Franklin Grove High School

Franklin Grove School Building - 1870

http://www.franklingroveil.org/testt.htm

The History of Franklin Grove High School

Franklin Grove (population 1,052) is located in north-central Lee County in the eastern part of north-central Illinois. The town is located about seven miles east of Dixon. Illinois Route 38 is the main roadway to and from town. Interstate Highway 88 runs just to the south of town. The Chicago Northwestern Railroad travels alongside Route 38. Franklin Creek flows through the northwest side of Franklin Grove.

An incredibly informative website regarding Franklin Grove is available at http://www.franklingroveil.org/welcom2.htm. The history of the town and activities currently offered there are all documented on the site. In summary the area Franklin Grove is now located on was first settled in the 1830s. The village began to take shape in 1849. In 1857 it was incorporated as a village in the state of Illinois.

By 1870 a solid school system was established. There was even a classroom of "higher learning" which eludes to offering high school courses. By 1923 Franklin Grove had established an effective and respected high school offering a wide variey of extra-curricular activities.

The early 1950s brought consolidation talks between Franklin Grove High School and its neighbor Lee Center High School. This effort was finalized in 1956. The new district was called the Franklin Center School District. The high school for the new district was located in Franklin Grove.

Back Side of Comemorative Plate

Courtesy of Mike Pacione

Franklin Grove HS Commemorative Plate

Submitted by Mike Pacione

The commemorative plate above belongs to Mike Pacione. The rear of the plate reads:

"Wheelock China

Made in Austria for J.D. Sitts

Franklin Grove Illinois"

If anyone has any information regarding Mr. Sitts or this plate please contact the Glory Days staff via the means listed below.

The fate of the original Franklin Grove High School is being sought. For more information on Franklin Grove High School please visit http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolfranklin.html .

Franklin Grove High School Quick Facts

Year HS courses offered: 1870

Year HS merged with Lee Center HS: 1956

New District name: Franklin Center School District

Franklin Grove HS team nickname: unavailable

FGHS team colors: unavailable

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

It is a fact that boys basketball and cross country were offered at Franklin Grove High School. It is quite probable that track, baseball, and possibly football, were offered as well. Team nickname, team colors, school fight song, team records, and coach's names of the better teams in Franklin Grove High School history are all items we are seeking.

Boys Basketball

A District title hi-lited the boys basketball success at Franklin Grove HS. Unfortunately the team record and coach's name of this and other FGHS teams are currently not available.

1938-39 District Champions

Boys Cross Country

There are no team records available regarding FGHS Boys Cross Country, but an athlete by the name of Crowell had success at the state meet:

1946-47 Crowell State 9th Place

Looking For More Information

If you have any information you would like to share regarding Franklin Grove High School and its many accomplishments, especially a photo of the original High School building, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631