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The History of Nelson High School

Nelson (population 170) is located on an important railroad intersection of the former Chicago and Northwestern Railroad tracks (now Union Pacific) in western Lee County. The east-west tracks are those of the “Overland Route” between Chicago and San Francisco and the tracks going south lead to St. Louis. As far as driving is concerned, Nelson is one mile north of Rock Island Road connecting Dixon and Rock Falls. Attractions in Nelson include the “Who Else Land” and the “Railside Bar and Grill”. Woodland Shores subdivision is to the east. Nelson was platted in 1862 and is named after the owner of the property on which the town was established, Samuel Nelson.

The Nelson School pictured above was built in 1922 and we are sure there was an older building used for a school purpose prior to that. The school is located on the corner of Main Street and Cass Street. This school served kids for grades 1-8. High school-aged kids were then bused to Rock Falls High School to continue their education.

The 1922 building was razed and is no longer standing. The facility closed as a school in 2012 and the students of Nelson now attend school in the East Coloma School District. They continue to attend high school in Rock Falls. 

The Nelson school gymnasium addition along with 2 classrooms and the cafeteria kitchen are still standing and being put to great use. This facility now serves at The Classroom Pub serving pizza and a bar. The gym is in great shape and utilized for various functions.

School memories from Justice Tarbill:

“The grade school mascot was the Blue Raider. Our colors were blue and white. They offered basketball to kids 5th grade and up, but since our school was so small they combined us with another school called Riverdale so we could have enough kids on a team. The original Nelson school is the tall dark brown building (pictured above); that portion was a basement (kindergarten was taught in one of the rooms in the basement) and 2 rooms upstairs (one held 1st and 2nd grade, the other held 3rd and 4th grade) Tuesday and Thursday music class was held in the main part of the basement. There were also bathrooms upstairs. It was split into 2 groups for music k-4 and then 5-8. The special education teacher had a partition in the basement where he worked out of. The later addition to the school housed the gym as well as 2 more bathrooms, the principals office, and 2 more classrooms, one for 5&6 and one for 7&8. Gym glass was held Monday and Wednesday either in the gym or outside. There was no cafeteria, we had picnic tables set up around the gym that we would eat at. I miss that school!”

Nelson High School “Quick Facts”:

Year school system organized:            1800s

Year Nelson School built:                     1922

Building Status:                                     1922 Building Razed

School Colors:                                      GS – Blue & White

School Mascot:                                     GS – “Blue Raiders” (possibly HS team nickname as well.)

School Song:                                        Unknown

The History of Gladstone and Gladstone / Oquawka High Schools

The village of Gladstone (population 284) is located on Il. Route 164 one mile north of US. Route 34 in northern Henderson County.  Other location landmarks include being approximately 20 miles southwest of Monmouth and five miles east of the Mississippi River.  The A, T & SF Railroad runs through town and the South Henderson Creek also is a part of the village’s history.

The city of Oquawka (population 1,539) is situated on the banks of the Mississippi River in far western Henderson County.  Il. Route 164 is the main highway in town.  A larger town of note in the area is Monmouth which sits 16 miles east of Oquawka.   

Both towns supported their own high schools through the late in 1940s. It was in the fall of 1949 that a consolidation effort took place and the Gladstone / Oquawka School District was initiated.

This District lasted for eleven years.  In 1960 Gladstone – Oquawka HS consolidated with Biggsville and created the Union School District.  The Gladstone – Qquawka HS building still stands proudly, though now used for storage purposes. 

The original Gladstone high school gym is across the street from the old G & O HS/Tri-valley middle school buildings that are shown above.  The gym is connected by the Gladstone grade school that was built in 1969.

The History of Sacred Heart High School @ Oakley & Huron

Chicago (population approximately 2,800,000) is situated in the far northeastern portion of Illinois in the heart of Cook County. Highways leading to and from Chicago include I-55, I-57, I-88, I-90, and I-94. Several railways also take you into the nation’s third largest city.

Lake Michigan serves as Chicago’s eastern border and was vital (and still is today) to Chicago’s early growth and economy.The area in which Chicago is located was first settled in the very early 1800’s. The mouth of the Chicago River at Lake Michigan served as an important waterway from the east to the west.

The town was organized in 1832 and chartered as a city in 1837. Chicago’s population that year was 4,180. By the late 1800’s, Chicago was a boom town, the population increasing at a rapid rate. Along with this boom came the need for education. Residents saw to it that their children were given many opportunities. Along with the growth of public schools came the establishment of several private and parochial schools.

The existance of the Sacred Heart High School at Oakley Avenue and Huron Street was a short one. This two-year co-educational school opened in 1939 by the Reverend Monsignor Victor Blanhunka. Both academic and commercial courses were offered during it’s existance.

The school did not have a large enrollment, and was only open until June 1940. The remaining students were transferred to St. Joseph High School on Hermitage Avenue.

Our good friend Michael M. tells us about the school:

“The two teachers during the short life of Sacred Heart High School on Huron Street were very popular with their students. The first-year class was taught by Sister M. Constance Skamla, who later served the Order as a nurse and who died on June 24, 1985. The advanced class was taught by the very much beloved Sister M. Ivana Flajnik. Sister Ivana also taught for more than twenty years at St. Procopius High School on Allport, where again she was very much loved by her students. She died at the convent in Joliet on May 28, 1998.”

FACTS ABOUT SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL (Oakley & Huron)

Year opened: 1939

Year closed: 1940

School colors: Red & White

School song: unknown

The History of Ashton High School

Ashton, Illinois is located in Lee County, nine miles southwest of Rochelle along the old Lincoln Highway and the Union Pacific “Overland Route” from Chicago to San Francisco. The town was plotted in 1854. Crest Foods is Ashton’s largest employer.

Rick Rasmussen tells us the following about the history of Ashton High School:

“The first high school in Ashton, IL was on the corner of Paddock Ave and Route 38.  The old high school was actually deemed unfit in 1983, so from the 1983-1984 school year on, all students in K-12 were relocated to the Western Ave. location.”

The original high school building was graced with the words “High School.” on the front doorway with the period at the end to reflect the typical punctuation of that time (1890).

Robbie Wright tells us the fate of the original high school building:

“The old high school building did not initially sit empty. Someone bought the school and made it into apartments or a private residence before it was eventually tore down (in 1999).”

In 2004, CUSD #271 (which included Ashton and Franklin Center) did some reorganization and decided make the former Franklin Center High School in nearby Franklin Grove a K – 4 facility. The new high school became Ashton-Franklin Center High School and the history of Ashton High School ended. The newer Ashton High School is now used to house AFC High School.

For more information on Ashton High School please visit http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolashtonhs.html .

Ashton High School “Quick Facts”:

Year High School Opened:                1890

Year closed:                                    2004

Consolidated to:                               Ashton-Franklin Center High School

Nickname:                                       the “Aces”

School Colors:                                 Green and Gold

School Fight Song:                           “Go You Aces”

                                                                         Lyrics provided by STEEN LAWSON

                                                     Go You Aces on to fame

                                                     Go You Aces Go
                                                     Fight till you win boys
                                                     Never give in boys
                                                     We’re rootin’ for you – you know

                                                     Rah! Rah! Rah!

                                                     When you come out before us
                                                     Our colors will unfold
                                                     We’ll Cheer for you
                                                     Throughout the game
                                                     To back our Green and Gold

This fight song is to an original tune. It was composed in the early 60’s, possibly ever earlier.

From Rick Rasmussen:

“Prior to 2004, (prior to the 1988 -1989 school year), Ashton High School and Franklin Center High School consolidated in football, wrestling, band, and chorus.  I was a member of the graduating class of 1991 and I remember voting on the name AFC Raiders and the colors black and gold for the teams we had co-oped at that time.”

Athletics

Football

Football was the prime sport at Ashton High School. The first football team formed in 1950 and lasted for nearly 40 years before the Ashton-Franklin Center co-op in 1985. Out of those 40 years, only 12 of those years produced winning records:

1953-54 – Record: 5-2           (Coach: Dick Rabbitt)

1955-56 – Record: 6-1           (Coach: Ken Johnson)

1956-57 – Record: 4-2           (Coach: Don Simpkins)

1962-63 – Record: 4-2-2        (Coach: Ron Stump)

1966-67 – Record: 5-2           (Coach: Don Lackey)

1967-68 – Record: 6-2           (Coach: Don Lackey)

1978-79 – Record: 6-2           (Coach: Dave Whiteman)

1979-80 – Record: 6-2           (Coach: Dave Whiteman)

1980-81 – Record: 5-3           (Coach: Bob Aubry)

1983-84 – Record: 5-3           (Coach: Bob Aubry)

1984-85 – Record: 6-3           (Coach: Jeff Jahn)

1989-90 – Record: 6-3           (Coach: Jeff Zick)

The Ashton-Franklin Center co-op began in 1988 and lasted until the consolidation of 2004. During that time, AFC earned their first playoff berth in 1990 with a record of 6-4. In 1994, the AFC Aces went a perfect 9-0 in the regular season and finished the year 10-1. They would not qualify for the IHSA playoffs until 2003, when they finished second in the Four Rivers Conference and went 9-3 before falling to eventual Class 1A state champions, Galena.

Boys Cross Country

No seasonal records are available, but one athlete scored two medals in the state tournament:

1980-81  Chris Hager  11th Place Finish

1981-82  Chris Hager  10th Place Finish

Wrestling

Another sport Ashton offered starting in 1969. In 1980-81, the Raiders finished in 10th place at the state tournament and finished 12-7-1 overall.

Nine individual grapplers won a total of 14 medals at the IHSA State Match competition.  This includes Dave Lloyd who won the 145 lbs. title in 1982 and Jamin Soria who earned a total of four medals and two STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! Ashland’s individual medalists are listed below.

Andy McCannon    1975A                 145 lbs.                   2ND Place

Curt Dusing            1976A                 112 lbs.                   2ND Place

Chris Hager           1981A                   98 lbs.                   3RD Place
Dave Lloyd            1981A                 138 lbs.                   2ND Place
                              1982A                 145 lbs.                   STATE CHAMPION!!

Jamin Soria           1992A                 HWT                       4TH Place
                              1993A                  HWT                      STATE CHAMPION!!
                              1994A                  275 lbs.                  3RD Place
                              1995A                  275 lbs.                  STATE CHAMPION!!

Mike Gleissner       1995A                  171 lbs.                  4TH Place
Joe Gleissner         1996A                  171 lbs.                  4Th Place
                              1997A                  189 lbs.                  2ND Place
Stephen Feiden     2004A                  275 lbs.                  4TH Place
Dave Gleissner       2004A                 189 lbs.                   3RD Place

Volleyball

The girls were offered volleyball starting in the 1978-79 school year and would go through four coaches before Jan (Hughes) Cupp took over in 1987-88. She led the AFC Raiders to six Regional Championships starting in 1993-94:

1993-94 – 13-4            Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp

   
1994-95 – 22-5            Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp

1995-96 – 22-5            Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp

    
1997-98 – 19-13-1        Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp

1998-99 – 28-5-3         Regional Champions                            Coach Jan Cupp             

                                 Rock Falls Invitational Champs 

                                 Upstate Illini E. Conference Champs

                                 Sectional Tournament
                                 Semi-final Beat Morrison 15-6, 7-15, 15-10

                                 Title Game lost to Milledgeville 15-6, 15-13

                                 Millegdeville lost in Elite 8 round.

2001-02 – 20-15          Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp

                                Sectional Tourney

                                Semi-final lost to Bureau Valley 15-13, 15-6

                                Bureau Valley won Sectional, lost in Sweet 16

2003-04 –                  Aledo Tournament Champions             Coach Jan Cupp

                                Record needed

Ashton won Conference Championships in 1995 and 2001, the year they also won the Four Rivers Conference Tournament.

Boys Basketball

Boys basketball was offered at Ashton High School as well. Over the years, they won two District Championships! Season records, coaches’ names, and other information is needed.

We did locate some postseason scores from the IHSA Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below.

1933-34              Oregon District Tournament                Coaches name & record needed

                          1st Rd Beat Creston 16-8

                          2nd Rd lost to Rochelle 32-15

                          Rochelle lost in semi-final round

1934-35 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1935-36              Leaf River District Champions         Coach’s name & record needed

                          Title Game Beat Leaf River 43-32

                          Oregon Regional Tourney

                          1st Rd Lost to Polo 47-28

                          Polo lost in title game

1936-37              Mt. Morris Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd lost to Rochelle 52-9

                         Rochelle won Regional tourney

1937-38              District Champions                          Coach’s name & record needed

                          District scores unavailable

                          Regional scores unavailable

1938-39              Dixon Regional Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd lost to Sterling 39-23

                          Sterling lost in title game

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

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

1941-42              Oregon Regional Tounament               Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd Beat Stillman Valley 50-29

                          Semi-final lost to Oregon 39-26

                          Oregon lost in title game.

1942-43               Dekalb Regional Tounament              Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd Beat Leaf River 39-19

                          Semi-final lost to Shabonna 33-26

                          Shabonna lost in title game

1943-44               Regional Tournament                        Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd lost to Rochelle 43-27

1944-45               Oregon Regional Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd lost to Rochelle 39-30

                          Rochelle won Regional title

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

1946-47              Mt. Morris Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd lost to Byron 46-43

                         Byron lost in title game

1947-48               Oregon Regional Tounament              Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd Beat Oregon 50-29

                          Semi-final lost to Rochelle 45-34

                          Rochelle lost in title game

1948-49               Rochelle Regional Tounament            Coach’s name & record needed

                          1st Rd Beat Forreston 52-26

                          Semi-final lost to Rochelle 36-34

                          Rochelle won title game

1949-50              Mt. Morris Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 42-29

                         Semi-final lost to Byron 64-39

                         Byron won title game

1950-51             Rochelle Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd lost to Rockford St. Thomas 63-44

                         St. Thomas lost in semi-final round

1951-52             Mt. Morris Regional Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed

                        1st Rd lost to Forreston 71-48

                        Ashton scorers: Hicks 13, Butler 10, Tews 8,

                        Warner 7, Cultra 4, Miller 2, Waupel 2, Dennis 2

                        Forreston lost in semi-final round

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

1953-54             Mt. Morris Regional Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed

                        1st Rd lost to Forreston 73-43

                        Ashton scorers: Butler 15, Wisman 9, Gaskins 6,

                        Lawson 5, Huntley 3, Hicks 2, Warner 2, Bolen 1

                        Forreston lost in title game

1954-55             Rochelle Regional Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

                        1st Rd lost to Rockford St. Thomas 63-51

                        St. Thomas lost in semi-final round

1955-56 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1956-57              Rock Falls Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd lost to Sterling 67-47

                         Sterling lost in semi-final round

1957-58              Rock Falls Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd lost to Rock Falls 142-36

                         Rock Falls won Regional title

1958-59              Sterling Regional Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd lost to Rock Falls 92-45

                         Rock Falls lost in title game

1959-60              Leaf River District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Franklin Center 60-47

                         Semi-final lost to Byron 76-47

                         Byron won District title.

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

1961-62              Stillman Valley District Tournament       Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 75-45

                         Semi-final lost to Byron 66-56

                         Byron lost in title game

1962-63              Forreston District Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Byron 64-39

                         Semi-final lost to Forreston 70-50

                         Forreston won District title.

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

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

1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

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

1967-68             Mt. Morris District Runner-up!             Coach’s name & record needed

                        Semi-final Beat Franklin Center 63-52

                         Title Game lost to Forreston 56-54

1968-69             Stillman Valley District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Forreston

                         Semi-final lost to Byron 76-66

                         Byron lost in title game

1969-70             Byron District Tournemant                     Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 68-66

                         Semi-final lost to Byron 63-50

                         Byron won District title

1970-71             Polo District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed

                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 60-55

                         Semi-final lost to Mt. Morris 79-70

                         Mt. Morris won District title.

1971-72             Byron Class ‘A’ Regional Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed

                        1st Rd lost to Polo 74-64

                        Polo lost in semi-final round

1972-73 through 2003-04  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1999-00            Amboy Tourny Champs                       Coach’s name & record needed

2000-01            Amboy Tourny Champs                       Coach’s name & record needed

March 4, 1958 was a dreary day for the AHS Boys Basketball team. They were beat by eventual state second-placers, Rock Falls, 142-36 in the opening-round of Regional play.

Girls Baskeball

The Lacy Aces had some great seasons as well..

1997-98             Amboy Tourny Champs                      Coach Mike Messer

2001-02             Four Rivers Conference Champs        Coach Mike Messer

                        FR Conference Tourny Champs

                        Amboy Tourny Champs               

In 2001, they won the Amboy Fresh-Soph Tournament as well as the varsity.

Also Offered

Baseball and Softball were also offered. No records could be found at this time.

Great Coach

Jan Cupp coached volleyball starting in 1987 and established a record of 279-197-8 and continues to coach volleyball for Ashton-Franklin Center High School.

Speech / Individual Events

Ashton High School also had an Individual Events team that placed seventh in the state tournament in 1957. In 1958, Doris Pogue was the State Champion in Verse Reading at the IHSA Individual Events State Tournament.

1956-57    Individual Events Team Finished SEVENTH in STATE MEET Competition!!

1957-58    Individual Medalist – Doris Prague    Verse   STATE CHAMPION!!

FACTS ABOUT CHICAGO MERCY MISSION HIGH SCHOOL

Year opened:            1887

Year closed:             1982

School colors:           unknown

School nickname:      unknown

School song:             unknown 

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

We know that Mercy Mission offered athletics, including basketball, and belonged to the Chicago Parish School League with the likes of Corpus Christi, St. Gregory, St. Malachy, St. Michael’s, Cathedral, St. Benedict, St. Dominic, & Willibrord Catholic. No information has been found to show win-loss records or names of coaches and players that were part of any athletic team at Mercy Mission, but we did find that the school was on the receiving end of a 52-point performance by Jesse Green from Chicago St. Dominic on February 27, 1959 on 24 field goals and four free throws. We are hopeful that an alumnus or historian might be able to fill us with more details with what sports were offered at Mercy Mission, plus have records, names of coaches, and more.

AS YOU CAN TELL…

we are in need of plenty of information about Chicago Mercy Mission High School. Information such as school colors, team nickname, school song, photos of the school or its teams, and more are what we would like to have to make the story of Mercy Mission as complete as possible. Please contact us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or by mailing your information to:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631

 The History of Chicago Harvard St. George High School

Chicago (population 2.8 million) is located in far northeastern Illinois in the center of Cook County. It goes without saying, but directions or an explanation about this “town’s” history, location, and incredible growth are self-explanatory The city is famous for many different reasons and was a great influence on the growth of the United States in the 1800’s. It is, today, the third largest city in the United States and Illinois’ largest city.

Harvard-St. George High School was the result of the merger between the all-boys Harvard School and the all-girls’ St. George School for Girls, located right near each other in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, close to well-known landmarks such as the Museum of Science and Industry as well as the University of Chicago. Both schools existed as separate entities until the spring of 1962 when the two became united as one.

After a period of adjustment, the schools became as one as the formerly all-caucasian Harvard (which had been declining in enrollment) meshed with a racially-diverse St. George (who had been growing). Under the tutelege of school director Ann Tyskling, HSG grew into a notable independent school within the city during a period of radical change.

Harvard-St. George continued its growth spurt into the 1970’s and continually looked for more space to flourish. In 1979, the school purchased the Harris School on the city’s North Side, and expanded into a two-campus school. Since it served students from pre-school thru high school, the pre-schoolers and high school students were located on the North Side at the former Harris location on Hawthorne Place, while grade school and junior high students remained at the South Side campus on South Ellis Avenue.

But this arrangement only survived two school years when it was decided that it was not feasible to have two locations, so the South Ellis campus became the home of all students at the renamed Harvard, which dropped the “St. George” from their name after the purchase of Harris to keep from confusing people who thought the school had an affiliation to the Catholic Church.

In the end, the school was unable to sustain continuous growth and later ended its’ high school department in 1993. Harvard did keep a grade school after then, but succumbed to financial problems and closed its doors for good in 2003. Today, the building has been turned into a multi-family location.

Chicago Harvard St. George High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                        1962

High school closed:              1993

Year closed for good:           2003

School Team Nickname:     “Hurricanes”

School Team Colors:            Black & Gold

School Fight Song:               unavailable

ATHLETICS & EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Harvard-St. George offered basketball to both boys and girls, and had baseball for the boys. Being a smaller school, it did not offer football like it did when the school was an all-boys’ prep school years before, but one would believe that other sports filled the bill to give students an opportunity to compete in athletics. The same could also be said for other activities, such as yearbook, music, and honorary societies, but we are looking for information about these items.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

The Hurricanes competed in the Independent School League with the likes of Francis W. Parker, Chicago Latin, Chicago University, Morgan Park Academy, Glenwood School, Winnetka North Shore Country Day, and Elgin Academy, winning the conference tournament title in 1970-71. Led by star player Darnell Bush, Coach Clarence Harvill’s team scored a 66-61 win over nearby University High in the ISL finals. The Hurricanes also had a good season in 1981-82 when they compiled a 19-6 record for Coach Nick Nishibayashi.

1964-65  14-12                                                     Coach Roger Greene

1970-71             ISL Tournament Champs            Coach Clarence Harvill

1981-82  19-6 (good record)                               Coach Nick Nishibayashi

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Harvard-St. George offered this sport for the girls, but we are uncertain about its’ beginnings. One fact we were able to discover from the Illinois High School Association’s website (www.ihsa.org) was Chicago Latin defeated the Lady Hurricanes 117-1 on February 14th, 1978. Unfortunately, this was one of the biggest margins of victory ever in a girls’ prep hoops game in state history.

BASEBALL

Harvard-St. George got out on the diamonds of the South Side, and even set a precident in 1974. The Hurricanes became the first school in Chicago to open it’s baseball program to girls, according to articles can be found in the Hyde Park Herald newspaper archives on-line.

Junior Beth Walsh’s decision to join the baseball team raised more than a few eyebrows in the Independent School League as well as the rest of Chicagoland. It even forced the conference to have a special meeting to discuss the issue and as a result, the ISL reversed its stance of only allowing boys on boys teams only.

According to student Bill Dixon, “I was on the team when Beth Walsh, Heidi Lerner, and Jackie Dixon all joined the boys’ baseball team (in 1975)! Our school director, Mrs. Ann Tyskling, was influential in having ladies join the team.

“I believe we went 2-14 that season, (which) did include the first two wins in the schools’ history (over U of C Lab School and St. Michael’s)!!

MEMORIES

**From Beth Walsh (class of 1975):

“I attended the school Harvard-St. George from 1968 to 1975 and have many fond memories. Our school mascot was the Hurricanes and our colors were black and gold. In 1971 I believe we won the Independent School league city championship in basketball. The coach was Clarence Harvill, whom I believe played in the ABA league at one time. He was a great man.

**From Valarie Graham (class of 1984):

“I am a 1984 graduate of The Harvard School. I see that your research is largely focused on the earlier years. I wanted to let you know that if you google a woman named Ann Tyskling you can find out a lot about the school’s later years. She was the director as far back as 1968 and by the time I graduated in 1984 was still the director and a benefactor of the school. The Harvard School colors were blue and gold. I kept my cheerleading uniform for many, many years. I can’t for the life of me remember the mascot though. I know we played basketball in the Independent School League. The star basketball player in 83-84 was Pierre Ellis. There is an alumni group on facebook.”

From Joe Anzek (school principal 1983-87, director 1987-89):

“Susan Gibson was principal of the school prior to 1983 and on until 1987 when Mrs. Tyskling (what an amazing school leader) retired, but remained a member of the Board of Directors, along with her daughter Karen, Dorothy Gleaves, Timothy Rand, Lindsey Gorman, etc. Mrs. Gibson became director and I was named principal in 1983.

“Mrs. Gibson refined the curriculum, organized the administrative functions and opened a new Early Childhood Center in 1985. The EC Center was very well-received and well attended. Mrs. Gibson left in 1987 to become Principal of the Beye School in Oak Park, IL. I was named Director in 1987 and left in 1989 to lead a public school in New Jersey.

“Some staff members I remember well are Max Fayn, who managed the library and taught French. Zeus Preckwinkle taught 4th grade so lovingly. Kathy George was a marvelous English teacher. Mark Jackson was an industrious math and technology teacher, Margaret Pennamon was the school secretary and did amazing work for such a long time.

“I’m not sure if I saw these alumni mentioned in your piece: Mandi Patinkin, the TV and Broadway actor/singer; Bertram Goldberg, the great Chicago architect.  William Shawn, maybe who was editor of the New Yorker for a long time.

“It was exciting to see Valerie Graham responding to your piece and noting the brilliance of Pierre Ellis for the basketball team. Ms. Graham was a superb student and student leader.

“The school tragically was the initiating point for the crime of the century when college students Leopold and Loeb kidnapped Bobby Franks from the front of the school in 1924 and murdered him in south Chicago.”

From Pierre Ellis (class of 1984):

“I was searching the net and went down memory lane, it landed me at this article about Harvard the school that changed me forever.

“Thanks Sooooo much Ann Tyskling for giving your heart and soul for Harvard and your passion to make a difference in the lives of young girls and boys in the big City of Chicago ILL.

“There were so many caring educated adults who made a difference in my Life while attending Harvard in which I graduated in 1984. I currently give back to our youth of tomorrow by coaching basketball and working with at-risk juveniles. Without Harvard-St. George High School, I would have been a typical inner city kid trying to survive in a urban jungle with no tools for success or progress.”

Pierre Ellis

worldpeace1luv@gmail.com

Twitter address: @PierreEllis1

Cherry Valley, Illinois (population 3,042) is located just southeast of Rockford along US 20. Cherry Valley is a historic village based on its small-town setting, architecure and its brick-like main street (State Street). All of which are upkept even with the village’s expansion toward the city limits of Rockford; Cherryvalle Mall is located within the village limits despite being known as a Rockford landmark. The Illinois Central and Union Pacific railroads pass through town.

Cherry Valley and Newburg, a northern settlement since absorbed by Cherry Valey, were founded in 1835. Newburg’s gristmill made that burg a candidate for rail traffic, but the tracks went through Cherry Valley instead. The first school was built in Cherry Valley in 1848. A newer school was built in 1868. A high school was formed nearly 20 years later with two graduates, Lillian Sanborn and Nellie Hartman, earning diplomas in 1889. As time went on, the school was reduced to a three-year high school and down to two years by 1941.

Encouraging Cherry Valley students to complete their education at Rockford High School after the three or to years, it as decided that all Cherry Valley-aged high school students attend Rockford for high school in 1941, thus ending high school education in Cherry Valley.

The school, since rebuilt, has since been absorbed by Rockford Public School District 225 and is still in use as an elementary school.

Cherry Valley High School “Quick Facts”:
 
Year opened:         1868 (first graduates in 1889)
Year deactivated:   1948
School Mascot:      Unknown
School Song:         Unknown
School Colors:       Unknown

ATHLETICS

There is evidence that Cherry Valley had basketball, but may have had a baseball team as well. More information is needed on Cherry Valley High School athletics.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Cherry Valley High School boys team of 1945-46 were a very unique squad. The players were certainly above average, having a winning record and winning games against four-year high schools when they were but a two-year institution. What made them unique was that they had a female head coach, something that was VERY uncommon for that era. A newspaper article was published in the Macomb Daily Journal on February 18, 1946 outlining the details of this situation. Beau Spencer discovered this unique information while researching microfilm.  The entire story is reprinted below:

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM HAS WOMAN COACH

Cherry Valley, IL. — February 18, AP

     A young lady just eight months out of college and recently married is taking a basketball team into the District Tournament at Monroe Center next week — and she’s the coach.

     That’s probably the last thing Doris Johnson ever had on her mind as she majored in education at the University of Iowa, from which she was graduated in June.

     Now she says she’ll make the best of it, hopes her Cherry Valley team, which has won 12 of 16 games this season, can get a chance in the Regional meet at West Rockford.

     “I didn’t know I was getting a coaching job and a teaching position too, when I came here,” Mrs. Johnson, the former Doris Cederstrom said. “But I enjoy trying to help the boys, they work hard, they keep in condition and play to win.”

     However Mrs. Johnson, who was married last week to Earl Johnson, recently returned war veteran, didn’t have much choice in the matter of coaching.– if Cherry Vale was to have a basketball team. A two-year high school with 20 girls and 25 boys, there wasn’t a man among the six faculty members. And the school wanted to be represented on the basketball court.

     So virtually she was drafted for the job.

     “While basketball is my favorite sport, I admittedly lack proper qualifications to coach.as far as experiences is concerned,” she says.

     Members of the squad dispute that statement. The players say she “knows her stuff”, quickly spots the opponents weaknesses, and “keeps us from getting the jitters when the going gets tough.” They give her all the credit for their 12 – 4 record this season —  many of their wins being against three and four-year high schools. .    

     Now their looking forward to meeting Kingston in the first game of the District tournament.

Seeking More Information
 
As you can see, we are in need of a lot of information about Cherry Valley High School. If you have ANY information about anything related to the school, including a picture and our unknown “Quick Facts” information, please drop us an E-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net – or – you can write to us at:
 
Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL  60631

Sparta Township High School, Wataga, Illinois

Photo Courtesy of the Galesburg Register News

THE HISTORY OF WATAGA SPARTA TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL

Wataga is a community of 857 residents located on US. Route 34 and Il. Route 167 approximately 10 miles northeast of Galesburg in Knox County.  The AT & ST Railroad runs through the center of town. Wataga was established in 1853 as Urn however its’ name was changed to Wataga in 1856. The town name comes from a Cherokee Native American village of the same name. There are also towns named Wataga (or “Watauga”) in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. (Source “Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary.)

Wataga High School was likely established in the late 1800s. Wataga High School closed in 1949.  The residents of Wataga at the time chose to send their students to the Galesburg school system after graduating from Wataga Grade School.  However Wataga maintained control of its grade school.  In the mid-1980s the residents of Wataga chose to detach from the Galesburg school system.  The children of Wataga were accepted into the R.O.V.A. school district in 1987, effectively putting the “W” in R.O.W.V.A. In 1987 Wataga officially joined the original 1948 consolidation of the high schools from Rio, Oneida, Victoria, and Altona.  All five of these schools are now listed on this site.

The grade school in Wataga served as home to “ROWVA West Grade School” until the end of the 2009-10 school year.

From Sharon Karpinski:

“According to the Galesburg Register-Mail, this building was constructed in 1888! ROWVA Consolidated School District, faced with a million dollar budget shortfall and extensive boiler and roof repairs needed at Wataga, has decided to close this school.”

The Wataga School Building still stands majestically on a hill on the south side of Wataga. Today (2022) it is privately owned and being remodeled into a single-family home.

WATAGA HIGH SCHOOL QUICK FACTS:

Year opened:          1888

Year closed:            1949

Consolidated to:    Galesburg School District (Joined ROWVA in 1987)

School nickname:  the “Spartans”

School colors:        Blue & White

School Fight Song: “Wataga Loyalty Song”

                               (Provided by Roger Scriven)

Wataga Sparta Township High School Fight Song

Courtesy of Roger Scriven

ATHLETICS

We were unable to locate any information regarding Wataga High School on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org.   We are seeking your help in offering information regarding Wataga High School and its “Spartans” sports program.

**GREAT PLAYER / ATHLETE – Former St. Louis Browns pitcher Ed Kuhl is a product of Wataga High School!!

—-

BOYS BASKETBALL

Several scores involving Wataga High School playing in the IHSA State Tournament were found on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below.

—

1924-25         Galesburg District Tournament      Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Oquawka 22-10

2nd Rd lost to Altona 25-23

—

1925-26         Galesburg District Tourn. Runner-Up   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Altona 18-14

2nd Rd Beat New Windsor 27-25

Semi-final Beat Victoria (score needed)

Title Game lost to Galesburg 51-9

1926-27         Galesburg District Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Keithsburg 19-14

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Oneida 17-1o

2nd Rd lost to Matherville 11-10

Galesburg beat Abingdon in title game

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Oneida 22-20

Galesburg Beat Knoxville in title game

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Rio 26-10

2nd Rd lost to Abingdon 51-9

Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Avon 37-7

Avon lost to Abingdon in title game

1936-37         Maquon District Tourney               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Prairie City 19-8

Avon beat Maquon in title game

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Altona 28-26 (O/T)

Altona beat Victoria in title game.

—-

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

1st Rd lost to Yates City 33-14

Victoria beat Yates City in title game.

—-

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

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Rio 41-20

2nd Rd lost to Altona 27-22

Maquon beat Oneida in title game 

—-

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

—-

1942-43         Oneida District Tourney                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Maquon 38-32

Avon beat Oneida in title game

—-

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

—-

1944-45         Oneida District Tourney                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Altona 43-37

Avon beat Woodhull in title game

—-

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

1st Rd Beat Gilson 47-41

Semi-Final lost to Altona 60-26

Oneida beat Altona in title game 

  —-                             

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

1st Rd lost to Oneida 69-33

Oneida beat Woodhull in title game

—-

1947-48         Oneida District Runner-Up         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Gilson 59-24

Semi-Final Beat Victoria 46-37

Title Game lost to Oneida 55-24

Oneida & Wataga advanced to Regional

Galesburg Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Abingdon 51-49 (2 O/Ts)

Galesburg beat Galesburg Corpus Christi in title game

—-

1948-49         Galesburg Regional Tournament  Coach’s name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Abingdon 51-28

ROVA beat Princeville in title game

Wataga did not compete in District Tourney this season

**Final game for the Wataga High School “Spartans.”

—-

MEMORIES

**From Nancy Hoagland:

“Going through the papers in my (deceased) parents house I’ve just learned that my grandfather, Henry E. Hoagland, was principal / superintendent of Wataga H.S. in 1906.”

Mr. Hoagland was born in 1887 and would go on to become a professor at Ohio State University and a member of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Home Loan Bank Board in the 1930s.

Henry Elmer Hoagland – Wataga Superindant 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

Wataga Student Role Call 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

Wataga School Program 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

SEEKING YOUR HELP

If you have any information you can share regarding Wataga, its high school, and the programs offered there please complete a Guest Commentary Form.  We especially enjoy photos of the old school building, great teams, and/or activities.  You may also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago Il.     60631

Wataga School Faculty 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

Washburn High School

Photo Courtesy of Gerry Halpin

Washburn HS Building 1907 Postcard

Submitted by Richard Savage

The History of Washburn High School

Washburn (population 1,147) is located in far northern Woodford County, along the Woodford County/Marshall County line. The town is situated along the GM & O Railroad and on IL Route 89 10 miles north of Metamora or 25 miles northeast of Peoria. The Snag Creek runs through the center of town and the Snag Creek Golf Course was built on the southeast side of town.

Washburn’s school system has a great history of educating the kids of the town.  It is believed the school system started in the 1800’s. It is known that the high school became involved in consolidation talks in the early 1950’s with nearby Lowpoint High School. The consolidation effort became a reality in 1952 with the deactivation of Washburn and Lowpoint High Schools and the formation of the Lowpoint-Washburn School District. LaRose High School was deactivated in 1960 and joined the L-W School system.

Washburn High School Quick Facts

Year opened:             unavailable

Year closed:              1952

School nickname:      “Wildcats”

School colors:           unavailable

School fight song:      unavailable

Original Washburn High School

Now Low Point-Washburn Grade School

Wasco (population approximately 3,000) is located in the far western suburbs of the Chicago area.  The town sits in the center of Kane County about 4 miles northwest of downtown St. Charles.  Illinois Route 64 if the main roadway leading to and from Wasco. Mill Creek flows by the southwest side of Wasco.

A post office with the name of Wasco was established in 1886.  The town grew very slowly over the next 100 years or so.  It has recently begun to “boom” and is benifitted by its proximity to the Chicagoland area.  There is a nice forest preserve in town and it has maintained its small town charm.  The history of the town of Wasco is needed.

According to the St. Charles School District web address of http://www.d303.org/OurDistrict/DistrictProfile/tabid/69/Default.aspx , the town of Wasco offered a two-year high school at one time. In fact, this high school was in existence through the year 1950.  At that time the state of Illinois no longer supported two and three-year high schools.  The Wasco High School was subsequently closed.  Wasco children were then sent to nearby St. Charles to complete their high school education.

Wasco was featured in an Illinois schools journal in 1920. The following facts were made available for the publication:

No. of districts consolidated:          3

Square miles:                               18

Assessed valuation:                      $327,950

Cost of house:                              $9,000

Annual tax levy:                            $4,500

Tax rate:                                      1.09

Annual tax levy before:                  N/A

Teachers now:                              4

Teachers before:                           3

Enrollment now:                           75

Enrollment before:                        55

Enrollment in grades:                    56

Enrollment in high school:             11

Aid from vocational fund:               No

Public conveyance:                      No

Years of high school course:         2

Months in year:                           9

There is still an elementary school in Wasco.  If you have any further information on this town and its former high school please contact us via the means listed at the bottom of this page.  For some interesting reading and a few photos regarding Wasco please check out:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chicago-suburbs/232587-wasco.html

Wasco High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                      1906

Year closed:                       1950

Consolidated to:                  St. Charles High School

Wasco HS team nickname:  unavailable

Wasco HS team colors:       unavailable

School Fight Song:              unavailable