the nuns. They were all very hardworking and dedicated to educating young women. My mom, who was a non-Catholic and an English war bride, would marvel at the “extras” that went into the nuns’ teaching, such as extra decorating touches in the classrooms you didn’t find in public schools.

I remember visiting Sister Felicita and Sister Assuntina (another aunt and the Art and History Teacher) from the time I was a little girl. I then attended Mother of Sorrows High School from 1958 to 1962 and our graduating class was just over 100 girls. The whole school at that time was about 400 students. I loved school from a very young age and the education I received at Mother of Sorrows was a very good foundation for my later career. I went on to Roosevelt University and DePaul University. I have warm fond memories of my classmates and high school days there.

I understand the alternative school has now or will soon close and the property sold to a developer for senior housing. The remaining nuns may have gone to St. George’s in Tinley Park. The last I knew, Sister Gabriele was still there, little Sister Agnes passed away, Sisters Felicita and Assuntina have passed away as well. The little congregation did not have many nuns left. It is a shame because they did such good work!”

**From Penelope (Penny) A. Eller (Class of 1968):.

“Here are the snippets of things I remember:

Does anyone remember Billy the dwarf janitor? He was so creepy he would stand under the stairwells trying to look up our skirts.

Speaking of uniforms, there’s nothing better than a wool skirt and jacket, and white blouse in the summer.

We always celebrated St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, not St. Patrick’s Day because the order of nuns were Italian.

I played the Baritone B flat in the band with Sister Christina.

Little Sister Agnes and tall and mean St. Concetta, who left the order after we graduated. I think Sister Christina also left and one other nun that year.

Sister Philip ran the library.

The little nuns who cooked for the cafeteria and they made the best pizza I ever tasted.

Decorating for all the dances.

Having the Mendel boys as our brother school.

Taking the CTA and Bluebird buses to school, no special buses for us.

Father/Daughter dances.

I remember Mr. Malkas, the first male teacher, who taught History, and I do remember all the girls had crushes on Mr. Dzik, I think he taught English.

Mrs. Buck was one of the gym teachers, I was made the roving center, playing only girls rules on the court. And, the showers never seemed to work.

One thing I must disagree with is Diane Bradford’s comment that Sister Felicity was the ‘one and only principal’ for Mother of Sorrows HS. Sister Mary Marguerite was the principal while I was in school.

At the time my best friends were Chesterine Gerez (deceased), Debbie Brown, and Kathy Shimkus.

I wasn’t the only Penelope in our class there was also Penelope Thusing.

The last memory is very sad, the summer after we graduated Karen Kuschell was killed in an automobile accident coming back from Ill. State.”

**From Pam Kamholz (Class of 1972):

“I began at Mother Of Sorrows H.S. in 1969 and finshed in 1972. Our senior class trip was to our 50th state. Ten days in paradise. Mr. RRM (Robert Roland Malkas).went with us along with, if I remember correctly, Sister Francis and a female lay teacher. I was in the choir and helped in the office during my free period. Our junior & senior uniform was a black, white, and dark red tiny checked vest, a black skirt and long sleeved white blouse. I graduated from St. Christina grade school on 111th and Homan.”

**From Cathleen (Roche) Tunno (Class of 1972):

“I have so many wonderful memories of Mother of Sorrows High School. I want to thank my parents, who have passed on, for sending me to the most magical school. I have so many memories that have lasted a life time. I graduated in 1972. I could sit here FOREVER and write of so many positives that this school and classmates have given to me. Thank you Mother of Sorrows and my classmates for my most precious memories.”

**From Allyson Rochkus Roethle (Class of 1979):

“Sister Gabriel was the principal when I was a freshman in 1975. Sister Felicita became principal in 1976. I was the “St Joseph’s Day” carnival queen as a senior in 1979.”

**From Denise Fleming Claessens (Class of 1966):

“I attended MOS from 1962-1966. I lived in the little house across the street with six other girls and we were called aspirants because we were aspiring to enter this religious community. This was pretty common with girls and boys in the 60’s. I went to class with close friends from grade school and enjoyed my classes and some life long friendships. Sr. Francine became principal in 1965 and she was not as tough as Sr. Felucita. I love Glee Club and took it as an extra class to get out of PE. No sports at the time just GAA and Miss Marks who checked your red bloomer gym suit that had a skirt regularly.

I loved Sr. Joseph, Biology; Sr. Marguerite, Geometry; Mrs Brennan, English and Journalism; and Mrs Lizzio, Spanish. She now owns a restaurant in Westmont.

Sr. Agnes inspired me to love theater and although I never took art, Sr. Annunciata was an amazing artist. Mr. Quinn, please forgive me for skipping Trig class religiously. Sr. Concetta taught us nite hand for college and I remember only one thing from Latin class. “Semper ubi sub” (always wear underwear.)

In the early ’60s we had a juke box in the cafeteria and could dance during lunch. There is not one of us who cannot do a good jitter bug,mashed potatoes, or Bristol Stomp.

Most of the younger sisters left in the late 60’s. I have had contact with Sr. Lillian who has passed away, Sr. Virginia who is retired and lives in Bloomingdale, and Sister Marguerite who lives in Huntley.  They are well and planning on attending our 50th reunion next year.

MOS was a wonderful school and we received great educations.  The sisters cared and worked very hard. They still remember us and hope they were a good influence.”

**From Laurel O’Brien (Class of 1974):

“I attended Mother of Sorrows from 1970 – 1974 – it was never coed during that time frame. And the orphanage piece of the school was always kept separate from the high school operation as far as I remembered.

Sr. Gabriel was the head—I remember Sr. Frances, Mrs. Sarna (English), Mrs. Savage (typing/shorthand) and I’m blanking on the other names but will get back to you—my graduating class size was approximately 134 I believe. We were aware that they boarded children, but it was never apparent that those children were in our classrooms…although that would have been fine. I was under the perception that they were younger than high schoolers. And, yes, it was definitely a banquet hall for a few years after it’s demise as a high school.

It had a lot of lay teachers, in addition to a few sisters, leading the classrooms.”

**From George Nauss:

“After reading print out of Mother of Sorrows I thought I would jump in with a few items. I was there in the early 1950s as a boarder. My parents had separated and my dad had to work, so there I was for 2 years. The Sisters had me trained to be an altar boy. The boys were on one side of the corridor and the girls were on the other side. I did have a girlfriend named Judy though I cannot recall her last name. It was suggested after 2 years of putting up with me (ha ha) that I leave. However, From there I went to Morgan Park Military Academy. Over the years I have talked to people from both schools. I eventually married a girl who was studying to be a nun. I have many good memories of being there – for 1st and 2nd grade.”

**From Vince (Ceasar) Cassian, PhD:

“I attended Mother of Sorrows in the 50”s. It was co-education at that time. The nuns were thought to be Servite, an Italian order. The sisters made a lot of wine for the diocese. I ate a lot of grapes in the fall. Sr. Pauline was our “house mother.” She was a saint. Sister Priscilla was head of the kitchen who tragically died walking in the kitchen basement which was flooded. Sr. Falecita was the school principal. Treated us all as though we were her children. Maintenance was between Billy Katerba, a midget and Brother Appato, a Servite Brother. Br. Appato told me once “you’re going to be important person some day.” I have no idea what he meant. The Priest was Fr. Moison. Sr. Florianna was head nun. She managed the boys during meals and was Sr. Pauline’s supervisor. Sr. Florianna could wing a slice of bread right to the middle of your plate.  Sr. Pricilla used to give me cupcakes at the kitchen door. I was intending to be a Servite Priest. She’d ask “what order” of course I told her, “Servite.” They also had novitiate training on campus, which definately was my undoing.  While jointly doing laundry on several occasions with a particular novice, I told her I loved her, kissed her on the cheek. That was it! A seventh grader experiencing testosterone??? She later became Sr. Consuello. I heard she retired to the convent. I tried calling her once about 10-15 years ago, maybe longer. She was there; however, wouldn’t accept my call. I keep trying to find an inference. Nah!  Upon the incident in the laundry, my mother was called to pick me up the next day for good. I’m not sure; however, I believe all of my children may be appreciative. I wonder every day, what Br. Appato may have known. I don’t believe I’ve achieved what Br. Appato thought. It was a prophecy about me? Who knows?  I’ve not achieved any prophecy for sure. While at MOS, Danny Berrardi was my closest friend. I still have the hair brush he loaned me.

Ah, all the good stories I could share. Vince (Ceasar) Cassiani, PhD.”

To Contact Us With More Information

If you have information you would like to share regarding Blue Island Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You can also contact us via real mail at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631
 
 
 
 


BLUE ISLAND WATER TOWER
MOTHER OF SORROWS MAIN HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING 2025
MOTHER OF SORROWS MAIN HS BUILDING CORNER STONE
MOTHER OF SORROWS BUILDING ON SOUTH SIDE OF COMPLEX
MAIN HS BUILDING NORTH SIDE

Bloomington Trinity High School “Fighting Irish” or “Saints”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Trinity High School
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Courtesy of Don Raycraft “Local Legends: A Photographic History of McLean County Sports”

                           The History of Bloomington Trinity High School

Bloomington (population 74,975) is located in the central part of the state of Illinois in McLean County, being a hub to much of the state. Interstates 39, 55, & 74 go around Bloomington and its’ adjoining neighbor, Normal, along with US Routes 51 and 150 and Illinois 9. The Chicago & Alton Railroad also has a line that runs thru Bloomington, and served as a significant employer during its heyday. Route 66 was also a part of the community while it was in operation, but it is not forgotten as you can still travel parts of the “Main Street of America” today.

The community was established in 1830, as early pioneers such as James Allin and Jesse Fell helped get it up and running. The county is named for John McLean, a pioneer lawyer, territorial judge, the first Representative in Congress from Illinois (1818), and United States Senator (1824–25), while Bloomington was given its name originally as Blooming Grove when settled around 1822, slightly changing the name to its current moniker when the county was formed in 1830.

Outside of Abraham Lincoln’s presence in the community, others such as David Davis (a former Supreme Court Justice), baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Charles “Hoss” Radbourn, naturalist John Wesley Powell, politican Adlai Stevenson I and his son Adlai II, and actor McLean Stevenson (a cousin to Adlai II) are well-known figures who lived in Bloomington at one time. Nineteenth Century opera singer Marie Litta (aka Jenny Lind) also hailed from Bloomington as well.

Bloomington is home to Illinois Wesleyan University, which opened in 1850, and the nation’s number one auto and property/causualty insurance companies, State Farm Insurance. The state’s oldest public university, Illinois State University (founded in 1857) is also nearby in Normal, along with Mitsubishi Motors North America.

Education began to be offered in Bloomington in the 1840’s and private/parochial schools followed suit with an all-boys’ school in 1858 along with St. Joseph’s Academy for girls in 1863. St. Mary’s School was opened as a grade school in 1884, adding high school classes at a later date. The first graduates of St. Mary’s came in 1898, which became a tradition every year thru 1928 when a new building was opened across the street from St. Mary’s and changed its name to Trinity in honor of the name of the Catholic Church located near the former St. Mary’s.

The name was changed to Central Catholic in 1967 when the Catholic Diocese of Peoria requested that Epiphany Parish of Normal and St. Patrick’s Parish of Merna join Trinity, St. Mary’s, and Historical St. Patrick’s parishes in Bloomington in governing and subsidizing Catholic high school education in Bloomington-Normal.

The Trinity High School Building was torn down in 2005 after Central Catholic moved into a spacious location along Bloomington’s east side in the fall of 2003.

FACTS ABOUT BLOOMINGTON TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL

Year opened as St. Mary’s:  1884

Name changed to Trinity:     1928

Year that Trinity closed:       1967

Today it exists as:                Central Catholic HS

School colors:                       Blue & White

School nicknames:               Fighting Irish (thru 1940’s), Saints (after 1940’s)

Name of yearbook:               the “Trinitas”

School songs:                      Trinity Cheer Song, Loyalty Song

1) Trinity Cheer Song (sung to the tune of the Notre Dame Victory March)

         Cheer for dear old Trinity’s fame

         Ring out the echoes cheering her name

         Send a volley cheer on high

         Shake down the thunder from the sky

         What though the odds be great or small

         Trinity High shall win over all

         While her loyal sons are marching

         Onward to victory…rah! rah! rah!   

2)  Loyalty Song (sung to the tune of Maple Leaf Forever)

O, Trinity, dear Trinity

       We praise thy mystic name

       We bless Thy beauty, truth, and good

       We land they glorius fame

(chorus)

      O, Trinity, dear Trinity

      Rejoice! Our Loyalty Song

      From heart to heart in harmony

      Glad echoes will prolong

      A crown of loyalty we bring

      Thee, Alma Mater fair

      Our hearts the gold, our thoughts the gems;

      We pledge them, everywhere

      O, Alma Mater, light for us

      The torch of truth today

      For God and Country send us forth

      To labor and to pray   

St. Mary’s High School 1884-1928
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Courtesy of Don Raycraft from “Local Legends: A Photographic Memory of McLean County Sports”
John R. Snyder Gymnasium – aka “The Pit”
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courtesy of Don Raycraft

ATHLETICS

Trinity offered baseball, basketball, football, golf, and wrestling, plus we are aware it offered cross-country and track. We are hopeful that an alum or area historian may have more information about those latter two sports so that we can mention them in greater detail.

1953-54 Saints basketball
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Courtesy of Don Raycraft

BASKETBALL

The school offered a very competitive hoops program in Central Illinois. It won three state Catholic tournaments and went on to play in the National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament in Chicago before World War II interceded and the IHSA started accepting private and parochial schools as members in 1941.

1929-30 16-  7  2nd in State Catholic Tourney       Coach Charley Bennett

                        Beat Carlyle St. Mary 38-9

                        Downed Bourbonnais St. Viator 14-7

                        Beat Peru St. Bede 26-9 in semifinals

                        Lost to Peoria Spalding 21-12 in title game

1930-31 18-  4  2nd in State Catholic Tourney      Coach Charley Bennett

                        Beat Champaign St. Mary 33-10

                        Defeated Kankakee St. Patrick 28-3

                        Won over Moline St. Mary 23-8 in semifinals

                        Edged by Peoria Spalding in title game, 21-17

1931-32 20-  4-1 2nd in State Catholic Tourney    Coach Charley Bennett

                         Defeated Kewanee Visitation 21-12

                         Beat Moline St. Mary 23-12

                         Got by Rock Island St. Joseph 15-11 in semifinals

                         Tied Peoria Spalding 20-20 in title game

                         Edged by Spalding in replay of title game, 17-16

National Catholic Tournament Qualifier 

                           Beat Binghamton, NY St. Patrick 31-6

Lost to Charleston, SC Bishop England 24-16

1932-33             State Catholic Tourney Champs  Coach John Callans

1939-40  21-10   State Catholic Tourney Champs  Coach Essau Dotlich

Bloomington Trinity Basketball Team – 1939-40
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Submitted by Lou Ann Jacobs
Illinois Cath. HS Tourney Championship Plaque
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For Team Member Louis Littlefield – Submitted by Lou Ann Jacobs

1940-41  24-  5    State Catholic Tourney Champs      Coach Essau Dotlich

                          Undefeated Home Record

                          Won First Eleven Games of Season

Illiniois Catholic HS Basketball Champs – 1940-41
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Submitted by Lou Ann Jacobs

1941-42 13-10                                                        Coach Tony Komlanc

1942-43 17-  7                                                        Coach Rev. Richard Raney

1943-44 19-  6                                                        Coach Rev. Richard Raney

1946-47 15-13                                                        Coach Tony Komlanc

1953-54 26-  4    Regional Champions                Coach Lou Marketti

                          Corn Belt Conference Champions

1957-58              Regional Champions                Coach John Keegan

1958-59 17-12                                                        Coach John Keegan

1960-61 14-10                                                        Coach John Snyder

1961-62 15-10                                                        Coach John Snyder

1962-63 15-13    Regional Champions                Coach John Snyder

1963-64 17-  9                                                        Coach John Snyder

1964-65 14-14    Regional Champions                Coach John Snyder

1966-67             Last Season as Trinity                  Coach John Snyder

As a result, here’s a rundown of overall coaching records at Trinity (courtesy of the Bloomington Pantagraph on February 18th, 2003):

1928-32            Charlie Bennett           64- 26

1932-37            John Callans               50- 65

1937-38            James (Pim) Goff          6- 22

1938-41            Essau Dotlich              55- 26

1941-42, 46-47  Tony Komlanc            28- 23

1942-46            Rev. Richard Raney    54- 41

1947-51            John Scacutto             52- 48

1952-56            Lou Marketti                 58- 71

1956-58            John Keegan               27- 25

1958-67            John Snyder             106-121

Jim Wochner set a school record with a 52-point performance against Metamora on March 2, 1962, which was part of his career total of 1,622, best among Trinity alumni

1957 Trinity baseball team–Elite 8 qualifiers
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Courtesy of Don Raycraft’s “Local Legends: A Photographic History of McLean County Sports”

BASEBALL

The Saints were just as tough on the baseball diamond as they were on the hardwood, winning four regionals and one district in the old one-class system, while taking a sectional and appearing at the 1957 IHSA State Finals in Peoria before bowing out. Trinity was very competitive by winning 50 of its first 53 games over a five-year period (two of them as St. Mary’s), including a stretch of at least 38 consecutive victories!

1929 12-  0                                                                  Coach Rev. J.P. Farrell

1930 13-  0                                                                  Coach Rev. J.P. Farrell

1931 13-  0                                                                  Coach Rev. J.P. Farrell

1951 16-  4                                                                  Coach John Scacutto

1956            District Champions                               Coach Lou Marketti

1957 11-  3   Bloomington Regional Champions    Coach John Keegan

                    Peoria Sectional Champions

                     State Quarterfinalist

Lost to Chicago Lane Tech 3-1

1958             Bloomington Regional Champions    Coach John Keegan

1962             Regional Champions                           Coach John Snyder

1964             Normal Regional Champions              Coach John Snyder

GOLF

The Trinity linksters made their mark statewide in the early to mid-1960’s, coming home with two top-10 finishes at the state finals in Savoy at the University of Illinois’ home course. Two individuals finished in the top 10, very close to winning the individual medalist honors in the spring 1966 meet. The Saints also won seven Corn Belt Conference titles in eight seasons!

1959               Corn Belt Conference Champions     Coach unknown

1960               Corn Belt Conference Champions     Coach Rev. Robert Hughes

1961               Corn Belt Conference Champions     Coach unknown

1962               9th In State                                        Coach Tom Guetschow

                       Corn Belt Conference Champions

                       Decatur District Champions         

Qualified for State Finals

Team Standings

1  Peoria Richwoods               630

2  Hinsdale Twp.                     640

3  Champaign                         643

Freeport HS                        643

Streator Twp.                      643

6  Palatine HS                        645

7  Waukegan HS                    646

8  Galesburg HS                     661

9  Bloomington Trinity          672  

10  Blue Island                          674

1963              Corn Belt Conference Champions      Coach Joe Grimes

1965              Corn Belt Conference Champions      Coach Joe Grimes

1966               4th In State                                        Coach Joe Grimes

                      Corn Belt Conference Champions

                       District Champions

                        Qualified for State Finals

1  Winnetka New Trier East    660

2  Lockport Central                 672

3  Galesburg HS                     673

4  Bloomington Trinity          680  

5  Danville HS                         687

Peoria Richwoods               687

7  LaGrange Lyons                 689

8  Rantoul                               691

Waukegan HS                    691

10  Carterville                           693

Individual Medalists

William Cvengros       tied for 2nd–159, one stroke back

                             James Clothier           tied for 8th—163, five strokes back

WRESTLING

The Saints were also involved on the mats, bringing home one IHSA plaque while offering the sport. We are hoping to that an alumnus or historian can provide more details than what is listed below.

1962-63           Lincoln District Champions            Coach Adolph Jerdee

Trinity HS District Wrestling Champs 1962-63
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Submitted by Keith Rodgers

1963-64           Corn Belt Conference Champions

Trinity Wrestling Team of 1964-65
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Submitted by Keith Rodgers
Trinity Wrestling Team of 1963-64
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Courtesy of Keith Rodgers
Trinity Football Team – 1940-41
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Submitted by Lou Ann Jacobs

FOOTBALL

Trinity offered football and started a tradition that continues thru today at Central Catholic. In checking yearbooks as far back as 1928, the Irish and Saints had success on the gridiron along with winning some conference and Intercity titles between Normal, Bloomington, and Normal University. Some of the better seasons are listed below.

1929  6-2     Intercity Champions                      Coach Don Karnes

1930  4-3-1                                                           Coach Don Karnes

1931  7-1-1  Intercity Champions                      Coach Don Karnes

1932  8-1-1  Intercity Champions                      Coach Don Karnes

1935  6-2-1                                                           Coach John Callans

1939  4-4                                                              Coach Esau Dotlich

1941  4-3     Intercity Champions                      Coach Tony Komlanc

1943  6-2     Cornbelt Conference Champs      Coach Rev. R.R. Raney

1950  6-3                                                              Coach John Scaccuto

1952  8-0-1  Cornbelt Conference Champs      Coach Ed Murphy

                   Intercity Champions

1953  7-0-2  Cornbelt Conference Champs      Coach Ed Murphy

   Intercity Champions

1954  5-3-1                                                          Coach John Trebbe

1955  5-3     Cornbelt Conference Champs      Coach John Trebbe

1956  5-3     Intercity Champs                            Coach George Egofske

1958  4-3-1                                                           Coach Adolph Jerdee

1962  6-2     Cornbelt Conference Champs      Coach Adolph Jerdee

1963  5-4                                                              Coach Adolph Jerdee

1965  5-4                                                              Coach John Snyder

1966  6-3     Last season as Trinity                      Coach Don LaFond

FACTS ABOUT JOHN R. SNYDER GYMNASIUM OR “THE PIT”

The gym was built in 1928 when Trinity High School was constructed across the street on US Route 51 from its predecessor, St. Mary. While the figures say it cost $285,000 to build Trinity, $50,000 was used for the gym. Features about the gym were cramped with four rows of bleachers on each side of the floor and balconies of three rows each above them for a total seating capacity of 450, even though 1,200 were there when the Irish beat Bourbonnais St. Viator 18-14 in the inaugural home contest on December 10th, 1928.

The sidelines were only 22 inches away from the front row of the bleachers. There were always stories of how hot it could be in the gym on a cold, winter night during a game, yet the locker rooms were cold as the outdoors. As this writer can attest, it could also be a noisy place once the Saints’ student body made some noise to inspire its’ team and, in turn, intimidate the opposing team.

SAINTS’ HALL OF FAME

Around 1991, Central Catholic decided to honor athletes and coaches alike throughout the history of St. Mary’s and Trinity as well as Central Catholic with a Saints’ Hall of Fame. Twenty-two persons have been inducted from Trinity, which are listed below.

—Fred Frost (class of 1930), football & basketball standout.

—Bill Conroy (class of 1932), three-sport athlete with 12 letters in football, baseball, and basketball; went on to play professional baseball with the Philadelphia A’s and Boston Red Sox. Was MVP of the 1932 Downstate Catholic Basketball Tournament.

—Luke Gleason, three-sport athlete and later starred at defunct St. Viator College and Illinois State Normal University (now ISU), was teacher and coach at Weldon, Fairbury, and Springfield Cathedral.

–Chuck Sweeney (class of 1933), football player that wound up an All-American end at Notre Dame and officiated in the NFL.

—Fred Trenkle (class of 1933), basketball player named All-State in the Downstate Catholic League.

—(Tiger) Bob Burke (class of 1940), eight varsity letters won in football and basketball.

—Jerry (Moon) Mullen (class of 1941), football and basketball player, was named to the all-tournament team of the National Catholic Tournament in 1940 & 1941.

—Rev. Richard R. Raney (coach & athletic director), 1941-45.

—Dick Lenahan (class of 1944), named All-State basketball player in 1944 by Chicago Tribune, Chicago Daily News, and Champaign News-Gazette. Also played football.

—David Costigan (class of 1949), led baseball team to Intercity Championship in just its second year after the sport was reinstated following a 14-year hiatus. Went on to letter three years at Notre Dame and served as captain. Was head coach at Quincy College and is also a member of that schools’ Hall of Fame.

—John (Pat) Bonny (class of 1950), football and basketball standout

—J. Foster Rapier (class of 1950), won 16 letters in four sports, standing out as a catcher on the baseball diamond, shotputter in track, all-Intercity selection as a tackle in football, and all-Intercity guard in basketball.

—Bob Scott (class of 1951), All-State football selection 1950 (Chicago Daily News), and all-Corn Belt Conference basketball pick in 1950-51; averaged 22 points per game that season.

—John Gremer (class of 1953), All-State football pick in 1952, went on to play at University of Illinois and with the Boston Patriots of the American Football League.

—Ron DeNardo (class of 1954), All-State footballer in 1953, won 15 varsity letters in football, basketball, track, and baseball; later played at Notre Dame.

—Jack Burke (class of 1954), three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball.

Saints’ Hall of Famer Steve Frost
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Three-time all-conference choice & 1958 All-Stater (courtesy of Don Raycraft)

–Steve Frost (class of 1958), won 10 varsity letters in basketball, football, and baseball, was all-Corn Belt in basketball three consecutive seasons, and was an All-Stater in basketball in 1957-58. Along with his father Fred (class of 1930), they are the only father-son combination to be inducted.

—John (The Dean) Snyder (coach & athletic director), 1958-67. Guided basketball, baseball, and football teams throughout his time at the school, and was head coach of all three sports during the 1965-66 school year; is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches’ Association’s Hall of Fame.

—Denny Matthews (class of 1960), played basketball and baseball at Trinity as well as at Illinois Wesleyan (where he would also play football), wound up as the play-by-play voice of the Kansas City Royals from 1969 to the current day; is a member of the teams’ Hall of Fame and was inducted into Cooperstown in 2007 as the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters.

–Jim Wochner (class of 1963), basketball and baseball standout, set Trinity’s school records for single-game scoring (52) and career (1,622) in basketball; was an All-State selection of Chicago Daily News and Chicago American.

—Gary Johnson (class of 1967), football and wrestling, was an all-Corn Belt Conference pick in both sports.

—Bill Hundman (class of 1968), football, basketball, and baseball; was named MVP of all three sports in Trinity’s final year of existence (his junior year), and rushed for over 2,000 yards in football career along with winning the Golden Helmet Award from radio station WJBC his senior year. The football field at Central Catholic has been named in his honor.

SPECIAL THANKS

In compiling some of the information you see on this page, our thanks go to Trinity graduate JoAnn McGraw (class of 1962, currently in the Office of Development, Public Relations, and Alumni at Bloomington Central Catholic HS) along with Central Catholic yearbook advisor Jim Reckard for giving us some of their time to peruse and compile information from yearbooks of St. Mary’s and Trinity from 1927 to 1967.

WE’D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION …

to show the history of St. Mary and Trinity High Schools prior to being renamed Central Catholic. We are welcoming your facts and photos by sending them to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or by sending them to us via USPS:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631


Bloomington St. Joseph’s Academy

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized

St. Joseph’s Academy

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Courtesy of Mitch Anheier from 1917 book on illustrated Bloomington, IL landmarks

 

 

             The History of Bloomington St. Joseph Academy

 

Bloomington (population 75,000) is located in the central part of the state of Illinois in McLean County, accessible by using Interstates 39, 55, & 74 as well as US Routes 51 & 150 and Illinois 9. 

 

The Chicago & Alton Railroad played an important role to the development of Bloomington and its Twin City neighbor Normal (population 45,000) as it was a major employer during its heyday. Route 66 was also a part of the community, but it is not forgotten as you can still travel parts of the “Main Street of America” today.

 

The community was established in 1830, as early pioneers such as James Allin and Jesse Fell helped get it up and running. The county is named for John McLean, a pioneer lawyer, territorial judge, the first Representative in Congress from Illinois (1818), and United States Senator (1824–25), while Bloomington was given its name originally as Blooming Grove when settled around 1822, slightly changing the name to its current moniker when the county was formed in 1830.

 

Outside of Abraham Lincoln’s presence in the community, others such as David Davis (a former Supreme Court Justice), baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Charles “Hoss” Radbourne, naturalist John Wesley Powell, politican Adlai Stevenson I and his son Adlai II, and actor McLean Stevenson (a cousin to Adlai II) are well-known figures who lived in Bloomington at one time. Nineteenth Century opera singer Marie Litta (aka Jenny Lind) also hailed from Bloomington as well.

 

The Bloomington-Normal area is home to Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as Illinois State University. The nation’s number one auto and property/casualty insurance companies, State Farm Insurance, was also founded in Bloomington by George J. Mecherle in 1922.

St. Joseph’s Academy was opened in 1864 at the request of Holy Trinity Parish pastor Rev. Thomas Kennedy, who invited the Sisters of St. Joseph from Carondelet, Missouri to educate the girls who would be attending the school. The building itself was located at the southeast corner of Chestnut and Center Streets, right next to where Holy Trinity Church is today.

 

Both day and boarding students were accepted thru 1876, when the school closed due to general financial distress on March 11 of that year and the Sisters of St. Joseph left at that time. Immediately, a new order was found to take over as the Sisters of St. Dominic from Sinsinawa, WI resumed classes three days later.

 

The school was recognized as a school of the Peoria Diocese when the diocese formed in 1877, and it remained in that capacity until its closure in 1925 when it was decided to not have a duplication of services at two locations on the same block, operated by the same parish. The remaining students were sent next door to St. Mary’s High School, which later changed its name to Trinity High School in 1928 when the parish administration of Holy Trinity saw the need to open a new facility due to public demand for Catholic higher education.

 

 

FACTS ABOUT BLOOMINGTON ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY

 

Year opened:               1864

Year orders changed:   1876

Year closed:                1925

 

 

IS THERE SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW…

 

that may have information or even attended St. Joseph’s Academy for Girls in Bloomington? Here’s your turn to help us keep it alive. Please submit your information to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or by writing us at:

 

IHSGD Website

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631