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Opdyke High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Opdyke Grade School
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Former HS Building?
Opdyke High School Student Body – 1939
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Submitted by Jennie Richardson

The History of Opdyke High School

Opdyke (population 254) is a town located in southeastern Illinois on Illinois Route 142 about eight miles southeast of Mt. Vernon.  This places Opdyke in eastern Jefferson County.  The Louisville Nashville Railroad once ran tracks through town.  A branch of the Auxier Creek also flows through Opdyke. The village was platted in 1871 along the St. Louis and Southeastern Railroad line. The village was named after a New York banker named George Opdyke who was an investor in the railroad.

Not a lot of information is known about the Opdyke school history.  It is known Opdyke supported a high school for many years.  Opdyke does still apparently support its own elementary schools as it still hosts an elementary and middle school in town.  This is a cooperative effort with its neighbor to the southeast, Belle Rive. It is likely the students who graduagte from Opdyke-Belle Rive Grade School go on to attend high school in nearby Mt. Vernon.

Opdyke High School likely closed in the late 1940s as the last mention of their athletic success on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) is in boys basketball in 1948. If you have any information on the history of Opdyke and its school system please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . A link to the current Opdyke – Belle RIve School website can be viewed at http://opdykebelle5.sharpschool.net/ .

Opdyke High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                 late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                  1948 (?)

School nickmame:         unavailable

School colors:               Red & White

School Fight Song:        unavailable
Athletics

Opdyke High School definately offered boys basketball.  It is thought that baseball and track were also offered. We are hopeful someone will share this information with us before it is lost forever.

Boys Basketball

The Opdyke High School boys basketball team won two District titles during its existence.  Unfortunately the school records and coach’s names are not available.  The years of the titles won are listed below. Several scores involving Opdyke High School in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” They are listed below as well.

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

 1st Rd Beat Mt. Erie 35-19

                         2nd Rd Beat Belle Rive 19-8

                         Semi-final lost to Mt. Vernon 40-23

Flora beat Mt. Vernon in title game

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

 1st Rd Beat Geff 33-16

                         2nd Rd lost to Mt. Vernon 39-10

Mt. Vernon beat Fairfield in title game

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

 1st Rd Beat Beckemeyer 63-20

                         2nd Rd lost to Ashley 53-28

Mt. Vernon beat Fairfield in title game

Mt. Vernon beat Centralia in title game

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

Semi-final lost to Bonnie 35-16

Bonnie beat Woodlawn in title game

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

1st Rd lost to New Baden 26-24 (O/T)

Centralia beat Nashville in title game

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

1938-39            West Frankfort Regional Tourney    Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Ziegler 51-21

Ziegler beat Benton in title game

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

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

1st Rd lost to Okawville 30-26

Okawville beat Waltonville in title game

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

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

Semi-final Beat Bonnie 50-24

Title Game lost to Waltonville 41-36

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

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

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

                         Semi-final Beat Bonnie 33-32

                         Title Game Beat Waltonville 44-42

                         Mt. Vernon Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Wayne City 63-32

Mt. Vernon Beat Fairfield in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Dahlgren 43-42

                         Semi-final lost to Bluford Webber

Bluford Webber beat Waltonville in title game

1947-48            Waltonville District Champions     Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Tamaroa 76-36

                         Title Game Beat Waltonville

                         Mt. Vernon Regional Tournament

 1st Rd Beat Woodlawn 42-32

Semi-final lost to Fairfield 72-50

Mt. Vernon Beat Fairfield in title game

Opdyke High School Band of 1940
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Courtesy of Jennie Richardson

Extra-Curricular Activities

There was more than just athletics offered at Opdyke High School.  As you can see by the photo to the right supplied by Jennie Richardson, band was one of the opportunities afforded the kids of Opdyke.  We are certain other activities such as choir, FFA, FHA, plays, and banquets all added to the experience of attending Opdyke High School.

Need Your Assistance

If you would like to share any information regarding the history and many different successes of Opdyke High School, especially a photo of the old high school building and great characters and teams, please e-mail them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net..   You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631
 


Oneida High School “Mohawks”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
ROWVA Grade School in Oneida
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Photo Courtesy of Richard Soseman
Oneida High School – The Early Years
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THE HISTORY OF ONEIDA HIGH SCHOOL

Oneida (population 752) is located on US. Route 34 approximately 14 miles northeast of Galesburg in Knox County.  The south branch of Pilot Creek runs along the northwest corner of town. Oneida was established in 1854 and is likely named after a Native American word meaning “people of the standing stone.” The book titled “Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary states the name was likely brought by a settler from a New York County of the same name.

The first school in Oneida was organized in 1855. A high school was established in 1870, however a storm destroyed the building just seven years later. The bell from the building was saved and was reconstructed. The memorial is pictured at the bottom of the page. Nine pupils graduated from its first high school class in 1891. During the 1890s, high school curriculums were offered, but often times not many people studied a full four, or three, years of its education to earn a diploma. This explains the 21-year gap between the organization of a high school and the first graduating class. From 1899 to 1908, the school became a three-year course of study.

A gym was acquired in 1926 from the Congregational Church building until a new gym was built in 1937.

Oneida supported their own high school until 1948 when the high school was deactivated. The reason for this was a consolidation between the high schools in the towns of Rio, Oneida, Victoria, and Altona (all schools featured on this site).  The result was the formation of the original R.O.V.A. school district (Wataga’s addition in 1987 later made it “ROWVA”).  The town of Oneida was fortunate enough to land the high school in their town.

     

ROWVA Grade School Sideview
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Photo by Richard Soseman
ROWVA Grade School – 2006
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Photo by Richard Soseman
Sharon Karpinski provided the following information regarding the fate of the Oneida HS building:

“Oneida High School, constructed in 1937, will be torn down in February of 2014 in order to erect a new grade school and junior high school on the site.The ROWVA District is moving all the district’s students to a central campus in Oneida, leaving Altona, Wataga, Rio, and Victoria with no school facilities.”

ONEIDA HIGH SCHOOL QUICK FACTS:

Year opened:            unavailable

Year closed:             1948

School nickname:      the “Mohawks”

School colors:           unavailable

School Fight Song:    unavailable

ATHLETICS

Oneida High School probably offered baseball, track and possibly football.  It is known that boy’s basketball was offered as the OHS kids brought home three District titles in the sport in the late 1940s, ending with a title in 1948, their last year of existence. More information is needed regarding the better sports teams and athletics offered.  The basketball success of the Oneida High School Mohawks is listed below.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Oneida High School “Mohawks” has some real nice teams from the 1920s through the 1940s. Back-to-back-to-back District titles were won in the late 1940s including the final District To0urnament the school would compete in during the 1947-48 school year. IHSA State Tournament scores found on the website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores” are reprinted below.

—-

1919-20                          Galesburg District Tournament                      Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd lost to Aledo 29-15

Galesburg beat Rock Island in title game.

—-

1920-21                Postseason scores, season record, and coach’s name needed.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Buda 35-17

2nd Rd lost to Williamsfield 17-15

Galesburg beat Williamsfield in title game

—-

1929-30                          Knox County Tournament Champs               Coach’s name, postseason scores, & season record needed.

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Wataga 17-10

Galesburg beat Abingdon in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Prairie City 23-13

Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Wataga 22-20

2nd Rd lost to Victoria 27-11

Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Gilson 20-16

2nd Rd lost to Altona 24-21

Galesburg Beat Knoxville in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Prairie City 26-16

Altona beat Avon in title game.

—-

1936-37                         Maquon District Tournament                            Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd lost to Maquon 38-16

Avon beat Maquon in title game.

—-

1937-38                         Maquon District Tournament                            Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd Beat Rio 42-38

Semi-Final lost to Altona 38-28

Altona beat Maquon in title game.

—-

1938-39                         Galesburg Regional Tournament                      Coach’s name & season record needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Galesburg 45-15.

Galesburg Beat Abingdon in title game.

—-

1939-40                         Oneida District Runner-Up                               Coach’s name & season record needed.

(Early Round Scores Needed.

Title Game lost to LaFayette 27-21

—-

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

1st Rd beat Gilson 43-32

Semi-Final Beat Altona 36-32

Title game lost to Maquon 31-16.

—-

1941-42                        Oneida District Tournament                              Coach’s name & season record needed.

(Oneida Scores Needed)

Maquon beat Galesburg Corpus Christi in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Gilson 61-27

Semi-Final Beat Brimfield 26-25

Title Game lost to Altona 31-30

—-

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

(Oneida Scores Needed)

Altona beat Victoria in title game.

—-

1944-45                       Oneida District Tournament                              Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd Beat Maquon 45-19

Semi-final lost to Woodhull 43-37

Title Game Altona beat Woodhull.

—-

1945-46                       Oneida District Champions                                Coaches name & season record needed.

Semi-Final b eat LaFayette 60-29

Title Game Beat Altona 58-36

Galesburg Regional Tournament Qualifier

1st Rd Beat Knoxville 48-47

Semi-Final lost to Galesburg Corpus Christi 44-38

Galesburg beat Corpus Christi 37-33 in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Wataga 69-33

Semi-Final Beat Altona 55-29

Title Game Beat Woodhull 63-40

Galesburg Regional Tournament Runner-Up

1st Rd Beat Abingdon 74-23

Semi-Final Beat Galesburg Corpus Christi 61-36

Title Game lost to Galesburg 54-42

*Galesburg lost in Sweet 16 Round.

—-

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

Semi-Final Beat Altona 57-50

Title Game Beat Wataga 55-24

Galesburg Regional Tournament Qualifier

1st Rd Beat Williamsfield 51-49 (O/T)

*Semi-Final lost to Galesburg Corpus Christi 43-39

Galesburg beat Corpus Christi 37-33 in title game. (Galesburg lost in Sectional Tournament)

*Final boys basketball game for the Oneida High School “Mohawks.”

—-

MEMORIES

From Sharon Schraudenbach Karpinski:

“The building that now houses the ROWVA Central Grade School was the Oneida High School prior to the first consolidation of the Rio, Oneida, Victoria, and Altona schools in the late 1940s. It remained the high school for the ROVA District until a new high school was built in Oneida six years later, at which point the old Oneida High became the junior high school plus grades 1-4 for Oneida primary students. Oneida grades 5-6 were bused to Altona Elementary, the former Altona High School. This arrangement remained until the Wataga School District was added to R.O.V.A. district in the late 1980s.

I’m not sure what happened to the high school that had to have existed between when the original one, built in the 1870s was destroyed a few years later, and the building that still stands today. The current building dates from the late 1920s or early ’30s, I believe. That’s certainly the style of the facade and the interior appointments. If part of it dates all the way back to the 19th century, it had to have been significantly remodeled and enlarged in the ’20s/40s. I attended junior high school there.

My father taught at R.O.V.A. from 1950 until 1962, teaching high school history, government and geography. He therefore worked in both the old Oneida High School building and the “new” R.O.V.A. Consolidated High School building that was erected in the ’50s. I remember both buildings well.”

SEEKING FURTHER INFORMATION

If you any further information you can share regarding Oneida High School please complete a Guest Commentary Form.

You can also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.     60631

Oneida High School Park Monument
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Richard Soseman
Oneida High School Park Monument
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By Richard Soseman
 


Onarga Military Academy High School “Yellowjackets” & “Spartans”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Onarga Military Academy Buildings 2010
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Photo Taken By James Horaz
Onarga Military Academy High School
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Onarga, Illinois

The History of Onarga Military Academy High School

Onarga (population 1,438) is located in upper eastern Illinois in west-central Iroquois County. U.S. Route 45 intersects with Illinois Route 54 in Onarga.  Interstate Highway 57 lies just to the west of town and has exit ramps leading to Route 54.  The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad runs through Onarga as well.  Onarga lies about 30 miles southwest of Kankakee.  Onarga was being settled in the early 1800s and became incorporated as a town in llinois in 1853.

A phenomenal website dedicated to the Onarga Military School can be found at http://www.onargamilitaryschool.com/history.html . The Onarga Military School was officially established in 1917.  Prior to 1917 the school was known as the Grand Prairie Seminary.  The Grand Prairie Seminary was a co-educational private “preparatory” school. According to a 1950s Onarga Military School catelog found on the website address of www.cadetweb.net/pdf/onarga.pdf, there was a trend to make private schools exclusively boys or girls in the early 1910s.  The Board of Trustees met in 1917 and made the utltimate decision to make Grand Prairie Seminary an all-boys Military School.

Onarga Military Academy Sign 2010
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Courtesy of James Horaz

Onarga Military School was for boys entering fifth grade through senior year in high school.  It was a boarding school where the students lived on campus.  The tuition was quite expensive. If you wanted to send your son to Onarga Military School in the early 1950s, your base tuition would have been $1,485. With added expenses for washing his clothes ($1.60 per week), and charges for luxuries such as having a radio in his room ($.50 a week) it would cost about $1,600 a year for a child to attend OMS.  This may not seem like much until you account for inflation.  When you convert $1,600 from 1953 to 2005 the comparable cost today would be a little over $11,000 per year. However, as the catalog states, “The cost of Onarga Training is not an expense; it is a sound Investment that pays a lifetime of dividends to the boy”.

OMS was not called a “Military School” for no reason. It was run by a United State Army Brigadier General J.E. Bittinger from 1917 to 1942. There was also no doubt it was a military school judging by the daily schedule.  “Reveille” at 6:15 a.m., exercises at 6:40 a.m., and breakfast at 6:50 a.m.  The rest of the day was filled with structure  up until the playing of taps at 10:00 p.m.

The Buildings of Onarga Military Academy 2010
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Provided by James Horaz

The Onarga Military School stayed in operation until the very early 1970s.  It seems the anti-war sentiment and rising costs got the better of OMS.  The exact year is not available, but we believe Onarga Military School closed her doors in 1970.

Onarga Military School Quick Facts

Year all-boys military school established: 1917

Year school closed:                                1970?

School nickname:                                   the “Yellowjackets” (through 1961-1962);

“Spartans” (from 1962-1963 through 1969-1970)

School colors:                                        Purple and Gold

School Fight Song:                                 “On Onarga” to the tune of “On Wisconsin”
Onarga Military School
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Gymnasium

Athletics

As the information under the photo above states, Onarga Military School was an excellent facility not only for learning, but also for participating in “sports”. The following sports were in fact offered at the school in the early 1950s:

Baseball

Basketball

Bowling
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field

The football team competed in the Wauseca Conference with “five other public schools”. Basketball and track were probably also a part of the Wauseca Conference but at this time we have not verified that. There is an excellent season by season record of the basketball program from the 1940s through 1970. One athlete also won a medal from the State Track Meet. The school took its athletics very seriously and made it a part of the cadet’s everyday life.

Boys Basketball

The Onarga Military School Cadets had some real nice seasons in their time.

1942-43                                                                Capt. C.H. Ludwick

1943-44                                                                 (unknown)

1944-45     1 – 16                                                   Capt. Keith Clark

1945-46   17 – 5                                                     Capt. Keith Clark

1946-47   17 – 9                                                     Capt. Keith Clark

1947-48   19 – 9      Regional Champions              Capt. Keith Clark

1948-49   13 – 10                                                   Capt. Keith Clark

1949-50     5 – 14                                                   Capt. Gordon L. Fisher

1950-51     6 – 14                                                   Capt. Gordon L. Fisher

1951-52   14 – 8

1952-53                                                                Capt. George Zarcoff

1953-54   11 – 12                                                   Capt. George Zarcoff

1954-55                                                                Capt. Bill Eskridge

1955-56                                                                Capt. Bill Eskridge

1956-57                                                                Coach Bob Avery

1957-58                                                                Coach Bob Avery

1958-59                                                                Coach Bob Avery

1959-60                                                                Capt. Julius Corrubia

1960-61                                                                Capt. Bill Eskridge

1961-62                                                                Coach Loren Getz

1962-63                                                                Capt. Robert J. McCoy

1963-64                                                                Capt. Robert J. McCoy

1964-65                                                                Capt. Robert J. McCoy

1965-66                                                                Capt. Martin A. Alendoff

1966-67                                                                Coach Lawrence Gordon

1967-68                                                                Coach Jerry Rees

1968-69                                                                Coach A.J. Lundberg

1969-70              Last season listed

Boys Track & Field

One Onarga Military School thinclad carried the banner for the school’s track team. In 1948 Lawton Lamb was STATE CHAMPION of ALL SCHOOLS in Illinois when he won the 1 Mile Run in the old one-class system!!

1947-48        Lawton Lamb      1 Mile Run      STATE CHAMPION!!

Football

Some of the better Onarga Military HS football records are listed below. Thank you to Tom Sikorski for his research.

1951     4 – 3        2nd place (tie) Wauseca Conference

1956     5 – 2        3rd place Vermillion Valley Conference         Coach Bill Eskridge

1957     5 – 2        2nd place (tie) VV Conference                     Coach Bill Eskridge

1958     7 – 0        Vermillion Valley Conference Champs    Coach Bill Eskridge

1959     1 – 2 – 3   (Yes – 3 ties!)                                              Coach Bill Eskridge

Onarga Military last fielded a football team in 1968.

Seeking More Information

If you have any further information regarding Onarga Military School and its athletic program please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net..  You can also write to us via real mail at

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il        60631

Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary Buildings
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Submitted by Sandra Lytch, Courtesy of Patty Goff
Grand Prairie Seminary Building 2010
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Photo Submitted by James Horaz

The History of Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary

Onarga (population 1,438) is located in upper eastern Illinois in west-central Iroquois County. U.S. Route 45 meets up with Illinois Route 54 in Onarga.  Interstate Highway 57 lies to the west of town and has exit ramps leading to Route 54.  The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad lays some tracks through Onarga as well.  Onarga lies about 30 miles southwest of Kankakee.  Onarga was being settled in the early 1800s and became incorporated as a town in llinois in 1853.

Onarga has a great history of educational opportunities for its children. Besides the public school originally offered in town, there was a private, co-educational boarding school offered in Onarga as well.  It was offered to predominately upper class kids whose parents were able to pay the tuition.

The school was named the Grand Prairie Seminary and was established in 1864.  To put this in perspective, the school was established while the Civil War was being fought!  Grand Prairie was a “private preparatory school” designed for intense and worldly education.  In its day it was one of the premier schools in the United States.

Grand Prairie Seminary Buildings
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Submitted by Sandra Lytch, Courtesy of Patty Goff
Grand Prairie Seminary Building
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Submitted by Sandra Lytch, Courtesy of Patty Goff
Grand Prairie Seminary Building
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Submitted by Sandra Lytch, Courtesy of Patty Goff

The trend for private co-ed schools began to wane in the early 1900s. The Board of Trustees for Grand Prairie decided to go into a different direction.  In 1917 it was decided to close the Grand Prairie School and “open” the Onarga Military School for boys.  The facilities remained the same, however the name was changed and the admittance of girls was ceased.

Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                      1864

Year closed:                       1917

Consolidated to:                  Onarga Military Academy

School nickname:               unavailable

School colors:                    unavailable

School Fight Song:             unavailable
Athletics

Grand Prairie Seminary was a member of the IHSA and competed in sports and other extra-curricular activities.  Onarga offered basketball, baseball, football, and track & field. School team nickname, school team colors, and school fight song are all needed.  Also coach’s names and information on the better teams in the school’s history are being sought.  The only sport that is listed on the IHSA website is boys track.

Boys Track & Field

One year proved a success for the Grand Prairie Seminary track team.  It was the only year that the IHSA offered a “C” Track Meet which was apparently for private schools.  One athlete with the last name of Wand brought home second place finishes in the shot put and discus, placing his team SIXTH overall in the “C” Team Competition. Note the schools that OGPS competed against, two were from states other than Illinois!!

1915-16C     Team Finished SIXTH in STATE MEET Competition!!

                   Individual Medalist

                   ??  Wand                  Shot Put                     2ND Place

                                                    Discus                         2ND Place

                   Final Team Standings – State “C” Track Meet

1.)  Evanston (E. Academy)                      48

2.)  Lake Forest (L.F. Academy)                25

3.)  Brazil, Ind.                                         25

4.)  Chicago (Morgan Park Academy)         18

5.)  Chicago (Lewis Institute)                     10

 6.)  Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary        6

7.)  St. Joseph, Mich.                                 4

Grand Prairie Seminary Baseball Team of 1915-16
Submitted by Carol Cunningham Suplee

Baseball

The GPS boys competed in baseball too.  The followng information, as well as the photo to the right, were sent to us by Carol Cunningham Suplee:

“My father, Lyman Emory Cunningham, attended Grand Prairie Seminary and I see his name in the 1916 Annual Operetta program on your website. I was delighted to find it! Also, I would appreciate knowing more about his stay there and wonder if there are class lists. It appears he was there, perhaps 1915-1917, and he apparently left to join the army for WWI. He was also a debater and it would be wonderful to know of any programs where he is listed.

I have found a photo of the GPS baseball team, with my father in it. I do not have a date but I am assuming it is about 1915-16.”

Football

There was a football program at Grand Prairie Seminary.  Kris Reardon has discovered this while looking at photos kept from her grandfather’s high school days spent at the school.

Research by Rob Pacey revealed that the Grand Prairie Seminary has a football program dating back as far as 1903! The following except from the 1910 Paxton High School yearbook summarizes a game played that year between Paxton and Grand Prairie Seminary.

Football – Onarga G.P.S. vs. Paxton 1910
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Submitted by Rob Pacey
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Submitted by Rob Pacey
“Annual Operetta” Cast of 1916
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Courtesy of Dottie Davis

Extra-Curricular Activities

The Grand Prairie Seminary offered a very well-rounded education.  Two items sent to us by Dottie Davis help to showcase this.  Dottie’s mother, Dorothy Elizabeth Hull, attended Grand Prarie Seminary from 1916 -1918. While looking through her mother’s belongings, Dottie came across a program for the “Annual Operetta” given on Friday, April 21, 1916 as well as a picture that must be the cast of that production. She also discovered a program for a “Second Annual

Debate” between Urbana High and Grand Prarie Seminary which took place on April 7,1916.  Images of these items appear on this page.  Thank you Dottie!

Operetta Program – 1916
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Submitted by Dottie Davis (Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)
Onarga Town Parade – Early 1900s
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Submitted by Dottie Davis

Memories and Facts

From Sandra Lytch:

“I have been researching my family roots and have found that my great grandmother and two of her sisters attended the Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s.  My great grandmother, Anna Ridge Brumback, graduated from this seminary in 1880, and then married Dr. Alfred William Hyde.  Her sisters attended the same seminary – Iva Brumback and Elizabeth “Libbie” Ridge Brumback.  They were all teachers – probably at Onarga Grand Prairie.”

If You Have ANY Further Information

If you have any further information or corrections regarding the history of Onarga Grand Prairie Seminary High School please forward it to us so that it may be shared on this site.  A photo of the original school building is being sought.  You can contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. or via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631

Debate Program Inside
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Submitted by Dottie Davis (Click on Program to View Enlarged Version)
Debate Program of 1916
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Thank You to Dottie Davis


Onarga High School “Indians”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Onarga High School Building as it was in the 1940s
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Courtesy of Mary Tilstra
Onarga HS Building 2010 (Now IW Grade School)
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Submitted by James Horaz

The History of Onarga High School

Onarga (population 1,438) is located in upper eastern Illinois in west-central Iroquois County. U.S. Route 45 cuts nicely through Onarga and meets up with Illinois Route 54. Interstate Highway 57 lies to the west of town and has exit ramps leading to Route 54. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad lays some tracks through Onarga as well. Onarga lies about 30 miles southwest of Kankakee. Onarga was being settled in the early 1800’s and became incorporated as a town in llinois in 1853. In the early 1860’s, Onarga had a population of 273.

The history of the educational opportunities for the kids of Onarga is long and very storied. The first school building was a wooden structure construted in 1858. The growing town realized the need for a larger structure and constructed a brick school building in 1867. The growing student population forced the addition of rooms to the building in 1872. This original building served Onarga for many years until its replacement by a newer building in the 1920’s (pictured above).

Onarga Grade School – Built 1864-67
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Now a Private Residence

The original building of 1867 (listed at the very top of the page) still survives in Onarga and is used as a private residence. According to class of 1968 Onarga graduate Gloria Scott, this building used for a grade school (grades one thru five) after the high school moved out in the 1920’s, which remained that way until the 1980’s

Onarga residents supported their own high school until the early 1980’s, when in 1983, the residents of Onarga, Gilman, and Danforth agreed to pool their resources. Their consolidation effort led to the creation of the Iroquois West School District. The high school for the new school district was located in Gilman.

The Onarga school building from the 1920’s (pictured at the top of the page) is now used as a junior high school for the Iroquois West School District.

Onarga High School Quick Facts

Year 1st school opened:      1858

Year 1st brick bldg. built:     1867

Year 2nd brick bldg. built:    1920’s

Year HS closed:                 1983

Onarga HS nickname:         Indians

Onarga HS colors:              Maroon & White

School Fight Song:             “On Onarga” (sung to the tune of “On Wisconsin”)
Onarga High School Gymnasium 2010
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Courtesy of James Horaz

Athletics

Onarga High School definitely offered the boys’ sports of basketball, football, and track. Baseball may have also been offered at the school. The girls competed in basketball and track for sure, possibly volleyball as well. We are missing some information on the Onarga athletic program, such conference affiliations, names of great players, ect. If you have any of these items, please let us know..

Boys’ Basketball

The boys basketball program has a very comprehensive listing on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). Over the years, the Onarga boys won a total of five District titles and one Regional title. Some of the early season records are not available. The best of the seasons for Onarga HS are listed below.

1926-27 through 1935-36 coached by                                    Coach Rex Benoit

1936-37              District Champions                                  Coach Lyle Hutton

1937-38                                                                              Coach Lyle Hutton

1939-40                                                                              Coach Art Baker Ross

1942-43                                                                              Coach Woodrow Baker

1949-50  17- 9                                                                     Coach Earl Elmer “Cab” Callaway

1951-52  13-12                                                                    Coach Earl Elmer “Cab” Callaway

1955-56              2ND Place – Iroquois County Tourney      Coach Earl Elmer “Cab” Calloway

1956-57  13-  8                                                                    Coach Earl Elmer “Cab” Callaway
1957-58  21-  6    District Champions                                  Coach Earl Elmer “Cab” Callaway

                          Champs – Iroquois County Tourney
1958-59    7-16    District Champions                                  Coach Earl Elmer “Cab” Callaway

1963-64  12-11                                                                    Coach Melvin Huffman

1964-65  17-  9    District Champions                                  Coach Melvin Huffman

1965-66  15-10                                                                    Coach Tom McGhee

1966-67  23-  4    District Champions                                  Coach Tom McGhee

1967-68  18-10                                                                    Coach John Kuntz

1968-69  17-  8                                                                    Coach John Kuntz

1970-71  13-12                                                                    Coach John Kuntz

1972-73  12-13    Regional Champions                               Coach Don Bates

1973-74  19-  7                                                                    Coach Don Bates

1976-77  14-  8                                                                    Coach Steve Swartz

1982-83              School’s Last Season                                 Coach Bob Cottrell
Girls’ BasketballThe ladies of Onarga High School won a Regional title of their own in their very short history. The girls of the 1976-77 season pulled off this feat in the original one-class system. Unfortunately, the team record is not available.

1976-77            Regional Champions               Coach Vicki Killus

Boys’ Track & Field

The Onarga thinclads had some great success in the early 1920s. One athlete, E. Morgan, led the team of 1921-22 to an eighth place finish in the 1922 ‘B’ Track meet. Two boys of the 1932 team, Charters and Kanosky, also medaled in the one-class system. The medals earned and final team standings of the 1922 meet are listed below.

1921-22B    Team Finished EIGHTH in STATE ‘B’ Track Meet

                  Individual Medalist

                  E. Morgan                       50 Yard Dash              2ND Place

                                                       100 Yard Dash              2ND Place

                  Final Team Standings – 1922B Meet

                  1.)  Forrest HS                             19½

2.)  Elmwood HS                          15 1/5

3.)  Greenfield HS                         12

4.)  Toluca HS                              10

5.)  Monticello HS                          9

5.)  Wheaton HS                            9

7.)  Carlinville HS                           8

8.)  ONARGA HIGH SCHOOL         6

8.)  Berwyn-Cicero (Morton) HS       6

8.)  Illiopolis HS                              6

1931-32      Individual Medalists

?? Charters                    Javelin                          2ND Place

                 ?? Kanosky                    High Jump                     5TH Place

Football

Onarga had a remarkable run in the late 1950’s. They won 29 consecutive Vermillion Valley conference games in a row between 1953 and 1958. They also notched 3 consecutive overall undefeated seasons with 21 overall wins in a row.  Thanks to Tom Sikorski for this information.

1951  4-3-1   3rd Place Vermillion Valley Conf.

1954  7-1      Vermillion Valley Conf. Champs          Coach Ray Hosington

1955  7-0-1   Vermillion Valley Conf. Champs          Coach Elmer “Cab” Calloway

1956  9-0      Vermillion Valley Conf. Champs          Coach Elmer “Cab” Calloway 

1957  8-0      Vermillion Valley Conf. Champs          Coach Elmer “Cab” Calloway

1963  9-0      Vermillion Valley Conf. Champs          Coach Mel Huffman

1964  5-3      3rd place Vermillion Valley Conf.             Coach Mel Huffman

1965  8-0      Vermillion Valley Conf. Co-Champs     Coach Tom McGhee

1966  7-1      Vermillion Valley Conf. Champs          Coach Tom McGhee

1968  4-3-2   3rd place Vermillion Valley Conf.              Coach John Kuntz

1969  6-3      2nd place (tie) Vermillion Valley Conf.      Coach John Kuntz

1970  6-1      Vermillion Valley Conf. Co-Champs    Coach John Kuntz

1973  5-3      2nd place Vermillion Valley Conf.            Coach John Kuntz

1979  7-2      2nd place (tie) Vermillion Valley Conf.      Coach Buddy Velasko

Onarga last independently fielded a football team in 1979. Their last game was a 28-0 win over Cullom Tri-Point.

Drama Program

The thespians of Onarga High also left their mark. The team of 1942-43 won their Sectional competition and qualified for the State Competition. John Uphoff led the team with a medal at the State Finals!

1942-43     Sectional Champions / State Competition Qualifier

                 Individual Medalist

                 John Uphoff                Original Oratory           4TH Place

Speech Individual Events

One student at Onarga High School brought home a State Champion trophy and led the team to a SIXTH Place overall finish! Great job William Whitlow!!   

1949-50     Team Finished SIXTH in STATE Competition!!

                 Individual Medalist   

                 William Whitlow          Comedy            STATE CHAMPION!!

                 Final Team Standings

1.)  Freeport HS                          14

2.)  Elgin HS                                 9

3.)  Rock Island HS                       7

4.)  West Frankfort (Frankfort) HS   6

4.)  Evanston (Twp.) HS                 6

6.)  Peoria (Woodruff) HS               5

                 6.)  ONARGA HIGH SCHOOL        5

6.)  Chicago (Phillips) HS               5

9.)  Harrisburg HS                          4

9.)  Barry HS                                 4

Need Your Help

We could still use more information to make this page complete. If you have anything to help fill in the gaps, or would like to add to the information already on the page, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.      60631

Onarga High School Building Rear 2010
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Photo By James Horaz
Onarga Grade School – Now a Private Residence
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Built in 1864 – Front View – Possibly Used as High School Building at One Time

Omaha High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Omaha High School Building 1957
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Submitted by David Cantrell
Omaha High School Building
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Submitted by Gerry Halpin

The History of Omaha High School

Omaha (population 263) is located in far southeastern Illinois in northwestern Gallatin County.  Illinois Route 1 runs through the center of Omaha and connects it to Illinois Route 141 just one mile to the north.  The Prairie Trunk Railroad runs to the east of Omaha.  A branch of the Cane Creek flows to the east of town as well.  Harrisburg sits about 20 miles southwest of Omaha.

The village of Omaha was first established in 1871 along the St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad line. It was named by a baggage handler who worked for the railroad named Henry Pearce. Mr. Pearce originally worked in Omaha, Nebraska and named the town after his original work-place town. The fillage was incorporated in 1888. (“Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary)

The following history of the Omaha School system was provided by David Cantrell.

“The first school in Omaha was established in 1874.  It is unknown when the high school was created.  In 1953, Omaha consolidated with Norris City forming the Norris City-Omaha (NCO) Community Unit Number 3 High School.

– History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1887

– Edward Oliver, Villager’s Voice, May 25, 2016”

Omaha High consolidated with its neighbor to the north, Norris City. The result of this effort was the creation of the Norris City-Omaha School District.

In 1985 Enfield joined Norris City-Omaha to create the Norris City-Omaha-Enfield School District.  The fate of the original Omaha school building is being sought.

Omaha High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                         late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                          1953

Consolidated to:                     Norris City-Omaha School District

Omaha HS team nickname:   unavailable

Omaha HS team colors:         unavailable

School Fight Song:                 unavailable
Athletics & Extra-Curriculars

We are quite certain that the Omaha High School boys participated in competitive basketball.  We believe they competed in baseball and track as well.  We are in need of your assistance here.  School team nickname, team colors, fight song, coach’s names, and team records are all items we are searching for.

We are also interested in items and activities that made Omaha High School unique.  Band, chorus, plays, meetings, clubs, and dances were likely all a part of the Omaha High School experience. If you have knowledge of these please write and share them with us.

Boys Basketball

Several basketball scores involving Omaha High School were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below.

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

1st Rd lost to Broughton 43-22

Galatia beat Eldorado in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Elizabethtown 27-20

Equality beat Eldorado in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Elizabethtown 34-18

Eldorado beat Carmi in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Crab Orchard 37-10

Crab Orchard beat Broughton in title game

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

 1st Rd Beat Enfield 29-26

Semi-final lost to Springerton 34-27

Cave-In-Rock beat Springerton in title game

1944-45               Equality District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Burnt Prairie 73-20

Cave-In-Rock beat Burnt Prairie in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Equality 46-24

Ridgway beat Equality in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Maunee 47-23

                            2nd Rd lost to Equality 37-23

Cave-In-Rock beat Equality in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Ridgway 44-31

Cave-In-Rock beat Ridgway in title game

*The last basketball score located on the Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores website involving Omaha High School was listed in 1948.

Seeking Your Assistance

Photos and information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net..  You can also send items to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631  


Olney High School “Tigers”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Olney High School Postcard Photo 1909
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Submitted by Richard Savage

The History of Olney High School

Olney (population 8,631) is located in the southeastern portion of Illinois in the central portion of Richland County.  Olney is situated at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and Illinois Route 130.  Two railroad lines, the Csx Transportation and the Indiana Hi-Rail also intersect in Olney.  East Fork Lake is located just north of town.  Olney is about 20 miles west of the Illinois/Indiana state border.

Histories of the town can be read at the web addresses of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olney,_Illinois and http://www.angelfire.com/il/olneymuseum/publish.html .  In summary, The area where Olney and Richland County is now located began being settled in 1815. The town of Olney was established in 1841 and officially incorporated as a village in Illinois in 1848.  The town is named after Nathan Olney, who at the time was a  banker in nearby Lawrenceville. Olney was chosen as the county seat of Richland County due to its central location in the county.  More information on Olney and its famous white squirrel population can be viewed on the town’s official website of www.ci.olney.il.us .

Olney High School Building 1907
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Submitted by Elizabeth Johnson

Our best estimate of the history of the original Olney High School is as follows.  We are looking for more concrete information however.  We believe that Olney residents began a high school for their children’s education in the late 1800s, possibly as early as the 1870s. We know that Olney High School was in existence at least by 1909 as a postcard image submitted by Richard Savage is postmarked with that year.  Olney High served the residents of Olney well as the town became the hub of the county.

We believe it was in the late 1940s that the smaller school districts in the eastern portion of Richland County began to struggle with financial and enrollment issues. It was decided in 1947 to create a unified school district for the eastern portion of Richland County that would be based in Olney. High school districts efffected by this situation included Dundas and Calhoun. The new school district would be called East Richland.  The high school for the new district remained in Olney in the original Olney High School building until 1951 when a new high school building was built.

We are not certain of the original Olney High School athletic team nickname or uniform colors prior to the name change to East Richland, if there was any change at all. We only know that the IHSA recognizes this change as well as do some of those who graduated from the original Olney High School.

Olney High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                      late 1800s

Year consolidated:              1947

Consolidated to:                  (Olney) East Richland

Olney HS team nickname:   “Tigers”

Olney HS uniform colors:     unavailable

Olney HS Fight Song:          unavailable
ATHLETICS

We located coverage on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) for the the boys sports of football, basketball, and track for Olney High School. All three sports had some great moments.  Information is needed for the quick facts section above.  We are searching for the Olney High School team nickname, uniform colors, fight song, and other information that might be of interest to add to this page.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The highlight of the boys basketball program came in the 1929-30 season when the boys would finish THIRD and in the 1919-20 basketball season when Olney HS finished FOURTH in the state’s one-class basketball tourney.  Olney high would make one other trip to the state finals, as well as bringing home five District titles, one Regional championship, and two Sectional titles. The OHS basketball success, as found on the IHSA website, is listed below.

1911-12    3 – 4                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1912-13    4 – 0                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1913-14    7 – 3                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1914-15    6 – 5                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1915-16    7 – 5                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1916-17  14 – 4                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1917-18  16 – 4                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1918-19  18 – 4                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1919-20  23 – 6  FOURTH PLACE IHSA TOURNEY!  Coach Charles Van Cleve
District Champions

                            State Final’s Qualifier (Sweet 16)

                            Beat Champaign 43 – 24

                            Elite 8 

                            Beat Galesburg 33 – 22

                            Final 4

                            Lost to Canton 37 – 18

(Canton finished 2nd)

Third Place Game

Lost to Marion 29 – 20

                        

1920-21  11 – 17                                                     Coach Charles Van Cleve

1921-22  24 – 6      District Champions                   Coach Charles Van Cleve

1922-23  20 – 3                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1923-24  21 – 4                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1924-25  12 – 12                                                     Coach Howard “Slim” Beard

1925-26  13 – 12                                                     Coach Howard “Slim” Beard

1926-27  17 – 8                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1927-28  25 – 2                                                       Coach Charles Van Cleve

1928-29  21 – 7      District Champions                    Coach Charles Van Cleve

1929-30  33 – 6  THIRD PLACE IHSA TOURNEY!     Coach Charles Van Cleve

District Champions

                            Sectional Champions

                            State Final’s Qualifier

                            Elite 8

                            Beat Carbondale 21 – 18

                            Final 4

                            Lost to Bloomington 33 – 23

(Bloomington placed 2nd)

Third Place Game

                            Beat Beardstown 27 – 18

1930-31  15 – 13                                                      Coach Charles Van Cleve

1931-32  14 – 12                                                      Coach Charles Van Cleve

1932-33    8 – 17                                                      Coach Charles Van Cleve

1933-34  12 – 12                                                      Coach Charles Van Cleve

1934-35  17 – 11     District Champions                    Coach Frank Newton

1935-36  25 – 5                                                        Coach Frank Newton

1936-37  22 – 6                                                        Coach Frank Newton

1937-38  23 – 7                                                        Coach Frank Newton

1938-39  24 – 4       Regional Champions                Coach Frank Newton

1939-40  21 – 7                                                        Coach Frank Newton

1940-41  19 – 10                                                      Coach Frank Newton

1941-42  27 – 5   ELITE 8 FINALIST IHSA Tourney!  Coach Frank Newton

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Finalist

Beat Quincy 47 – 40

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost to Freeport 29 – 24

(Freeport would finish 3rd)

1942-43  21 – 4                                                        Coach Frank Newton

1943-44  10 – 12                                                      Coach Frank Newton

1944-45  21 – 10                                                      Coach Frank Newton

1945-46  14 – 12                                                      Coach Forrest Sprowl

1946-47  22 – 7                                                        Coach Forrest Sprowl

IHSA Basketball Records Held By Olney HS

  #5 All-Time – Margin of Victory – Shutout – 49 pts (beat Oblong 49 – 0 in 1916)  

  #8 All-Time – Margin of Victory – 119 pts. (beat Albion 126 – 7 in 1919)

#23 All-Time – Wins in a Season – 33 (1929-30)

Great Coaches

Two Olney HS basketball coaches paved the way for the future teams of East Richland.  Coach Charles Van Cleve coach at Olney from 1911-12 through 1923-24.  After a two year break he returned to the helm and coached the boys from 1926-27 through 1933-34.  Below is a breakdown of his accomplishments:

Coach Charles Van Cleve   –  Career Record at Olney – 324 – 149 (#224 in IHSA History)

                                              2 – IHSA Final Four Trophies Won

                                              1 – 30+ games-won season 

                                              7 – 20+ games-won seasons

                                              4 – District Titles Won

                                              1 – Sectional Title Won

Coach Frank Newton coached the boys program from 1934-35 through 1944-45.  His accomplishments are as follows:

Coach Frank Newton –  Career Record at Olney   230 – 81

                                     1 – Appearance at IHSA Finals (Elite 8)

                                     8 – 20+ games-won seasons (of 11 seasons total) 

                                     1 – District Title

                                     1 – Regional Title

                                     1 – Sectional Title

Overall the Olney High School boys basketball program had a record of 610 – 266 between 1911-12 and 1946-47!!         

                                              

FOOTBALL

As with most schools of the early days of high school sports, Olney High School hired one coach to teach multiple sports.  Coach Charlie Van Cleave and Coach Frank Newton proved to be as knowledgeable on the football field as they were on the basketball court. Coach Barney Coen was the only other coach listed from 1924 through 1947 besides these two as far as football is concerned.

Coach Van Cleave’s 1925 team and Coach Frank Newton’s 1943 team were the only two to make it through the season undefeated.  The football records as listed on the IHSA website are listed below.

1924-25    5 – 2 – 2                                           Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1925-26    9 – 0       Undefeated Season!         Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1926-27    6 – 3                                                Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1927-28    6 – 2                                                Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1928-29    3 – 5 – 1                                           Coach Barney Coen

1929-30    2 – 5                                                Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1930-31    3 – 5                                                Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1931-32    1 – 3 – 5   (5 ties!!)                             Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1932-33    4 – 4 – 1                                           Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1933-34                                                           Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1934-35    4 – 4 – 1                                           Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1935-36    7 – 2                                                Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1936-37    6 – 1 – 1                                           Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1937-38    5 – 2 – 2                                           Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1938-39    3 – 5                                                Coach Charlie Van Cleave

1939-40    7 – 1 – 1                                           Coach Frank Newton

1940-41    4 – 4                                                Coach Frank Newton

1941-42    5 – 3                                                Coach Frank Newton

1942-43    3 – 4 – 1                                           Coach Frank Newton

1943-44    3 – 0       Undefeated Season!         Coach Frank Newton

1944-45    2 – 4 – 1                                           Coach Frank Newton

1945-46    2 – 5                                                Coach Frank Newton

1946-47    2 – 4 – 1                                           Coach Frank Newton

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

The Olney thinclads had some nice seasons in the 1920s.  Two TOP-TEN finishes in the IHSA State Finals shows us that the boys of that era were well-rounded athletes.  Eight individual athletes earned a total of 11 medals in State Meet competition as well. Three of these individual medalists were crowned STATE CHAMPIONS in their events. Their efforts and team standings are listed below.

1918-19B    Team Placed NINTH in STATE CLASS ‘B’ Meet!!  Coach Charles Van Cleave 

                Individual Medalists

                Harnback             440 Yard Dash                  STATE CHAMPION!!

                Roberts                Long Jump                       3RD Place

                Final Team Standings

1)  Chicago (University)                19

2)  Georgetown                            16

3)  Lockport (Twp.)                       15

4)  Atwood                                  12

5)  Edwardsville (H.S.)                  10

5)  Altona                                    10

7)  Auburn                                    9

8)  Elmwood                                 8

  9)  OLNEY HIGH SCHOOL            7

                9)  El Paso                                   7

9)  Delavan                                   7

1921-22B  Individual Medalists

                W. Poland            Javelin                            STATE CHAMPION!!
           Jones                   Pole Vault                       4TH Place

1922-23B  Team Placed SIXTH in STATE CLASS ‘B’ Meet!!  Coach Charles Van Cleave

Individual Medalists

H. Moore              880 Yard Run                   STATE CHAMPION!!

                W. Poland            Javelin                            2ND Place
Gray                     50 Yard Dash                   5TH Place

Final Team Standings

1)  White Hall                      20 1/5

2)  Bridgeport                      15 ½

3)  Hinsdale (Twp.)              15

4)  Carlinville                       12

5)  Havana                          11

6)  Pinckneyville                  10

                6)  OLNEY HIGH SCHOOL  10

                6)  Wheaton (H.S.)              10

6)  Toluca                           10

1923-24B  Individual Medalist  –  W. Poland     Javelin        5TH Place

1925-26    Individual Medalist  –  W. Zimmerle  880 Yd Rn    2ND Place
1926-27    Individual Medalist  –  W. Zimmerle  880 YD Rn    2ND Place

1928-29    Individual Medalist  –  Day                 Pole Vlt       2ND Place

1933-34    Team Won District Championship

SPEECH INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

In the Speech Individual Events competition sponsored by the IHSA one individual at Olney High School earned a medal in a state-wide event.

1941     Philip Zimmerly    Oratory Declamation      3RD Place

SEEKING MORE INFORMATION

If you have more information you would like to share regarding the original Olney High School please complete a School Submission Form or write us a note on the Guest Commentary page.  We are especially interested in a photo of the original school building. You can also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.    60631
 


Olive Branch High School “Branchers”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Olive Branch High School
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Photo Courtesy of Howard Thomas

The History of Olive Branch High School

Olive Branch (population estimate 250) is an unincorporated town located in the far southwestern tip of Illinois.  The town was founded in 1876.  The town’s location is unique in that it is both three miles east and four miles northwest of the Mississippi River.  Illinois Route 3 runs directly through Olive Branch.  A line of the Missourri Pacific Railroad travels through Olive Branch.  The Jackson Creek also flows through this south-central Alexander County village.

According to “Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary, Olive Branch was established in 1876. The town names comes from the Olive Branch Episcopal Church. This church was named after the Olive Branch that a dove brought back to Noah’s ark toward the end of the great flood.

The history of the Olive Branch School school is in need of research.  It is probable that a school was in lace for the town’s children by the late 1800s.  High school courses were probably offered by the early 1900s.  A brick school building, pictured above, was built in 1922 and housed grades 1 – 12. Olive Branch High School served its community for several years.  In 1947 the high school portion of Olive Branch school district was deactivated.  The children of Olive Branch attended either Tamms or Thebes  for their high school education at that point.

Tamms and Thebes joined into a consolidation effort in 1967 to create the Egyptian School District.The high school for the Egyptian School District was located in Tamms.  Olive Branch may have maintained a grade school in their town for a few years however it is not believed this is still the case.  The fate of the Olive Branch High School building is being sought.

Olive Branch High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                                early 1900s

Year Brick HS buiilding built:         1922

Year HS closed:                           1947

Consolidated to:                           Children went to Tamms or Thebes School District

Olive Branch HS team nickname:  the “Branchers”

OBHS team colors:                     Gold & Blue

OBHS School Fight Song:            unavailable
Athletics and Extra-Curricular ActivitiesWe are certain that the Olive Branch High School kids participated in basketball.  Baseball and track were most likely offered too.  Team colors, fight song, team records, and coach’s names are all items being sought.  We are also interested in other extra curricular activities that may have been offered at Olive Branch High as well.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Olive Branch High School boys definitely participated in basketball. Scores from the 1920s through the 1940s involving Olive Branch in the IHSA District Tournaments can be located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores.”  The link for this site is as follows:  https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/1932-district-scores

NEED SOME HELP HERE

Help us record the great stories and facts of Olive Branch 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. .

Special Thanks – Thank you to Howard Thomas for providing information for this page.

Ohlman High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Ohlman School Building Via Google Maps
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Submitted by Andryna Eberle

The History of Ohlman High School

Ohlman (population 148) is located in south-central Illinois in the northeast portion of Montgomery County.  Illinois Route 16 is the main roadway leading you to and from Ohlman.  The Missourri and Pacific Railroad line runs alongside Route 16 and passes through Ohlman as well.  A branch of the South Fork of the Sangamon River flows into town too.  Ohlman is located about 40 miles southeast of Springfield.

Ohlman’s history and the history of its school system is need of research.  It is probable that Ohlman had a high school in place by the late 1800s, certainly by the early 1900s.  Ohlman High likely served the community and surrounding farm kids for about 50 years.  Our guess is that Ohlman residents closed their high school in the late 1940s.  The students of Ohlman were then sent to nearby Nokomis to further their education.

We do not know the current status of the original Ohlman High School building.  Please contact us at eganann@sbcglobal.net if you have ANY further information.

Ohlman High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                             late 1800s

Year closed:                              late 1940s?

Consolidated to:                         Nokomis School District

Ohlman HS team nickname:       unavailable

Ohlman HS team colors:            unavailable

School Fight Song:                    unavailable

Athletics

It is quite probable that Ohlman High School competed in the boys sport of basketball.  It is probable that the boys competed in baseball and track as well.  We are searching for the Ohlman High School team nickname, team uniform colors, school fight song, any coach’s names, and season records of the OHS teams.

Other extra-curricular activities were probably a part of the Ohlman High experience too.  Chorus, band, school plays, and many other activities were probably undertaken each year at the school.  We welcome any in-put in this aspect.

Seeking More Information

We are in need of a lot of research in order to do justice to the former students, faculty, and townspeople who made Ohlman High School a success for so many years.  A photo of the high school building is especially being sought.  You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net..  You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.        60631

Ohio St. Joseph’s Academy

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized

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The History of St. Joseph’s Academy, Ohio

Ohio (population 450) is located in northeastern Bureau County at the crossroads of Illinois rtes. 26 and 92. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad once passed through the town.

As you enter the town from the highways in either direction, you are greeted with a painted sign that commemorates the 1986 Ohio High School Boys Basketball team that finished second in the state tournament with only 60 kids in the school. Ohio High School is still open today, but there was a time when there were two high schools in this small town.

St. Joseph’s Academy was opened for classes in September of 1903 with a staff of five teachers from the Sisters of Mercy of Ottawa, and a student body of 100 kids from grade school to high school. Also included was a two-year business course and classes in German and Latin. Two more courses were offered in the Ohio Opera House due to lack of space in the school building.

Lack of funds forced the school to close in 1920. However, the school was revived in either 1924 or 1925, but that did not last long. The Great Depression eventually caused the school to permanently cease in 1929.

The following infomation about St. Joseph’s comes from Jim Dunn of Ohio:

“There was a Catholic high school one block south of the current Ohio High School gym. I’m not sure if it went all the way to 12th grade or not. Some schools back then stopped at 10th grade or so.The two-story brick building still is standing and is used as an apartment house. It was called something like St. Mary’s Academy or St. Joseph’s Academy. Grandpa Dunn attended there for awhile, probably about 1914 or 1915 or 1916. He didn’t graduate. He was born in 1899. He talked about once traveling by train to St. Bede to play a basketball game. When the Ohio public high school was established about 1920, the Catholic school went into decline and closed, maybe sometime in the late 1920s.”

St. Joseph’s Academy “Quick Facts”:

Year opened:            1905 (first) / 1924 or 1925 (revival)

Year closed:              1920 (first) / 1930 (revival)

Building status:         Apartment complex

School Nickname:     Unknown

School Colors:           Unknown

Athletics:

According to Jim Dunn of Ohio, St. Joseph’s had basketball at one time. We are still seeking more infomation about the Athletic programs, and other extra-curriculars, at St. Joseph’s.

St. Joseph Academy Students – 1915
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Photo Printed in the Bureau County Republican, June 24, 2008 (www.bcrnews.com)

Seeking More Information

We are in need of information about St. Joseph’s Academy in Ohio. If you have ANY information about anything related to the school, such as our unknown “Quick Facts” information, please drop us an E-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. – or – you can write to us at:

Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL  60631