Category Archives: Schools and school districts

Springfield High loses 1933 state championship basketball game (YouTube)

Posted on March 14, 2015 by editor

H.V. Porter, who made his biggest mark on sports by inventing the laceless, molded basketball and standardizing the rules of the game, was assistant director of the Illinois High School Association from 1928 to 1940. In that role, he also … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Media, Schools and school districts, Sports and recreation | 7 Comments

Springfield public high schools timeline

Posted on March 9, 2015 by editor

1857: First public high school opens in Springfield in rented quarters on Market Street (now Capitol Avenue) near Spring Street. The school would move twice more before the city of Springfield – which then operated the public schools – constructed … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Education, Schools and school districts | Leave a comment

Lincoln College of Law

Posted on January 19, 2015 by editor

The Lincoln College of Law educated prospective lawyers, mostly in night classes, for more than 40 years in Springfield. Many graduates went on to distinguished legal careers. The school opened on Sept. 4, 1911, sharing space that first year with … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Higher education, Prominent figures, Schools and school districts | 12 Comments

Leroy Jordan (African-American history interviews)

Posted on September 21, 2014 by editor

Leroy Jordan, who moved to Springfield in 1965, was the first Black male classroom teacher in the Springfield public schools. (The first African-American teacher overall was Mae Hammons, who began classroom teaching at Iles School in 1955.) Jordan later spent … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Ethnic groups, Prominent figures, Schools and school districts | Leave a comment

Lithuanian children at Palmer School, 1910s

Posted on August 22, 2014 by editor

Excerpted from “An Immigrant Childhood,” written by Ann Tisckos Wisnosky and republished on Sandy Baksys’ Lithuanians in Springfield web site.   When we started Palmer School, we were looked upon as “those foreign kids” and sometimes called names. Other ethnic groups … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Ethnic groups, Lithuanians, Schools and school districts | Tagged | 5 Comments

Closed high schools in Sangamon County

Posted on June 22, 2014 by editor

The list below of high schools that no longer exist in Sangamon County is taken from Illinois Glory Days. The site describes itself as  “a collaborative effort to preserve Illinois history, as reflected in high schools which no longer function, … Continue reading →

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Ursuline Academy (closed high schools)

Posted on June 22, 2014 by editor

Quick facts about Ursuline Academy, Springfield (the link connects to much more school information on Illinois Glory Days, a website that chronicles more than 1,100 closed high schools throughout Illinois). Established: Sept. 1857 (all-girls school) First year boys enrolled: September … Continue reading →

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Sacred Heart Academy (closed high schools)

Posted on June 22, 2014 by editor

Quick facts about Sacred Heart Academy, Springfield. School opened: 1895 School closed: 1988 Now part of: Sacred Heart-Griffin High School School colors: Blue & Gold School nickname: Blazers School song: “We Believe”(To the tune of the old song, “I Believe”) … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Schools and school districts | 2 Comments

Feitshans High School (closed high schools)

Posted on June 22, 2014 by editor

Quick facts about Feitshans High School, Springfield (the link connects to much more school information on Illinois Glory Days, a website that chronicles more than 1,100 closed high schools throughout Illinois). Year opened: 1929 Year closed: 1967 Replaced by: Springfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Schools and school districts | 7 Comments

Converse High School (closed high schools)

Posted on June 22, 2014 by editor

Quick facts about Converse High School, Eighth Street and Eastman Avenue, Springfield (the link connects to much more school information on Illinois Glory Days, a website that chronicles more than 1,100 closed high schools throughout Illinois). Opened as 1-room school: … Continue reading →

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