Hammond High School Wildcats

Hammond High School Building - Circa 1930s

Submitted by DORIS GREGORY

The Original Hammond High School Building

Submitted By Doris Gregory

The History of Hammond High School

Hammond (population 518) is located in east-central Illinois about 17 miles east of Decatur. This places Hammond in south-central Piatt County. U.S. Route 36 is the main roadway to and from Hammond and runs by the south side of town. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad runs through the north side of town. According to Map Quest (www.mapquest.com) the Hammond Mutual Ditch flows by the east side of town.

The history of Hammond and its school system is in need of research. It is probable that a high school for Hammond students was established in the late 1800s. Hammond High School served the community for at least four decades. In the late 1940s the push to consolidate schools was felt by the folks of Hammond and nearby Atwood. The two towns agreed to consolidate their efforts in 1948 by creating the Atwood-Hammond School District. The high school for the newly created district is located in Atwood.

The Hammond school building is still standing. It was used as a Junior High (6-8) facility through the 1980s. It was decided that declining enrollment and the busing of students from the larger town of Atwood to Hammond became an economical issue with Atwood having two school buildings large enough to handle the student population. In 1980 the Atwood-Hammond High School entertained 200 students in grades 9 - 12. That number has declined and steadied at around 120 students for the past 20 years. The Hammond school was sold to a private citizen and turned into an apartment complex which did not pan out.. It now sits vacant, a reminder of the town's storied past.

Hammond High School 1948

Submitted by DORIS GREGORY

"THE YEAR 1948 WILL SEE STUDENTS CLIMBING THE STAIRS OF HAMMOND COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE LAST TIME. STUDENTS EXPRESS DEEP REGRET IN LEAVING, AND WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GOOD TIME HAD AT DEAR OLD H.C.H.S. TO ALL STUDENTS, PAST AND PRESENT, WE, THE SENIORS OF '48, WISH TO DEDICATE THIS, THE LAST EDITION OF THE MEMORITER."

We know that Hammond High School, like nearly every small town school on this site, was a very special place during its time. The above photo was underscored by the written caption in the school's final yearbook of 1948. Special gratitude goes out to Doris M. Gregory (a former HHS student) for the photos and several items of information on this page.

Hammond High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1948

Consolidated to: Atwood-Hammond School District

Hammond HS nickname: the "Wildcats"

School colors: Blue & Yellow

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

Hammond High School offered boys basketball and baseball. This is evidenced by the IHSA hardware won in each sport (www.ihsa.org). It is probable that track was offered and possible other sports were offered as well. School team nickname, team colors, fight song, and conference affiliation are all being sought at this time.

Boys Baseball

The Hammond High School hardballers brought home a District title during the 1944-45 school year. Unfortunately the team records and coach's names of this and other great Hammond High School teams are not currently available.

1944-45 District Champions

Boys Basketball

The HHS hardwood court program brought home two IHSA trophies for their case. The boys of 1935-36 wona Regional Championship while the boys of 1942-43 won a District title. Unfortunately this is currently the only information we have available on these and other great Hammond High School teams.

1935-36 Regional Champions

1942-43 District Champions

We Could Use Your Assistance...

...in trying to document the storied past of Hammond and its former high school. We are especially interested in a photo of the former Hammond High School building. You can e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631