The History of St. Mary’s High School of Moline Moline (population 43,768) is located in northwestern Illinois in Rock Island County. It is one of the feature cities which are part of the “Quad Cities” area located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Illinois and Iowa. The Rock River is also a main waterway which passes through Moline. The area was shaped early on by its location near these rivers. Railroad lines were the second major mode of transportation bringing folks to the Moline area. Roadways soon followed. Illiinois Routes 5 and 92, U.S. Routes 6, 67, and 150, and Interstate Highways 74 and 80 all lead to Moline. The St. Mary’s Parish was the first Catholic parish in Moline. Moline began an educational system for its children in the early stages of its growth. The Catholic Church realized the opportunity and need for education and established a school in Moline. St. Mary’s began as a one-room school in 1884. A larger building was built to house the growing student population in 1896. In 1926 a “modern” brick structure was built for the high school and it flourished for nearly 25 years. In 1949 a new Catholic high school was built in Rock Island (Alleman). It was decided by the archdiocese to close St. Mary’s High School in Moline and have just one Catholic high school for the immediate area. St. Mary’s continued as a grade school for the Moline area for several more years. It, too, eventually ceased being used in this capacity. The former St. Mary’s High School building is still functional though is now used in a different capacity by the St. Mary’s Parish. A well-written and researched report regarding the history of St. Mary’s High School in Moline was written by our good friend, Richard Soseman. Richard’s report follows directly after the “Quick Facts” portion of this page. Moline St. Mary’s High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1884 (one-room school) Year larger structure built: 1896 Year brick building built: 1926 Year St. Mary’s HS closed: 1949 Consolidated to: Rock Island Alleman HS St. Mary’s team nickname: unavailable St. Mary’s team colors: Blue & White School Fight Song: unavailable A booklet given out at the All Class Reunion, October, 1992, had the following verses: The bells of St. Mary’s Ah, hear they are calling The young loves, the true loves Who come from the seas. And so, my beloved, When red leaves are falling The love bells shall ring out Ring out, for you and me. |
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Mokena High School “Meteors”
The History of Mokena High School Mokena (population 17,396) is located in far northeastern Illinois in the northeastern portion of Will County. Mokena is located about 8 miles west of Joliet. Interstate Highway 80 runs by the north side of town. U.S. Route 30 travels past the south edge of town. An excellent history of the town of Mokena can be viewed on the web address of http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/834.html . A short summary of this article includes the following: The area Mokena is founded in was originally settled in the 1830s. The Rock Island Railway made its way through the area in 1852, adding greatly to the town’s growth potential. A public school was established in 1855. Mokena became somewhat of a farming center by the 1870s, with several businesses added to serve the growing farm population. Mokena was incorporated as a village in 1880. That year its population was 522. The population would only increase by 135 in the next 60 years. Several things happened over the next 60 years (1940 – 2000) however that have made Mokena one of Chicago’s fastest growing south suburbs. Mokena’s population exploded in the 1990s, more than doubling in the decade to a 2000 census of 14,583. Housing growth in the area has maintained a steady trend which has brought the 2005 estimated population of the town to 17,396. Information on the former Mokena High School was provided to us by former student Bob Homerding and former grade school student, and local historian, Robert Horras. Bob Homerding (Class of 1941) advises that Mokena High School was a two-year high school with students attending Joliet Central or Orland High School if they wanted to obtain a four-year degree. An extensive history of Mokena High School was sent to us by Robert Horras. Robert submitted the following article regarding the history of Mokena High School: ” HISTORY OF MOKENA HIGH SCHOOL The Mokena High School was in operation from 1913 until May of 1944. It was always one room in a four room school building. The other three rooms were the grade school. There are no records that can positively set a beginning date for the Mokena High School. As far back as January 1883 there was a total enrollment in the Mokena school system of 81 students. Of that number, 22 of these students were 14 years and older. Was this the high school? It begs a different question; when did the term “high school” start? The 1883 records are the only ones to survive prior to 1920. The proof of a separate high school class is a 1914 photo labeled “First and Second Year High School”. In the school years 1925-26 and 1926-27 there was a third year of high school added. The junior year of high school only lasted these two years. In 1925-26 there were 13 freshmen, 13 sophomores, and 9 juniors. In the school year 1926-27 there were 15 freshmen, 5 sophomores, and 5 juniors. This junior year was probably dropped due to enrollment declines. As far back as the early 1930’s, students realized that they were not getting a good enough education to compete when they went on to their junior and senior year of high school. When the school board was asked why the one room high school should be kept open for this small enrollment, the response was surprising. The board explained that if Mokena did not keep the two year high school, the farm children would probably stop their education at the eighth grade and not continue. Therefore it seems that quality education was sacrificed in order to allow more students to attend school. The high school enrollment had always been small. In 1914-15 the enrollment was a total of 16 students. In 1923-24 the total enrollment was 22. In 1930-31 the total was 28. The high point was 1939-40 when the total enrollment was 36. By the last year of the high school in 1943-44, the enrollment was down to a total of 19 students. In September 1943 the three grade school rooms were extremely overcrowded. It was decided to end the high school in May of 1944.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: According to surviving high school students from the 1930’s, most students completed their last two years of high school at the Joliet Township High School. At this time, the train schedule did not allow the students to take the train to Joliet. For this reason, students carpooled. Since drivers’ licenses were not required, the students could drive themselves. By the late 1930’s the train schedules changed and the students rode the train to Joliet. Some students did take the train to Chicago and attended classes there. Orland Park also had a four year high school. They had a bus that picked up students in southern Orland Township. Bob Homerding finished his first two years of high school in Mokena in May of 1941. He was recruited by Orland Park to play basketball during his final two years of high school. Orland Park sent the bus into Mokena to pick him up. Submitted by Robert Horras (local historian) on January 5, 2008 Graduate of Mokena Grade School in 1961″ In 1951 the Lincoln-Way School District was formed out of several small Districts in the area. Mokena was a part of this action, and continues to be today. The former Mokena High School building now serves as the Mokena City Hall. Mokena High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1913 Year closed: 1944 Consolidated to: Lincoln-Way School District (1951) Mokena HS team nickname: the “Meteors” Mokena HS team colors: Green & White School Fight Song: unavailable |
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Modesto High School
The History of Modesto High School Modesto (population 252) is located in the lower porton of west-central Illinois. The town is about 20 miles southwest of Springfield and 20 miles southeast of Jacksonville. Modesto was established in the northwestern portion of Macoupin County. Illinois Route 111 is the main roadway to and from Modesto connecting it to Palmyra just four miles to the south. A railroad line had a major influence on Modesto’s early growth and development. The history of Modesto can be viewed at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmacoup/history/modesto.txt . Basicaly Modesto was established along the Chicago, Peoria, & St. Louis Railroad line in 1882. It was officially incorporated as an Illinois town in 1896. It was named by an early settler of the area after the town of Modesto, California.
The history of the school system is in need of research. It is probable that Modesto had a school for its children in place by the early 1900s. A high school curriculum was likely established in the early 19-teens. We know that Modesto High School served the town and surrounding farm children for about 40 years. It was in the late 1940s that consolidation talks between the northwestern Macoupin County towns of Modesto, Palmyra, Scottville, and Hettick began. The towns agreed to the effort and created the Northwestern School District in 1948. The fate of the Modesto school building is being sought. The high school for the Northwestern School District landed in or near Palmyra. In fact all grades for the Northwestern District are located in a building in Palmyra. If you have this information please contact us at eganann@sbcglobal.net. Modesto High School Quick Facts Year opened: early 1900s Year closed: 1948 Consolidated to: Northwestern School District (Palmyra) Modesto HS team nickname: unavailable Modesto HS team colors: unavailable School Fight Song: unavailable |
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Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School “Mohawks”
The History of Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School The towns of Minonk (population 2,168), Dana (population 171), and Rutland (population 354) all at one time had their own high schools. You can read about each town and its individual high school on this site as each high school has its own page. It was Dana who first was annexed to the Minonk school system. This occurred in 1949 when Dana, like many small schools of that particular year, was enticed to consolidate by the State of Illinois. This consolidation was called the Minonk-Dana school district. This joint effort lasted for six years when it was joined by Rutland in 1955. The school district was renamed the Minonk-Dana-Rutland school district, enjoying 37 years of education until 1992, when the nearby towns of Toluca and Wenona looked to consolidate their schools with Minonk-Dana-Rutland. The effort was successful and was renamed the Fieldcrest School District. The Fieldcrest High School building is located in Minonk and was home to Minonk, Minonk-Dana, and Minonk-Dana-Rutland High Schools before Fieldcrest came into existance. An excellent web site to read about the schools and towns of Minonk-Dana-Rutland is available at the following two addresses: http://www.fieldcrest.k12.il.us/alumni/index.htm, and http://www.minonktalk.com. Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School Quick Facts Year Minonk-Dana HS formed: 1949 Year Minonk-Dana-Rutland HS formed: 1955 Year Fieldcrest HS formed: 1992 M-D & M-D-R School nickname: the “Mohawks” School colors: Black & Orange School Fight Song: “Cheer, Cheer for MDR High” (Notre Dame University Fight Song Tune) (Click “play” button below, slide bar half way across bottom) Cheer Cheer for MDR High Sound out your cheers clear up to the sky Raise your voices, let them trill MDR High sure fills the bill…lah, lah, lah
We’ve got a team that’s goin’ to town Long as we cheer they won’t let us down. Fight team, fight, and show them that we’re Onward to victory!
Cha-he-cha-ha-cha-ha-ha-ha MDR Mohwarks Rah Rah Rah!! (Thank you to Lois Freberg) |
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Minonk High School “Mohawks”
The History of Minonk High School Minonk (population 2,168) is located in northeastern Woodford County about 30 miles south of LaSalle. Illinois Route 251 is the main route in town and County Roads 2100 and 2200 border the north and south sides of town. There is an exit for Minonk on Interstate Highway 39, which runs within a half mile of the west side of town. Two major railroad companies, the AT & SF Railroad and the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, have lines that intersect in the middle of Minonk. Minonk has a rich history of educating its children. Schooling dates back to the mid-1800’s, specifically 1857, and continues in town today. Minonk flew solo as its own school system until 1948. That fall, the kids from nearby Dana were annexed into the Minonk system. The school was renamed Minonk-Dana for six years until 1956 when the kids of Rutland were annexed into the Minonk-Dana School. Again, the school was renamed to Minonk-Dana-Rutland. The nickname and school colors remained consistent. In 1992, the schools from Wenona and Toluca closed, sending their children to Minonk, also. The school was renamed the Fieldcrest School District with the high school located in Minonk Minonk High School performed quite well on its own. The male athletes excelled in sports. A great deal of information regarding Minonk and its educational history can be found at the following web site: http://www.minonktalk.com/schoolhs.htm. Minonk High School Quick Facts Year opened: late 1800’s Year became “Minonk-Dana”: 1949 Year became “Minonk-Dana-Rutland”:1956 School nickname: the “Mohawks” School colors: Orange & Black School Fight Song: “Minonk High School Loyalty” Illinois Loyalty Fight Song Tune Thank you to Albie Johnson We’re Loyal to you, Minonk High, We’re Orange & Black, Minonk High. We’ll back you to stand, ‘gainst the best in the land for we know you can stand, Minonk High! Rah Rah!! So crack out the ball, Minonk High We’re backing you all, Minonk High! Our team is our fame protector: On! Boys for we expect a Victory from you Minonk High!! |
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Minier High School “Wildcats”
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The History of Minier High School
The town of Minier (population 1,244) is located in eastern Tazwell County on Illinois Route 122 approximately 20 miles west (and a little south) of Bloomington. The town was established at the intersection of two major railways, the Illinois Gulf Central Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The following history of the town was offered by our own Kev Varney:
Minier’s history goes back to October 1867, when the town was founded by George W. Minier when the Illinois Central Railroad made a payment to him for services he rendered to the railroad. He was known as “Father Minier” and was an ordained minister of the Christian Church. He was a friend of both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. The village was laid out and lots were quickly purchased by those in the surrounding area, as well as Ohio & Pennsylvania. As a result, Minier grew quickly and gained a reputation as a being self-supporting for a town its size.
The origin of the school system in Minier dates to 1884 and continued on its own for many years as the town of Minier successfully supported its own school system for over eight decades. In 1965, the school districts of Armington, Hopedale and Minier consolidated but their high schools remained open. In 1968 the towns of Stanford and Minier formed the Stanford-Minier School District. This arrangement worked until 1972 when school districts of Armington-Hopedale-Minier, Atlanta, Danvers, Stanford, and McLean-Waynesville all merged to create the Olympia School District. The high school for the new District was located in Stanford. For an incredibly insightful article on the early history of Minier HS scroll to the bottom of this page. The article appeared in the school’s year book in 1931 and is an excellent piece for this site.
Th original Minier High School building has been demolished. Olympia West Elementary School is located in Minier. The original Minier Gymnasium still stands today, now used as part of a private business.
Minier High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1884
Year closed: 1968
Consolidated to: Stanford-Minier High School
School nickname: the “Wildcats”
School colors: Purple & Gold
School Fight Song: “Onward Wildcats”
Song & Lyrics provided by Teresa Schappaugh
Onward Wildcats, Onward Wildcats
Dribble down the floor!
Give the players all a chance
To make a bigger score,
Rah, Rah, Rah !!
Fight Em Wildcats, Fight Em Wildcats
On to victory,
For you know we’ll stand beside you
Endlessly!!
Wi—-ld—-ca—-ts!!
An earlier fight song for the WIldcats was printed in the 1948 Minier HS yearbook. It was provided to us by Barbara Brown, who’s husband Bill Brown was a 1948 graduate of Minier High School. The song is quoted from the yearbook below:
Hear the cheers from the stands and the bleachers,
As the WILDCATS past us fly.
They’re the pride of the students and teachers,
This great team of Minier High.
To our school we will always be loyal,
We will Work. We will Fight. We will Win. Rah. Rah.
For our spirit can’t be broken,
On to Vic-to-ry again.
| AthleticsMinier High School definitely offered basketball and track. These sports have documentation on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). We are seeking further information from an area fan regarding the other sports and successes offered at the school.
—————————————————————————————— Boys’ Basketball Hold on to your hats here. The Minier boys dominated the area in the sport of basketball during the 1940’s and 1950’s. The Minier roundballers won 8 of the 10 District titles available in the 1940’s (all 8 were in a row) and 5 of the 10 titles (including 3 in a row) in the 1950’s! Add one more District title in 1965 and simple math gives Minier 14 total District Championships! Unfortunately, we do not have the records of most of the teams and are missing some of the coaches’ names. Minier’s schedule included games against Stanford, Atlanta, Armington, Hopedale, Delavan, Green Valley, Tremont, Morton, Deer Creek., and Mackinaw, among others. The 14 District title years are listed below. —– 1940-41 Minier District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Beat Green Valley 37-18 Semi-Final Beat Deer Creek Title Game Beat Mackinaw 22-21 (O/T) Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Stanford 27-17 East Peoria beat Pekin in title game. —– 1941-42 Minier District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. Early Rd Scores Needed. Title Game Beat Mackinaw 33-22 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Danvers 47-24 Semi-Final lost to Pekin 48-28 Pekin beat Peoria Manual in title game. —– 1942-43 Minier District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Beat Stanford 37-18 Semi-Final Beat Green Valley 47-28 Title Game Beat Deer Creek 31-24 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Hopedale 46-34 Semi-Final lost to Pekin 82-36 Pekin beat Peoria Spalding in title game. —– 1943-44 Minier District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. Early Rd Scores Needed. Title Game Beat Deer Creek 36-21 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Morton 48-36 Pekin beat Peoria Woodruff in title game. —– 1944-45 24 – 4 Minier District Champions Coach Lawrence Camp County Tourney 2nd Pl. Minier District Tournament 1st Rd Beat Deer Creek 74-40 Semi-Final Beat Forest City 54-37 Title Game Beat Stanford 44-32 Delavan Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Tremont 65-30 Semi-Final Beat Pekin 43-29 Title Game lost to Peoria Central 47-44 (O/T). GREAT TEAM—VERY GOOD REGIONAL TOURNEY SCORES! —–
1945-46 Minier District Champions Coach Edwin E. Saunders 1st Rd Beat Carlock 57-28 Semi-Final Beat Hopedale 49-32 Title Game Beat Green Valley 53-39 Pekin Regional Tournament Tournament Runner-Up! 1st Rd Beat Mackinaw 44-31 Semi-Final Beat Morton 33-30 Title Game lost to Pekin 39-33 —– 1946-47 Minier District Champions Coach Edwin E. Saunders 1st Rd Beat Danvers 58-49 Semi-Final Beat Green Valley 44-35 Title Game Beat Hopedale 53-32 Delavan Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Eureka 56-42 Semi-Final lost to Morton 52-47 Pekin beat Morton in title game. —– 1947-48 12 – 10 Miinier District Champions Coach Edwin E. Saunders 1st Rd Beat Deer Creek 57-43 Semi-Final Beat Green Valley 53-38 Title Game Beat Manito 40-39 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Mackinaw 40-37 Pekin beat Peoria Manual in title game. —–
1951-52 Green Valley District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Bye Semi-Final Beat San Jose 52-34 Title Game Beat Danvers 60-30 Pekin Regional Tournament Runner-Up! 1st Rd Score Needed Semi-Final Beat Deer Creek-Mackinaw 65-52 Title Game lost to Pekin 48-39 PEKIN (48): Dickerson 16, Glass 12, McCord 9, Phillips 8, Lee 2, Berardi 1. MINIER (39): Huff 15, Myers 10, Darnall 8, Struck 3, Pree 2, Litwiler 1. —– 1953-54 Green Valley District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. Early Rd Scores Needed Title Game Beat San Jose 36-29 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Delavan 54-49 Pekin beat Peoria Woodruff in title game. —– 1955-56 Green Valley District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Bye Semi-Final Beat Tremont 56-34 Title Game Beat San Jose 54-52 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat Morton 72-55 Semi-Final lost to Pekin 50-48 Peoria Limestone beat Pekin 71-70 in title game. —– 1956-57 Tremont District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Bye Semi-Final Beat San Jose 81-47 Title Game Beat Danvers 63-60 Peoria Limestone Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Limestone 57-49 Pekin beat East Peoria in title game. —– 1957-58 27-4 Stanford District Champions Coach Lee Hephinestine 1st Rd Bye Semi-Final Beat Tremont 53-46 Title Game Beat Danvers 58-48 Pekin Regional Tournament 1st Rd Beat East Peoria 52-49 Semi-Final lost to Peoria Spalding 65-41 Peoria Spalding beat Morton in title game. —– 1964-65 Green Valley District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Beat Stanford 74-59 Semi-Final Beat San Jose 54-53 Title Game Beat Delavan 76-48 East Peoria Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to East Peoria 48-39 Pekin beat Peoria Limestone in title game. —– 1967-68 Green Valley District Champions Coach’s name & record needed. **1st Rd lost to Tremont 66-63 Green Valley beat San Jose in title game. **Final boys varsity basketball game for Minier High School. ———————————————————————————————- Boys Track & Field One male athlete brought home a medal from the IHSA State Track Meet. His first name is not listed. His accomplishment is listed below. 1933-34 Craig 880 Yard Run 4th Place ———————————————————————————————– Baseball From Mark Jurenga: “Gene Creek was the baseball coach at Minier HS for a while before taking the head baseball coaching job at Lake Land Community College in Matoon. At Lake Land he won 1,087 games in 35 years and is in NJCAA coaches Hall of Fame.” Below is a photo of the Minier HS baseball team of 1947-48:
Need Your Knowledge Can you add some facts to the Minier High School lore on this web site? Team nickname, school colors, especially records of all the championship teams and coaches names would be interesting. Also a photo of the old High School building and its status would be fun to share. Please help by completing a School Submission Form or Guest Commentary Form. You can also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net
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Mineral High School “Leopards”
The History of Mineral High School District 124 |
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(Milton) East Pike High School “Panthers”
The History of East Pike High School Milton (population 274) is located in lower-western Illinois about 30 miles southwest of Jacksonville and eight miles southeast of Pittsfield. The town was platted in the eastern portion of Pike County about three miles west of the Illinois River. For more information on Milton click on this address: http://www.pikeil.org/communities/milton.html Pearl (population 187) is located in lower western Illinois in the southeast corner of Pike County. Pearl is located on the banks of the Illinois River. About eight miles of roadway known as Illinois Route 100 connects the two towns. For more information on Pearl check out: http://www.pikeil.org/communities/pearl.html . The two towns supported their own high schools throughout the first half of the 1900s. In the early 1950s the residents agreed to combine their efforts into one school district. In 1955 this effort was realized with the creation of the East Pike School District. East Pike High School was located in Milton. We believe that a grade school remained in Pearl as well. The school system was solid for nearly 25 years. However it was decided in 1979 that the District would be dissolved. East Pike was a great school district and asset to the area. Its loss, as with nearly all of the smaller towns on this website, had a tough effect in many ways on the towns of Milton and Pearl. East Pike High School Class of 1979 alum Joy Kern has these memories of EPHS: “Milton High School closed in 1955, the same year that Pearl High School,(located 8 miles south) closed. The two schools combined and became the East Pike Panthers. My Grandfather Lyndell Bliss Kern graduated from Milton High School in 1930. He went on to become a coach and P.E. teacher in the North Green area. Now for some irony, my father Johnie Rae Kern was in the last class to graduate from Milton High School, my mother Jean Johnson Kern was in the last graduating class from Pearl High School and myself, Joy Rachelle Kern was in the last class to graduate from East Pike High School.
East Pike High School closed in 1979. Students now go to Pikeland Unit 10. In 1976 East Pike was told that if a new “Ag” shop could be built at the expense of the town we could keep the school open. The town did just that. Sadly, 4 years later, the school was closed anyway. The “ag” shop is now used to store much of the town’s equipement. The school building is still standing but is in a bad state of disrepair. Milton lost more than just their school when the building was closed. Many of the businesses were affected as well. Today there is a cafe where the old Bisel Grocery store was. The entire north side of the square has been razed. The bandstand does still stand and has been refurbished although I am not sure of the year. East Pike High School may be a thing of the past but I personally will always have the pride of the East Pike Panthers!” The alumni of East Pike High School live on! Mary Reel tells us technology provides a place for the Panther faithful to keep in contact. Check out this Facebook address and enjoy…. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/East-Pike-High-School/355972920864 Erica Cleveland tells us the East Pike Grade School was closed in 1988 with students then attending Pittsfield Higbee Grade School. The students of Pearl and Milton now attend school in Pittsfield. Dale Summers tells us the East Pike High School building and the Milton Grade School building were razed in 2007. East Pike High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1955 Year closed: 1979 Year Grade School Closed: 1988 Consolidated to: Pittsfield High School East Pike HS team nickname: the “Panthers” East Pike HS team colors: Black & Gold School Fight Song: “On Old East Pike” University of Wisconsin Fight Song Tune |
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Milton High School “Mustangs”
The History of Milton High School Milton (population 274) is located in lower-western Illinois about 30 miles southwest of Jacksonville and eight miles southeast of Pittsfield. The town was platted in the eastern portion of Pike County about three miles west of the Illinois River. Illinois Route 100 is the main roadway that cuts through the middle of Milton from north to south. Branches of the Little Blue Creek flow through the north and south sides of town.
The history of the town and its school system are in need of research. We are fairly certain the townspeople of Milton began a school system for their children shortly after the town’s inception. We are also fairly certain that the high school for the town’s children was active by the late 1800s. Milton High School served the town for at least five decades. in the early 1950s it was decided to consolidate Milton High School with nearby Pearl High School. The result was the creation of the East Pike School District. East Pike HS subsequently closed in 1979. MIlton students now attend school in Pittsfield. The Milton High School buildings have both been razed. The newer building was razed in 2007. There is a “bandstand” still standing however, a reminder of the town’s wonderful past. Milton High School Quick Facts Year opened: late 1800s Year closed: 1955 Annexed to: East Pike School District (Milton) Milton HS team nickname: “Mustangs” Milton HS team colors: Red & White School Fight Song: unavailable Thank you to ONA DAY JOHNSTON for the quick facts information. |
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Millstadt High School
The History of Millstadt High School Millstadt (population 2,794) is located in southwestern Illinois about 12 miles southeast of East St. Louis. This southwest St. Clair County town is situated at the intersection of Illinois Routes 158 and 163. The Douglas Creek flows by the northeast side of town while their are three ponds also sitting about Milstadt. A great history of the town of Millstadt can be read the Millstadt Consolidated School website at http://www.millstadt.stclair.k12.il.us/history/town.htm . The following is an exact copy of that article: “The first settlers of this area were of English ancestry and came from the original thirteen colonies because they received land grants for their services in the military in the late 1700’s .The first Germans came up the Mississippi from New Orleans as a group in 1834. Millstadt was laid out in 1836 on a section of Henry Randleman’s land and was named Centreville due to its central location. It was incorporated in 1875. The story of how Millstadt developed out of “Centreville” goes something like this. The current Centerville and our Centreville each had a post offices through which a great deal of mail became confused and miss delivered. Our town’s forefathers, upon applying for formal organization through the state, supposedly decided on the name “Mittlestadt or Middlestadt” which means literally “center city”; somehow the state misread the writing and sent back the papers reading “Millstadt”. As you can guess, the governing group decided to keep that name as we had several mills at that time and the name fit.” The history of the school system was not as well documented. The only information we found is that the many small country schools that were in the area of Millstadt were closed in the early 1950s. Some consolidated to Millstadt while most consolidated to Belleville. We believe that Millstadt supported a high school because there are photos of the school’s marching band uniforms on the museum page of the school’s website. There is not any mention of Millstadt High School that we could find. As you may be able to decipher, we are in need of help regarding the history of Millstadt High School. Millstadt High School Quick Facts Year opened: late 1800s? Year closed: 1950s? Consolidated to: Belleville School District MIllstadt HS team nickname: unavailable Millstadt HS team colors: unavailable (possibly maroon & white) School Fight Song: unavailable |
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