Illinois High School Glory Days

Dallas City High School “Bulldogs”

Posted on March 2, 2022March 13, 2026 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

**DALLAS CITY SCHOOL BUILDINGS / SUBMITTED BY ROD OOSTERYK**

Dallas City High School

Photo Courtesy of Richard Soseman

Dallas City High School

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Photo Courtesy of Dallas City, Il. Web Site

The History of Dallas City High School Unit District #336

Dallas City (population 865) is located on the Mississippi River at the intersection of Illinois Routes 9 and 96 in western Illinois approximately 30 miles west and a little north of Macomb. Dallas City was first settled in 1848 by general store proprietors John Finch and William Rolloson. They named the town Dallas City in honor of then United States Vice President George Mifflin Dallas (Place Names of Illinois by Edward Callary). Dallas City reached a peak population of 1,498 in 1980 however this number has steadily declined over the past 45 years.

Though no date is known for the origin of Dallas City High School the high school building, built in 1896, itself was listed on the Henderson County web site as one of the “sights to see” in the county. Its design is unique and is described as “castle-like”. The building has stood proudly for nearly 100 years. The building was originally designed with two separate stairways, one for “Guys Only” and one for “Girls Only”. The high school closed after the 2000-01 school year. After many years of non-usage this building, pictured above, was recently slated for demolition (2026).

The high school students of Dallas City attended nearby Nauvoo-Colusa High School through the 2006-07 school year. Consolidation talks began with its neighbors of Carthage and La Harpe in the middle of the first decade of the 2000s. Plans were finalized in 2006 and it was decided that the school districts of Carthage, Dallas City, and La Harpe would consolidate for the 2007-08 school year. The new school district would be named “Illini West” with the high school located in Carthage. (Thank you to Gary Collins for this corrected information.)

For more information regarding Dallas City, Illinois check out their web site at: http://www.dallascity-il.com/

Dallas CIty High School Steeple

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Photo by Richard Soseman

Dallas City’s “Castle” High School

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Photo by Richard Soseman

Dallas City High School “Quick Facts”

Year Opened: 1896

Year Closed: 2001

Consolidated to: Illini West High School (Carthage) in 2007

School Nickname: the “Bulldogs”

School Colors: Red and Black

School Fight Song: Not Available

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ATHLETICS

As with many small towns of its day, basketball was the sport garnering most of the athletic success at the school. The Bulldog boy’s teams earned 12 Regional Championships during the school’s existence, six of which were earned in the 1940s. Toward the late 1980s the names Rod Brent and Erick Danielson were familiar for Bulldog fans. The girl’s teams earned 5 Regional Championships. The girl’s volleyball team also gained a Regional Championship and one Bulldog athlete took home two medals from the State Track Meet. The athletic accomplishments of the Dallas City Bulldog teams are listed below.

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BOYS BASKETBALL

As former coach Roger Icenogle states:

“Dallas City was a perennially strong basketball school from the 1940s until its recent consolidation.”

1926-27 Hancock County Tourney Champs

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1940-41 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Hancock County Tourney Champs

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat LaHarpe 35-27

Semi-Final Beat Carthage 31-26

Title Game Beat Hamilton 25-23

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Galesburg Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Lewistown 49-18

Canton beat Lewistown in title game.

Canton placed 4th in IHSA Tourney

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1942-43 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Hancock County Tourney Champs

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat LaHarpe 35-17

Semi-Final Beat Hamilton 41-35

Title Game Beat Carthage 29-16

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Galesburg Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Canton 63-40

Canton beat Galesburg in title game.

Canton lost in Sweet 16 Round

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1943-44 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Hancock County Tourney Champs

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Warsaw 44-12

Semi-Final Beat Augusta 44-18

Title Game Beat Carthage 31-26

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Canton Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final Beat Roseville 48-29

Title Game lost to Canton 65-34.

Canton lost in Elite 8 Round

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1944-45 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Hancock County Tourney Champs

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat LaHarpe 48-29

Semi-Final Beat Augusta 26-23

Title Game Beat Carthage 34-29

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Quincy Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final Beat White Hall 47-21

DALLAS CITY (47): Kurlie 16, Sympson 11, Dodd 10, Mutter 5, Shaw 4, G. Worden 1.

WHITE HALL (21): Strang 5, Taylor 5, McElroy 4, McCarthy 3, King 3, Wear 1.

Title Game lost to Quincy 42-37.

Quincy placed 3rd in IHSA Tourney

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1946-47 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Plymouth 38-33

Semi-Final Beat Carthage 49-39

Title Game Beat Hamilton 42-40

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Canton Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final lost to Galesburg 73-33

GALESBURG (73): Lundeen 21, Simpson 14, Johnson 10, Williamson 9, Hendricks 8, Dredge 5, Hermes 2, Clary 2, Frakes 2.

DALLAS CITY (33): Murphy 12, Logan 9, Anguish 4, Sherwood 3, Shaw 3, Dorch 2.

Galesburg beat Canton in title game.

Galesburg lost in Sweet 16 Round

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1948-49 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat LaHarpe 56-29

Semi-Final Beat Nauvoo Sts. Peter & Paul 59-50

Title Game Beat Hamilton 70-50

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Canton Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final Beat Farmington 56-54

Title Game lost to Oneida ROVA 48-45

ROVA (48): Truelove 12, Heflund 11, Main 9, Pearson 8, Holcomb 5, Seiler 3.

DALLAS CITY (45): Dorch 10, Logan 9, Shaw 8, Sherwood 7, Wingfield 6, Adkins 5.

ROVA lost to Chicago Tilden in Sweet 16 round

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1955-56 Carthage Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

Hancock County Tourney Champs

Carthage Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Hamilton 71-43

Semi-Final Beat Bowen 59-56

Title Game Beat Augusta 72-63

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Quincy Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final Beat Rushville 75-65

Title Game lost to Quincy 92-51

QUINCY (92): Phillips 27, Kewney 21, Schrader 13, Stepker 9, Ellsworth 7, Rineberg 5, Smiley 4, Samuel 2, Thompson 2, Sturhahn 2.

DALLAS CITY (51): Hladek 16, Jones 11, Kamincki 11, Bowman 8, Rockel 3, Logan 2.

Quincy lost in Elite 8 Round

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1956-57 Hancock County Tourney Champs Coach’s name & record needed

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1962-63 Hancock County Tourney Champs Coach’s name & record needed

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1966-67 LaHarpe Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed

LaHarpe Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Augusta 76-74

Semi-Final Beat Hamilton 62-53

Title Game Beat LaHarpe 58-57 (2 O/Ts)

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Macomb Sectional Tournament

Semi-Final lost to Quincy 67-41

QUINCY (67): Bricker 15, Hultz 13, Gay 11, Clay 10, Boster 10, Hickman 4, Bush 2, McGee 2.

DALLAS CITY (41): Hedges 10, Rockel 9, Sutton 8, Welch 7, Purvis 5, Coffman 2.

Quincy beat Galesburg in title game.

Quincy lost in Sweet 16 Round

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1968-69 Hancock County Tourney Champs Coach’s name & record needed

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1978-79 19 – 7 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach Roger Icenogle

Starting players: Cevin Cox, John Foresman, Randy Wright, Greg Ferrill, and Byron Newberry

Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat LaHarpe 91-87

Semi-Final lost to Nauvoo-Colusa 74-70

Nauvoo-Colusa beat Hamilton in title game.

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1979-80 23 – 5 Dallas City Regional Champs Coach Roger Icenogle

Starting players: Byron Newberry, Jeff Herriman, Robbie Leake, Brent Sparrow, and Tim Logan

Class ‘A’ Regional Scores

Semi-Final Beat Colchester 83-59

Title Game Beat Nauvoo-Colusa 63-62

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Havana Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final Beat Cuba 73-68

Title Game lost to Augusta 78-55

Augusta lost in Sweet 16 Round

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PLAYERS IN THE PHOTO OF THIS TEAM BELOW

Front row: John Gittings, Bill Dowell, Jeff Perry, Clay Vass, Robbie Leake, Jeff Herriman

Back row: Jeff Vorhies, Rick Sartorius, Brent Sparrow, Tim Logan, Tim Bowen, Byron Newberry

Dallas City Bulldogs of 1979-80

Submitted by Coach Roger Icenogle

1980-81 25 – 2 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

Began Season 22-0 / Led by Robbie Leake

Class ‘A’ Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat LaHarpe 72-34

Semi-Final Beat Carthage 55-45

Title Game lost to Sciota Northwestern 51-50

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1981-82 27 – 1 Dallas City Regional Champs Coach Mark Branscum

Undefeated Regular Season (24-0)

43-0 at home for Class of 1982.

(They NEVER lost a home game

in High School!!)

Roseville Tournament Champs

Hancock County Tournament Champs

LaMoine Valley Conference Champs

Regional Champions

Ranked 15th in Illinois

(1st Dallas City team to ever be ranked)

Ranked #1 – Quincy Herald Whig Rankings

Led by Tim Logan & Rick Sartorius

Class ‘A’ Regional Scores

Semi-Final Beat LaHarpe 75-53

Title Game Beat Nauvoo-Colusa 61-48

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Lewistown Sectional Tournament

Semi-Final lost to Havana 59-51

HAVANA (59): Sarnes 22, Trimpe 12, King 11, Boggs 8, Genseal 4, Huffman 2.

DALLAS CITY (51): Logan 15, Sartorius 14, Boyer 10, Huffman 9, Markey 3.

Havana beat Quincy Notre Dame in title game.

Havana placed 4th in IHSA Class ‘A’ Tournament.

Dallas City HS Regional Champs 1981-82

Submitted by Rick Sartorius

1988-89 25 – 3 Dallas City Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed.

Class ‘A’ Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Carthage Hancock Central 82-58

Semi-Final Beat Sciota Northwestern 76-62

Title Game Beat Warsaw 65-46

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Bushnell Sectional Tournament

Semi-Final lost to Quincy Notre Dame 69-64

QUINCY ND (69): Schneider 19, Frankenhoff 16, Ridder 13, Siebers 12, Dreier 9.

DALLAS CITY (64): Herriman 19, Logan 13, Danielson 11, Molter 10, R. Brent 5, L. Brent 4, VanFleet 2.

QND beat Beardstown in title game.

Quincy ND lost in Sweet 16 Round

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1989-90 27 – 4 Hamilton Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed.

Class ‘A’ Regional Scores

1st Rd Beat Nauvoo-Colusa 62-43

Semi-Final Beat Carthage Hancock Central 81-74

Title Game Beat Warsaw 62-59

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Bushnell Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

Semi-Final Beat Beardstown 72-52

DALLAS CITY (72): Logan 27, Danielson 23, Douglas 8, Markey 8, Miller 4, Nelson 2.

BEARDSTOWN (52): Fuller 16, Crum 12, Spurbeck 12, Hance 6, Blakeman 3, Capps 3.

Title Game lost to Mendon Unity 64-58

MENDON UNITY (64): Schulte 23, Mayfield 12, Hull 10, Robbins 10, Ellerman 7, Klusmeyer 2.

DALLAS CITY (58): Logan 33, Miller 8, Danielson 8, Douglas 5, Markey 2, Nelson 2.

Mendon Unity lost in Sweet 16 Round

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2000-01 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Nauvoo-Colusa 93-48

**Final Varsity Boys Basketball Game for Dallas City High School.

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NICE JOB DALLAS CITY BOYS!

Dallas City Boys Basketball “By The Numbers”:

103 – Number of points scored by the Bulldogs in a losing effort to Carthage in a February 21, 1994 Regional Tournament game.

78 – Total fouls in the game for both teams in the Bulldogs’ game against Carthage in the 1994 Regional Tournament.

77 – Number of rebounds pulled down by Bulldog players in a February 9, 1979 game against Farmington, IA Harmony H.S. The fourth highest number for a high school team in Illinois.

54 – Points scored by the Bulldogs’ Erick Danielson in a November 20, 1990 game against LaHarpe, the highest individual point total per game in school history.

10 – Three pointers made by Danielson in the 1990 game against LaHarpe, also school best.

6 – Of those three pointers were made in the first quarter.

8 – Number of overtimes in the Bulldogs’ Regional game against Carthage in 1994.

.507 – Three-point shot percentage accumulated by Danielson, the most in school history and among the top 25 best in the state. He was 69-for-136 from behind the arc.

.505 – Three-point shot percentage accumulated by the Bulldogs’ Rod Brent, second best in school history and also among the top 25 best in the state. He was 46-for-91 from behind the arc.

.490 – Career three-point shot percentage accumulated by Brent. He was 51-for -104.

Basketball Memories

From Rick Sartorius:

“I played on the Dallas City teams from 1978-1982 when we won 2 regional championships. I played on Dallas City High School’s only undefeated regular season team . We were 27-1 in 1982 (my senior year, and we were coached by Mark Branscum, and rated 15th in the state). We were the first Dallas City team team to EVER be ranked in the state. We lost to Havana in the Sectionals by 58-51 after being down by 17 points at the half. From 1979-1982 we went 23-5, 25-2, and 27-1…Basketball WAS Dallas City!”

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GIRLS BASKETBALL

1980-81 N.R.A. Regional Champs Coach’s names unavailable

1981-82 N.R.A. Regional Champs

1985-86 N.R.A. Regional Champs

1999-00 N.R.A. Regional Champs

2000-01 N.R.A. Regional Champs

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

1990-91 N. R. A. Regional Champs Coach’s name unavailable

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TRACK & FIELD

1992 Krissy Meyers 1600m 3rd

3200m 6th

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SEEKING MORE INFORMATION

If you have more information to add to the site regarding the Dallas City Bulldogs, in particular records and coaches of the Regional Championship teams, any accomplishments that make the school unique, please drop us an e-mail at:

ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net

Dallas City vs. Plymouth

02-04-83

Dakota Interior Academy of Northern Illinois

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Interior Academy of Northern Illinois

Dakota, Illinois – picture from 1970 History of Stephenson County

The History of Interior Academy, Dakota

Dakota, Illinois (population 499) is located 10 miles northeast of Freeport along Illinois Route 75 in northeast Stevenson County in Northern Illinois. It is about 25 miles northwest of Rockford along Trask Bridge/Cedarville Road. Dakota currently has a public high school, but once had a private academy for high school-aged students called the Interior Academy.

Interior Academy was first formed as the College of Northern Illinois in 1882, under the leadership of local pastor Frank Werzel. That closed in 1897 and became a high school called the Interior Academy of Northern Illinois. At that time, Dakota High School had not been established. The Academy was known for its challenging education. It is cited in the 1970 history of Stevenson County that ” … many students went to the academy for a year or two, but few ramined to graduate.”

Rising costs and enrollment decline forced the school to cease high school curriculum operations in 1913, but was used as a K-8 boarding school until the 1963-64 school year.

The building’s fate was soon realized after the closure. It was left for neglect and was torn down in 1965.

Dakota Interior Academy “Quick Facts”:

Year school organized: 1882

Year high school program began: 1897

Year high school program ceased: 1912

Year closed: 1964

Building Status: Razed

School Colors: Unknown if existant

School Mascot: Unknown if existant

School Song: Unknown if existant

Need Your Information

The Interior Academy may have offered sports and other extra-curriculars, but that is not known at this time. We are hopeful an area “buff” will fill in the open areas regarding the history and accomplishments of the Interior Academy. If you have any information you can offer including our unknown “Quick Facts” information, please drop us an E-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net – or – you can write to us at:

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

Dahlgren High School “Bulldogs”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Dahlgren High School in 1949

Submitted by Howard Allen

Dahlgren High School

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Now Dahlgren Elementary School

The History of Dahlgren High School

Dahlgren (population 514) is located in south-central Illinois about 15 miles southeast of Mt. Vernon. The town sits on Illinois Route 142 in northwestern Hamilton County. The Shelton Creek flows through the northeast side of Dahlgren. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad runs a line through town that was very instrumental in its early growth. Dahlgren’s settlement began in 1870 and was named after U.S. Army General Dahlgren. By 1884 the town had prospered into a thriving community. For more on the town’s history check out http://carolyar.com/Illinois/Villages.htm.

Dahlgren High School – Addition of 1969

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Courtesy of Jamie Driskill

We believe that Dahlgren residents began a school system for their children in the late 1800s. It is probable that high school curriculum was offered by the early 1900s. Dahlgren High School served the town and its children well for over seven decades. In the early 1970s Dahlgren residents began talks of deactivating their high school. These talks became a reality in 1972 and Dahlgren High School was annexed into the McLeansboro High School system.

Dahlgren did maintain an elementary school in their town for grades K – 6. The elementary school is pictured above and we believe it once served as Dahlgren High School. The Dahlgren Elementary School website is found at www.unit10.com/DH/.

Dahlgren High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed: 1972

Annexed to: McLeansboro High School

School bldg. today: Dahlgren Elementary School (K – 6)

Dahlgren HS team nickname: the “Bulldogs”

Team colors: Purple & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Dahlgren “New” Gymnasium 2011

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Courtesy of James Horaz

Dahlgren HS Original Gym & Opera House – 2011

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Courtesy of James Horaz

Athletics

Dahlgren High School definitely offered boys basketball. Track and baseball were probably offered as well. We are not sure if the school was open when girls sports were required to be added to the school curriculum. The school competed in the Little Egyptian Conference. We are searching for the Dahlgren fight song. Team records and coaches names of other Dahlgren HS teams are also being sought.

Gym Admission Prices

Map

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James Horaz

Dahlgren Gym/Opera House Projection Booth

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James Horaz

Dahlgren Gym/Opera House Ticket Booth

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Submitted by James Horaz

Dahlgren Gym/Opera House Staircase

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James Horaz

Boys Basketball

The Dahlgren High School boys basketball team had a nice run in the late 1950s and early 1960s. District Championships were won in 1958, 1962, and 1963. Unfortunately this is all of the current information we have available. We are hopeful an area resident can provide some of the better team records and coaches names of these and other great DHS teams. To view photos of several Dahlgren HIgh School basketball teams and other Dahlgren vintage photos, check out the website address of http://www.carolyar.com/Illinois/Photos/Schools/HamCo.htm as found for us by our good friend Jamie Driskill.

1940-41 11 – 6 Coach’s name unavailable

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1957-58 19 – 6 Enfield District Champions Coach Ronald McMorris

Semi-final Beat Mills Prairie 75-37

Title Game Beat Enfield 66-61

Mt. Carmel Regional Tournament

1st Rd Lost to Mt. Carmel 70-52.

Mt. Vernon Beat Mt. Carmel in title game

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1959-60 Coach Wayne Arnold

1960-61 Coach Wayne Arnold

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1961-62 Enfield District Champions Coach Wayne Arnold

Semi-Final Beat Mills Prairie 49-43

Title Game Beat Enfield 69-61

Mt. Carmel Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Mt. Carmel 82-47

Mt. Vernon beat Edwards County in title game.

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1962-63 Enfield District Champions Coach Q. Sullins

Semi-Final Beat Crossville 51-50 (O/T)

Title Game Beat Enfield 64-62

Albion Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Albion 57-49

Mt. Vernon beat Albion in title game.

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1971-72 Wayne City Class ‘A’ Regional

**1st Rd lost to Sesser 86-78

Sesser beat Woodlawn in title game

**Final varsity boys basketball game for the Dahlgren High School “Bulldogs.”

District Champions of 1961-62

Submitted by Wayne Arnold

Gym/Opera House Wood Burning Heater

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James Horaz

MEMORIES

From Howard Allen as told by James Horaz:

“The basketball team played on the second floor of a block of buildings in town. This was before the gym was built. Mr. Allen’s father owned one of the stores below the gym. Howard informs me that the buildings are still there. I would LOVE to find someone to allow me into the old second floor of the buildings to snap a few photos of the old gym. If there’s anyting left. He said the gym was heated by a huge wood burner on each side of the gym. He also said it was a miracle that nobody died up there considering the heating arrangments. It sound like an interesting situation back then!”

Dahlgren Baseball Dugout 2011

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James Horaz

Dahlgren Baseball Backstop

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James Horaz

Gym/Opera House Stairway to Gallery

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Jamers Horaz

Seeking More Information

If you have more Information about Dahlgren High School, especially win-loss records and other great teams and memories you would like to share please e-mail this web site at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illiinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Dahlgren HS Gym, Science, Home Ec., & Cafeteria

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Submitted by Jamie Driskill

Dahlbren High School Complex

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Courtesy of Jamie Driskill

Dahlgren High School 1925 Tornado Damage

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Submitted by Howard Allen

Cypress High School “Wildcats”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Cypress High School Building

Submitted by Jamie Driskill

Cypress High School East Side

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Submitted by Jamie Driskill

The History of Cypress High School

Cypress (population 271) is located in far southern Illinois about 30 miles southeast of Carbondale. Another land mark includes the Ohio River which is a mere 10 miles south of Cypress. The main roadway to and from this southwestern Johnson County village is Illinois Route 37. The Missouri Pacific Railroad is currently the owner of the railroad line that passes through town. A branch of the Bear Creek flows by the northwest edge of town.

The history of Cypress is a very long and extensive one. We are hopeful an area resident will provide us with some of the details of the town’s early growth. The history of the educational opportunities in Cypress is also in need of research. It is probable that Cypress began a school system for its children in the mid 1800s. A high school was probably established in the late 1800s to early 1900s. We believe the high school of Cypress served the town proudly until the late 1940s.

At some point the folks of Cypress agreed to send their children to nearby Vienna for their high school education. The spring of 1947 saw Cypress High School graduate its last class. It was in the fall of 1947 that Cypress High School kids began attending Vienna High School. George Mullinax, whose brother is pictured in the basketball photo below, was a freshmen at Cypress High that year, beginning his sophomore year in the fall of 1947 at Vienna HS.

The original part of the Cypress High School building was built in 1917, an addition was completed in 1928, and the gym was added in 1945. The 30’s team played elsewhere as there was no gym at Cypress during that time.

It is obvious the folks of Cypress took their educational efforts for their children very seriously. The following tribute to Cypress High School was written in the 1938 CHS yearbook:

“Our School”

“To train up the young to think and act in the spirit of friendliness and good will is universally recognized as an aim of education. Good will is a potent factor in the daily round of right living; it makes for harmony and peace within the nation and promotes friendship and justice throughout the world. The school can perform no greater service for humanity than to instill in the mind of the young this spirit of good will.”

The following information regarding the former Cypress High School building was provided by Nancy D. Dillow:

“The former Cypress High School building was hit by a tornado on April 28, 2002. The damage was so extensive that the building was condemned. With the support of the FEMA, a new K-8 building was constructed just north of Cypress on Route 37. For more than two years, students attended school in downtown Cypress in portable classrooms.”

Cypress HS Back View and Gymnasium

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Cypress High School Building Side View

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Cypress High School 2015

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Cypress High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed: 1947

Consolidated to: Vienna High School

Cypress HS team nickname: the “Wildcats”

School colors: Black & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Cypress High School Gymnasium – Northwest Side

Photo Taken by Jamie Driskill

Athletics

We know that Cypress high school competed in boys basketball (www.ihsa.org). We feel that track and baseball may have also been offered. Quick facts information such as team nickname, school colors and fight song, as well as conference affiliation are being sought at this time.

Boys Basketball

The Cypress High School basketball teams were king of the little schools in their area twice in the 1930s. Unfortunately coach’s names and team records of these and other good Cypress squads are not available at this time. Scores involving Cypress High School in the IHSA State Tournament found on the website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores” are listed below.

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

1st Rd lost to Cave-In-Rock 24-13

Joppa Beat Cave-In-Rock in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Balcom 54-29

2nd Rd lost to Anna 25-24

1934-35 Anna District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat McClure 62-21

2nd Rd Beat Cairo 30-27

Semi-final & Title Game Scores Needed

Carbondale Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Murphysboro 28-24

Marion beat Murphysboro in title game

1935-36 Cairo Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Buncombe 46-32

2nd Rd lost to Mound City 45-42

Anna-Jonesboro beat Mound City in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Brookport 43-31

2nd Rd lost to Golconda 64-36

Metropolis beat Golconda in title game

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

Cypress Wildcats of 1937-38

Submitted by Jamie Driskill

In the photo above to the right the following players have been identified. If you have the names of the others, please contact us via e-mail.

Top Row: ——-, R.E. George, ——–, ———, ———-, ———-, ———, ———-

Bottom Row: Oscar E. Mullinax, ———-, ———, Maurice Richey, James Montgomery, Lowell Bost.

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

District Scores Needed

Metropolis Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Golconda 36-27

Metropolis beat Rosiclare in title game

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

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

1st Rd lost to McClure 43-29

Mound City beat Karnak in title game

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

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

1st Rd lost to Ullin 46-37

Mound City beat Grand Chain in title game

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

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

1st Rd Beat Ullin 45-38

Semi-final lost to Cairo St. Joseph 61-50

Cairo St. Joseph beat Mound City in title game

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

1st Rd Beat McClure 55-50

Semi-final score needed

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

**1st Rd lost to Cairo St. Joseph 41-39

McClure beat Dongola in title game

**Final basketball game for Cypress High School, consolidated to Vienna High School in the summer of 1947.

Need More Information

If you have ANY further information on Cypress High School, especially a photo of the former high school building, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Cypress High School Northwest Side

Photo by Jamie Driskill

Cypress High School Front View 2015

Cypress High School Entrance 2015

Cypress High School Gymnasium 2015

Cutler High School “Bulldogs”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Cutler School Building – 2012

Submitted by James Horaz

The History of Cutler High School

Cutler (population 543) is located in southwestern Illinois about 35 miles northwest of Carbondale and 20 miles west of Du Quoin. The town sits in the southwestern portion of Perry County. Illinois Route 150 is the main roadway to and from Cutler. County Highway 5, also known as Trico Road, will lead you to Cutler as well.

The following provide history information about the town of Cutler and its former school system:

In a book titled “History of Perry County, Illinois” by Turner Publishing Company (page 63) the following history of the town of Cutler and its former high school is available:

Pioneers began to settle the area in which Cutler was eventually established as early as 1825, The village of Cutler was first settled in 1873. It was not incorporated as a village however until 1907. The town is named after a surveyor for the Tamoroa, Chester, and Western Railroad named Cutler Dawson.

The first school in Cutler was a frame building. It was replaced by a brick building iin 1929. This brick building housed both a grade school and a high school. The high school existed through the 1947-48 school year. It was in that year that the towns of Campbell Hill, Willisville, and Cutler agreed to consolidate their high schools.

The new school district was called the Trico School District. The high school was located with an address in Campbell Hill. The Cutler school continued to serve as a grade school through the 1973 school year when it was closed as a school. The town continues to use it for functions including a post office.

Cutler High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1929

Year closed: 1948

Consolidated to: Trico High School (Campbell Hill)

Cutler HS nickname: “Bulldogs”

Team uniform colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Cutler Baseball Diamond – 2012

Courtesy of James Horaz

Athletics and Extra-Curriculars

Cutler High School likely competed in athletics and other extra-curricular activities. It is for certain that basketball was offered, baseball and track were likely offered at one time. Unfortunately there is no mention of any sport at Cutler High School on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org. We are hopeful an area alum or resident can provide some of this information for us.

According to the web address of http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1 Cutler HS lost to Tamaroa 30 – 19 in the 1935 Pickneyville HS District Tourney.

Activities such as plays, chorus, band, FFA, FHA, and any other activities are of great interest. If you have information to share please contact us via the means listed below.

BOYS BASKTEBALL

The following scores involving Cutler High School playing in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” If you have any further information please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

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

1st Rd lost to Willisville 33-31

Willisville beat Marissa in title game

1933-34 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Tamaroa 30-19

Pickneyville beat DuQuoin in title game

Pickneyville lost in Sweet 16 Rd

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

1st Rd lost to Hurst-Bush 44-25

Coulterville beat Hurst-Bush in title game

1936-37 through 1939-40 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Campbell Hill 42-36

Campbell Hill beat Percy in title game

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

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

1st Rd lost to Willisville 50-13

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

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

1st Rd lost to Coulterville 45-41

Steeleville beat Percy in title game

1945-46 through 1947-48 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.

Thank You

Special gratitude to our good friend Roberta Van Briesen for her relentless research for the Glory Days website which resulted in the finding of this former high school.

Seeking Your Assistance

If you have any information regarding Cutler and its former high school please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. As you can see, we are missing a lot of vital information in our attempts to keep the memories of Cutler High alive. You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Cullom Community High School “Ramblers”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Post Card of Original Cullom High School

Submitted by Meri Knapp

Postcard of Cullom High School Building 1954

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Courtesy of Meri Knapp

The History of Cullom High School

Cullom (population 563) is located in upper-eastern Illinois about 20 miles east of Pontiac. This places Cullom in the east-central portion of Livingston County. The main roadway taking you to and from Cullom is Illinois Route 116. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad owns tracks that travel through Cullom. A branch of the North Fork of the Vermillion River flows through the east side of town as well.

The history of Cullom is in need of research. We understand that Cullom began an educational system for its students in 1857 at a private home in Sullivan Township, which is where Cullom is located in the county. A high school curriculum was established by the late 1800’s as a two-year extension of the grade school. The first high school, called Sullivan Township High School, existed for one year only from 1916-17, but was declared invalid because taxes were not paid and teachers were not compensated for their services. However, eight people did graduate that year.

The Cullom Community High School district was formed in 1929 and operated until its closure in 1968 when it merged with Kempton-Cabery and the Emington Community school district to form the Tri-Point school district.

Cullom HS Building 2012

A building with trees in front of it

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Now Utilized as Part of Cullom Tri-Point High School

Cullom Community High School – Early 1900s

Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Gerald Buckler provided us with information he obtained from a 1961 Cullom High School yearbook. This year book lists graduates of Cullom High School beginning in 1900. This would indicate that the Cullom school district began offering some sort of high school curriculum at least by the year 1898. Number of students listed as graduating, by year of graduation, are also found in the yearbook. The numbers are as follows:

1900-2; 1901-4; 1902-5; 1903-4; 1904-0; 1905-4; 1906-4; 1907-6; 1908-7; 1909-8.(which included Bessie Donahue who went on after college to become the choral music teacher in Cullom and area country schools and teaching private piano lessons for many, many years.) 1910-0; 1911-1; 1912-2; 1913-3; 1914-0; 1915-9.(which included graduate Hazel Haag Magee who after college taught for years in the Cullom Grade School); 1916-4; 1917-8; 1918-11; 1919-4; 1920-6; 1921-2; 1922-7; 1923-9; 1924-16; 1925-13; 1926-14; 1927-14; 1928-10; 1929-8; 1930-9; 1931-23; 1932-23; 1933-20; 1934-24; 1935-20; 1936-30; 1937-16; 1938-28;

1939-21; 1940-27.

Gerald tells us that “classes pretty much ran between 15 and 25 thru the rest of the 1961 Yearbook Record. No one was listed as killed or missing in WWI. Wilmer Aellig, Class of 1941 was the only one listed as killed in action during WWII.”

Our good fan Scott Gleeson provided some excellent research and found that the consolidation effort took place prior to the start of the school year of 1968. Scott goes on to tell us that:

“In the first yearbook of Tri-Point HS, a saying sticks out that states “in unity there is strength.” In unity, the Tri-Point School District has lasted through the years even to today. Basketball games and volleyball games are sensational at Tri-Point as it is a small-town atmosphere at its best. The gym is small and the fans sit nearly on top of you as you play. I really enjoy the small town atmosphere and the great pride and emotion this atmosphere brings to athletics that comes from each community involved.”

Cullom Tri-Point High School Facility – 2012

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The high school for the Tri-Point District was located in Cullom. Royal Duncan tells us that the Tri-Point school District continues to utilize the Cullom High School building today. Additions were made to the original Cullom High School building in 1935 and 1956. The Tri-Point District is still going strong.

Cullom High School Quick Facts

First school opened: 1857

Two-year HS classes began: 1898

Year opened as Sullivan Township. HS: 1916

Formation of Cullom Community HS: 1929

Year closed: 1968

Consolidated to: Tri-Point School District (Cullom)

Cullom HS team nickname: “Ramblers”

Team colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: “Cullom Loyalty”

Provided by Gerald Buckler

When our dear Cullom High boys fall in line,

We’re going to win again another time

For C.C.H.S. standards and its name

Its honor and true sportsmanship

We’ll win the game.

So let us fight, fight, fight for every gain

And put our school right in the Hall of Fame

We’ll do our best when put to every test,

Yes our Best!!!

RAH! RAH! RAH!

Seeking a Yearbook

I am trying to obtain either a 1990 or 1989 yearbook from Tri-Point High School. I’m sorry for the intrusion, but I’m wondering if you might be able to help?

KrisanneL@aol.com

Athletics

We know there was boys’ basketball and football in the Cullom Rambler program. We are confident track and baseball were offered. The Ramblers competed in the Vermillion Valley Conference, and was one of the founding members of the organization that originally featured schools eastern Livingston County.

Cullom Ramblers Basketball Team of 1952-53

A group of people posing for a photo

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Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Boys Basketball

One thing is for certain, Cullom High School had a great measure of success in their area for boys basketball. A total of EIGHT Distirct titles were won at Cullom High. Five were won in the 1940’s, three in the 1950’s! There had to be some great team records and great coaches who made this possible; however, we do not have this information at this time. Several scores involving Cullom HS in the IHSA Tournament were located on a site titled Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores“. These games are listed below.

The photo to your right is of the Cullom Ramblers of 1952-53. This team had an overall record of 20-11, won the Vermilion Valley Conference Tourney, District title, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Regional. Members of the team as pictured to the right include:

Back Row: R. Casper – manager, D. Landis, J. Deany, G. Buckler, S. Long, R. Ashman, J. Dutton, Coach Ferri

Front Row: W. Lauterbach, G. Gray, G. Hamilton – mascot, R. Corkill, S. McCulloh

1922-23 through 1933-34 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s names needed.

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Gardner 59-18

Gardner lost to Dwight in 2nd Rd

Dwight beat Mazon for title.

—-

1934-35 Dwight District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Mazon 19-18

2nd Rd Beat Chenoa 32-17

3rd Rd Beat Morris 39-23

Semi-final Beat Odell 34-27

Title Game lost to Gardner 24-14

—-

1935-36 Kempton District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Cabery 25-15

Title Game lost to Reddick 22-16

—-

1936-37 3 – 17 Kempton District Tournament Coach J.E. Elbert.

1st Rd lost to Chenoa 25-24

—-

1937-38 Cullom Hosted District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed

(Cullom scores needed)

Braidwood beat Kempton for title

—-

1938-39 11 – 16 IHSA District Tournament Coach A.C. Williamson

1st Rd Beat Kempton 26-24

Semi-final lost to Cabery 27-16

—-

1939-40 26 – 4 IHSA District Champions Coach A.C. Williamson

1st Rd Beat Strawn 27-22

Semi-final Beat Forrest 39-17

Title Game Beat Chatsworth 2819

Dwight Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Gardner-South Wilmington 33-27

—-
1940-41 26 – 5 Piper City District Champions Coach A.C. Williamson

1st Rd Beat Piper City 32-5

Semi-final Beat Odell 41-17

Title Game Beat Braidwood 34-30

IHSA Regional Runner-Up

1st Rd Beat Pontiac 43-39

Semi-final Beat Wilmington 39-31

Title Game lost to Braidwood 24-23

(Top two from Regional went to Sectional)

Joliet Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Sheldon 39-36 (2 O/Ts)

Sheldon lost to Waterman in title game

**FROM ERICH MURPHY:

“AC Williamson mentioned as a coach at Cullom High School is the same Aubra Williamson who became a hall of fame coach at Pontiac in the 1940s, ’50s and into the ’60s. The AC Williamson Award for the Pontiac Holiday Tournament is named for him.”

—-

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 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

District Scores Needed

Dwight Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Saunemin 34-26

Saunemin lost to Gardner in semi-final

Gardner lost to Coal City in title game

—-

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

(early round scores needed)

Title Game Beat Kempton 40-30

Dwight Regional Runner-Up

1st Rd Beat Dwight 54-32

Semi-final Beat Saunemin 39-38 (O/T)

Title Game lost to Pontiac 53-35

—-

1946-47 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

—-

1947-48 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

—-
1948-49 Cullom District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Saunemin 36-33

Semi-final Beat Odell St. Paul 48-47 (O/T)

Title Game Beat Kempton 42-41

Dwight Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Dwight 46-35

Semi-final lost to Forrest 74-36

Forrest beat Coal City in title game

—-

1949-50 23 – 4 Piper City District Runner-Up Coach Kelly Cox

1st Rd Beat Mazon 54-32

Semi-final Beat Kempton 65-27

Title Game lost to Odell St. Paul 54-34

—-

1950-51 Chatsworth District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Mazon 47-24

Semi-final Beat Piper City 53-47

Title Game lost to Odell St. Paul 61-58 (O/T)

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Odell 60-52 (O/T)

Odell beat Saunemin in title game

—-

1952-53 20 – 11 IHSA District Champions Coach Bob Ferri

VVC Tourney Champs

District Scores Needed

Gardner Regional Semi-Finalist

1st Rd Beat Coal City 62-52

Semi-final lost to Pontiac 85-46

Pontiac beat Braidwood in title game

—-

1953-54 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

District Scores Needed

Pontiac Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Coal City 56050

Coal City lost to Pontiac in semi-final

Pontiac beat Braidwood for title

—-

1954-55 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

—-

1955-56 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

District & Regional Scores Needed

—-
1956-57 District Champions Coach’s name & record needed

VVC Champions

District Scores Needed

Mazon Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Mazon 54-51

Mazon lost to Pontiac in semi-final

Pontiac beat Coal City for title

1957-58 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

1958-59 Chatsworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

VVC Champions

District Tournament Scores

1st Rd Beat Saunemin 78-59

Semi-final lost to Reddick 67-59

Reddick lost to Kempton in title game

—-

1959-60 Cullom District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Piper City 83-53

Semi-final Beat Kempton 76-73

Title Game lost to Odell St. Paul 59-56

—-

1960-61 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

1961-62 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

1962-63 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

1965-66 10 – 12 IHSA District Tournament Coach James Workman

1st Rd lost to Saunemin 86-65

—-

1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

—-

**1967-68 Odell District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Mazon 54-40

Mazon beat Reddick in title game

**Final season as Cullom High School. Became Cullom Tri-Point High School in the Fall of 1968.

Cullom HS Ramblers 9 – 0 Football Team of 1949-50

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Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Football

Some of the better Cullom High football seasons are listed below. Thanks to Tom Sikorski for providing the 1958-1966 records.

Gerald Buckler offered us the information on the incredible run of Coach Kelly Cox’ gridiron warriors of 1948-49 and 1949-50. Consecutive undefeated seasons and a cummulative record of 17-0-1 provided one of the highlights of the Cullom High School football program.

Members of the 1949 squad, pictured above and to your right, are listed in the following order:

Third Row: Gerald Gray, Roger Magee, Paul Jehle, Duane Flessner, Milton Bauerle, DeVere Redenius, Donald Deany, Gerhardt Dohman, RIchard Landis, John Haag, Spencer Sanquist, Raymond Farney

Second Row: Coach Kelly Cox, Arthur Whaley, Arthur Gassler, Lloyd Schramm, Donals Kemp, Joseph Ginter, Robert Ashman, Donald Johnson, Durl Anderson, Gerald Buckler, John Flessner, Mr. Roll

First Row: Paul Gray, Harold Wickham, James Harms, Thomas Gray, John Long, Gerald Kroll, Ronald Koerner, John Lehman, Gordon Stahl, Donald Magee, George Rewerts.

1944 Undefeated, Untied Season

1948 8-0-1 Undefeated Season Coach Kelly Cox

1949 9-0 Undefeated, Untied Season Coach Kelly Cox

1958 6-2 2nd place (tie) VV Conference Coach James Pearson

1959 4-2-2 3rd place VV Conference Coach James Pearson

1960 5-3 Coach Fred Johnson

1961 3-3-2 Coach Fred Johnson

1966 4-4 Coach John Reeser

Last team as Cullom was 1967 – in 1968 first year known as Tri-Point.

**Royal Duncan tells us that Cullom also had a football team as early as 1920. They were known as the Cullom Independents!

**Linda Hess conducted research that revealed the Cullom High School football team defeated Plano High School in 1930, the score was 6 – 0.

Baseball

As early as 1898 the boys of Cullom High School paticipated in the sport of baseball. Even after Cullom High School merged to form Tri-Point High School the folks of Cullom continued to participate in baseball by forming a team known as the Cullom Prairie Dogs. This information came to us from former Cullom resident Royal Duncan.

If you have any futher information about the Cullom baseball progam please forward it to us for inclusion on this site.

Track & Field

The Cullom boys competed in track as well. In fact, the boys of 1936 won the Vermilion Valley Conference Track Meet!

1936 VVC Meet Champions

Cullom HS All-Girl Orchestra of 1951-52

A group of people dancing

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Courtesy of Gerald Buckler

Extra-Curricular Activities

Cullom High School had many more activities to offer other than boys sports. Pictured to your right is what may very well be Illinois high school’s first ever “All-Girl Orchestra”.

Members of the orchestra included:

Back Row: Mrs. Dowse, Donna Wrede, Marlene Hahn, Betty Clark, Marilyn Vollmer, June Magee, Sharon Saathoff

Front Row: Donna Haren, Marlene Stahl, Joann Magee, Sandra Haag, Sarah Whaley, Rita Weller, Velma Nettlingham

Our good firiend and big fan of Cullom High School history, Gerald Buckler, had this information to offer about the CHS All-Girls Orchestra, who made an impact throughout the state:

“Attached is a picture and names of what I remember to be The FIRST ALL-GIRL’S ORCHESTRA in the State of Illinois High Schools. They played at several schools in the State of Illinois and also played at the Palmer House in Chicago. They played a lot of the old standards from the big band era. Mrs. Dowse, the director, also directed the High School Band and taught chemistry. She was a great innovator and way ahead of her time. This was the 1951-52 School Year.”

Memories and Information

**From Amy Steidinger:

“We were looking at your website today and were very impressed at the information available. I work at the high school in Cullom, IL which is now Tri-Point High School. The entire upstairs Is filled with framed copies of the class pictures from each year. I wanted to let you know that I am here and they are available if anyone is interested in information from Cullom, Illinois. Thanks for all your hard work archiving the good old days!”

**More great info provided by Amy Steidinger:

From a book titled “A Livingston County Scrapbook?” produced by Lucile Goodrich, County Superintendent of Schools in 1971

“Cullom’s school addition is under way. $185,000 voted at a special election in May 1954 built the east part of the present building. The addition to house the homemaking room, music room, and three classrooms, an agriculture shop and industrial arts shop was completed durin the tenure of Mr. O. H. Roll. Mr. Orville Roll retired from his position as head of the Cullom schools in 1962, after 33 years of service. When he came to Cullom in 1929, the high school had 65 students. The enrollment was as high as 120 during his tenure and the territory grew from 8 sections to 70. For 15 years after coming, he coached all sport in the high school. He was one of the organizers of the Vermillion Valley Conference and had officiated throughout Central Illinois in basketball, football, and track events. He was known affectionately as “Prof.” Third generation students were serving on his board off education when he retired. He died in 1968. In 1972 Cullom, now a part of Tri-Point, voted to close Cabery elementary building and ran into a storm of protest, but went ahead nevertheless to do what they considered best.”

**From Kathleen Irwin:

“I have come across an old photograph of the graduating class of Cullom High School, 1903. It was in a box at an antique shop along with a few other photos relating to one of the young men in the graduating class photo. The matte frame is stamped “Stevens – Gratsworth, Ill.”

Cullom High School Class of 1903

Submitted by Kathleen Irwin

Front row: M.G. Barnhart, Ethel Shearer

Back row: George Kingdom. Henry Opperman, William Donahue.

If You Have ANY Information…

…regarding the basketball, and any other success, at Cullom High School, especially a photo of the original high school building, please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via USPS at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Cullom Prairie Dogs Baseball Team 1890s

Submitted by Julia Fields

From Julia Fields regarding the photo above:

“I purchased some original cabinet photos from the 1890s from Cullom ILL, at an estate sale in Amarillo TX. Most of the photos I have are from The Kingdon family. This family had relatives on the baseball team, the photo has names written on photo.”

Crystal Lake St. Mary Minor Seminary “Eagles”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

St. Mary Minor Seminary Building

Courtesy of Diana Kenney & The Crystal Lake Historical Society (www.cl-hs.org)

The History of St. Mary Minor Seminary; Crystal Lake, Illinois

Crystal Lake (population 38,000) is located in far northeastern Illinois in the southeastern portion of McHenry County. It is close enough to the city of Chicago to be considered a northwestern suburb, though it is about 40 miles from the downtown area of the “Windy City”. U.S. Route 14 and Illinois Routes 31 and 176 will take you to Crystal Lake. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad travels through Crystal Lake as well.

An excellent short history of the town of Crystal Lake is located at the Wikipedia web address of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Lake,_Illinois . The area in which the town is located was first settled in the mid 1830s. The water in a lake in the area had water described as being “clear as crystal”, hence the name of the town was established as Crystal Lake. The town of Crystal Lake was incorporated in 1874. A town just north of Crystal Lake was named Dearborn. The name of this town was changed to Nunda and also incorportated in 1874. It was in 1914 that the town of Nunda, which became known as North Crystal Lake in 1908, was annexed by the city of Crystal Lake.

We believe the following to be a fairly accurate history of the school known as St. Mary’s Minor Seminary High School. On September 3rd, 1945, Father Sigmund, OFM (1st Superior) created the St. Mary Minor Seminary in Crystal Lake exclusively for boys. According to the web address of http://www.cl-hs.org/dolemansion.html St. Mary Minor Seminary was established for high school boys who wished to study for the priesthood. The school had an enrollment of about 100 students with 75 percent of whom lived on campus.

In the Seminary’s first year (1945), there were 13 freshman and five sophomores. The junior and senior grades were added at a later date. The Seminary lasted for 24 years, as it closed in 1969.

The location of St. Mary Minor Seminary is on Country Club Road, and is now the location of the present Lakeside Legacy Foundation property. Plans are being made to completely restore the Dole Mansion, which served as the St. Mary Minor Seminary High School building during its 24 years of existence.

An excellent website full of history regarding the town of Crystal Lake can be viewed at the web address of www.cl-hs.org . The site is maintained by the Crystal Lake Historical Society. The president of the Historical Society, Diana Kenney, is a supporter of the Glory Days website and provided the photo of the St. Mary Seminary building displayed at the top of this page.

St. Mary’s Seminary “Quick Facts”:

Year opened: 1945

Year closed: 1969

School Team Nickname: the “Eagles”

Team Uniform Colors: Blue & Gold

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

St. Mary’s Seminary competed in football for sure. St. Mary’s alum Brian Regan tells us the school did not offer basketball or any other sport during his time there. The school did not have a gymnasium. A hockey rink was formed in the winter months that allowed the boys to gain their exercise in the cold months. There was also a basketball hoop erected in the outdoor yard that was the site of many ‘pick-up” games.

Regarding the football program, we are searching for information such as fight song, coach’s names, season records, and individual accomplishments. Any information you have to share regarding St. Mary’s Minor Seminary High School is welcome.

Football

Brian Regan provided the following information and memories regarding the Eagle football program:

“I have several newspaper articles from Crystal Lake which listed the football coaches from St. Mary’s for the 1956 season. Joe Porkorny was the head coach and John Kirchberg was an assistant coach. There was one other assistant coach named “Doc“, unfortunately I can not remember his name (possibly Father Norbert). Joe was from Cary. I remember that he had the unfortunate experience of having his new-born baby die. This may have 1956 or 1957, and I remember the entire team going to the funeral home in Cary, Illinois. John Kirchberg, I believe played at the University of Illinois and had a brother who also played at Illinois.”

1956 Coach Joe Porkorny

MEMORIES

**From Dr. William Celentano (Class of 1969):

“I just took a stroll down the lane of memories on your website. I attended St. Mary’s from September 1965 until graduation in June of 1969. I thoroughly loved my stay there and feel quite blessed to have been afforded such a wonderful opportunity and education as was provided. Although I did not progress further on the path of priesthood, I have felt the lessons and guidance instilled in me a source of ongoing strength and focus.”

**From Frank Cherney:

“I attended St. Mary’s for my Freshman and Sophomore year. I had an old suitcase in my basement that had not been opened in close to 60 years and this morning I opened it for the first time and found a whole bunch of my old letters and yearbook stored from my St. Mary’s days.

I have not looked at your site thoroughly but you mentioned ‘doc’ and a St. Mary’s song. As far as I remember ‘doc’ was Father Norbert and although I do not remember an official school song or football or sports team song I do remember and smile often as I sing a little ditty to myself as taught to me by Stanley Kowalski I believe. The song goes like this:

Give a cheer, give a cheer,

For the boys who drink the beer

In the cellars of St. Mary’s High

We are brave, we are bold

For the beer that we can hold

Is a story that’s never been told

For it’s guzzle, guzzle, guzzle

As the beer goes down the muzzle

And the cheer always comes out loud and clear

More Beer!

If Father Simon comes in here

We’ll say ‘Father have a beer’

In the cellars of St. Mary’s High”

Seeking More Information

More information is being sought about the St. Mary Minor Seminary. If you have any information about the Seminary, including photos of the school and memories you would like to share, please use the Guest Commentary Form. You may also write us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or via “real” mail at:

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

Provided by the Crystal Lake Historical Society

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Provided by the Crystal Lake Historical Society

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Crossville High School “Tigers”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Crossville High School

Photo Courtesy of Donald and Betty Jo Pretzsch

The History of Crossville High School

Crossville (population 782) is located in southeastern Illinois on Il. Route 1 six miles south of Interstate Highway 64. This places Crossville in northeastern White County about seven miles west of the Indiana State line. Carmi is located seven miles southwest of Crossville. Elliot Creek trickles through the southwest side of town and the Consolidated Rail Corporation Railroad laid some tracks through town as well.

Crossville provided quality education for its children for nearly a century. The school system was established in the late 1800s, possibly early 1900s. The first year that Crossville High School was established was in 1921. The following bit of information was forwarded to us by CHS Class of 1944 graduate Donald Long:

“My father graduated from Crossville High School in 1924. He went his freshman year to Carmi. He started his sophomore year in Crossville in the 1921-22 school year and graduated in 1924. His name was Charles R. Long.”

It was in the mid-1980s that consolidation talks became serious between Crossville and Carmi. In 1988 Crossville High School was closed and Carmi-White County High School was born.

Crossville High School is no longer used as a school, but it is still standing. There is still a grade school in Crossville for the White County School District.

Crossville High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1921

Year closed: 1988

Consolidated to: White County School District (Carmi)

School nickname: the “Tigers”

School colors: Orange & Black

School Fight Song: “Crossville High, We’re Loyal to You”

Thank you to CLAUDIE PARSON

Crossville High we’re loyal to you, long may our colors fly!

We’ll fight to the end; determined to win, for dear old Crossville High.

Beat ’em, defeat ’em and fight e’m for our fame!

Play fair and shoot square and we will win this game!

Crossville High we’re loyal to you, so fight on to victory

All for Crossville; spoon and ball

FIGHT!

Athletics

Both boys and girls faired well at Crossville High School. IHSA hardware was won in boys basketball, girls softball, boys track, and some nice records were made in girls volleyball. We are need of some interesting items regarding Crossville such as the school nickname, colors, and fight song. We are also in need of information on the better teams not found on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). Please drop us a note at eganann@sbcglobal.net if you would like to share your knowledge of Crossville athletics with other readers of this site.

Girls Softball

Two Regionals and some incredible success defined the softball program in Crossville during the mid 1980s. Coach Larry Gariepy led the girls softball team from 1981-82 through the 1986-87 season. During his 6 seasons the Crossville girls accumulated a record of 105 – 15!

One Crossville fan tells us that Penny Harrington (Martin) hit 2 grand slam homeruns in the same inning against Carmi during our 1983-84 season. Penny was subsequently featured in the “Faces in the Crowd” section of Sports Illustrated!

We are also told that Amy Swingle hoolds many Crossville softball records including having struck out only FOUR times in her career which started her freshman year. The strike outs included two her freshman year and two her sophomore year!

If you have any other personal knowledge of these or other Crossville softball seasons write to us at eganann@sbcglobal.net.

1981-82 14 – 4 (good record) Coach Larry Gariepy

1982-83 14 – 1 (good record) Coach Larry Gariepy

1983-84 20 – 3 Regional Champions Coach Larry Gariepy

1984-85 17 – 1 (good record) Coach Larry Gariepy

1985-86 21 – 4 Regional Champions Coach Larry Gariepy

1986-87 19 – 2 (good record) Coach Larry Gariepy

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team brought home three District titles (back to back to back) and one Regional title. Unfortunately, in most cases, the team records and coach’s names are not available. We are hopeful a Crossville HS fanatic will help us here.

1940-41 White County Tournament Champs Coach Bill Sanders

Little Ten Conference Champs

Crossville HS Team 1940-41 — White County Champs

Coach Bill Sanders (Submitted by Steve Sanders)

1941-42 Regional Champions Coach Bill Sanders

Crossville HS Basketball 1941-42 / Regional Champs

Coach Bill Sanders

1958-59 District Champions

1959-60 District Champions

1960-61 District Champions

In a February 16, 1985 game against Evansville, IN Christian, Crossville player Andy Scarlett made 21 free-throws, the most in school history. He attempted 26 in this game. Andy finshed the game with 61 points!

Girls Volleyball

The lady ahtletes from Crossville had some success in volleyball too during the 1980s. Their best two teams listed on the IHSA web site are listed below.

1982-83 12 – 8 (good record) Coaches Diane & George Tuttle

1984-85 12 – 5 (good record) Coach Ellen Sweeney

Boys Track & Field

One male athlete, Glen Piland, won a medal in an event at the state track meet.

1941-42 Glen Piland 200 Yard Hurdles 5th Place

Donald Prince

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Submitted by Steve Sanders

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

**Don Prince (Class of 1944): Upon graduating from Crossville High School Don continued his basketball career at Illinois State University, eventually being named captain of the team. Don went on to a career in education and at one time held the position of Chairman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

MEMORIES

From Dan Yelch:

“My father, Julius Yelch, attended Crossville HS beginning in 1938 and graduating in 1940. I have viewed his track ribbons won at White County Track Meet in 1940. He also claimed to be the only male cheerleader in the history of Crossville High.”

Seeking More Information

If you would like to share information regarding Crossville High School and its many accomplishments, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. We are especially interested in photos of the old high school building and great teams. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Cropsey High School “Bulldogs”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Cropsey High School

Photo Taken in 1986 by Gerry Halpin

The History of Cropsey High School

Cropsey (population 240) is located in east-central Illinois. The village is located on County Road N 4100 East about two miles north of Illinois Route 165. This places Cropsey in far northeastern McLean County about 25 miles northeast of Bloomington. The Illinois Gulf Central Railroad laid some tracks through the center of town.

The history of Cropsey goes back to 1854 when Col. A.J. Cropsey settled there and the village was named for him in 1880 when it was platted along the railroad. Cropsey was part of Anchor Township until 1877 when it broke away from its southern neighbor to form its own community. The school system began in 1859, when a grade school began educating the children of the area. Cropsey started its a two-year high school in 1910, increased it to a three-year school in 1911, then four years in 1920.

The year was 1951 when Cropsey High School formed a consolidation with its neighbor seven miles to the north, Fairbury. Our good friend Bob Zehr tells us:

“The Cropsey High School consolidated with Fairbury High for the 1950-51 school term. They formed Illinois Community Unit District #3. The Cropsey High School was then used as a grade school (grades 1-8), later (1956-57) the 7^th and 8^th grades were moved to Fairbury. Then eventually the Cropsey School was closed and torn down.”

From former school board member Cindy Helmers:

“The Cropsey school was used during the time of the Fairbury-Cropsey school district. It was used as a grade school for part of the time and then as a “6^th grade only” building for the district.”

This consolidation, Fairbury-Cropsey High School, faired well until another consolidation effort took place in 1985 and brought forth Prairie Central School District (based in Fairbury) of which Cropsey is now a part of. The Cropsey building was torn down at in the mid-1990’s after it was declared unsafe during the mid-1970’s, and students were relocated to Fairbury.

Cropsey High School Quick Facts

Year opened as 2-yr school: 1910

Yr it became 3-yr school: 1911

Yr it became 4-yr school: 1920

Year believed to be closed: 1951

School nickname: the “Bulldogs”

School colors: Purple & Gold

School Fight Song: unavailable

Cropsey HS Basketball Team 1921-22

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McLean Co. Jr. Division Champions

Cropsey High School Basketball 1937-38

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McLean County Tournament Champions

Athletics

The Cropsey High School Bulldogs’ athletic program is only mentioned on the IHSA web site (www.IHSA.org) in the sport of boys basketball. We are certain Cropsey High also offered baseball and track & field, while they were members of the Tri-Valley Conference along with Anchor, Colfax, Cooksville, Towanda, Downs, Ellsworth, Arrowsmith, Saybrook, and Bellflower in the mid-late 1940s. If you have any further information on these sports mentioned and/or any other sports that may have been offered, please share it with us.

Boys Basketball

The Cropsey High School boys knew their way around the hardwood court. The boys won a total of four District Championships, all within an eight-year period. The Bulldogs also won the McLean County Tournament championship twice, once at the junior division. Other teams of note are not mentioned on the IHSA site. If you have information on other great Cropsey HS teams, including the records and coach’s names of the District Championship teams please send us an e-mail.

1921-22 McLean Co. Jr. Division Champs Coach Leonard Hedrick

1937-38 District Champions Coach John Land

McLean County Tourney Champions

1940-41 District Champions Coach unknown

1941-42 District Champions Coach unknown

1944-45 District Champions Coach J.W. Brown

Need Your Assistance

The Cropsey High School Bulldogs’ legacy should not be forgotten. The school fight song, great teams, and other noteable accomplishments at CHS should be remembered and shared with others. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Crete High School “Warriors”

Posted on March 2, 2022June 29, 2023 by davenanninga in Uncategorized

Crete High School Building

http://www.cm201u.org/index.aspx?NID=2304

The History of Crete High School

Crete (population 7,346) is located in northeastern Illinois in the northeast portion of Will County. Illinois Route 1, also known locally as Dixie Highway, is the main roadway to and from Crete. The Union Pacific Railroad line passes through Crete as well. Crete is located about 20 miles southeast of Joliet.

A nice history of the town of Crete can be viewed at the web address of http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/351.html . In summary, the article relates the following about Crete’s history:

The area where the town is located was first settled in the 1830s. In the 1840s a man named Willard Wood and his wife Diantha began a village known as Woods Corners. Mr. Wood eventually named the town Crete after writings from St. Paul in the New Testament of the Bible. The village was platted in 1849, it was incorporated in 1880. It has grown from 760 residents in 1900 to nearly 7,500 in the year 2000. Its location near Chicago gives Crete a bright future for continued growth.

A nice history of Crete High School was provided to us by John Boehner and the web address of http://www.cm201u.org/index.aspx?NID=2304 :

“Crete High School began in 1932 as a two-year program using the 1928 Crete Public School building. The previous wood structure burned in 1928. Prior to this date high school students had to attend Peotone or Chicago heights Bloom.

An addition was added in 1937 with a grant from WPA. The high school became a 4 year program in 1940. Crete merged with Monee in 1948 to form Crete Monee Unit District 201-U, as a result of the state consolidation program at that time.

The Crete building was used for the high school until a new Crete-Monee High School building was built on another site in 1954. The Crete School is now utilized as the Crete Elementary School and has been added on to many times. The original facade was eliminated in 1980. There has been serious talk of late of abandonning this building in favor of a more modern structure to be built on another site.”

Crete High School Quick Facts

Year opened as 2-Year HS: 1932

Year 4-year HS began: 1940

Year merged with Monee HS: 1948

Now Known As: Crete-Monee HIgh School

Crete HS Team nikckname: “Warriors”

Crete HS Team colors: Gold & Blue

Crete HS Fight Song: “Here’s To Crete High”

Here’s to Crete High,
Dear old Crete High,
Hail C.C.H.S.
Raise the colors gold and blue
We will be for ev-er true
So let us cheer the Warriors on to victory
Fight on for their fame–
We’ve got the fight
We got the might
Let’s win this game!

ATHLETICS

Though the Crete High School kids did not win any IHSA hardware, we know the boys competed in basketball. The web address of http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1 shows that Crete High School was defeated by Blue Island High School in the 1935 IHSA District Tournament held in Chicago Heights. We also know that Crete High School boys competed in football and baseball through the 1940s. Unfortunately this is the extent of the information we currently have regarding the Crete HS athletic program. If you have any further information to add, please contact us via the means listed below.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

John Boehner tells that, in the 1940s, Crete HS students could participate in NHS, choir, band, FHA, Operator’s Club (A-V), mechanical drawing club, student government, and library club.

INTERESTING FACTS AND MEMORIES

**From John Boehner:

“Verne Crackle was hired as superintendent of the Crete Schools in 1928. He later became Will County Superintendent. Crete had football and basketball in the 1940s.The gym, with the stage and original bleachers removed, still is used by Crete Elementary students. In the late 80’s or so, the west gym wall separated from the rest of the building, collapsed, and had to be replaced. Crete High School had a curious “portable building” that was used from everything from industrial arts classes to a cafeteria. It was considered portable because it could be dismantled and moved and rebuilt. After the new Crete Monee built in 1954 added industrial arts rooms, the portable building was moved to the new high school site and was used for maintenance. It has been demolished.”

IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE …

There’s a lot more to add to the history of the original Crete High School.. We’d like to make this page more informative with personal memories you may have about the school. If you have any further information you would like to share regarding Crete High School before its closure, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631