Indianola High School

Indianola High School Cornerstone

In Front of Indianola Museum

Second Indianola High School

Click to Enlarge

The History Of Indianola High School

Indianola (population 207) is located in far eastern in Illinois in south-central Vermillion County. There are no major roadways leading to or from Indianloa. County Roads E 350 North Road and E 450 North Road border the north and south ends of town and N 1250 East Road runs into the north side of town. The Missouri Pacific Railroad runs through town as does the Swank Creek.

Information regarding Indianola and its educational past is very sparse on the internet. It is believed that both were established in the late 1800s. It is known that Indianola High School lasted through the 1952 school year when the boys basketball team won its last District title. Through research available we believe Indianola, Fairmount, and Sidell consolidated their school districts in 1955. This resulted in the creation of the Jamaica School District with all schools located in Sidell.

Indianola Grade School Class of 1964 (and former cheerleader) alumna Debra Williams Yates shared this information about the Indianola school:

"After the towns of Indianola, Jamaica, Sidell and Fairmount consolidated their high schools to form the Jamaica Consolidated School District, each town retained their schools for use as a grade school.

Indianola had grades K-8 in their building until the gymnasium at the school burned down in 1979. Since the gym contained the cafeteria, there were no hot lunches. A decision was made to disband the school and send the school children from Indianola to Sidell. Shortly after that there was a vote to form the Jamaica Unit District and a new grade school and junior high school were built to adjoin the Jamaica High School."

The school was located behind the beautiful Indianola Church pictured on this page. If you have any further information on Indianola please write to us at eganann@sbcglobal.net.

Indianola High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1955

School nickname: the "Indians"

School colors: Orange & Blue

School Fight Song: IG's Here!

IGs Here, IGs There,

It's IG all around the square!

As the IGs go rolling along.

With a RAH RAH RAH!

Cheers for you and me,

Shout out their names loud and clear!

And Wherever you go

You will always know

That the IGs go rolling along!

Indianola Museum

Former Indianola Bank Building

Athletics

Indianola High School competed in boys basketball and, probably, baseball and track. The only IHSA mention of Indianola High is in boys basketball. More information is being sought and is welcome.

Boys Basketball

The Indianola High School boys basketball team was a group to be reckoned with in the 1940s. In fact, the team of 1940-41 also won their Regional placing them in the top 64 teams in the State!! Team records and coaches of these and other Indianola squads are not available. We are hopeful an Indianola resident or alumnus will help us with the information on IHS. The years of the Indianola's IHSA successes are listed below.

1940-41 District / Regional Champions Coach Jay Barnett

Final 64 in IHSA One-Class System!!

1943-44 District Champions

1946-47 District Champions

1948-49 District Champions

1951-52 20 - 8 District Champions Coach Dale WInters

**The following memories regarding the 1951-52 season come to us from Coach WInters:

"I was only at Indianola HS for the one school year, moving on to the Melvin-
Sibley Schools the following year.
Yes, we did win the district title that year, beating Allerton in the process. As I recall Allerton had the high scorer in the state that year. I think his name was Ken Martinie. We ended the season at 20 - 8."

Memories

The following information was sent to us by Gene Primm, a fan of this site:

"I started my teaching and coaching career here during the 1962-63 academic year in what had become a k-8 school. The old building has been completely razed as has the gym which was a separate building. I believe this occurred during the mid to late 80's. A gentleman named Jay Barnett was the principal of this k-8 school with which I am most familiar. I know that he coached the regional championship team of 1940, and he could possibly have continued in that position for several addional years, perhaps until Jamaica opened."

Need Your Help

If you have any information you can offer regarding the Indianola town and educational past please share it with us. A photo of the original school building is especially being sought. Items can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Indianola Church

School Formerly Located "Behind" the Church a Block or So