Forrest Township High School

Forrest High School Built in 1902

Forrest, Illinois

Forrest High School

Main Staircase - Incredible Craftsmanship

The History of Forrest High School

Forrest (population 1,225) is located in upper eastern Illinois about 30 miles northeast of Bloomington. This places Forrest in the southeast portion of Livingston County. U.S. Route 24 runs east and west through town and is intersected by Illinois Route 47 which runs north and south. Two railroads also intersect in Forrest: the Norfolk & Western and the Toledo, Peoria, & Western.

The community was laid out (or platted) in 1866, then became incorporated in 1875. The original name was Forestville, named by railroad men who saw the area as the only place with timber for 50 miles on their line, but shortened in honor to a request that was made by a railroad president for his partner who hailed from New York State.

Forrest first started educating its younger members of the community in 1855 in the country, but it wasn't until 1869 that the community opened its own institution right on the site of what would be the high school. Starting out as a township high school, a two-year institution was opened in 1890. In 1898, this was changed to make Forrest High a four-year course of study in classical, scientific, and normal divisions. Following a lightning strike that destroyed the building in August 1902, the school building which housed Forrest Township High was built in 1903 at a cost of $37,000.

The school was reorganized as Forrest Township High School in 1915, which added commercial courses three years later. A gym was built in 1939 along with home economics and science classrooms. Agriculture was added in 1949.

Forrest High School served its community for at least five decades. In the late 1940's, consolidation talks began with nearby Strawn and Wing. The voters in all three communities approved a measure on March 26, 1949 that approved the formation a new school district. The talks were finalized at some point between 1952 and 1956. The Forrest Township School District became known as the Forrest-Strawn-Wing School District, ending FTHS' solo run.

The high school for the "new" District was located in Forrest from consolidation with Strawn and Wing until 1985, when Forrest-Strawn-Wing consolidated with nearby Fairbury-Cropsey and Chatsworth, ending the run of high school success in Forrest. The old Forrest Township High School suffered fire damage in September, 1980 and was razed in the spring of 1981.

Forrest Township High School Quick Facts

Year two-year HS opened: 1890

Year four-year school began: 1898

Year school destroyed by lightning: 1902

Year new school building built: 1903

Year closed: between 1952 and 1956

Schools fate: became Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School

School building today: razed during the spring of 1981

School nickname: the "Eskimos"

School colors: Red, Black, & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Forrest High School

Photo of Classroom

Athletics

Forrest had an excellent athletic program with many successful seasons in which IHSA hardware was won. The best of these was the 1920-21 and 1921-22 track seasons. Can you say STATE CHAMPIONS! The thinclads of Forrest High did in those two years. That is right, two state championships.

The Forrest High kids also brought home some IHSA hardware (www.ihsa.org) in basketball, though on a smaller scale. We believe Forrest may have also competed in baseball and possibly football. Forrest Township High School was a member of the Vermillion Valley Conference. If you have any additional information regarding the athletic program at Forrest High, please send us an e-mail.

Forrest HS Track & Goal Post

Courtesy of Richard Soseman

Boys' Track & Field

As stated above, the Forrest High School tracksters faired quite well in the early 1920s. Incredible, in fact, for a small town school. Coach C.C. (Cliff) Merrill led the Forrest kids to two Class 'B' State Meet championships. Below are listed the medalists and the towns they beat out for those honors. Great job Forrest High!!

1919-20 Individual Medalists

C. Rugh 440 Yard Run STATE CHAMPION!!

Relay 880 Yard Relay Team 4TH Place

1920-21 Team WON the STATE 'B' MEET CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Individual Medalists

Marion Leonard 120 Yard High Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

Relay 880 Yard Relay Team STATE CHAMPIONS!!

Bert Dancey 220 Yard Hurdles 2ND Place

?? Gregg 880 Yard Run 2ND Place

?? Keeley 440 Yard Dash 2ND Place

Final 'B' Meet Team Standings

1.) FORREST HIGH SCHOOL 19 Points Coach C.C. Merrill

2.) Carlinville 11

3.) Greenfield 10.5

3.) Greenville 10.5

4.) Wheaton 10

5.) Carrollton 9

6.) Woodstock 8

7.) Havana 7

7.) Dwight 7

9.) Wyoming 6

9.) White Hall 6

9.) Berwyn-Cicero (Morton) 6

1921-22 Team Won the STATE 'B' MEET CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Individual Medalists

Relay 880 Yard Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!!

Bert Dancey 220 Yard Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

50 Yard Dash 3RD Place

Marion Leonard 120 Yard High Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

High Jump 2ND Place

Final 'B' Meet Team Standings

1.) FORREST HIGH SCHOOL 19.5 Points Coach C.C. Merrill

2.) Elmwood 15

3.) Greenfield 12

4.) Toluca 10

5.) Monticello 9

5.) Wheaton 9

7.) Carlinville 8

8.) Illiopolis 8

8.) Berwyn-Cicero (Morton) 6

8.) Onarga 6

1922-23 Individual Medalists

Bert Dancey 220 Yard Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!

?? Kelley 880 Yard Run 4TH Place

1923-24 Individual Medalist

?? Eberts 440 Yard Dash 2ND Place

1927-28 Individual Medalist

?? Williamson Pole Vault 5TH Place

Boys' Basketball

The Forrest High School boys' basketball team won four Regional titles and two District titles. Unfortunately, the team records and coaches' names of these and other great Forrest High basketball teams are not available. If you have this information please send us an e-mail.

1921-22 District Champions Coach (?) Harms

Livingston Co. Tourney Champions

1928-29 14- 7 Coach A.W. Patton

1929-30 21- 4 (good record) Coach Ralph Brasmer

1946-47 Regional Champions

1947-48 District / Regional Champions

1948-49 Regional Champions

Sectional Finalist

1951-52 Regional Champions

Interesting to Note:

Clive Follmer led the state of Illinois in basketball scoring in the 1949, scoring 714 points. The team that year lost to Ottawa HS in Sectional finals, just missing the Sweet Sixteen (again, when there was only one class).

Follmer, along with his brother Mac, went on to start for the University of Illinois, playing for Harry Combes, and in the early 50's, participated in the "Final Four" in the first "Battle In Seattle".

Thanks to Jim Traub for this bit of information!

If You Have ANY Information You Would Like to Share

Forrest High School had many great seasons and accomplishments that should be recorded and remembered. If you have access to this information, 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