|
|
 |
|
| Vermont HS Built 1927 - Submitted by Gerry Halpin |
|
| Credit: Lake County Discovery Museum/Curt Teich Postcard Archives |
| Vermont HS Bldg Inscription |
|
| "PUBLIC SCHOOL / Dist No. 8 / Erected 1924" Photo by Roberta Van Briesen |
| Vermont HS Building 2009 |
|
| Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen |
The History of Vermont High School
Vermont (population 792) is located in western Illinois in southwestern Fulton County. Vermont
is situated about 18 miles southeast of Macomb (as the crow flies). According to the website http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/fulton/vermont/vistige.html, Vermont was settled and established as early as 1835.One of its early settlers named it after his home state of Vermont. The
town gained great early support as a meat processing location. It was bolstered by the addition of two railroad lines which
laid tracks through town in the early 1870's. The town is known for its excellent architecture and well-built houses.
| Vermont Abandoned Store Bldg |
|
| Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen |
| Vermont Store 2012 |
|
| Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen |
| Vermont Store Front 2012 |
|
| Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen |
| Vermont Bank Building 2012 |
|
| Courtesy of Roberta Van Briesen |
| Steam Engine Traveling Through Vermont - 1800s? |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
The steam engine photo to the right was submitted by John Bybee:
"The photo was taken at Vermont's 8th street crossing, northbound train towards Galesburg. Johnson
Elevator in background. Doubleheaded, with a Roger's built 4-6-0 trailing."
The cargo on the train includes horse-drawn wagons.
Progress did not ultimately shine well upon Vermont. As major roadways were laid in the western part
of Illinois, it seemed Vermont was just far enough off of the beaten path to not warrant one of the three U.S. Routes (67,
136, and 24) that pass within a few miles of its west, north, and south sides respectively. The two county roads
that pass through Vermont are County Roads 36 and 13. The AT & SF Railroad now owns both sets of tracks in town.
The Otter Creek and Sugar Creek both flow through the area.
The history of the educational progress in Vermont was located and sent to us by John Bybee:
"As I understand it--prior to 1905 Vermont was divided into two school districts--North
and South. In the 1880s the North District had a larger enrollment. Ten years later the South District outgrew
the North.
South School: Had three rooms containing three grades each plus the High School with
a four-year course.
North School: Primary and Intermediate room each with three grades and a High School
offering a two-year course, plus the 7th and 8th grades.
1905: Voted to consolidate North and South, couldn't afford a new central building.
Primary rooms were left in South and North Schools. High School plus 3rd and 4th grades were placed in South School
Bldg. North School has 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th. Accredited by Uof I in 1910.
1924: A new central HS was built."
Captions under two photos of the "new" Vermont HS building sent to us by John Marshall
are combined below and state the following:
"In 1923, a decision was made to build a new school building for the Vermont community. Thirty tousand dollars
had been saved by the school board for such a purpose, and it is estimated that when completed the building and equipment
cost about $85,000. Harvey Brinton supervised the masonary work on the building and Fred Rankin
the carpentry work. A distinctive feature of the interior design of the building was the gymnasium on the gournd floor
level, enclosed on three sides by the balance of the building with passageways affording access to the rooms in the school
and also providing the space for spectators and creating a balcony at the second floor level. The building accepted its first
classes for the fall term in 1925, and continued through the spring of 1948 as the Vermont Community School. Thereafter it
served through the spring of 1977 as the Vermont Grade School building, and for a time accepted some students from Table Grove
before the V.I.T. Jr./Sr. High School building opened in 1958. The consolidated Vermont, Ipava, Table Grove Unit District
#2, formed in 1948, sold the building when it was no longer used for a school, and it is presently owned by Roberta
Queen, and houses her antique shop, Queen's Schoolhouse, as well as another enterprise, the Outback, owned by John
and Sandra (Douglas) Bybee of rural Vermont."
As the short article states, the late 1940's brought the pressure of consolidation to the
towns of Vermont, Ipava, and Table Grove. In 1948, the three towns agreed to consolidate their efforts and created the Vermont-Ipava-Table Grove (V.I.T.) School District.
The schools for the District are now located in a country setting near Table Grove.
| Vermont High School - 1911 |
|
| www.rootsweb.com - Fulton County, Il. |
A caption underneath the photo posted to the right from the RootsWeb website from which it
was found reads:
"Vermont High School - Built 1870s? - Remodeled in 1911
This year’s school was marked by some great improvements upon the schoolhouse. As a new building could not be obtained, it was thought best to remodel the old one. Consequently, changes
were made both inside and out. The stairs were rebuilt, and now lie so that they may be more quickly descended in case of
fire, and also afford more room in the halls. New desks were installed in the primary room. But the greatest change is seen
upon the exterior of the building. The walls were treated to a coat of brick-red paint, and were covered with cement work
to a height of six feet from the ground. Concrete walks were also laid in place of the wooden ones. The
building now has the appearance of being new."
The photos below were submitted to us by John Bybee and John Marshall and
include some more history information regarding the very early Vermont School system.
| Vermont South HS Bldg |
|
| Submitted by John Marshall - left click on photo for larger version |
| Vermont North School History |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee (left click on photo for larger version) |
The Vermont High School building pictured at the top of this page is still standing, all be it in a
very dilapidated state. The future of the building and grounds is currently being considered..
DID YOU KNOW: One famous "resident" of the town's
cemetery is the Ringling Brothers Circus' own Leo the Lion, who died while the circus was performing there
in the late 1800's. Leo is buried there with his grave marked by its own tombstone.
Vermont High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
late 1800's
Year closed:
1947
Consolidated to: Vermont-Ipava-Table
Grove School District (V.I.T.)
School nickname: "Yellow Jackets"
(Football Team was known as the "Crusaders")
School colors: Gold
& Blue
Yearbook name: "The Comet"
School Fight Song: "Vermont High School Loyalty"
Submitted by Ramona Cook
We’re loyal to you Vermont High
We’ll stand firm and true Vermont High
We’ll work til we’re old for that Blue and Gold
To bring honor to you Vermont High
Rah! Rah!
We’ll back you to win Vermont High
In track or in gym Vermont High
So work for that honor
Now boys on with the game
For it’s a victory for Vermont High
CHA-HE CHA-HA CHA-HA-HA CHA-HE CHA-HA CHA-HA-HA
Vermont High, Vermont High, Vermont High
So keep that good old high school spirit aflame
That good old spirit that has always brought fame
With our bright banner o’er us, flying before us
Up swells the chorus
OSKEY WOW WOW
Like those who came before us, Fighting so bold
We’ll always love and reverence blue and gold
And though we leave we never shall forget you
We’re loyal to you Vermont High!!
| Vermont School Song from 1911 Yearbook |
|
| Courtesy of John Marshall |
|
|
Athletics
Vermont High School offered boys basketball and boys track & field. It is probable that baseball was offered
as well. The basketball and track programs had a measure of success listed on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org. We are curious if the school had a nickname. What were the school colors, conference affiliation, and
other accomplishments of Vermont High? These are being sought as well.
Boys Basketball
The boys basketball team won two District titles in the late 1930s. Unfortunately very little information is available
on them. We are searching for the coach's names and team records of these and other great Vermont teams of the
school's storied past.
| Vermont HS Baskertball Team of the 1920s |
|
| Submitted by John Marshall - left click on photo for larger version |
The caption under the above photo reads: "With the basketball team in the late 1920's is Hobart Engle
on the left, the principal at the School, and Clifford C. Mercer, the coach on the right. The basketball
team is identified by the surnames of the members. First row, left to right: Fry, Smith, Marshall, Crouse, Bader,
Corbitt, Farr, and Corbitt; back row: Geer, Nielsen, Kost, Miles, McCLelland, Harris,
and McDonald."
1936-37 District Champions
1938-39 District Champions
Boys Track & Field
One Vermont trackster brought home some pride and excitement for his classmates from the IHSA State Track Meet.
Carroll Rankin took third place honors in the long jump in 1907. This was accomplished in the
one-class system in Illinois at the time!
1906-07 Carroll Rankin Long
Jump 3RD Place
Carroll Rankin can be viewed in the photo below. He is in the back row, third from the right.
The photo was submitted by Vermont resident John Bybee who also tells us that the American Legion Post #26
is named after Carroll Rankin as he was killed in action in World War I.
| Vermont High School Students of 1906-07 |
|
|
| Submitted by John D. Bybee - left click on photo for larger view |
Girls Basketball
Yes, the Vermont High School girls completed in basketball as well. Most high schools in Illinois had girls basketball
teams in the very early 1900s. But the Illinois High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), the governing body for the public
high schools, had taken a dim view of girls athletics, other than for intramural sports, prohibiting member schools from having
a girls team play against another school.
This ban became effective in 1908, but was not widely known or enforced. Some high schools which came along in the early
20th Century would organize girls teams without realizing they were violating IHSAA rules.
In late 1927, the IHSAA sent a strong letter to school administrators admonishing them to not allow girls to compete
in athletics against other schools (“too rough and unladylike?”). So, shortly after the 1928 season, girls were
banned from playing interscholastic sports. The ban lasted into the 1970s! (Source for above two paragraphs: IHSA article
by Scott Johnson, entitled “Not Altogether Ladylike.”)
The photo below was sent to us by John Bybee.
| VHS Girls Basketball Team of 1910 |
|
|
| Left click on photo for larger version |
1910-11 0 - 1
From the 1910-11 VHS yearbook:
"Only one game of basketball was played this year, being defeated in that. Failure was due to lack of practice. Hardly
enough girls turned out to make one team, and therefore it was impossible to practice to any benefit. The team did not receive
support of the students it should have."
| VHS Girls Basketball Team 1910-11 |
|
| Left click on photo for larger view |
Football
The boys competed in football too. This photo is from the 1909-10 Vermont HS yearbook called "The Comet". No results
from this season were available however.
1909-10
| Vermont HS Football Team -1909-10 |
|
| Submitted by John Marshall from the 1910 VHS Yearbook - Click on photo for larger view |
1910-11 1 - 0 - 1
From the 1910-11 Vermont HS yearbook submitted by John Marshall:
"Foot ball could hardly be called a success this year. In fact, it was a discouragement. THere was as good material
in the school for a first class team as there has been. However, many were prohibited from playing because of parental objections,
and several would not practice. THe result was that the men practiced for a time, then the number dwindled down until there
were not enough left to compose a team. Only two games were played during the season, with the city team, resulting in
a tie, 0 - 0, and with Table Grove, score 9 - 5 in our favor."
| Vermont HS Foot Ball Team of 1910-11 |
|
| Submitted by John Marshall - left click on photo for larger view |
From the 1910-11 Vermont HS yearbook...must have been a lot of controversy that year!
"SCHOOL SPIRIT
As far back as 1896 Vermont High School is remembered as a great athletic center. In all athletics, base ball,
foot ball, and track, they had no superior and hardly an equal. They played Glaesburg, Canton, Lewistown, Bushnell, Macomb,
and all of the larger towns and for several years knew not what the word defeat meant.
For three years in succession they won the Fulton County athletic banners and also the relay cup.
Those were glorious old days for V.H.S., but look at us now. We are not as strong in athletics as we used to
be, but we have material. We now the ancient saying, "Practice makes perfect," and we are going to practice. We will never
be perfect, we know, but we have school spirit and will try. Watch us."
*The photo below shows a Vermont HS football team of the late 1920s. The caption under the photo reads as follows:
"This photograph taken in front of the front entrance to the new Vermont Community School building shows the fooltball
team ready for play in the late 1920's."
| Vermont HS Football Team of the Late 1920's |
|
| Sent to us by John Marshall |
Boys Baseball
The boys fielded a team on the baseball diamond as well. Results for each season are being sought.
1909-10
| Vermont HS Baseball TEam of 1909-10 |
|
| Provided by John Marshall - click on photo for larger view |
1910-11 5 - 1
From the 1910-11 VHS yearbook:
"The base ball team has made a good record this spring. Out of the six games played, five have been won, giving a
percentage of 833.30. Prospects for a winning team next year are bright, as the lineup, with the exception of one or two,
will be the same.
Players: Dean Geer, Guy Kirkbride, Ralph Mercer, D. Kirkbride, W. Wyne, Herbert Durcell, Tom Fair, W. Geer,
Ghlee Walters, Verne Price.
The Scores
Beat Rushville 10 - 9 (10 innings)
Beat Rushville 18 - 4
Lost to Table Grove 9 - 2
Beat Lewistown 11 - 0
Beat Lewistown 10 - 4
Beat Astoria 21 - 11"
Facts & Memories
**From John Marshall:
"I read in a ’47 Vermont HS Yearbook that the football team’s nickname was the Crusaders while the basketball
team was called the Yellow Jackets! This was the last year for the Vermont HS as the VIT consolidation began in the
fall of ’47."
**From Charles Wickwire:
"Bob Barrett designed the winning "VIT" athletic letter in 1948. There were numerous designs and
all of them took up too much space. He logically remembered that the single letters were easy to apply and did
not take up much space. He used the “V” as a solid base or foundation, capped it with the “T”
which made the triangular symmetry complete, and the only place the Ipava “I” could be seen was on top of the
stack in front."
Need Your Assistance
If you have any further information you can provide about the history of Vermont High School, especially a photo of the
old high school building, please write to 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
| Vermont HS Graduates 1891 - 1910 |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Graduates 1924-33 |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Graduates 1934-41 |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Graduates 1942-47 |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont South School Students of 1912 |
|
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont School Photo between 1906 - 1908 |
|
| Courtesy of John Bybee |
| Vermont High School Teachers of 1910 |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont Grade School Teachers of 1910 |
|
| Courtesy of John Bybee |
| Vermont School Class (early 1900s?) |
|
|
| Courtesy of John Bybee |
| VHS Sophomore Class 1939-40 |
|
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
Names of Students in Photo Above (1939-40 Soph Class)
Front Row, L to R: Rosalie Jeffries, Ila Danner, Beulah ?, ? Vance, Betty Martin, History Teacher
Irene Hamer, ??, Betty Haines, Margaret Robinson, Barbara Price
Middle Row, L to R: Lydia Dohner, Carmen Kost, ??, Lillian Sexton, Virgil Cox, Junior Fordyce,
Marshall McClellan, ? McFadden
Back Row, L to R: Russell Baum, Wendell Copes, James Kerley, John ?, ? Corbitt, Carrol
Kost, Frederick Haines, Junior Corsage, ? Strode, Paul Foster
| Vermont High School Boys of 1936 |
|
| Submitted by Ramona Cook |
| Vermont High School Girls of 1936 |
|
| Photo Submitted by Ramona Cook |
| Vermont HS Rear Service Ent. - 2011 |
|
| Click on Photo for Larger Version - Thank you to John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Bldg Rear - 2011 |
|
| Click on Photo for Enlarged Version - Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Bldg 2011 |
|
| Click on Photo for Enlarged Version - Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Stairwell 2012 |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee |
| Vermont HS Rear Doors 2012 |
|
| Roberta Van Briesen |
| Vermont HS Room 2012 |
|
| Roberta Van Briesen |
| Vermont School Cabinet 2012 |
|
| Roberta Van Briesen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From John Bybee:
"Clifford C. Mercer "Eph" was a coach and teacher at the old VHS in the 1930s
etc. I well remember his store. Back in 1959, when I was 10, I would go into his store to buy comic books.
To me the store was erie, dark, dank, and Eph was beyond old. I spent my dime for Sgt. Rock
comics and got out fast. Eph died in 1977 and there was something like
12 hay wagon loads of his antiques sold at auction. His son Whitney and I still talk VT history on
occassion."
| Vermont Cigar Store Indian from 1970s |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee (Left click on photo for larger view) |
| Clifford C. "Eph" Mercer - Former Coach at VHS |
|
| Submitted by John Bybee (Left Click on Photo for Larger View) |
| (Left Click on Photo for Larger View) |
|
| Courtesy of John Bybee |
|
|
|
|
)
![vermonthscoachmercerdav.jpg](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=560&linkpath=http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/vermonthscoachmercerdav.jpg&target=tlx_new&title=Clifford C. "Eph" Mercer - Former Coach at VHS)
)