Milton School - 1875 - 1920s?

Courtesy of Dale Summers

Milton High School & Gymnasium (1920s? - 1979)

Courtesy of Patrick Kinn

The History of Milton High School

Milton (population 274) is located in lower-western Illinois about 30 miles southwest of Jacksonville and eight miles southeast of Pittsfield. The town was platted in the eastern portion of Pike County about three miles west of the Illinois River. Illinois Route 100 is the main roadway that cuts through the middle of Milton from north to south. Branches of the Little Blue Creek flow through the north and south sides of town.

Milton High School Student Body - 1934

Submitted by Richard Long

The history of the town and its school system are in need of research. We are fairly certain the townspeople of Milton began a school system for their children shortly after the town's inception. We are also fairly certain that the high school for the town's children was active by the late 1800s.

Milton High School served the town for at least five decades. in the early 1950s it was decided to consolidate Milton High School with nearby Pearl High School. The result was the creation of the East Pike School District. East Pike HS subsequently closed in 1979. MIlton students now attend school in Pittsfield.

The Milton High School buildings have both been razed. The newer building was razed in 2007. There is a "bandstand" still standing however, a reminder of the town's wonderful past.

Milton High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1955

Annexed to: East Pike School District (Milton)

Milton HS team nickname: "Mustangs"

Milton HS team colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Thank you to ONA DAY JOHNSTON for the quick facts information.

Milton HS Mustangs - County Champions 1917

Submitted by Dale Summers

Athletics

We are certain that Mlton High School offered boys basketball. We are fairly certain that baseball and track were also offered to the boys of the school. We are need of this information as well as the school's fight song, team records, and coaches names for Milton High School sports.

Boys Basketball

The Milton High School Mustangs' boys basketball program was a true force to be reckoned with in the late 1930s and early 1940s. There has GOT to be a great coach story or a great story of some sort to explain the incredible run that MHS enjoyed.

During a ten year period from 1937-38 through 1946-47 the Milton High boys won a total of six District Championships, two Regional Championships, and a Sectional Championship. This Sectional Championship led to Milton's lone appearance in the IHSA Sweet 16 nder the direction of Coach Matt Moore. This was a very rare feat for a District Champion!! Great Job Milton High School!

The information we have available from the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) is listed below. As mentioned above, team records and coach's names of this and other great Milton High School teams are being sought.

1916-17 Pike County "Basket Ball" Champions Coach Floyd French

1937-38 28 - 4 IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifier Coach Matt Moore

District Champions

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Qualifier

Lost to Harrisburg 36 - 25

1938-39 District Champions

Regional Champions

1939-40 Regional Champions

1940-41 District Champions

1941-42 District Champions

1944-45 District Champions

1946-47 District Champions

Milton HS Girls Basket Ball Champs of 1917

Submitted by Dale Summers

Girls Basketball

Like several schools of the early 1900s, girls basketball was offered at Milton High. It was in the late 1920s that girls "basket ball" was discontinued as it was thought to be unlady-like. It was eventually returned in 1974. The photo to the right is of the girls basketball team of 1916-17, crowned chamoins of Pike County!

1916-17 Pike County :Basket Ball" Champions Coach Joe Zumwalt

Searching For More Information

If you have ANY information to add to the Milton High School lore please send it to us. There is a lot of unanswered questions regarding the history of the school and the many great teams which are not mentioned on the IHSA web site. We are also searching for a photo of the Milton High School building. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Milton High School Senior Class of 1934

Submitted by Richard Long

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL – GRADUATING CLASS OF 1934

(Left to Right)

Front Row: Hugh Graham, Everet Landess, Charles Meek, Eugene Stephenson, Roger Reed, Virgil Couch, Melvin Dennison.

Back Row: Odessa Renoud, Juanita Landess, Gereldine Sanderson, Maxine Mercer, Mardel Lemons, Retta Ruth Boren, Maurine Chandier, Alberta Ball, Alene Brauman, Lois Sneeden