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Loraine High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized

   The History of Loraine High School

Loraine (population 363) is located in north-central Adams County in western Illinois. Loraine is located just north of Illinoiis Route 61 on County Highway 336.  The South Fork of the Bear Creek flows to the west of town. Loraine sits about 15 miles northeast of Quincy.

A nice history of the town of Loraine is found on the internet web address of http://history.rays-place.com/il/adams-mendon.htm. In summary, the town was platted in 1870 by a railroad company laying tracks through the area. The town enjoyed steady growth during its early years. At the time the article was written in 1919, Loraine had a bustling population of over 700 residents.

Loraine started an educational system for its children in 1843. The high school may have been established in the late 1800s in a two-story brick building that had one classroom on each floor. That building was later torn down & replaced by a new two-story frame building in 1892-93 that had four classrooms, but it burned down in 1901.

Rather than starting in new ground, the folks in Loraine decided to clear the rubble and erect a new high school in 1903, which is when a three-year school opened. Additions were made to the building in 1910, 1915, and 1920 with a second story added.

Loraine High School served its children for over four decades. In the late 1940’s, consolidation talks began with nearby Mendon as well as Lima and Ursa. These conversations became reality in 1948, when the four towns pooled their resources and consolidated their schools to form the Unity School District (http://www.fourstar.lib.il.us/community/cusd4/who/).

Loraine kept a grade school in her town including the building of a new elementary school building in 1965. This school still serves the Unity School District today.  The fate of the original Loraine High School building is being sought.

Loraine High School Quick Facts

Year opened:               late 1800’s

Year closed:                1948

Consolidated to:           Unity High School (Mendon)

School nickname:         unavailable

School colors:              unavailable

School Fight Song:       unavailable

ATHLETICS

We believe that the Loraine HIgh School boys participated in athletics against kids from other schools. Basketball, baseball and possibly track may have all been offered at one time. School team nickname, uniform colors, and fight song, as well as coach’s names and season records, are all items we hope add to this page.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Loraine boys definitely competed in basketball. Scores located on the website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores” involving Loraine are reprinted below.

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

1st Rd lost to Quincy 92-6

Quincy beat Hamilton in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Golden 38-14

Quincy beat Camp Point in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Mendon 59-7

Augusta beat Timewell in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Golden 35-20

Golden beat LaPrairie in title game

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

*1st Rd lost to LaPrairie 38-3

Golden beat LaPrairie in title game

*Final varsity boys basketball game score found on this site.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

We would bet that school dances, chorus, band, “weiner roasts,” and other activities played a big part in the experience of attending Loraine High School. Please contact us via the means listed below if you have any of this information to share on this page.

Please Help Us With Our Research On Loraine High School

If you have any information to share regarding the history of Loraine and its former high school, please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. A photo of the school building would be a great addition also. Items can be mailed to us at:

IHSGD Website

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631
     

Longview Township High School “Hornets”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Longview High School Building
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Thank you to John Cobb
Longview High School Building
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Submitted by John Cobb

The History of Longview High School

Longview (population 153) is located in east-central Illinois about 15 miles southeast of Champaign.  Longview is located in a true country setting.  The main roads leading to the Champaign County town include County Highway 12 and County Road E 100 N.  It is quite probable that Longview was one of many towns created initially by the railroads of the mid 1800s.  The Missouri Pacific Railroad line still runs through Longview.

A brief history on the town of Longview was provided to us by

Carl Erb: Carl attended Longview High School through his junior year (1953) and graduated from ABL High School in 1954.

“The name of the 1949-50 yearbook was “Orizaba Stinger.”  Orizaba was the settlement about 1/3 mile north of the town of Longview. When the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad came through a little south of Orizaba, the Orizaba folks moved to the new town. In 1889 the name of the post office was changed from Orizaba to Longview.”

It is probable that Longview offered education to its children in the late 1800s.  Longview probably had a high school in place by the early 1900s, maybe sooner.  The high school served the residents of Longview proudly for about five decades.  At some point in the 1950s a consolidation effort took place with three small towns of the area; Allerton, Broadlands, and Longview.  The effort resulted in the creation of the Broadlands (ABL) School District in the summer of 1953.

Longview HS Bldg – Shortly After It Was Closed
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Inscription Above Doors – “Longview Township High School” Courtesy of DOROTHY BOSCH HAPP

The high school for the new District was located in Broadlands.  Billy Vermillion recalls that the Longview High School building was utilized as a grades 5 – 8 facility for the A-B-L School District until the consolidation with Homer High School occurred in 1989.  We are told by D. Happ that the Longview High School building has been razed. D. Happ goes on to tell us that the Longview High School spirit is still alive:

“I graduated with a class of 17 in 1952.  I think that there was only one more class (1953) to graduate from that building.  We still hold bi-annual reunions with approximately 90-100 in attendance.  Ten classmates from ’52 still live in the area.  Three have passed away.”

Some more information regarding the Longview school building is provided by Chanin (Magill) Peyton:

“I attended ABL/Heritage school district from kindergarten through graduation – and Longview was a part of both consolidated districts. The Longview High School building has indeed been razed, but it WAS used by ABL at least from the time that I started kindergarten in 1977-78 through my graduation year of 1990 as the 5-8th grade building for the ABL district. Soon after the consolidation and the formation of Heritage, the 5-8th grades moved to the Homer building, where they remain today.

My grandmother, Wilma Messman Magill, was a graduate from Longview High school, and had many fond memories of the building.”

Broadlands (ABL) School District welcomed the addition of nearby Homer High School (also on this site) in 1989 and renamed the school district the Heritage School District with the high school remaining in Broadlands.

Longview High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                  late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                   1953

Consolidated to:              Broadlands ABL School District

Longview HS nickname:   the “Hornets”

School colors:                 Orange & Blue

School Fight Song:          unavailable
ATHLETICS

Longview High School competed in boys basketball and most likely boys track and baseball.  School team nickname, school colors, fight song, and conference affiliation are all items of intersets for this site.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The 1930s were the “hey days” for Longview High School basketball as far as IHSA (www.ihsa.org) hardware is concerned.  The Longview boys won three District titles in one seven year period between 1933 and 1939.  Several tournament scores are recorded aon a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” and are listed below. Unfortunately the coach’s names and team records of these and other great Longview High teams are not currently available.

1932-33          IHSA District Champions                        Coach’s name & record needed

District Scores Needed

                       Casey Sectional Tournament

                       Lost to Hutsonville 39-24 (1st Round)

Hutsonville won Sectional

   

1933-34          Tuscola District Champions                   Coach’s name & record needed

  1st Rd Beat Hammond 41-22

                       2nd Rd Beat Redmond 53-14

                       Semi-final Beat Villa Grove 33-29

                       Title Game Beat Brocton 25-24

                       Matoon Sectional

1st Rd Beat Hillsboro 28-21

Semi-final Beat Greenup 25-23

Title game lost to Champaign 32-18

CHAMPAIGN (32): Castelo 9, Kemper 7, Hodge 6, Parker 5, Smith 5.

LONGVIEW (18): Gaies 8, Buddemeier 4, Smith 3, H. Fonner 3

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

1st Rd lost to Atwood  24-21

Atwood lost to Villa Grove in 2nd Rd

Villa Grove beat Tuscola in title game

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

                       1st Rd Beat Pesotum 24-21

(other scores needed)

1936-37  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

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

District Scores Needed

Tuscola Regional Tournament

  1st Rd Beat Arcola 41-23

Semi-final lost to Lovington 34-31

Lovington lost in title game to Tuscola

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

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

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

1942-43  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

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

1945-46  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

Longview scores needed

1947-48          Fisher Regional Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed

(Longview did not compete in District)

1st Rd lost to Urbana University HS 35-32

U-High lost to Champaign in semi-final

Champaign beat Fisher for title

1948-49          Longview Hosted District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed

Longview scores needed

1949-50          Newman District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed

                       1st Rd Beat Brocton 56-41

                       Semi-final lost to Newman 52-36

                       Newman beat Chrisman in title game

1950-51          Chrisman District Tournament                    Coach’s name & record needed

                       1st Rd score needed

                       Semi-final lost to Kansas 64-51

Kansas beat Newman in title game

1951-52          Newman District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed

                       1st Rd Beat Redmon 52-50 (2 O/Ts)

                       Semi-final lost to Kansas 89-35

Kansas beat Chrisman in title game

1952-53  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

(Last season for Longview High School)

NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

If you have any further information you can add regarding the history and achievements of Longview High School, especially a photo of the former high school building, please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also contact us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St. 

Chicago, Il.   60631

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Longview HS Basketball Team Mid-1930’s
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Gayle Hardy, Front Left, Hands on Knees (Submitted by S.N. Hardy)
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Long Point High School “Tigers”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Long Point High School
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Long Point High School Cornerstone
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Last Remnant of a Once Proud School

The History of Long Point High School

Long Point (population 247) is located in north central Illinois toward the east side of the state. The town is located in northwest Livingston County about 8 miles south and a little west of Streator. The main roads in and out of Long Point are County Road 31 going east and west and County Road N 200 E which travels north and south. Illinois Route 23 is located about 2 miles east of Long Point as well. The Long Point Creek flows to the south and east of town. As with most small towns without a main highway traveling through it, Long Point was established on the railroad line of the At & St Railroad Company.

According to Illinois GenWeb:  “Long Point gets its name from a long point of timber that extended from the Vermillion River along Long Point Creek, almost through the township. This prominent natural feature was the defining characteristic of the area and ultimately gave the township and the village its name

The area around Long Point began offering general education for its children in a log cabin located in Long Point Township in 1843, and the earliest classes were held in the village was 1857. Nearby Reading Township had a school as early as 1832 when the Daniel Barickman family bought 240 acres of land along the Vermillion River and set up a school on it, making this part of Livingston County the earliest-known to have offered education, according to a 1979 book written by former county superintendent Lucille Goodrich entitled “A Livingston County Scrapbook: 1855-1975.”

High school courses were offered on a two-year only basis through the early 1920’s until state law made it easier to organize a community high school in Long Point. From the spring of 1923 thru February 1924, the new school building was erected. The first four-year high school graduating class of Long Point High was the class of 1923, made up to two graduates, Anna Ensign and Amee Moreland. Up until this point, LPHS students had their choice of continuing their education and earning their diplomas from either Dana, Pontiac, or Streator High Schools.

In 1952, the folks of Long Point and Reading Township (South Streator) agreed to consolidate and form a new school district. The new District was called Streator Woodland. Students attended Long Point High School until the new Woodland School District building was completed in 1954. The high school students became officially part of the Woodland School District in 1954, closing the book on Long Point High School. Most of the residents in the Long Point District went to Woodland; however, some chose to attend nearby Minonk-Dana instead.

The Long Point High School building operated as an elementary school for some time after its closure, at least through 1971. It was closed as a school, but was sold to the village in May 1973 and used as the home of the Long Point Community Center for several years, and demolished in about 1980. A cornerstone from this building is found in the town square, in front of the bandstand, which is a veterans memorial (see photos on this page).

Long Point High School Quick Facts

Year opened as 2-yr school:               late 1800’s

First 4-yr class/new building opened:   1924

Year closed:                                      1954

Consolidated to:                                Woodland High School (Streator)

School nickname:                              the “Tigers”

School colors:                                   Orange & Black

School Fight Song:                            “Hail to the Long Point Team”

                                                          Submitted by DIANE CROOK (From an LPHS yearbook)

L-O-N-G P-O-I-N-T 

That’s the school for which we cheer,

True and loyal we will ever be, to the school we love so dear,

Fling her banners to the sky, we will not accept defeat,

Singing “Hail to the Long Point team”,

Rah, Rah, Rah!!!

Cha, hee, cha, ha, cha, ha, ha, ha, Long Point High School

Rah, rah, rah!       

Athletics

The Long Point High School Tigers’ athletic program definitely included boys’ basketball. It is believed baseball and track & field were also offered at the schools. Conference affiliation and other sports offered are not known.

  ——————————————————————————————–

Boys’ Basketball

The Long Point High School Tigers’ boys basketball program ruled the little schools of the area for one six-year period in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  The boys won five District Titles between the 1947 and 1952 seasons including four in a row from ’49-’52.  Add to this the District title won in 1933 and LPHS won a total of six District Titles during her existence.  Unfortunately the team records and coaches names of these and potentially other great Long Point teams are not known. The years of the IHSA championships are listed below.

  —–

District scores for Long Point from 1919 through 1930 unavailable. 

  —–  

1928-29             Livingston Co. Tourney Runner-Ups

  —–  

1930-31             Streator District Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Streator 47-13

Streator beat LaSalle-Peru in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd Beat Earlville 28-22

2nd Rd lost to Serena 25-10

Streator beat Seneca in title game.

  —–  

1932-33             Wenona District Champions           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Dana 33-18

2nd Rd Beat Wenona 20-17

Semi-Final Beat Magnolia Swaney 26-24

Title Game Beat Henry 20-18

Normal Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Streator 39-23

STREATOR (39): Ketchmark 14, Musser 8, Palm 7, Breimer 4, Losey 4, Wilkinson 2.

LONG POINT (23): Brown 13, Stewart 8, Hart 1, Snyder 1.

Mahomet beat Streator in title game. 

  —–  

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

1st Rd lost to Lacon 32-22

Granville beat Minonk in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd Beat Beat Sparland 18-17

2nd Rd lost to Granville 20-11

Lacon beat Henry in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd Beat Tonica 26-16

Semi-Final lost to Lostant 24-21

Dana beat Lostant in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd lost to Magnolia 18-12

Lacon beat Tonica in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd Beat McNabb 38-5

2nd Rd lost to Varna 24-12

Rutland beat Varna in title game.

  —–  

1938-39             Wenona District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Magnolia 40-11

2nd Rd lost to Rutland 22-19

Wenona beat Lostant in title game.

  —–  

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

  —–  

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

1st Rd Beat Lostant 36-32

Semi-Final lost to Dana 30-26

Sparland beat Dana in title game.

  —–  

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

  —–  

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

1st Rd lost to Dana 65-18

Lostant beat Dana in title game.

  —–  

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

  —–  

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

  —–  

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

1st Rd lost to Varna 40-35

Rutland beat Tonica in title game.

  —–  

1946-47             Varna District Champions           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Varna 51-26

Semi-Final Beat Sparland 56-32

Title Game Beat Rutland 45-42 (O/T)

Wenona Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Cornell 37-30

Semi-Final lost to Granville Hopkins 46-36

Granville beat Minonk in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd lost to Toluca 45-32

Toluca beat Tonica in title game.

  —–  

1948-49             Varna District Champions           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Rutland 49-28

Semi-Final Beat Dana 48-31

Title Game Beat Lostant 48-35

Lacon Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Wenona 57-53

Semi-Final lost to Henry 65-36

Henry beat Granville Hopkins in title game. 

  —–  

1949-50             Wenona District Champions           Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 49-41

Title Game Beat Sparland 71-47

Lacon Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Henry 55-47

Wenona beat Minonk in title game.

  —–  

1950-51             Varna District Champions           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Hennepin 59-21

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 65-54

Title Game Beat Sparland 49-47

Wenona Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Toluca 45-34

Minonk-Dana beat Toluca in title game. 

  —–  

1951-52             Varna District Champions           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Hennepin 60-31

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 57-43

Title Game Beat Toluca 60-56

Granville Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Cornell 63-39

Semi-Final lost to Varna Mid-County 53-45

Mid-County beat Henry in title game. 

  —–  

1952-53           Hennepin District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Hennepin 45-39

Semi-Final lost to Magnolia Swaney 71-57

Swaney beat Sparland in title game. 

  —–  

1953-54           Hennepin District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Rutland 84-36

**Semi-Final lost to Cornell 63-58

Magnolia Swaney beat Cornell in title game. 

**Final varsity boys basketball game for Long Point High School. 
 
 
 
Long Point War & School Memorial
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Long Point, Illinois

Notable Alumni / People

*Darrell Garretson (Alumnus – unknown year of graduation) – If you watched the N.B.A. during the late 1970’s, 80’s, and especially the 90’s, this name will jump put at you. Darrell Garretson served as a National Basketball Association referee from 1970 to 1997. Darrell was so well thought of that he was, in fact, the “Head of the NBA Officials” from 1981 to 1997. Not bad for a kid from Long Point, Illinois.

Clive Reynolds — served as principal of the school from about 1932 – 1948.

  —————————————————————————————–

MEMORIES

From Retta Reynolds Leckey:

“Recently, my son pointed out the Long Point High School website to me and I enjoyed reading about the history of the school.  My father was the principal, Clive Reynolds, who served at the school for many years.  I am not sure when he started working there but I suspect it was about 1932 and he left about 1948.

I have vivid memories of the school and I think I can place the location of the different rooms. It is sad to think the building has been gone for so many years. It certainly looks sturdy in the picture.

I am especially grateful for the words to the school fight song.  I remembered most of it and have often impressed my family by serenading them with parts of it. They kindly indulge me.”

  —————————————————————————————-         

Searching For More Information

Long Point High School was the pride and joy of Long Point for at least five decades. LPHS’ many successes and achievements should not be forgotten. If you have any information you can share about Long Point High School, please send it to us. You can contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net 

Long Point War Memorial
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Close-Up of Inscription

London Mills High School “Lions”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
London Mills High School Building
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London Mills High School
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The History of London Mills High School

London Mills, Illinois (population 447) is about 20 miles south of Galesburg and 35 miles west of Peoria as the crow flies. It is located along the Knox-Fulton county line.

The origins of the school system in London Mills can be traced back to as far as 1835. For 40 years, that school served the community until another was built in 1875 and another built in 1912. The 1912 building served the high school students of London Mills for the rest of it’s existence. A gym was added to the building in 1936 and another addition was made in 1939.

In the late 1940s, talks of a consolidation effort between London Mills, Maquon, Fairview and Ellisville took place. Spoon River Valley High School became a reality in 1948 with the high school located in Fairview.  A newer high school building was built in 1973 and is located at Routes 97 and 116 with a London Mills address.  The fate of the original London Mills High School building is a sad one as it has been razed.

London Mills High School “Quick Facts”:

Year of school’s origin:                        1835

Year of recent H.S. building built:       1912

Year of consolidation:                         1948 (Spoon River Valley H.S.)

Building Status:                                   Razed

School Colors:                                     Orange & Black

School Mascot:                                    the “Lions”

School Song:                                       Unknown
Athletics

We are sure that London Mills offered Basketball as a sport. Did they offer other sports? They might have not won any IHSA hardware, but we are sure there were many successful seasons over the years.

Patrick Kinn sent us the athletics pagefrom the 1923 London Mills High School yearbook titled “The Tale-Tell”.  The book tells us that the boys of 1923 had some tough obstacles to overcome.  The school at that time had no indoor gym, so an outdoor court was their only source of practice time.  The team finished their season at 1 – 8 (their lone win against Ellisville).  The segment goes onto to say that the “players took their defeats in a sportsmanlike manner and never gave up until the final whistle.”  Players for this team included Keith Richards, Craig Benson (mgr.), Wendell Owens, Russell Mishler, Leonard Moshier, and Harrison Welch (capt.)

Boys Basketball

The Lions competed in boys basketball for certain. They played in the annual IHSA State District tournaments. Scores from these games as located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores” are copied below.

1921-22                 Canton District Tournament                Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd lost to Blandinsville 19-15.

Canton beat Glasford in title game.

  —–  

1930-31                 Canton District Tournament                 Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd lost to Smithfield 31-7

Farmington beat Canton in title game.

  —–  

1931-32                  Canton District Tournament                 Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Ipava 13-9

2nd Rd lost to Adair 29-15

Canton beat Cuba in title game.

  —–  

1932-33                   Canton District Tournament                 Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Ellisville 23-19

2nd Rd lost to Lewistown 28-5

Canton beat Cuba in title game.

  —–  

1933-34                    Elmwood District Tournament              Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Brimfield by forfeit.

2nd Rd lost to Dunlap 34-24

Peoria Central beat Farmington in title game.

  —–  

1934-35                    Canton District Tournament                  Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Bryant 23-18

2nd Rd lost to Fairview 24-20

Canton beat Fairview in title game.

  —–  

1935-36                     London Mills District Tournament        Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd score needed.

Fairview beat Table Grove in title game.

  —–  

1936-37                      Canton District Runner-Up                 Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Bryant 25-8

Semi-Final Beat Ipava 27-23

Title Game Lost to Vermont 28-20

  —–  

1937-38                      Cuba District Tournament                    Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Adair 31-11

Semi-Final lost to Fairview 36-26

Fairview beat Ipava in title game.

  —–  

1938-39                      Prairie City District Tournament           Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Ellisville 31-12

Semi-Final and Title Game Scores Needed.

  —–  

1939-40                      Postseason Scores, Record, and Coach’s Name Needed.

  —–  

1940-41                      Prairie City District Tournament         Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd lost to Yates City 22-21

Ipava Beat Fairview in title game.

  —– 

1941-42                      Postseason Scores, Record, and Coach’s Name Needed.

  —–  

1942-43                      Fairview District Tournament               Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd lost to Prairie City 42-22

Prairie City beat Fairview in title game.

  —–  

1943-44                       Postseason Scores, Record, and Coach’s Name Needed.

   —–

1944-45                       London Mills District Tournament    Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

Semi-Final lost to Brimfield 44-27

Brimfield beat Fairview in title game. 

  —–  

1945-46                        Fairview District Tournament            Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Yates City 55-42

Semi-Final lost to Fairview (Score needed).

Brimfield beat Fairview in title game.

  —–  

1946-47                        Postseason Scores, Record, and Coach’s Name Needed.

  —–  

1947-48                        London Mills District Runner-Up         Coach’s Name & Record Needed.

1st Rd Beat Maquon 58-35

Semi-Final Beat Brimfield 52-30

*Title Game lost to Fairview 26-24

*Final boys basketball game for the London Mills “Lions.”

  —–  

Baseball

The baseball team of 1922-23 faired a little better then the boys did in basketball.  The team finished with a record of 2 – 2, both wins coming over nearby Maquon.  Members of the team included Keller, Harden, Mishler, Welch, Cook, Owens, Morey, K. Shreves, White, Benson, and Moshier.

Memories

The following information and memories are provided to us by Gene Primm:

“I am not really familiar with this school except for the fact that my roommate at Bradley, during my freshman year, had a brother in law who graduated from this high school.  His name was Roy Grieve, and he finished 4th in the 120 high hurdles and 2nd in the 200 low hurdles at the 1946 IHSA State Track Meet.  He went on to become one of the best hurdlers in the Midwest while attending Bradley University and was even selected by the old AAU to travel to Africa as a ASA team member on one of the summer track series from the late 40’s early 50’s era.  Since I was a shot-putter at Bradley, and shared a love for track with Roy, we became friends until his death several years ago.”

Thanks Gene!

From the “Tell-Tale” LMHS yearbook of 1923 by G. Blakeslee:

“A Stretch of Spoon River”

“I think that this place I am going to describe is one of the prettiest scenes I ever saw.  It is about one-half mile stretch of Spoon River, prettiest in the summer time, some evening just after sun-down.

When I go down to the water’s edge, jump into the canoe and with one swift sweep of the oars, go sailing out into the middle of the river, I look toward the farther end of this stretch and my heart thrills.  The water is as clear as crystal.

I look down and see a thin veil of clouds, which makes me feel like I am going to fall any minute down, down, through space ’till I reach the feathery clouds, far below.  A slight noise causes me to look toward the banks, and there were two gray squirrels playing around on the fresh green grass,  which comes down to the water’s edge.  Then they jump up into a hard maple opposite me as I float slowly down the river and are lost in the dark green leaves.

On the opposite side of the stream there is a towering cotton-wood, the giant of the country, with its leaves quivering in the cool summer breeze.  Tired from a hard day’s work, I lie down at the bottom of the boat and view the clouds above me.  Toward the west they are golden, then red and purple and above me they are a mixture between red and white, and farther east they are pure white.

All at once this scene is shut off by a large elm, whose large green spreading branches reach almost across the river.  As I pass out into an open space again, I see a solitary crow winging its way lazily toward the east and his resting place.  Far in the distance I hear some boy calling the cows home.  In another direction I can faintly hear some hogs squealing for their supper.

All at once I am aroused from this peaceful scene by my mother’s voice, a quarter of a mile up the river, calling me for supper.  I turn the canoe and row slowly up the river, while no sound is heard but the splashing of my oars.  I eat my supper and go to bed to have a good nights sleep.”

A scene that probably hasn’t changed in all these many years!

Seeking Your Assistance

If you have ANY further information about London Mills High School, please share it with us.  Photos and information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.    60631
LONDON MILLS SCHOOL GROUNDS 2024
LONDON MILLS SCHOOL BELL MEMORIAL
LONDON MILLS SCHOOL FLAG POLE 2024
LONDON MILLS SCHOOL FOUNDATION REMAINS 2024
LONDON MILLS SCHOOL GROUNDS 2024
LONDON MILLS MAIN STREET 2024

Lomax High School “Panthers”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Lomax School Building 1911 – 1974
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http://www.hendersoncolibrary.com/schools/?school=30
Lomax School 1911 – 1974
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http://www.hendersoncolibrary.com/schools/?school=30

The History of Lomax High School

Lomax (population 477) is located in far western Illinois in the southwestern corner of Henderson County. Illinois Route 96 is the main roadway to and from Lomax.  County Road 630E also takes you into town.  Lomax sits about one mile east of the Mississippi River.  The Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad also travels through Lomax.  This information was located on www.mapquest.com .

A short history of the village of Lomax is found at http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/henderson/communities_henderson.html .  It states:

“The village of Lomax was laid out by Robert Lomax in 1882. A railroad station and businesses were located here many years before the town was platted. Lomax was the home of an early airplane factory (circa 1910) and later had a modern tomato canning factory.”

We know that Lomax supported a high school through some excellent research by Roberta Van Briesen.  Roberta discovered a 1923 newpaper article on the internet describing a high school basketball game between Lomax and Fountain Green. This will be printed below in the “athletics” section.

Our only guess is that Lomax began offering high school courses for the children of the town in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Cynthia Scott advises that Lomax High School was a three-year program. Lomax likely stopped offering high school courses in the mid-1940s, possibly even earlier. Once the high school program at Lomax ended the kids began attending Dallas City High School.

Lomax Grade School continued in operation through the 1961-62 school year when the Lomax School District consolidated with the Dallas City School District to form Dallas City Unit District #336. Dallas City High School closed in 2001.  Research by Jake Tenhouse reveals that the kids of Lomax today attend high school at Carthage Illini West.

We are interested in obtaining more information about Lomax High School.  If you can assist please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

Lomax High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                 late 1800s/early 1900s

Year closed:                   mid to late 1940s

Consolidated to:             Dallas City High School

Kids now attend:            Carthage Illini West High School

Lomax HS nickname:     “Panthers”

Team colors:                  Blue & White

School fight song:          unavailable
ATHLETICS

We know that Lomax High School boys competed in basketball.  It is possible other sports such as baseball and track were offered. We are in need of the school’s team mascot, the team uniform colors, and the fight song.  We are also searching for photos and season records, including coach’s names, of the Lomax teams.

BASKETBALL

Roberta Van Briesen found the following 1923 newspaper article at the web address of http://hancock.ilgenweb.net/1923clips.html .  This is currently the extent of the information we have regarding the Lomax High School boys basketball program.

“The Fountain Green High School Basket Ball team defeated the Lomax High School Basket Ball team in an out-door game at Fountain Green on November 7th, with a score of 5 to 8.

Fay Yetter and Ivan Latherow played forwards on the Fountain Green squad. These boys were supported by Harlan Lenix as center and with John Larson and Fred Shipman as guards. During the last half Russell Shipman and Melvin Latherow guarded the Lomax forwards. And it was no easy job to guard Robert Pence of Lomax. Pence made all of the points for Lomax.

Fay Yetter was the star player on the Fountain Green squad, making two goals in each half.

The game was a very clean game and was refereed by George Hoover of Lomax. Only two fouls were called; one a personal foul on Russell Shipman of Fountain Green and one a technical foul on Clifford Pence of Lomax.

The second game between these teams will probably be played at Lomax in the near future.”

Though we do not currently have any season records or coaches’ names for the Lomax High School basketball program, we did locate some scores involving Lomax in the IHSA State Tournament on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are reprinted below.

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

1st Rd lost to Roseville 41-18

Roseville lost to Keithsburg in the 2nd Rd

Keithsburg lost to Media in the title game

.

MEMORIES & FACTS

**From Cynthia Sutton:

“The school mascot was the Lomax Panthers, the colors were blue & white. The high school was a 3 year program that ended well before 1950. Lomax kids graduated from Dallas City High School after the high school program ended. The school had baseball, track and basketball teams. In 1961-62, the Lomax Elementary School was consolidated with Dallas City, becoming Dallas City Community Unit #336. I believe Genevieve Rockel was the last principal at Lomax.”

    

SINCERE GRATITUDE

Thank you to Roberta Van Briesen for her continued support of the Glory Days website.  Her relentless research made the development of this page possible.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING LOMAX HIGH SCHOOL?

If you have any additional information you can share regarding Lomax High School please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net, or write to us via the postal service to the below listed address.

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva. Av.

Chicago, Il.  60631

A newspaper article with a house Description automatically generated with low confidence
http://www.hendersoncolibrary.com/schools/?school=30
A page of a book Description automatically generated with low confidence
http://www.hendersoncolibrary.com/schools/?school=30
   


Logan (Hanaford) High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
The History of Logan High School

Hanaford (population 55) is located in far south-central Illinois in the southeast portion of Franklin County.  County Road 20 is the mnain roadway through Hanaford as Illinois Route 34 passes by the northeast side of town.  The website of www.mapquest.com lists a small hamlet of Logan on the northeast side of Hanaford too.  We are told that Hanaford is also known as Logan and at one time was called Smothersville.  The 2000 Illinois Census only lists the town of Hanaford however.  The population of 55 is disputed as well, there may be about 200 actual residents of Hanaford .

The history of the Logan School in  Hanaford is in need of research.  We do know that K – 8 classes were held at the school at one time.  If high school classes were offered, we believe it was probably no more than a two-year high school.  We are in need of your assistance to verify any of this information.

A good fan of the Glory Days site and former pastor of the Logan Baptist Church (1998-2003) Steve Dunford offered the following information on the former Logan High School of Hanaford:

“The village name is Hanaford but the post office schools, churches, and the name that the local residents refer to the town is Logan.  From talking with some old timers while I was the pastor of the church there, that Logan High School consolidated with Benton in the early 1950’s.  I am not sure but I believe Logan was a three-year high school.

They used the same building for all grades (K-11). After the high school closed they raised the second floor of the building and added a gymnasium.  Logan existed as a k-8 school until it closed its doors at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.  Most graduating 8th grade classes while I pastored the Baptist church were under 10 students. I believe the K-8 enrollment for 2004-2005 was around 50, with only four teachers and one administrator.  The town took great pride in their school and kept it from consolidation for several years.  Most students became part of the Benton Grade School system while some in the southeast part of the district went to nearby Thompsonville.

While I was pastor, even though I did not live in Logan, I attended school events whenever possible.  Because of the small size and the appearance of the building, it was like stepping back in time.  You also expected Jimmy Chitwood to be shooting hoops in the gym.”

We are searching for as much information as possible on the Logan School District. We understand that the school building is still standing and used for a good purpose.  The kids of Hanaford now attend school in nearby Benton.

Logan High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                            late 1800s / early 1900s

Year HS closed:                        late 1940s?

Year grade school closed:         1980s

Consolidated to:                        Benton High School

Logan School team nickname:   possibly the “Rams”

Logan School team colors:        unavailable

Logan School Fight Song:         unavailable
Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities

We are not sure that Logan School ever offered athletics.  We are fairly certain that band and chorus was offered.  There were probably many other activities offered at Logan.  We are in dire need of your assistance in filling in the missing information about Logan School in Hannaford.

The Logan gymnasium was a throwback to the good old days of high school basketball as well.  Steve Dunford remembers the gym and Logan School athletic program in this way:

“I also remember playing against them in Basketball in Junior High.  The Gym only had two rows of bleachers and the stage was crowded.  Both team’s benches were on the south end of the Gym.  I officiated several basketball games in that gym and I always loved to be the trail official on that end because you could just stand underneath the basket and both coaches had a “good time” with the ref.

While I was pastor, even though I did not live in Logan, I attended school events whenever possible.  Because of the small size and the appearance of the building, it was like stepping back in time.  You also expected Jimmy Chitwood to be shooting hoops in the gym.

Logan had some very good junior high basketball teams in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, they had a couple regional championships and might have made some IJHSAA state tournament appearances during that stretch.  My eighth grade year (83-84) they beat us (Thompsonville) four times and we were a school four times their enrollment.

I remember they had a totally analog scoreboard in their gym that was in use until the 1983-84 school year.  I was always fascinated with the clock turning red under one minute.  They used their brand new Nevco scoreboard for the first time when we played them.

Logan did not have girls basketball and several girls played on the boys’ team.  In fact there was a girl who went to the church while I was pastor, played the JV game changed into her cheerleading outfit and cheered during the varsity game.

Teresa Beasley served as the school secretary, teacher’s aide, girl’s volleyball coach, track coach, and many different roles that were unmentioned.”

Adam Rosho provided the following insight to the Logan School history:

“Logan Grade School

Nickname: Rams

School Colors: Royal Blue, Gold, and White

Logan Grade School competed in the Little 6 Conference.  Different schools were members of the conference over the years, but they included Akin, Ewing-Northern, Thompsonville, Creal Springs, Crab Orchard, Galatia, Pickneyville District 204.  I believe that Mulkeytown and Hurst-Bush Grade Schools were also members of the conference at one time.

The Logan gym floor was so small that there was a restraining line around the entire floor.  There were also two half court lines for play on each half.  The three point line was only able to get to the free throw line due to the small size of the gym.

Logan Grade school offered Boys Basketball (Girls played on Boys Team), Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Track, and Cheerleading.

To field and A and B team, 7th and 8th grade team, there were usually students from 4th-8th grades on the teams.”

In Need of Your Assistance

As stated before, we are in dire need of assistance in researching Logan (Hanaford) High School.  What were the school colors and team nickname? We are hopeful someone from Hanaford, Logan, (or a neighboring town) can provide us with this information and possibly a photo of the old high school building.

If you have this information to share please complete a School Submission Form or write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.  60631

Loda High School “Trojans”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Loda High School 1923 – 1952
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The Original Loda High School
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1895 – 1923

The History of Loda High School

Loda (population 419) is located in eastern Illinois about 25 miles north-northeast of Champaign. The town is platted in the far southwestern corner of Iroquois County. U.S. Route 45 is the major roadway runing through Loda. Interstate Highway 57 passes by the western edge of town. The Spring Creek flows to the south of town and the scenic Bayless Lake lays to the west of town as well. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad runs along-side US Route 45 and was a major influence in the town’s early successful growth. For a brief period in the early-1800’s, Loda laid claim to being Illinois’ 2nd largest city with 800 residents. The town was settled in the early 1800s as well.

Loda residents took great pride in maintaining a progressive attitude in their early history. Educational opportunities were offered for the children of Loda in the mid- 1800s. This culminated in a brick high school building being built in Loda in 1895.  This building served the town nicely until a newer building was built in 1923.

Loda High School served the town of Loda and the surrounding country kids for at least six decades, probably much longer. It was in the late 1940’s and early 50’s that consolidation talks between Loda and nearby Buckley took place. Loda and Buckley residents agreed to pool their resources in 1952 and create the Buckley-Loda School District. The high school for the new district was located in Buckley with the Loda High School building used for a grade school for the newly formed district.

Buckley-Loda High School served the two towns’ residents for about four more decades. In 1990, Buckley-Loda High School closed and consolidated with nearby Paxton. The 1923-1952 Loda High School building is being utilized as an office building today.

Loda High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                               late 1800’s

Year 1st HS building built:            1895

Year 2nd HS building built:           1923

Year Buckley-Loda HS formed:     1952

Loda School nickname:                the “Trojans”

Loda School colors:                     Maroon / Red & White

School Fight Song:                      Sung to Notre Dame University Fight Song

                                                             

Loda High School Basketball
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1939-40
Loda High School Basketball
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1907-08

Iroquois County Tournament Champs
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Loda HS Basketball Team 1927-28

Athletics

The Loda High School Trojans competed in boys basketball, baskeball, and track & field. It is possible other sports such as football were also offered at one time.  Conference affiliaton and records of some of the potentially better teams are being sought as well.

Boys Basketball

Small town basketball in the early 1900s must have been electric. The Loda Trojans certainly held up their end of that bargain. The Trojans list some excellent records in the 1920s on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). Included in their accomplishments was a District Championship in 1927 and an Iroquois County Tournament Championship in 1928!

A photo of the 1928 Iroquois County Tournament Championship team can be viewed above. The star player for the 1927-28 squad was Bob Goodell, who is the fourth player from the right in the front row.

1925-26                                                                        Coach Leo Changnon

1926-27    24 – 7     District Champions                         Coach Leo Changnon

1927-28    27 – 4     Iroquois County Tourney Champs  Coach Leo Changnon

1928-29                                                                        Coach Leo Changnon

1929-30                                                                        Coach Leo Changnon

1930-31                  Iroquois Co. Tourney Runner-Ups      Coach Kenneth Letsinger

1931-32                                                                        Coach Kenneth Letsinger

1932-33    13 – 12                                                          Coach Kenneth Letsinger

1933-34                                                                        Coach Kenneth Letsinger

1934-35                                                                        Coach Coral Barnes

1935-36    12 – 15                                                          Coach Coral Barnes

1936-37                                                                        Coach Wayne Maurer

1937-38                                                                        Coach Wayne Maurer

1939-40                                                                        Coach Don Miller

1940-41                                                                        Coach Don Miller

1942-43                                                                        Coach W.F Bealer

1944-45                                                                        Coach Charles Staley

1945-46                                                                        Coach Charles Staley

1946-47    17 – 9                                                            Coach  Russell Dreschler

1947-48                                                                        Coach Russell Dreschler

1948-49                                                                        Coach Russell Dreschler

1949-50                                                                        Coach Russell Dreschler

1950-51                                                                        Coach Max Smolinske

1951-52                 School’s Last Season                        Coach Max Smolinske
 
 
 
Loda Baseball Team
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1896 – 1897

Boys Baseball

The boys baseball team made sure Loda High School went out of its solo act on a high note.  The school’s last team won the IHSA District Championship. Unfortunately the records and coaches names of this and other great Loda teams are not available.

1951-52             District Champions

Loda HS Baseball
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1939-40

More Loda Baseball

Members of the 1939-40 High School baseball team pictured to the right are: Front row L-R, Harold Marshall, Dean Jennings, Max Kelly, John Nordstrom, Duane Woods, Warren Matheny, Ray Corbly……Back row L-R Webster, Coach Miller, Frank Swantrom, Addison Goodell, Jack Moffat, Bill Keiwert, (Cheer leaders) Mary Patterson, Evelyn Swantrom.

The town of Loda actually had a very rich tradition of sports and especially baseball at the turn of the 19th century.  John Hill, and avid supporter of this sight and especially the towns of Buckley and Loda, sent us this information:

“ Around 1900 the baseball team put Loda on the map as an outstanding ballclub. On a summer afternoon when a game was scheduled the whole population streamed out to the ball park.  Fans came in from around the area.  Names of teams that came to play in Loda were the: Nebraska Indians (I have picture of team), and even the Chicago White Sox played on the Loda diamond.  The 1902 team won twenty-two of twenty-five games.  Players were:  Abe Rundle (Later was a coach at Northwestern), Edgan Jackson, John Nuttall (pitched for Northwestern and beat Notre Dame in a game), Tommy Marsh, Jerry Clive, George Harris, Lewis Harris, Horace Morgan, Johnny Madix.  Loda also had Nick Altrock pitch for them (Famed Major league pitcher).”

Sounds like a wonderful time for summer in Loda during the late 1800s through the early 1900s!!

Boys Track & Field

History was made in Loda and a track record was set that can never be broken. It is told to us that Loda High School hosted the first night track meet in IHSA history!

One male trackster with the last name of  Porter brought home a 3rd Place Medal from the 1924 ‘B’ State Track Meet.

1923-24B      ??  Porter       880 Yard Run       3RD Place!

Good Athletes

Some of the better athletes to grace the courts and fields of Loda High School included Bob Goodell, Jim Varner, Joe Dwyer, Don Ross, Vincent Davis, and Don Hackerson (who went on to pitch for the University of Illinois). .

Special Thank You

A special thank you goes out to John Hill for his assistance in the making of the Loda High School page. John’s efforts are sincerely appreciated!

Always Wanting More

If you have ANY further information you would like to share with us regaring the history and acheivements of Loda HS please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.   60631
LODA HS GRADUATION INVITATION 1927 – SUBMITTED BY DEBORAH MIDKIFF
LODA HS GRADUATION INVITATION 1927 – SUBMITTED BY DEBORAH MIDKIFF
LODA HS GRADUATION INVITATION 1927 – SUBMITTED BY DEBORAH MIDKIFF

Lockport West High School “Spartans”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized

The History of Lockport West High School

Lockport (population: 22,161) is located in northern Will County about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and about seven miles north of Joliet along Illinois Routes 7, 53, and 171. The Des Plaines River also runs thru the community and it is also the headquarters of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, which was built during the 1830’s as the community was an agricultural center where the steel plow was developed.

Over time, Lockport grew as did the grain trade on the canal and became incorporated in 1853. But when the Sanitary and Ship Canal south of Chicago was built in 1895, the grain traffic stopped and bankrupted one of the wealthiest people, Hiram Norton, as his flour mill, hydraulic power plants, and canal boats were rendered useless. The water power may have lived on, but it wasn’t until 1911 when the Calumet-Sag Channel was built north of the city cut off most of the power and any mills that depended on it closed their doors. Lockport then turned its attention to oil refining that same year when the Texas Company (aka Texaco) opened a facility at the northern edge of the city, staying there until the 1980’s.

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Lockport was also important as a community whose residents lived there but also worked in Chicago when the Chicago & Alton RR offered daily commuter service, which is still being offered today with Amtrak and Metra.

The history of education in Lockport goes back to when the community was founded back in the 1830’s as classes were held in a log cabin. The first school was built in 1857, and high school courses were begun at a later date as the first graduates received their diplomas in 1888.

Lockport’s high school system grew and expanded to the point that it opened  East and West campuses in the 1960’s. Lockport East was for freshmen and sophomores that would move over to the Lockport Central (main campus) for junior and senior year, while Lockport West opened its doors as a four-year school in 1963. The school system stayed intact until 1971 when Lockport West deannexed from the rest of the school district to start its own district in Romeoville, where it remains today using that community’s name for its high school.

Michael Rudy tells us the kids of Lockport West’s junior class in 1970 stayed loyal to their school for their senior year:

“The last class of Lockport West to wear the Lockport West class ring was the class of 72. The school changed names at the start of their Senior year and this class vowed to always be considered as Lockport West Spartans and still does to this day.”

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LOCKPORT WEST HIGH SCHOOL

School opened:                            1963

School closed as Lockport West:  1971

School nickname:                         “Spartans”

School colors:                              Navy Blue & White

School song:                                Lockport West Fight Song

Words courtesy of Janice Bly & Michael Rudy!

                                                  Lockport West we cheer for you,

                                                   Hear us lift our voices high.

                                                   Blue and White we’re full of fight

                                                   As we give our victory cry.

                                                   You Rah Rah!

                                                   Spartans all we’ll answer the call           

                                                   To bring honor and fame to Lockport West
Who’ll lead all the rest

                                                   And we’ll win, win, win this game!

                                                   Yell, Shout, Kick, Scream,
Go Go Go Team!
Yeah white, yeah blue,
Yeah team were for you!
One two three hooray!!

ATHLETICS

The school offered sports for its male students only during the time it was opened for interscholastic purposes in baseball, football, basketball, and tennis. The Spartans were charter members of the Illini-8 Conference with other schools in the Joliet area, such as Lockport Central, Joliet Central, Joliet West, Joliet East, Kankakee Eastridge, Kankakee Westview, and Summit Argo.  Michael Rudy tells us that in 1970 the Illini 8 changed and both Kankakee Schools left the conference and were replace by Joliet Catholic and Marian Catholic

The girls were not able to form teams that played other schools during the period it was opened, but did compete in the IHSA’s postal tournaments in bowling, and could have done so in basketball, archery, and swimming. Given that the school was growing, you would think that they would have offered track, wrestling, and swimming, but there are no records of these sports on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). If you know of any information about those sports being offered at Lockport West, please contact us.

BASEBALL

The Spartans were successful on the diamond as they were winners on the field from the first year the school played. No IHSA hardware was brought back to the trophy case, but there were some good teams at Lockport West.

1964   7-  4                                    Coach Bill Kappmeyer

1965   9-  8                                    Coach Ken Kurtz

1966   9-  9                                    Coach Ken Kurtz

1967 10-10                                    Coach Ken Kurtz

1968 17-  3  (impressive record!!)  Coach Ken Kurtz
1969 18-  4  (very good mark)       Coach Ken Kurtz
1970 15-10                                    Coach John Strobbe
1971 14-  9                                    Coach John Strobbe

Lockport West Spartans of 1963
A picture containing text Description automatically generated
Submitted by John Buerger

FOOTBALL

Lockport West wanted to prove to its fellow school and to others in the area that they were competitive, which they did while they were known as LWHS. Here’s the complete listing of the eight-year history of the gridiron program:

1963   4-5         Coach Don Seitzberg

1964   3-4-2      Coach Don Seitzberg

1965   4-3-1      Coach Melvin Deskin

1966   1-8         Coach Melvin Deskin

1967   6-2-1      Coach Melvin Deskin

1968   4-3-2      Coach Melvin Deskin

1969   4-3-2      Coach Melvin Deskin

1970   6-3         Coach Melvin Deskin

**Paul Jursa was an all-state football player in 1969.

**Craig Stout was named to the all-state team in 1970.

**Bill Bandemeir was named to the all-state team in 1971.

The first football team known as Romeoville HS was filled with Lockport West kids.  This team, which played in the fall of 1971, went 6 – 3 and was coached by Mel Deskin, Dick Ruppel and Tony Fazio.

BOYS’ TENNIS

The Spartan netters were active each spring in the Chicagoland area, capturing one district title in the school’s final season before the school detached from the district.

1970-71       District Champions         Coach Don Barone

Lockport West Spartans 1963-64 (first ever team)
A group of people posing for the camera Description automatically generated
Courtesy of John Buerger (Left click on photo for enlarged version)

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Even though Lockport West did not have a winning season in its school history, the Spartans did improve as they battled year in and year out with area powers such as Joliet West and Joliet Central in the Illini-8.

1963-64    1-20    Coach Frank Blum

1964-65    6-15    Coach Rick Maack

1965-66    7-17    Coach Rick Maack

1966-67    3-20    Coach Rick Maack

1967-68    4-19    Coach Harry Garrett

1968-69    9-16    Coach Harry Garrett

1969-70  10-15    Coach Bill Parmentier

1970-71    2-20    Coach Mike Keasler

*Lockport West HS was one of 8 schools invited to participate in the Plano Holiday Tournament in 1963.

GIRLS’ ATHLETICS

Lockport West probably offered GAA (Girls’ Athletic Association) activities during the time it was open (which was just prior to Title IX being passed and mandated that females be given the same interscholastic opportunities that boys were already receiving).

But in just its second year as a school (1965), the girls’ bowling team won the state postal tournament by defeating Manlius and Galesburg for the title. Way to go, Lady Spartans!!!

SPEECH TEAM

The Spartans were active in inidividual activities as a speech team and placed among the state’s best in 1966, as Chris Tingley won an individual state title. Another team followed it up two years later with a district championship.

1965-66     Tied for 6th place in state          Sponsor unknown

                STATE FINAL STANDINGS

1   Pekin                               10

6   Washington                        5

6   Bloomington HS                  5

6   Macomb                             5

6   Lockport West                   5

6   Dolton Thornridge                5

6   Carbondale University          5

6   Peoria Richwoods               5

6   Orland Park Sandburg         5

              Individual medalist

              Chris Tingley          original comedy—STATE CHAMPION!!

1967-68    District Champions                 Sponsor unknown
OUTSTANDING COACHES

Ken Kurtz—70-39 in six seasons as baseball coach (.648 winning percentage)

Melvin Deskin–25-22-6 in six seasons as football coach (.528 winning percentage)

WE’D LIKE TO GET MORE DETAILS…..

but need your help to fill in the gaps about the short history of Lockport West High School. If you have more information, such as coaches’/sponsors’ names, win-loss records. names of notable grads, words to the school song, pictures of the school or teams, and more, let us know. You can either e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net, or by clicking on this Guest Commentary link. Or you can mail items to:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, IL  60631

Lockport St. Charles Borromeo “Saints”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
St. Charles Borromeo
A picture containing tree, outdoor, sky, residential Description automatically generated
Photo by Cody Cutter: April 2009

The History of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary High School

Lockport (population: 22,161) is located in northern Will County about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and about seven miles north of Joliet along Illinois Routes 7, 53, and 171. The Des Plaines River also runs thru the community and it is also the headquarters of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, which was built during the 1830’s as the community was an agricultural center where the steel plow was developed.

Lockport was originally established in by a man named Armstead Runyon and was named Runyontown. The name was changed to Lockport around 1837 to reflect the Illinois-Michigan Canal having its first lock there between Chicago and Peru, Illinois.

Over time, Lockport grew as did the grain trade on the canal and became incorporated in 1853. But when the Sanitary and Ship Canal south of Chicago was built in 1895, the grain traffic stopped and bankrupted one of the wealthiest people, Hiram Norton, as his flour mill, hydraulic power plants, and canal boats were rendered useless. The water power may have lived on, but it wasn’t until 1911 when the Calumet-Sag Channel was built north of the city cut off most of the power and any mills that depended on it closed their doors. Lockport then turned its attention to oil refining that same year when the Texas Company (aka Texaco) opened a facility at the northern edge of the city, staying there until the 1980’s.

Lockport was also important as a community whose residents lived there but also worked in Chicago when the Chicago & Alton RR offered daily commuter service, which is still being offered today with Amtrak and Metra.

St. Charles Borromeo was formed in the early 1960’s when Quigley Seminary in downtown Chicago was becoming too crowded. The Diocese of Joliet stepped up and offered to start their own in Lockport, which made sense in light of a number of students who travelled from the Joliet area to Quigley each day.

The school was named for an Italian cardinal and papal secretary-state to his uncle (Pope Pius IV). St. Charles Borromeo was also involved in the Catholic Counter Reformation during the 16th Century. The online edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia has more at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03619a.htm.
The school opened in the fall of 1965 with Rev. (now Bishop) Roger Kaffer as the rector of St. Charles Borromeo. It grew from a two-year high school to a four-year school within two years and graduated its first class by 1969. The school accepted day students as well as boarders, who lived on campus at Lewis College along with the collegiate seminarians.

St. Charles Borromeo never had more than 200 students in its high school, and had far less than that when it closed in 1980.

From Ed Crean, St. Charles Borromeo Class of 1980:

“I was in the final graduating class of St. Charles Borromeo. That year graduated the Senior class and all but one member of the Junior class, who decided to continue in another school.  Most students in the school were not from the Joliet/Lockport area and I don’t know of any students who specifically continued on to Joliet Catholic. In 2013 the former school building and grounds, later the Diocese Pastoral Center, was sold and turned over to Lewis University.”

It is believed that the architect who designed the Borromeo High School building also designed Joliet East and Joliet West High School buildings.

FACTS ABOUT LOCKPORT ST. CHARLES BORROMEO HIGH SCHOOL

Year opened:                    1965

Year closed:                     1980

Building used today as:      St, Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center

School nickname:              “Saints”

School colors:                   Blue and White

School song:                    “When the Saints Go Marching In”
ATHLETICS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

In researching the school, it is known that St. Charles Borromeo offered basketball, wrestling, and baseball, but no records or names of coaches are known. The school played primarily against Class A size schools, and did not win any IHSA state tournament trophies or plaques. According to this author, the Saints were entered in the state Class A basketball tournament sometime during the late 1970’s, but decided after the regional seeding meeting that they would not be participating in the tournament, and forfeited their first-round game.

It is believed that other activities such as band, chorus, and art were offered to the St. Charles Borromeo student body. If you have any information, please contact us at the addresses listed below.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Basketball was definitely a sport that the Saints competed in. We are searching for team records and coaches names.

1974-75                     Coach Jack Brennan

BOYS SOCCER

The boys competed in soccer too. Coaches names and team records are needed.

1974-75                     Coach Rich Binder

MEMORIES

From Michael Hemkendreis (Class of 1975):

“You are right, “when the Saints… In”. was the school song and musically inclined students played trombones when it was sung.”

SPECIAL THANKS…

go out to retired Bishop Roger Kaffer, who was the first rector of the school from 1965-70, with SCB alum Dr. Jim Healy (Class of 1975). Ironically, Dr. Healy works in the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center building these days as the head of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Joliet.

HERE’S WHERE TO CONTACT US…

We’re always looking for more information about the history of St. Charles Borromeo. Photos, words to the school song, win-loss records of athletic teams along with coaches’ names, memories, and more are needed to chronicle the history of SCB.

Please send your information via email to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or by clicking on this Guest Commentary link. We also accept submissions by mail at:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631

Lockport St. Charles Borromeo “Saints”

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
St. Charles Borromeo
A picture containing tree, outdoor, sky, residential Description automatically generated
Photo by Cody Cutter: April 2009

The History of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary High School

Lockport (population: 22,161) is located in northern Will County about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and about seven miles north of Joliet along Illinois Routes 7, 53, and 171. The Des Plaines River also runs thru the community and it is also the headquarters of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, which was built during the 1830’s as the community was an agricultural center where the steel plow was developed.

Lockport was originally established in by a man named Armstead Runyon and was named Runyontown. The name was changed to Lockport around 1837 to reflect the Illinois-Michigan Canal having its first lock there between Chicago and Peru, Illinois.

Over time, Lockport grew as did the grain trade on the canal and became incorporated in 1853. But when the Sanitary and Ship Canal south of Chicago was built in 1895, the grain traffic stopped and bankrupted one of the wealthiest people, Hiram Norton, as his flour mill, hydraulic power plants, and canal boats were rendered useless. The water power may have lived on, but it wasn’t until 1911 when the Calumet-Sag Channel was built north of the city cut off most of the power and any mills that depended on it closed their doors. Lockport then turned its attention to oil refining that same year when the Texas Company (aka Texaco) opened a facility at the northern edge of the city, staying there until the 1980’s.

Lockport was also important as a community whose residents lived there but also worked in Chicago when the Chicago & Alton RR offered daily commuter service, which is still being offered today with Amtrak and Metra.

St. Charles Borromeo was formed in the early 1960’s when Quigley Seminary in downtown Chicago was becoming too crowded. The Diocese of Joliet stepped up and offered to start their own in Lockport, which made sense in light of a number of students who travelled from the Joliet area to Quigley each day.

The school was named for an Italian cardinal and papal secretary-state to his uncle (Pope Pius IV). St. Charles Borromeo was also involved in the Catholic Counter Reformation during the 16th Century. The online edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia has more at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03619a.htm.
The school opened in the fall of 1965 with Rev. (now Bishop) Roger Kaffer as the rector of St. Charles Borromeo. It grew from a two-year high school to a four-year school within two years and graduated its first class by 1969. The school accepted day students as well as boarders, who lived on campus at Lewis College along with the collegiate seminarians.

St. Charles Borromeo never had more than 200 students in its high school, and had far less than that when it closed in 1980.

From Ed Crean, St. Charles Borromeo Class of 1980:

“I was in the final graduating class of St. Charles Borromeo. That year graduated the Senior class and all but one member of the Junior class, who decided to continue in another school.  Most students in the school were not from the Joliet/Lockport area and I don’t know of any students who specifically continued on to Joliet Catholic. In 2013 the former school building and grounds, later the Diocese Pastoral Center, was sold and turned over to Lewis University.”

It is believed that the architect who designed the Borromeo High School building also designed Joliet East and Joliet West High School buildings.

FACTS ABOUT LOCKPORT ST. CHARLES BORROMEO HIGH SCHOOL

Year opened:                    1965

Year closed:                     1980

Building used today as:      St, Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center

School nickname:              “Saints”

School colors:                   Blue and White

School song:                    “When the Saints Go Marching In”
ATHLETICS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

In researching the school, it is known that St. Charles Borromeo offered basketball, wrestling, and baseball, but no records or names of coaches are known. The school played primarily against Class A size schools, and did not win any IHSA state tournament trophies or plaques. According to this author, the Saints were entered in the state Class A basketball tournament sometime during the late 1970’s, but decided after the regional seeding meeting that they would not be participating in the tournament, and forfeited their first-round game.

It is believed that other activities such as band, chorus, and art were offered to the St. Charles Borromeo student body. If you have any information, please contact us at the addresses listed below.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Basketball was definitely a sport that the Saints competed in. We are searching for team records and coaches names.

1974-75                     Coach Jack Brennan

BOYS SOCCER

The boys competed in soccer too. Coaches names and team records are needed.

1974-75                     Coach Rich Binder

MEMORIES

From Michael Hemkendreis (Class of 1975):

“You are right, “when the Saints… In”. was the school song and musically inclined students played trombones when it was sung.”

SPECIAL THANKS…

go out to retired Bishop Roger Kaffer, who was the first rector of the school from 1965-70, with SCB alum Dr. Jim Healy (Class of 1975). Ironically, Dr. Healy works in the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center building these days as the head of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Joliet.

HERE’S WHERE TO CONTACT US…

We’re always looking for more information about the history of St. Charles Borromeo. Photos, words to the school song, win-loss records of athletic teams along with coaches’ names, memories, and more are needed to chronicle the history of SCB.

Please send your information via email to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or by clicking on this Guest Commentary link. We also accept submissions by mail at:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631