The History of Wellington High School
Wellington (population 264) is located in far eastern Illinois about 25 miles due north of Danville.
This places Wellington in southeastern Iroquois County. Wellington is located on County Highway 11 just east of Illinois
Route 1. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad runs some tracks through town. A branch of the Gay Creek flows
to the north and south of Wellington.
This history of Wellington High School was offered by our good fan Lucy Briscoe Green:
"Wellington early school was north of the village about one quarter mile. In 1872 a two
story wood structure was erected . It had eight grades of primary education and two years of high school education. E.
J.Blake of Watseka was the principal. The first commencement was held in June 1873.
The Wellington four year high school was built in 1915. The board members were F. Pruitt,
Pres. W. Scott, Sec., J.C. Benbow, H. I Evans, O. A. Clements, J. V. Phillips, and Oliver Bratton.
In 1941 a large gym was erected on the east side of the high school. School district No. 7 was
formed. Two additions were later added to the high school, two classrooms, a farm shop, an industrial arts shop and
classroom."
The high school in Wellington served the community proudly at least through the 1986 school year.
The IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) lists all of the Wellington basketball seasons from 1925-26 through 1985-86. Former Wellington High School
Unit 7 teacher Scott Davis (1980 - 1987) tells the us the following about the closing of Wellington
High School:
"....for the record, WHS' last year was actually 1987. I was a teacher there for the seven years
before the district dissolved. The 1986-87 school year graduated five students fondly referred to as the "final five".
The high school-aged children of Wellington now attend either Hoopeston Area High School or Milford High
School. We could not find evidence that any school still is in operation in Wellington.
The fate of the Wellington High School building is a happy one. This information was provided by Jenifer
Lunsford:
"I did
want to let you that the Wellington High School has been purchased by one of my family members. He renovated it and
rents part of it out as apartments. My family actually has Thanksgiving dinner in the gym every year."
Wellington High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
late 1800s
Year closed: 1987
Consolidated to:
Hoopeston Area HS
Wellington team nickname: the "Dukes"
School colors: Blue
& White
School Fight Song:
unavailable
