Piper City High School "Blue Streaks"

*HOME PAGE
Closed High Schools Alumni Apparel
*RECENT UPDATES
*CLOSED HIGH SCHOOLS LISTED BY COUNTY
IN THE BEGINNING - Where Closed High Schools Consolidated To
*YOUR COMMENTS
*SUBMIT A COMMENT or SUGGESTION
*THE "TO-DO" LIST
*ABOUT THE AUTHORS
GREAT CONFERENCES
*CLOSED GRADE SCHOOLS
RELIGIOUS ORDERS
MASCOTS & NICKNAMES
*LINKS TO OTHER SITES
COUNTRY SCHOOLS / SPECIAL BLDGS
*Schools That Start With "A"
*Schools That Start With "B"
*Schools That Start With "C"
*Schools That Start With "D"
*Schools That Start With "E"
*Schools That Start With "F"
*Schools That Start With "G"
*Schools That Start With "H"
*Schools That Start With... "I"
*Schools That Start With "J"
*Schools That Start With "K"
*Schools That Start With "L"
*Schools That Start With "M"
*Schools That Start With "N"
*Schools That Start With "O"
*Schools That Start With "P"
*Schools That Start With "Q"
*Schools That Start With "R"
*Schools That Start With "S"
*Schools That Start With.. "T"
*Schools That Start With.. "U"
*Schools That Start With.. "V"
*Schools That Start With "W"
*Schools That Start With.. "X"
*Schools That Start With.. "Y"
*Schools That Start With.. "Z"
Palmer High School
*Palmyra High School
*Panama High School
*Parkersburg High School
Patterson High School
Pavilion Long Grv. Acad.
*Paxton High School
*Payson High School
*Pearl High School
*Penfield High School
*Penfield St. Lawrence Ac.
*Peoria Academy of O. L.
*Peoria Bergan HS
*PeoriaAveryville/Kingman
*Peoria Spalding
*Peoria Woodruff H.S.
Percy High School
*Peru Acad. of St. Joseph
*Perry High School
*Pesotum High School
*Petersburg High School
*Philo High School
Philo St. Joseph HS
*Piopolis Catholic H.S.
*Piper City High School
*Piper City Ford Central HS
*Pittsburg High School
*Plato Center H.S.
*Plattville High School
*Plymouth High School
*Pocahontas High School
*Poplar Grove High School
*Port Byron High School
*Potomac High School
*PotomacMaryJudySch,
*Potomac Wescove HS
*Prairie City HS
*Prairieville High School
*(Putnam)Senachwine HS
Quincy Chris. Bro/Cath. HS
Quincy College Acad./Boys
Quincy St.MaryInst./ND
*Rankin High School
Ransom High School
*Rantoul Donovan Mem. HS
Rardin High School
*Ray High School
*Raymond High School
*Reddick R.U.C.E. H. S.
*Redmon High School
Reno High School
*Reynolds High School
Richmond High School
*Ridge Farm High School
*Ridgway High School
Ringwood High School
*Rio High School
*River Forest High School
*RiverGrove Holy Cross HS
*RiverGrove Mother Guerin
*Roanoke Hgh School
*Robbs High School
*Roberts High School
*Roberts-Thawville HS
Rockbridge High School
*Rockford High School
*Rkfd. Bishop Muldoon
*Rockford St. James HS
*Rockford St. Thomas
*Rockford West H S
*R.I. St. Joseph's HS
*R.I. Villa de Chantal
*Rockport High School
*Rolling Meadows SHM HS
*Rollo High School
*Roodhouse High School
*Rosamond High School
Roscoe High School
Rose Hill High School
*Roseville High School
*Rosiclare High School
*Rossville High School
*Rossville-Alvin H.S.
*Royalton High School
*Rushville High School
*Rutland High School
*Sadorus High School
*Sailor Springs H.S.
*St. Anne Academy
St. Anne Cath. Boys Acad.
*St. Charles Mt. St. Mary
*St. Charles Valley Luth.
*St. Francisville HS
St. George HS
*St. Jacob High School
St. James High School
*St. Joseph High School
St. Rose High School
Ste. Marie High School
*Salisbury High School
Sandusky Young HS
*San Jose High School
*Saunemin High School
*Savanna High School
*Saybrook High School
*Saybrook-Arrowsmith HS
Schram City School
*Sciota Northwestern HS
*Scottland High School
*Scottville High School
*Seaton High School
Seatonville High School
*Secor High School
*Sesser High School
*Seward High School
*Seymour High School
*Shabbona High School
*Shannon High School
*Shawneetown H.S.
*Sheffield High School
*Sheldon High School
Sheridan High School
Shields High School
*Shipman High School
*(Shirley) Ben Funk HS
Shumway High School
*Sibley High School
*Sidell High School
Sidney High School
Sigel High School
Silvis High School
*Simpson High School
*Skokie Niles East HS
Smithboro High School
*Smithfield High School
Sorento High School
*South Chicago HS
*Sparland High School
Springerton High School
*Sprngfld Cathed./Griffin HS
*Springfield Converse HS
*Sprinfield Feitshans HS
*Spfld Sacred Heart Acad
*Spgfld. St. James HS
*Spfld. Ursuline Academy
*Stanford High School
*Sterling St. Mary's/C.C.
*Sterling Nazarene
*Steward High School
*Stewardson High School
Stiritz High School
*Stockland High School
*Stonefort High School
*Stonington High School
*Strasburg High School
*Strasburg High School
*Strawn High School
StreatorNewMich.Acad.
*Stronghurst High School
*Stronghurst Southern HS
*Sugar Grove HS
*Sumner High School
*Sycamore St. Alban's
*Sycamore Waterman Hall
*Table Grove High School
*Tamaroa High School
*Tallula High School
*Tamms Community HS
*Tampico High School
Techny Bros. Cand. HS
*Tennessee High School
*Terre Haute High School
^T'toplis/W'mont St. Joseph
*Thawville High School
*Thebes High School
Thomasboro High School
*Thomson High School
*Tilden High School
Timewell High School
*Tiskilwa High School
*Toledo High School
*Tolono High School
*Toluca High School
*Toluca St. Ann H.S.
*Toluca St. Joachim H.S.
*Tonica High School
*Toulon Academy H.S.
*Toulon-Lafayette HS
*Toulon Township HS
*Towanda High School
*Tower Hill High School
Trenton High School
*Trivoli High School
*Troy Grove School
*Troy McCray-Dewey HS
*Ullin High School
*Union High School
*Union Hill HS
*Upper Alton High School
Ursa High School
*Valier High School
*Varna High School
*(Varna)Mid-County HS
*Venice High School
*Venice Lincoln H.S.
*Venice Newport HS
*Venice St. Mark's HS
*Vergennes High School
Vermilion High School
*Vermilion Grove Academy
*Vermont High School
Vernon High School
*Versailles High School
*Victoria High School
*Viola High School
*Virden High School
*Waggoner High School
*Walnut High School
Walnut Grove Twnshp HS
*Walpole High School
*Wapella High School
*Warrensburg High School
Wasco High School
*Washburn High School
*Wataga High School
Waterloo Sts. Peter & Paul
*Waterman High School
Watson High School
*Waukegan East HS
*Waukegan Holy Child HS
Waukegan West HS
*Waynesville High School
Wedron High School
*Weldon High School
*Wellington High School
*Wenona High School
*West Brooklyn H.S.
*West Point High School
*West Salem High School
*West Union H.S.
*West York High School
*Westchester IHM
*Westervelt High School
*Westfield High School
*Wheaton Central HS
*Wheaton-Warrenville HS
*White Hall High School
*Willisville High School
Willisville-Percy H.S.
*Willow Hill High School
*Wilmette Mallinckrodt HS
*Wilmette Maria Imm. Acad
*Wing High School
*Winnetka New Trier East
*Winola High School
*Winslow High School
*Witt High School
*Wolf Lake High School
*Woodhull High School
*Woodland High School
Woodson High School
Woodstock St. Mary HS
*Woodstock Seminary
*Worden High School
*Wyanet High School
*Wyoming High School
Xenia High School
Yale High School
*Yates City High School
*Youngstown High School
*Zeigler High School

Piper City High School Building From the Side
pipercityschoolfromside.jpg
Taken by RIchard Soseman

Piper City High School - 1907
pipercityhs1907dav.jpg

The History of Piper City High School
 
Piper City (population 781) is located in upper-eastern Illinois about 25 miles east-southeast of Pontiac. The town was platted in the north-central "panhandle" region of Ford County. U.S. Route 24 intersects with Illinois Route 115 on the "outskirts" of the south and west sides of Piper City, giving a lot of road travel to and from the town. According to Map Quest (www.mapquest.com), the Toledo, Peoria, & Western Railroad is the owner of the railroad tracks that divide Piper City.  A branch of the North Fork of the Vermillion River flows both to the west and to the east of Piper City.

PHS Bell - "In Memory of Dora Hevener - 1969"
pipercityhsbell.jpg
Courtesy of Richard Soseman

The history of the town and its former high school are in need of research. We do believe that Piper City began an educational system for its children in the late 1800's. A high school was established by the very late-1800's and certainly by the very early-1900's. The brick high school building pictured above and to the right was built before 1907. Piper City High School served the town and its children for about eight decades. In the early 1970's, consolidation talks arose between Piper City and Roberts-Thawville high schools. In 1974, this effort became a reality, resulting in the creation of the Ford Central School District. The high school for the Ford Central District was located in Piper City.
 
In 1992 the Ford Central School District was disolved by the state and the students from the Piper City were annexed into the Tri-Point School District (Cullom). The Piper City school building is now used as a grade school for the Tri-Point School District. The football field in Piper City is still used for the Tri-Point HS home games.
 
Piper City High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                               late 1800s/early 1900s
Year consolidated with R-THS:      1974 (Ford Central School District formed)
Piper City HS Bldg. today:            Grade School for Tri-Point School District
Piper City High School nickname:  the "Blue Streaks" 
Piper City HS team colors:            Blue & White
School Fight Song:                       "Fight 'Em Piper"
                                                           (Sung to "On Wisconsin" tune)
                                                           (Click "play" button below")
 
                                                 Fight 'em Piper
                                                 Fight 'em Piper
                                                 Break right through that line,
                                                 Send the ball through their defense,
                                                 It's a basket (or touchdown) sure this time.
   
                                                 Rah! Rah! Rah!
 
                                                 Fight 'em Piper
                                                 Fight 'em Piper
                                                 Fight 'em for our fame,
                                                 Fight fellows,
                                                 Fight! Fight! Fight!
                                                 We'll win this game.
 
                                                 Cha  hee
                                                 Cha  hah
                                                 Cha hah hah hah,
                                                 Piper Bluestreaks
                                                 Rah!  Rah!  Rah!
 
                                                (Submitted by Marilyn Vaughn)

Athletics
 
The Blue Streaks of Piper City athletic program definitely offered boys' basketball, football, and track. We believe that baseball was also offered at one time or another. 
 
Boys' Basketball 
 
The Piper City High School Blue Streaks had some real nice seasons in boys basketball. All of the team records and coach's names from 1950 to 1974 are listed. Unfortunately, no IHSA tournament hardware was won. The kids of the school's last three seasons of its solo run left the school with a good feeling, sporting winning records each year! 
 
1927-28           Ford Co. Tourney Runner-Ups   Coach unknown
1930-31           Ford Co. Tourney Runner-Ups   Coach unknown 
1950-51                                                         Coach Forrest Fritz
1951-53                                                         Coach Russell Moore
1953-54  18-  6                                               Coach Russell Moore
1954-55  13-12                                               Coach Arthur Glad
1955-56                                                         Coach Arthur Glad
1956-58                                                         Coach Vance Hamann
1958-59  10-10                                               Coach Vance Hamann
1959-60                                                         Coach Vance Hamann
1960-63                                                         Coach Duane Lovestrand
1963-68                                                         Coach Don Drake
1968-69                                                         Coach Dave Wilson
1969-70                                                         Coach Ron Robinson
1970-71                                                         Coach John Sullivan
1971-72  16-  8                                               Coach John Sullivan
1972-73  16-10                                               Coach John Sullivan
1973-74  17-  8   School's Last Solo Season     Coach John Sullivan

Piper City Football Press box
pipercityhspressbox.jpg
Photo Taken by Richard Soseman

Football
 
One of the great football players to roam the gridiron at Piper City HS was Doug Harford. In 1962, Harford scored 222 of his team's season points, and ended up scoring a total of 407 points in his two-year varsity career. His career total ranks in the top 20 in Illinois in that category.
 
Some of the better Piper City HS grid iron team records are listed below thanks to the research of Tom Sikorski.
 
 
 
 
 
 
1951  1-7  First team in school history -                 Coach Russ Moore 
                        First win was 13-7 over Saybrook-Arrowsmith
1953  5-3  2nd place (tie) Vermillion Valley Conf.    Coach Russ Moore
1954  4-3                                                            Coach Art Glad
1958  5-3  2nd place (tie) VV Conference               Coach Duane Lovestrand
1961  6-2  3rd place VV Conference                      Coach Duane Lovestrand
1962  8-1  Vermillion Valley Conf. Co-Champs  Coach Duane Lovestrand
1970  4-4                                                            Coach John Sullivan
1971  5-2-1  2nd place (tie) VV Conference            Coach John Sullivan
 
Boys' Track & Field
 
One boy's trackster brought home a medal from the IHSA State Track Meet. This was accomplished during the IHSA's one-class system. Great job Doug Harford!
 
1962-63    Doug Harford    220 Yard Dash          4TH Place
 
Music / Band
 
We are certain that the Piper City HS kids were quite well versed in band and chorus as well. The music department may have even won a state competition or two in Class D for band. The band picked up a "Governor's trophy" at the Illinois State Fair one year also for their excellence under the direction of Mr. Paul Pizner.
 
A Graduate's Memory 
 
Donna Johnson Rummens speaks of her days at PCHS. "I graduated from PCHS in 1956 and was on the staff of the school newspaper - The Pied Piper. The Choral Music Department had its share of successes. When I was a senior, Elaine Pizner came to PCHS to head the Choral Music department. She was a new U of I(llinois) graduate, and her enthusiasm for vocal music influenced many of us. Elaine has been my sister-in-law for almost 49 years, and never lost her enthusiasm for music. I recently returned to PCHS for my 50th class reunion. In addition to seeing classmates for the first time in many years, I enjoyed visiting the library in Piper City, as well as the museum located upstairs over the library. There are many photos and other interesting bits of history in both places. I would encourage others interested in PCHS and PCCHS to visit those places."
 
 
Searching for More Information
 
We are searching for more information regarding the history and achievements of Piper City High School. If you have any information you would like to share please write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.. You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631

Piper City High School
pipercityhs1930s.jpg
Photo Taken in the 1930s