The History of Mound City High School
Mound City (population 692) is located in very far southern Illinois about five miles north of Cairo. It is the County Seat of Pulaski County. Mound City sits on the banks of the Ohio River a short distance from its merger with the Mississippi River. Two Railroad lines, the Illinois Central Gulf and the Conrail, run tracks through Mound City. Illinois Route 37 is the main roadway leading to town which sits about 1 mile east of Interstate Highway 57. Some great reading on the history of the town can be found at http://www.multied.com/Navy/CWNavy/moundcity.html which talks about the naval ship, the USS Mound CIty, which fought in the Civil War, and http://www.illinoishistory.com/moundcitymassacre.html which talks of the murder of settlers by renegade Indians in the early 1800s.
A history of Mound City Community High School and website honoring the school was provided by Carolyn Luton Geittmann (MCCHS Class of 1951):
“The first class to graduate from Mound City High School (MCHS), Mound City, Illinois, was the Class of 1888. The Class of 1921 was the first class to graduate from Mound City Community High School (MCCHS). Mound City Community High School and Lovejoy consolidated in 1962 and the Class of 1963 was the last class to graduate from MCCHS although the new Meridian Class of 1965 continued to attend school in the old MCCHS school building, which was built in 1919, and located in Mound City on the north corner of High Street and Merritt Street with the entrance facing Merritt Street.
I started a mailing list for alumni of MCCHS several years ago which has been extremely successful. Our home page is: http://lists.topica.com/lists/MCCHS Anyone who has an interest in the old high school is invited to visit this site and subscribe to our mailing list.
The high school for the new district, and eventually all schools for the new district, were located in Mounds. The original Mound City High School building was razed however the MCCHS gymnasium is still standing..
Mound City High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s Year closed: 1963 Consolidated to: Meridian School District (Mounds) MCCHS Team nickname: the “Tigers” Team colors: Orange, Black, & White School Fight Song: unavailable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Morris St. Angela Academy
The History of Morris St. Angela Academy Morris (population 13,000) is located in Grundy County in north-central Illinois, about 60 miles southwest of Chicago. The community can be reached by either Interstate 80, Illinois 47, and US 6, and by boat on the Illinois River as well as the Mazon River. The Illinois and Michigan Canal also was platted thru the community. Morris was first settled in 1834 and received its name from the Honorable Issac Morris, who was instrumental in having the town named as the seat of Grundy County.The name Grundy comes from Felix Grundy, a prominent senator from Tennessee that served as U.S. Attorney General until his death in 1840. Prior to the settlers, the area was settled by Mound Indians, who were discovered by fur trader and explorer Robert Rene Cavalier de la Salle between 1679-1690. A number of their dwellings (called mounds) were found in 1840 while the Illinois and Michigan Canal was dug to connect Lake Michigan to the Illinois River at LaSalle. Also to be remembered is Chief Shabbona, who led the Potawatomi tribe in the 1800’s. His ability to befriend the settlers and warn them of dangers won him the title of “friend to the White Man.” Another Potawatomi chief, Wauponsee, was also helpful to the early settlers, and in return, a school is named for Shabbona, while Wauponsee has a street in his honor. St. Angela’s Academy was built and opened in 1857 by Mary McNellis, whose father John donated the land. The Sisters of the Holy Cross from Notre Dame sent two sisters to open the school, which was set up to educate girls only. Students either boarded at the school or were day students. The building was a three-story structure built by John McNellis, who was a businessman and philanthropist in Morris. A wing was added in 1861, and was chartered by the state in 1869. Another three-story wing was built in 1872. During its lifetime, the school boarded as many as 75 students, In one instance, enrollment actually increased instead of going down. In 1894, the American Protective Association (which opposed influence and progress by Catholic organizations and those who were of the Catholic faith) tried to press St. Angela’s into closing, but all it did was strengthen the community and force the APA to look elsewhere. A number of families were impressed enough with the tact that was used to counteract the APA that they sent their daughters to St. Angela’s and in turn, forced the school to build more additions. St. Angela’s was known for teaching art, culture, faith, and refinement to young ladies, some of which were known to start college or university studies as sophomores instead of freshmen due to the high standards of education set by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Those students were also fortunate enough to get a head start on their careers after college as teachers by being able to sit for their teaching exam certificates a year earlier. The school only lasted until 1957 when it closed due to progress in Morris. St, Angela’s fell victim to the wrecking ball in 1959 as a subdivision was built in the area where the school was once located. |
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Montrose High School “Mustangs”
The History of Montrose High School Montrose (population 270) is located in southeastern Illinois about eight miles northeast of Effingham. Montrose occupies the northeast corner of Effingham County. U.S. Route 40 passes through town and Interstate Highway 70 passes just to the north of Montrose. The Conrail Railroad runs alongside Route 40 and passes through Montrose as well. The history of Montrose and its former high school are in need of research. Delaine Donaldson advises that Montrose High School was started in 1914. It served the city and surrounding farm kids for about 34 years. It was in 1948 that it was decided to merge the educational efforts of Montrose and nearby Dieterich. The high school students began attending Dieterich High in the fall of 1948. The Montrose High School building continued in its use as a grade school for the Dieterich school system for several years until it, too, was closed. The fate of the building is being sought. Montrose High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1914 Year closed: 1948 Consolidated to: Dieterich High School Montrose HS team nickname: “Mustangs” Montrose HS team colors: unavailable School Fight Song: unavailable |
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Monroe Center High School “Panthers”
The History of Monroe Center High School Monroe Center (population approximately 350) is located in northeastern Illinois about 10 miles south and a little east of Rockford. The town sits on Illinois Route 72 1mile east of Interstate Highway 39 in northeastern Ogle County. The CMSP & P Railroad runs through Monroe Center as well. Monroe Center does have a website (www.monroecenter.org) however the history of the town and its school system is in need of research. It is probable that Monroe Center had a high school in place for its children by the late 1800s or early 1900s. The high school served the town and surrounding farm kids through at least the late 1950s. At some point, probably in the late 1950s or early 1960s, it was decided to close Monroe Center High School and join forces with the nearby Stillman Valley.School District. We do know that Monroe Center High School was open through at least the 1952-53 school year as William Henry Hackman graduated from MCHS in 1953. The following information was provided by Stan Kruger showing a brief history of Monroe Center High School: “I have a document which provides a compilation of the graduates of the Monroe Center High School, through the school year of publication. That document is dated September 20, 1954, and was constructed under the supervision of then Principal Harold R. Steinhauser. On page 1, which lists the Superintendents of the school district from 1900-1955, there is the following statement about the history of the High School: “The high school course at Monroe Center consisted of two years from 1900-1904. The Class of 1905 was the first to be graduated from the three year course. The class of 1921 was the first to graduate from the four year course and also the first to be graduated after the present building was constructed. No high school classes were graduated in 1918-19-20.” The Class of 1901 (four members) is the first listed.
Monroe Center does have a grade school for grades Pk – 5. The fate of the original Monroe Center High School building was provided to us by Phil Knight: “The old high school was demolished in the late 60’s, after sitting abandoned for more than a decade. The old high school gymnasium was left remaining. The Monroe Township Fire & Ambluance District (http://www.monroecenterfire.org/) took possession of the gymnasium and built its firestation next to it. The fire station has a full-sized gym attached to it that is available to be rented.” Monroe Center High School Quick Facts Years opened as 2-year HS: 1900-1904 Years operated as 3-year HS: 1905-1921 Years operated as 4-year HS: 1922-1955 Annexed to: Stillman Valley School District Monroe Center HS nickname: the “Panthers” MCHS team colors: Blue & White School Fight Song: “We’re :Loyal to You” Quick Facts Info Provided by PAM ATCHISO |
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Monmouth Yorkwood High School “Golden Bears”
The History of Monmouth Yorkwood High School Kirkwood (population 794) is located in upper-western Illinois in the east-central portion of Warren County. Towns of note near Kirkwood include Monmouth (seven miles to the northeast) and Galesburg (twenty miles to the northeast). The town is located on U.S. Route 34 at County Roads 160th Avenue and 20th Street. The A,T & SF Railroad runs through Kirkwood, & a branch of the South Henderson Creek flows through Kirkwood’s east side.
Little York (population 269) is located on Il. Route 135 approximately 10 miles north of U.S. Route 34. The nearest town of note is Monmouth which is about 8 miles to the southeast of Little York. The Cedar Creek runs to the north of town and Davids Creek to the south. Little York is located in northwestern Warren County. Each of these towns at one time supported their own high school. They each have their own pages on this site. You can view these pages by “right clicking” on the town’s name listed in bold letters above. The following history of Yorkwood High School (so named by combing parts of both town’s names: Little YORK and KirkWOOD) was provided to us by a former student of all three schools, Mike Edwards: “These seperate elementary and high school districts continued to operate until 1960 when the Yorkwood School district was formed. This was the combination of the Little York and Kirkwood schools. During the first years of the new district which encompassed grades K-12, the kindergarten through sixth grade grade went to the respective elementary buildings. Grades seven and grade eight went to the Kirkwood High School, while grades nine through twelve attended classes in the Little York High School building. The combined enrollment of the whole school unit was over 650 students. The faculty consisted of 38 people whose salaries ranged from $4,000 to $7,900. The Unit Superintendent was Edward Johnson and the principal of the high school was Paul Luckenbill with Leo Clements as principal of the junior high; Mary Johnson ws the principal of the Kirkwood grades and Elizabeth Waugh was th principal of the Little York grades. Park Byers was the assistant superintendent and hot lunch manager. The school also employed a full-time nurse, five janitors, four cooks and three secretaries. In the fall of 1969 the Yorkwood Junior-Senior High School for grades 7-12 opened. Its cost was $970,000. The elementary grades continued to use Little York Elementary School, the Kirkwood Elementary School and the Yorkwood Middle School (formerly the Little York High School) until the end of the 1978-1979 school year. In the fall of 1979 the new Yorkwood Elementary School for grades K-6, recently constructed to thw west of the Yorkwood High School, was occupied by the elementary school students of the Little York and Kirkwood areas. Its cost was $1,550,000. The Yorkwood school district will not exist after this year. They are being merged with another school district due to declining student size and increased costs. I hope this helps fill out some of the history of the school building and school district. It starts out with Little York High School and Kirkwood High School. They were merged into Yorkwood (York from Little York, wood from Kirkwood). The new district then built a new high school in the middle of the country half way between Little York and Kirkwood on IL Route 94. The older buildings were then reassigned grades. I went to school in Little York at the original building until 7th grade and then got bussed to Kirkwood for grade 8. The Kirkwood High School had a very large crack on the East side of the building between the library on the second floor and the classroom on the 3rd floor. It was big enough that you could drop a pencil from the 3rd floor and someone might be able to catch it in the library. The State then said the building was uninhabitable and then we got moved to old Little York high school building until the new Yorkwood High School on State Route 94 was ready. We were the first graduating class in the new school. We actually got to skip class to help work on the new gymnasium floor. I helped set up the cushioned wood floor in the new gym.” You can check out the Yorkwood High School website while it is still up at http://www.yorkwood225.net/jr_sr_high.html . Monmouth Yorkwood High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1960 Year closed: 2007 Consolidated to: (Alexis) United School District Yorkwood HS team nicknname: the “Golden Bears” Yorkwood HS team colors: Purple & Gold Yorkwood HS fight song: “We’re From Yorkwood High School” (TUNE OF WASHINGTON & LEE SWING)
Oh, we’re from Yorkwood High School, proud to say, Followed by the chant: B-E-A-R-S Yorkwood Golden Bears are best! |
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Monmouth Warren High School “Warriors”
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The History of (Monmouth) Warren High School
Monmouth (population 9,841) is located in central Warren County in western Illinois. Warren High School was built about 2 miles east of Monmouth at 1905 100th St. just south of 192nd Avenue. U.S. Route 34 runs about 1 mile north of Warren High School. The At & St. Railroad runs about 1 mile south of the school. This school is still truly a country school.
During the early 1900s (1900 – 1950) several small country schools dotted eastern Warren County. In the early 1950s talks surfaced as to the best way to educate the students of the area. It was decided to build one school for the eastern portion of the county. This decision was agreed upon and in 1956 the Warren School District was formed. It took until 1958 to complete the Warren High School building. The building was officially dedicated in March of 1959. It was an “all-inclusive” school built for grades K – 12 and is pictured above. The gymnasium is the tallest part of the building with the grade school portion to the left and the high school portion to the right.
Monmouth Warren High School served the residents of eastern Warren County well through the
2003-04 school year. Due to declining enrollment in both districts, consolidation talks with nearby Alexis High School were began in the early 2000s. The talks were completed in 2004 and it was decided to consolidate the two school districts. The consolidation effort was set for the 2004-2005 school year and the new district was named the Alexis United School District. The High School is held in the original Warren High School building.
Monmouth Warren High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1958
Year district deactivated: 2004
School building use: Now Alexis United High School
School nickname: the “Warriors”
School colors: Red, White, and Columbia Blue
School Fight Song: “Northwestern University FIght Song Tune”
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| Athletics
The Monmouth Warren High School Warriors competed in many different sports. Boys were offered baseball, basketball, track & field, and (as you will see) the pride and joy of the school, football. Girls were offered volleyball, track & field, softball, and basketball. Conference information, as listed by alumnus Jason Linger (2001), is as follows: WHS became a member of the Lincoln Trail Conference (LTC) in the 1998/99 school year and prior to that it’s entire existance had been as a member of the Bi-County Conference. Several football titles had been won in the Bi-County. The Bi-County ceased to exist as a football conference after the end of the 1997 season. It’s members at the end were the Warren Warriors, (Stronghurst) Southern Rebels, (London Mills) Valley Vikings, (Sciota)Northwestern/LaHarpe Thunder co-op, Avon/Roseville Cougars co-op, Alexis Cardinals, (Biggsville) Union Yankees, and the Yorkwood Golden Bears. The Lincoln Trail Conference during Warren’s tenure with the conference consisted of WHS, Alexis Cardinals, Annawan Braves, Union Yankees, (Joy) Westmer Warriors, and the (Woodhull) AlWood Aces in the West division and (Toulon) Stark County Rebels, Princeville Princes, (Kewanee) Wethersfield Flying Geese, Galva Wildcats, Cambridge Vikings, and the (Oneida) R.O.W.V.A. Tigers in the East. Football was the only sport in which divisions existed. The successes at the school, as listed on the IHSA web site (www.IHSA.org), are listed below. Football Warren County and western Illinois are definately parts of a football “hotbed”. The Warren High School Warriors excelled in this sport for the entire 46 years of its existence. Most noteably, the boys of the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s truly excelled. Beginning in 1986, the Warren High School boys made an incredible 18 straight appearances in the IHSA Class A Football Playoffs!! The team was extremely competitive to the very end, making it to the Final Four in the school’s last solo season, 2003. Three coaches engineered the Warrior success, with Coach Tim Engebretson leading MWHS the longest and deepest into the playoffs. The best of Warren Warriors grid iron successes are listed below. 1962-63 6 – 2 – 1 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1963-64 7 – 1 – 1 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1964-65 6 – 2 – 1 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1965-66 4 – 2 – 2 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1966-67 6 – 2 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1967-68 7 – 0 – 1 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1968-69 8 – 1 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1970-71 7 – 2 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1975-76 8 – 1 Coach Dick Rowley 1981-82 6 – 3 Coach John Van Kirk 1982-83 6 – 3 Coach Dan Dillard 1986-87 7 – 3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Don Billington Lost to Wyoming 14 – 21 1987-88 10 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Don Billington Undefeated Regular Season (9-0) Beat Carthage 12 – 8 Lost to Roseville 0 – 43 1988-89 7 – 3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Don Billington Lost to Alexis 0 – 13 in 1st Round 1989-90 8 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Don Billington Lost to Sciota NW 11 – 22 in 1st Rd. 1990-91 11 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Don Billington Undefeated Regular Season (9-0) Elite Eight Finalist Beat Hamilton 30 – 16 Beat Alexis 28 – 6 Lost to Annawan 32 – 33 1991-92 10 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Jeff Wrede Undefeated Regular Season (9-0) Beat Carthage 12 – 8 Lost to Hamilton 0 – 18 1992-93 9 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Jeff Wrede Beat Hamilton 38 – 20 Lost to Carthage 13 – 42 1993-94 10 – 3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Final Four Finalist Beat Westmer 32 – 16 Beat Avon 31 – 0 Beat Annawan 21 – 20 (2 O/T) Lost to Sterling Newman 14 – 26 1994-95 9 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Undefeated Regular Season (9-0) Lost to Lexington 19 – 20 1995-96 8 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Lost to Wethersfield 12 – 14 1996-97 10 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Elite Eight Finalist Beat Abingdon 46 – 14 Beat Carthage 33 – 8 Lost to Sciota NW 13 – 20 1997-98 9 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Beat Abingdon 34 – 18 Lost to Tuscola 28 – 53 1998-99 11 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Undefeated Regular Season (9-0) Elite Eight Finalist Beat Wethersfield 39 – 12 Beat Stark County 21 – 0 Lost to Carthage 20 – 28 (2 O/T) 1999-00 6 – 4 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Lost to Freeport Aquin 14 – 47 2000-01 7 – 3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Lost to Girard 6 – 10 2001-02 8 – 5 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Final Four Finalist Beat Hardin Calhoun 28 – 0 Beat Abingdon 35 – 8 Beat Yorkwood 35 – 8 Lost to Wethersfield 12 – 27 2002-03 10 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Undefeated Regular Season (9-0) Beat Hamilton 49 – 20 Lost to Wethersfield 14 – 18 2003-04 11 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Engebretson Final Season as Warren High School Final Four Finalist Beat Cambridge 38 – 13 Beat Princeville 21 – 11 Beat Annawan 34 – 14 Lost to Galena 6 – 16 The Football program won the Lincoln Trail West Conference championship in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003. As you can see for yourself, the history of the Warren Warrior football program speaks for itself. Three Final Four appearances, Three Elite Eight appearances, 18 consecutive playoff appearances, and a 46 year overall record of 289 – 147 – 7 (.660 winning %)!! By The Numbers: 5 – Interceptions by Craig Robertson against Roseville in 1980. This is good for third best in Illinois H.S. Football history. 6 – Interceptions against Hardin Calhoun in the first round of the 2001 playoffs 10 – Total Interceptions by Robertson in 1980. 97 – Longest rush in school history by Mick Kaywood against Cambridge in the first round of the 2003 playoffs against Cambridge. 100 – Longest interception return for a touchdown in school history by Bret Smith in the first round of the 1999 playoffs against Freeport Aquin, despite a losing effort. 622 – Number of offensive yards accumulated against Stronghurst Southern on October 9, 1992. Great Players: In the mid-to-late 1980s, when the Warren Warrior program was just starting to heat up and become a name for themselves, one player by the name of Jim O’Brien (Class of ’89) placed his name all over the record books. Here are his accomplishments on the gridiron “by the numbers” all of which are school records: 8 – Games with over 200+ yards in his career (5 in 1988) 20.85 – Rushing average per carry in his career 22 – Punts returned in his career 23 – Games with over 100+ yards rushing in his career 58 – Rushing touchdowns scored 61 – Career touchdowns scored 183.7 – Rushing average per game in 1988 394 – Career points scored 449 – Yards on punt returns in his career 709 – Rushes attempted in his career 5,001 – Total yards rushing 5,151 – Total offensive yardage Great Job Monmouth Warren High School Warrior Football! Football Memories: From B.D. Collins: “Coach Mac (Ben McIntosh), has recently been accepted into the Illinois High School Football Coach Hall of Fame. During his time at Warren he also was very active with the academic competitions ICTM and WYSE. He took many teams to state level competitions, I don’t have the specifics on that but I think it would crack a smile on some faces if it was mentioned in the write up about him pestering students to take practice exams for WYSE and ICTM when not coaching.” Side Note: How could we not mention that the base of successful football teams developed at Monmouth Warren and Alexis high schools carried on after the consolidation. In fact, it carried the newly consolidated United Red Storm to a Class 1A Football Championship in its first year of existence (2004-05)!!
Boys Basketball Success on the grid-iron often carried over to the hardwood court. Harold “Bud” Davis (14 years, 190 – 156) showed his versatility in guiding the schools basketball program as well as its football program during his stay at the school. Davis’ teams won three District titles and a Regional title. These were the school’s only IHSA hardware won in the sport of boys basketball. Coach Tim Engebretson (7 years, 88 – 83) also coached the Warriors in basketball for seven seasons after his football season ended. The best of the Wawrren High School Warrior basketball seasons are listed below. 1962-63 19 – 6 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1963-64 14 – 9 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1965-66 19 – 8 District Champions Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1966-67 23 – 7 District Champions Coach Harold “Bud Davis Regional Champions Top 64 Teams – One-Class System 1967-68 20 – 7 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1968-69 17 – 9 District Champions Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1969-70 13 – 9 Coach Harold “Bud” Davis 1970-71 15 – 7 Coach Harold “Bud Davis 1980-81 16 – 10 Coach John Wieting 1982-83 14 – 10 Coach Dan Dillard 1986-87 16 – 8 Coach Dennis Mann 1987-88 16 – 10 Coach Dennnis Mann 1993-94 17 – 9 Coach Tim Engebretson 1995-96 15 – 10 Coach Tim Engebretson 1997-98 18 – 8 Coach Tim Engebretson |
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| Girls Basketball
The Lady Warriors had some nice success in basketball as well. The girls won two Regional Championships during their existence. The best of the hardwood court years for the Monmouth Warren High School Lady Warriors are listed below. 1973-74 4 – 1 Coach Rose Sandstrom 1974-75 6 – 2 Coach Rose Sandstrom 1975-76 7 – 2 Coach Debbie Edwards 1979-80 9 – 5 Coach Rose Sandstrom 1987-88 11 – 7 Coach Bob Richardson 1989-90 15 – 6 Regional Champions Coach Bob Richardson Top 64 Class A Teams 2002-03 15 – 7 Regional Champions Coach Gary Martin Top 64 Class A Teams Boys Track & Field The Warrior thincalds brought home four medals while competing at the State Class A Track Meet. Their successes are listed below. 1980-81 David Mannon 800 Meter Run 6th Place 2000-01 Relay Team 4 X 400 Meter Relay 5th Place 2001-02 Steven Koch 300 Meter Hurdles 6th Place 2002-03 Jay Boone 200 Meter Dash 5th Place Girls Track One Lady Warrior trackster also brought home a medal from the IHSA State Track Meet. 1989-90 Debbie Wilkinson Shot Put 4th Place Baseball / Softball Both baseball and softball were offered for the Monmouth Warren High School athletes. There is VERY limited information for the record on the IHSA web site. The only useful information on either sport is that the boys baseball coach of 2000-01 was Rick Johnson and the girl’s softball coach for 2000-01 was Gary Eyler. If you have further information about either of these sports at Warren High please write to us via e-mail. Group Interpretation The Monmouth Warren English Department added to the school’s show of versatility. The team won a District Title in Group Interpretation during the 1974-75 school year. The coach’s name is not available. Need Your Help There has to be a lot more to report and remember about Monmouth Warren High School. Forty-six years provides a lot of opportunity for learning and remembering. If you have any information regarding the many successes of Monmouth Warren High School, especially a photo of the high school building, 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
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Monmouth High School “Zippers”
The History of Monmouth High School Monmouth (population 9,841) is located in upper-western Illinois in central Warren County. The city is sits about 15 miles west of Galesburg and 15 miles east of the Mississippi River.U.S. Route 34 and U.S. Route 67 intersect in Monmouth along with Illinois Route 164. This Monmouth railroad history was provided by 1959 alum Larry Swanson: “Monmouth was settled at the junction of two railroads and an electric interurban railroad line – the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q), the Minneapolis and St. Louis (M&StL) and the Rock Island Southern (RIS). Today the CB&Q has become the BNSF and is still running. Both the M&StL and the RIS have been abandoned and their tracks removed, but you can see traces of the old track beds and bridges along the route. The M&StL coming from Minneapolis entered Illinois over the Mississippi on a bridge at Keithsburg. It then ran through Little York, Monmouth, Nemo, and Abingdon on its way to Peoria. The RIS left Monmouth to Galesburg one way and to Rock Island the other way, running up the West side of present Route 67 but not always visible from the road. Traces of the old bridge used to be visible at Cedar Creek. On the East side of Route 67 there was also a railroad bridge visible over Cedar Creek, but that one was a spur line from the CB&Q, which was abandoned while we were in High School. My grandfather, Bert McIntyre, worked as telegrapher for the M&SL at Norwood and Burgess north of Monmouth. Both my father, Ronald Swanson, and my uncle, Paul McIntyre, in their youth worked summers as brakemen on the CB&Q. Monmouth was a railroad town. The auto routes 34 and 67 came later. Monmouth is now located at the junction of 34 and 67, but it was settled at the junction of the three railroads.” Monmouth is and always has been a very progressive and active community. The small private college of the same name, Monmouth College, has been one staple of the city for approximately 150 years. The Monmouth area was settled shortly after the War of 1812 finished. According to the towns website, http://www.ci.monmouth.il.us/history_community.htm , a gentleman named John Talbot won the rights to some land in the area in a “game of chance” and soon discovered the great resources the area possessed. Monmouth soon grew into the thriving community it has become today. The residents of early Monmouth saw the need to educate their young children too. It is believed that a high school was started in the town in the middle 1800s. Monmouth High School served the community of Monmouth for over 100 years on a solo basis. In the early 2000s the Roseville School District began consolidation talks with Monmouth High School. In 2005 this effort became a reality with the creation of the Monmouth-Roseville School District. Monmouth High School’s official name, school mascot, and team colors were changed as well. For more stories regarding Monmouth High School check out a book authored by long-time teacher Susan Van Kirk: “A veteran of thirty-four years in public high school teaching, Susan Van Kirk has written a montage of stories that take you on a passionate and unforgettable journey through one teaching life at Monmouth High School, in Monmouth, Illinois. Her book, The Education of a Teacher (Including Dirty Books and Pointed Looks), describes the town, the school, and the students who molded a rookie teacher into a veteran. Sometimes inspirational, sometimes heart-breaking or hilarious, these are unforgettable stories from a real classroom that illustrate why teaching is an inspired and rewarding profession like no other. Van Kirk’s early fears about classroom discipline, hilarious student plots to overthrow “the rookie,” a student drug overdose, the first student death, and a challenge to a major Kurt Vonnegut book in her classroom are just some of the topics of the fifteen stories. Told as entertaining narratives, these stories are nevertheless based on real events that occurred at Monmouth High School from 1968-2002. They should bring back memories of the Zippers and maroon and gold. Her book can be purchased at Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. Susan Van Kirk, Author The Education of a Teacher (Including Dirty Books and Pointed Looks) Now available at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com website: http://www.susanvankirk.com email: svankirk@monm.edu.” The high school for the Monmouth-Roseville School District is located in the original Monmouth High School building pictured above. Monmouth High School Quick Facts Year opened: middle 1800s Year consolidated with Roseville: 2005 (Monmouth-Roseville School District) Original Monmouth team nickname: the “Maroons” Year nickname changed: 1938 “New” team nickname: the “Zippers” School colors: Maroon & Gold School Fight Song: “The Alma Matter” “The Alma Mater is an original composition by MHS Band Director Lester S. Munneke, who also wrote the fight song. We were one of very few high schools which did not borrow a college fight song.” (Information provided by Larry Swanson) From current bandmaster Dan Potts: “You will be pleased to note the music mentioned in the quote from Larry Swanson is saved and is in great condition. Both the school song titled “Salute to the Zippers” and the “Monmouth Alma Mater” were indeed composed by bandmaster Lester Munneke. Since Mr. Munneke’s tenure an additional school song was added by bandmaster Edgar Sheckler entitled “Hail to the Varsity”. Hail to the Varsity We’ll give a cheer for the varsity, Cheer them along the way. Onward to victory, May they win a game today! We’ll give a cheer for the varsity, Long may they reign supreme. Shout till the echos ring, For the glory of our team!” Monmouth-Roseville High School Fight Song An Original Composition by Music Director Dan Potts Fight on Monmouth Roseville Fight on down the field Spirit tied with unity We’ll fight on for a victory! Fight on Monmouth Roseville Show forth your Silver and Blue GO! TITANS! GO! On to Victory For Monmouth-Roseville High!
Monmouth High School Alma Mater Composed by Lester Muneke Submitted by Bob Swanson Hail to Thee Our Alma Mater Monmouth Hail to Thee We Her Sons and Her Daughter Raise Her Praises to the Sky. Loyal to Maroon and Gold Shall We Ever Be Hail to Thee Our Alma Mater Monmouth Hail to Thee. |
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ATHLETICS
Monee High School
| The History of Monee High School
Monee (population 2,924) is located in northeastern Illinois in the northeast portion of Will County. Interstate Highway 57 passes by the west side of town. There is an exit from I-57 for Monee aptly named Monee-Manhattan Road. Illinois Route 50 also passes through town, as does the Illinois Central / Amtrack Railroad line. A nice history of the town of Monee can be found on the village website at http://www.villageofmonee.org/c03.html . In summary, the article states that Monee was platted in 1853 and incorporated as a village in 1874. The village is named after a French-Ottawa Indian woman named Marie, who the “Indians” referred to as “Monee”. Public school education was started in Monee during the 1800s. In 1905, a 51’ x 60’ two-story brick structure was erected. The building contained four rooms, was designed by Deal and Ginzel, and construction was supervised by George Cosgrove of nearby Peotone. Two years of high school education started in 1923 with 15 students. Monee High School lasted until 1948, when the school district consolidated with nearby Crete to form Crete-Monee. The 1905 building was vacated for school purposes in 1965 and was used for a time as offices for the Will County Judicial Circuit. It is believed that this building has since been razed. For more information please check out the following web addresses: http://www.cm201u.org/index.aspx?NID=2304 http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1 Monee High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1923 Year closed: 1948 Consolidated to: Crete-Monee High School Monee HS team nickname: unavailable Monee HS team colors: unavailable Monee HS fight song: unavailable |
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Momence St. Patrick Academy
| Momence St. Patrick High School Building | |||||||||
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| Courtesy of Sherree Benoit | |||||||||
The History of Momence St. Patrick Academy
Momence (population: 3,200) is located in eastern Illinois in Kankakee County, about eight miles of Kankakee and six miles west of the Illinois-Indiana state line. The Kankakee River runs thru the middle of the city, and can also be reached by using state highways 1, 17, and 114.
The community was named for Isadore Momence, who later married the daughter of a Pottawatomi chief, sometime in the 1830’s or so. When Kankakee County was founded in 1853, Momence was one of the founding townships.
St. Patrick’s Academy was opened in 1906 as a co-ed grade school and all-girls’ high school. The Sisters Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary was in charge when the school opened. Boarders as well as day students were accepted.
The original building was built by Rev. Armand L. LaBrie, who was the pastor of St. Patrick Church, and it grew to the point that additional wings were built in 1910 and 1924. Classes were taught for college prep and commercial students.
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The school continued to serve grade schoolers and high school girls alike until around 1965 when the grade school was closed on account of the Sisters Servants not having enough teachers to staff the school. The order had moved a number of its members to bigger city schools to teach, which cut into the staffing of similar schools like St. Patrick’s.
Today. the grade school remains on the site, but the original convent building was torn down while the wings remain. That building housed a number of the dormitories for the boarding students, and also had some good-size parlors when parents came to the visit their daughters at school. |
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| INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MOMENCE ST. PATRICK ACADEMY
Year opened: 1906 Year closed: 1965 School colors: unknown School nickname: unknown School song: unknown ACTIVITIES We are not certain if there were any activities at the school, although one would want to have reason to believe there were dances, parties, GAA, music department offerings, and even Catholic school type organizations like Sodality at St. Patrick’s. If you know anything, please contact us at the addresses listed below. THE MORE WE GET, THE BETTER WE CAN TELL THE STORY…. about St. Patrick’s Academy in Momence. We would like to see about getting a photo of the old school itself, information about extra curricular activities, school colors, nickname, and school song. Please contact us by emailing ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or send it via USPS to: Illinois High School Glory Days 6439 North Neva Chicago, IL 60631 |
Momence St. Jude’s Seminary H.S. “Black Knights”
The History of Momence St. Jude’s Seminary Momence (population: 3,200) is located in eastern Illinois in Kankakee County, about eight miles east of Kankakee and six miles west of the Illinois-Indiana state line. The Kankakee River runs thru the middle of the city, and can also be reached by using state highways 1, 17, and 114. The community was named for Isadore Momence, who later married the daughter of a Pottawatomi chief, sometime in the 1830’s or so. When Kankakee County was founded in 1853, Momence was one of the founding townships. Our good man and site author Kev Varney provided the following research information on St. Jude’s Seminary: “The seminary was organized in 1933 through funds given to the Chicago Police branch of the St. Jude’s League, and grew to the point that the school went from a small building to a three-story brick and stone structure in 1937. St. Jude’s was located on Illinois Route 1, also known as the Dixie Highway, and bordered the Kankakee River. The school’s main purpose was to prepare future missionaries with the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (also known as the Claretian Fathers). Here are a couple of links as well: 1) History of St. Anthony Claret (founder of the Claretians): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claretians 2) The Claretians’ website and their history: Website mentioning Claretians’ archives: www.claretiansusa.org . ” The seminary was officially closed in 1973 after 40 years of service. Momence St. Jude’s Seminary Quick Facts Year opened: 1933 Year closed: 1973 School team nickname: “Black Knights” School team colors: Black & Orange School Fight Song: unavailable |
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