Keithsburg High School

Keithsburg High School 1885-1928 (G.S. 1928-60)

Courtesy of Richard W. Nash

The History of Keithsburg High School

The town of Keithsburg (population 714) is located in upper-western Illinois along the banks of the Mississippi River. For further information, Keithsburg is in the southwest corner of Mercer County, about 45 miles southwest of the Quad Cities.

The town is named after it's founder, Robert Keith. He also donated the first-ever building for a school to the town, so long as it was used for school purposes around 1850 to 1855. As that wasn't followed through, the building and offer were withdrawn. Another building was erected in 1856, and the main part of that was used, with an addition to it in 1882.

The two photos above were provided to us by Richard Nash:

The photo at the top of the page is of the Keithsburg High School building constructed in 1928. This building served as Keithsburg High School until 1960 when the consolidation effort into Westmer School District took place.

The photo to the above right is of the Keithsburg School building constructed in 1885. It is believed this building served as the only building for grades 1 -12 prior to the construction of the "new" building in 1928. This building continued to serve as the grade Keithsburg Grade School through 1960. It was likely toen down shortly after its closure.

Keithsburg joined in a consolidation effort of western Mercer County towns Joy, New Boston, and Eliza in the early 1960s. A new high school came of the effort and is located in nearby Joy (Westmer HS). In 2010 Wesmer High School consolidated with Aledo High School leading to the creation of the Mercer County School District. The high school classes are held in Aledo.

Amanda Gresham provided the following information on the history of Keithsburg Schools:

"The high school building or buildings were in fact demolished following the closure and consolidation to Westmer. All that remains is what to me looks like may have been part of the foundation for a gymnasium (?), the sidewalk that at one time led up to the schools front doors (shown in your website's pictures), and the row of trees that line the front of the schoolyard (which also can be seen in your pictures). The current high school students of Keithsburg attend classes in Aledo.

The building pictured and titled the "New" Keithsburg Grade School (below), still exsists but is now the Keithsburg town hall. The grade school children attend class in New Boston."

Keithsburg High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s?

Year closed: 1960

Consolidated to: Westmer High School (Joy)

Students Now Attend: Aledo Mercer County High School

School nickname: the "Blackhawks"

School colors: Black & Orange

School Fight Song: (To the tune of "There's A Long, Long Trail A-Winding")

Tune name the lyrics submitted by Stephanie Sirotnak Braucht

We will praise those grand old colors,

Salute the orange and black.

We'll give three cheers for Keithsburg

Let them all ring back.

                             We are off to certain victories,

                             And we will take nothing less;

                             For that's the truest motto

                             Of our dear old K.H.S.

                             Rah! Rah! Rah!

Athletics

Keithsburg High School probably offered many sports during its existence. Very limited information was uncovered on the IHSA web site. Many schools in the area offered baseball, football, track, & basketball. Keithsburg definitely competed in basketball and track, baseball was quite possible at some point as well. Boys' basketball brought home two IHSA District titles which are listed below.

Boys' Basketball

1935-36 N.R.A. District Champions Coach's name unavailable

1953-54 N.R.A. District Champions

Memories

From Richard Nash (Class of 1941):

"The superintendent of Keithsburg High School from 1935 through the mid-1940s was E.H. Test, who succeeded Mr. Platt. Coach for all sports at the school for that same time period was Lawrence Junchen.

Some of the memorable teachers from the late 1930s included:

1st Grade: Miss Greenwood

5th Grade: Mrs. Hamilton

6th Grade: Miss Meva Keel

7/8th Grade: Mrs. Keith Stanley

HS History: Miss Olga Reipe

HS English: Miss Opal Stephens"

From Stephanie Sirotnak Braucht:

"I graduated from grade school in Keithsburg in 1962 and attended high school at Westmer HIgh School in Joy, which was the result of the consolidation. We had moved to Keithsburg when I was 3, when my father accepted a position as principal and teacher in the grade school there. He was with Keithsburg, and then Westmer, until he died suddenly in 1968.

While the high school mascot was "The Black Hawks," after the famous Sac-Fox warrior by that name who lived (and fought) in this area, the grade school was known as "The Tigerhawks" (which later kind of morphed into just Tigers).

I have attached a photo of my dad, Albert J. Sirotnak. As I mentioned, he was an administrator for Keithsburg (later Westmer) from 1951 until 1968.

Keithsburg Grade School Principal 1951-1960

(Consolidation took place for the 1960-61 school year)

Westmer Elementary Coordinator and Junior High Principal 1960-1967

Westmer Superintendent 1967-68

He died in the summer of 1968 of a heart attack at the age of 50."

Seeking Further Information

We are seeking further information regarding the town of Keithsburg, its high school, and their better athletic accomplishments. We are very hopeful a resident or history buff from the area will help us out. If you have any information you would like to share please complete a School Submission Form or Guest Commentary Form, or at our e-mail address of ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60631