The History of Rockbridge High School
Rockbridge (population 189) is located in lower western / southwestern Illinois in the southeastern corner
of Greene County. Illinois Route 267 is the main roadway traveling through Rockbridge as Illinois Route 108 passes
by town two and a half miles to the north. County Highway 24 also passes through the village. Rockbridge is
located about 35 miles southwest of Springfield and 15 miles north of Alton.
We are in great need of assistance in locating information about the town of Rockbridge and its former high
school. Rockbridge was likely established during the great westward movement of American citizens that took place in
the early to mid-1800s. A school system was probably set up by the late 1800s.
Rockbridge High School may have been established in the late 1800s, possibly even in the early 1900s.
It is probable that Rockbridge High School served the community and the area through the 1940s, possibly even longer. Rockbridge
High was a four-year high school.
An alum of Rockbridge High School, Winifred Locher, who is 94 years old as of
this writing (June 27, 2012), wrote the following letter to us regarding Rockbridge High:
"(Rockbridge) is on Ill. Rte. 267 - 2 1/2 miles off of Rte. 108, about 65 miles from Springfield,
Il. and 35 - 40 miles from Alton, Il.
My Dad, Fred S. Lewter, was Supt. of the school from about 1920 - 1940. He was also
the basketball & track coach
The school was so small, maybe 30 - 40 total enrollment. After he retired - I don't know exactly when
- (Rockbridge) consolidated with Greenfield I think this was in the early 1940s. Rockbridge was always a four-year
high school as long as I was there.
I graduated from Rockbridge High School in 1936 and went on to graduate from Blackburn College in Carlinville,
Il. (Yes, I am 94!) The school colors at Rockbridge High School were blue and gold. The fight song was the Univ. of Illinois
fight song.
R.C.H.S. (Rockbridge Community High School) did participate in basketball and track and literary contests
which were big at that time. We had very good teachers - graduates of Illinois College and MacMurray College. We also had
school dances and plays. We competed with the 3-year and 4-year schools in Greene County. About 1934,
my Dad was on the IHSAA board and attended some meetings at the Palmer House in Chicago. I went with him and attended the
World's Fair.
My Dad organized the "Little 8" conference of all Macoupin County schools except Rockbridge. We
were very close to Macoupin County though. The schools who were a part of this conference included:
We competed in sports and literary contests. These were all 4-year high schools.
Some of the colleges attended by graduates that I can recall were the University of Illinois, Blackburn,
an art school in Washington, D.C., Monticello College, Godfrey Shirtloff College (Alton, Il.), Willesby, and Illinois College.
This was during the time of the Depression, in a farming community, and at a time when college
was an option, not a necessity and a priority like it is today. Also the threat of war was approaching. I can think of
many who did well in their careers."
Rockbridge High was annexed into the Greenfield High School District when RHS was dissolved..
Rockbridge High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed:
late 1940s?
Consolidated to:
Greenfield High School
Rockbridge HS team nickname: unavailable
Rockbridge HS team colors: Blue & Gold
School Fight Song: "We're
Loyal to You, Rockbricge High"
University of Illinois FIght Song Tune
