The Sheffield H.S. "Cardinals"

Sheffield High School Building - 2008

Home of the Cardinals

Sheffield High School Building - Angle Side View

Taken in 2008

Sheffield (population 946) is located in the north-central portion of Illinois in the west-central part of Bureau County. The bustling town is located on US Rt. 6 / U.S. Rt. 34 approximately 15 miles west of Princeton. Sheffield has a grand history and was an important part of western Bureau County's early growth.

Sheffield High School Unit District # 132 and the Sheffield school system was established in the mid-1800s. Sheffield High School celebrated its first graduating "class" in 1868. The class was a total of one person. That person was Emily Pitkin, Sheffield High School's first alumnus. A brick high school building, pictured above, was built in 1921.

Sheffield School Inscription

The high school closed her doors in 1961 after a consolidation effort was forged with nearby Buda High School. The two schools formed Buda Western High School and enjoyed many great years of athletics. The Sheffield High School Cardinals also enjoyed many great years of success in athletics. Buda Western High School later formed a consolidation effort with other nearby towns and created the Bureau Valley School District.

The Bureau Valley School District utilized the Sheffield school building as an elementary school (K-5) through the 2005-06 school year. The decision was then made to close the Sheffield school and resume all classes in the Buda school buildings.

The Sheffiedl High School building sat proudly for six more years, being utilized only as a place for students to wait inside for the bus pick up in inclement weather. In 2012 demolition plans for the building were completed and the building was razed. All that remains of the school complex is the flag pole and athletic fields in the background. A photo of what now remains of the Sheffield school site was taken in 2013 and provided by Owen Pulver

Former Sheffield HS Grounds - 2013

Photo by Owen Pulver

Sheffield High School Cardinals "Quick Facts"

Year school opened: Mid-1800s

First Graduating Class: 1868

Year closed: 1961

Consolidated to: Western High School (Buda)

School nickname: Cardinals

School Colors: Scarlet & White

School Building: Still standing - vacant

School Fight Song: "Sheffield High School Fight Song"

To Sheffield High the school we love

Let's sing a song of praise

Tell of her many victories

And high her banners raise

We'll sing her praises everywhere

We'll work for her with zest

And show to all the world around

That Sheffield is the BEST!!

So let's join in a cheer

While we're all gathered here

Cheer for old Sheffield High!

We are ready to fight for the Scarlet & White

Of dear old Sheffield High!

We are proud of her name

We will add to her fame

To advance her we'll ever try

So let's CHEER, CHEER, the gangs all here

All out for Sheffield High, RAH!!!!

Athletics

Sheffield competed in the Little '8' Conference. The school offfered boys football, basketball, track, and possibly baseball. Very limited information is known by the writers of this web site regarding Sheffield HS. Assistance is being sought for more information to share with others.

Sheffield High School Gymnasium & Stage - 2008

School Gym Center Circle

Basketball

The first Sheffield Basketball team has be traced back to as far as 1916, falling in a game to Kewanee by the score of 30-15. Competitive, tough, athletic, all were words used to desribe a game against the Sheffield Cardinal basktetball teams. Some incredible games were played against neighboring rivals Buda and Mineral. It is known Sheffield had some great teams in the 1940s and 1950s, however, again, your assistance is needed. It is also known that Sheffield won the Little 8 Conference title three staight years going undefeated in the conference each year. This 21 game conference winnning streak occurred during the 1943-44, '44-'45, and '45--'46 seasons. Below is listed the Cardinal District Championship teams as well as some of the better years in Cardinal hardwood history. Thank you to Mike Pratt for several of the items listed below..

1915-16 6 - 8 Coach Ball

1920-21 10 - 7 Coach Hacker

1925-26 21 - 1 Bureau County Tourney Champs

Little Six Conference Champs

Undefeated Regular Season

Lost District Championship Game

Ottawa 32 Sheffield 22

Outscored opponents 465 - 247

1931-32 District Champs

1939-40 District Champs

1940-41 District runner-up

Beat Neponset in semifinal 51-35

Lost to Mineral in championship 26-40

1941-42 12 - 17 District runner-up Coach Edward Daniels

Beat Manlius in semifinal 41-30

Lost to Mineral in championship 46-22

1943-44 Conference Champs

1944-45 27 - 3 District Champs Coach Wayne Sturm

Little 8 Conf. Reg Season &

Conf. Tourney Champs

Regional Tourney

Lost to Geneseo 42 - 36

Information on Sheffield High School's District Championship team of 1944-45 was provided to us by our good fan, Brian Hoxsey:

"In 1944-45 season, Sheffield High School claimed a district championship with a 46-33 victory over Atkinson High School . Sheffield's season ended with a loss to Geneseo High School in regional play, putting their final record at a grand 27-3.

(*Information gathered in Dixon Evening Telegraph archives)"

1945-46 19 - 7 Conference Champs (7-0) Coach Wayne Sturm

District Runner-up

1946-47 5 - 18 Coach Wayne Sturm

1947-48 12 - 12 Little 8 4th Place (5 - 3) Coach Wayne Sturm

1948-49 12 - 14 Little 8 3rd Place (5-3) Coach Wayne Sturm

F/S Conf. Tourney Champs

1950-51 District runner-up

1951-52 6 - 7 Coach Randunzel

1952-53

1953-54 16 - 4 2nd in Little 8 (7 - 2) Coach Johnson

1954-55 8 - 14 Coach James White

1955-56 7 - 14 Coach James White

1956-57 11 - 13 Coach Andrews

1957-58 15 - 14 Coach Andrews

1958-59 8 - 15 Coach Andrews

1959-60 10 - 15 (JV went 8-13)

1960-61 15 - 9 2nd place in Little 8 Conf. Coach Carmon Mest

**Wendell Smith (Class of 1953) was Sheffield's all-time leading scorer.

Sheffield HS Football, Baseball, & Track Fields

Football

Records of football offered at Sheffield High School date back to the early 1900s Two records researched and documented are listed below. Pleasse contact kus to help fill in some more of the great Sheffield football team records and accomplishments.

1916 2 - 5 Coach's name unavailable

From the 1916 yearbook provided by Mike Spratt:

"Interesting quoter from yearbook: "First 2 weeks were taken up in showing the boys how to fall on the ground without hurting themselves."

1920 6 - 1 Coach Hacker

Season highlight - An 87 - 0 drubbing

of neighbor Bureau Township HS

Outscored opponents 205 - 25!

1925

From the 1926 yearbook provided by Mike Spratt:

"Fourteen boys out for team (my grandpa was a freshman), first game against Neponset with Sheffield losing. No wins this year. Quote from yearbook: "Due to unfavorable conditions the team was forced to disband and only a few games were played."

1941 2 - 4 Coach Edward Daniels

1944 8 - 0 Little 8 Conference Champs Coach Wayne Sturm

Outscored Opponents 402 - 19!

1945 6 - 0 Little 8 Conference Champs Coach Wayne Sturm

1946 4 - 2 2nd place tie Little 8 Coach Wayne Sturm

Coach Schwind

1947 7 - 1 2nd place in the Little 8 Coach Wayne Sturm

Outscored opponents 334-47

(As of this season...Coach Sturm's teams have won 35 out of the last 40 games!)

1948 4 - 2 - 1 2nd place tie Little 8 Coach Wayne Sturm

1950 5 - 3 - 1 Coach Bob Cronsiter

1951 4 - 5 4th in Little 8 Coach Fred Radunzel

Asst. Coach Schwind

1952 9 - 0 Little 8 Conference Champs Coach Fred Radunzel

1953 4 - 5 Coach Johnson

1954 3 - 6 Coach James White

1955 2 - 6 Coach James White

1956 2 - 6 Coach Joe Salisbury

1957 5 - 3 Coach Joe Salisbury

1958 5 - 1 - 1 2nd place Little 8 Coach Joe Salisbury

1959 2 - 6 Coach Joe Salisbury

Asst. Coaches:

Andrews/Lehning

1960 3 - 5 Coach Joe Salisbury

Sheffield last independently fielded a football team in 1960.

Girls Basketball

Though not really recognized as a high school sport by the IHSA, girls basketball did exist in the early 1900s. The girls traveled to other towns to take on other teams of the area. A few of the seasons documented in yearbooks are listed. Most of this research has been conducte by Mike Spratt. Quotes from Mike's research appear in italics below.

1912-13 2 - 0 Coach's name unavailable

1913-14 3 - 0

"The girls were 2-0 on the season and decided to play against a 2-0 Walnut team in a Championship game in Princeton. Sheffield won 17-12. We had 5 girls out for b ball."

1915-16 5 - 1 Coach's name unavailable

"Six girls were on team."

1920-21

"One game played in public between our freshman and sophomores. Sophs won 17 to 10."

Girls Gymnastics

The yearbook of 1916 pointed out that the girls participated in gymnastics that year. Mike Spratt's research tells us 9 girls were out for the sport and Miss Boyd was the coach!

Boys Baseball

The boys competed in baseball as well. Mike Spratt's research included the following information from Sheffield High School yearbooks.

1913-14 3 - 1 - 1

"Fourteen players out, 5 games played in the fall of '13, 3 wins, 1 tie, and 1 loss to Tiskilwa. They then played 10 games in the spring of '14.

1920-21 4 - 0 Little Six Conference Champs Coach Hacker

"Ten boys out, SHS Won "little 6" conference title, going 4-0 while beating Buda, Walnut, Manlius, and Wyanet."

Cinder Track Curve at Sheffield HS

Track & Field

Sheffield HS excelled on the oval track as well. The following information was supplied by Mike Pratt.

1941-42 15 Boys Out for Track Coach Edward Daniels

1944-45 Little 8 Conference Champions Coach Wayne Sturm

21 Boys Out for Track

**Sheffield awarded Little 8 Conference sportsmanship trophy for winning conference football, basketball, and track titles for 1944-45!

1945-46 16 Boys Out for Track Coach Wayne Sturm

1946-47 3rd in Little 8 Conf. Meet Coach Wayne Sturm

22 Boys Out for Track

1947-48 Little 8 Conference Champs Coach Wayne Sturm

27 boys on team

3rd at Galva Meet (35 Teams participated!)

880 Yard Relay Team Set Record

(Doc Gilter, Duke Malmquist, Dave Griffin, Duane Nelson)

1948-49 19 Boys Out for Track Coach Wayne Sturm

1951-52 Little Conf. 2nd Place Coach Cronister

Undefeated in Triangular Meets

1953-54 Team placed 4th in Little 8 Conf. Meet Coach Johnson

Harold Lambert represented Sheffield HS at State

Meet in the hurdles!

1954-55 14 boys out for team Coach James White

1955-56 20 boys out for team Coach James White

1956-57 14 boys out for team Coach Andrews

1957-58 2nd Place in Little 8 Conf. Meet Coach Lehning

19 boys out for team

1958-59 10 boys out for team Coach Lehning

1959-60 12 boys out for team Coach Lehning

1960-61 Little 8 Conference Champions Coach Lehning

27 boys out for team

880 relay placed 4th out of 30 schools at Galva Relays: (Joe Edlin, Austin Folk, Dick Kaufman, Dave Smith) Yearbook states that this was one of Sheffield's best track teams in several years up to this point!!!

Cross-Country

The boys competed in this sport for a short time. They won conference championships for certain from 1950-51 through 1953-54!

1950-51 Little 8 Conference Champions

1951-52 Little 8 Conference Champions

1952-53 Little 8 Conference Champions

1953-54 Little 8 Conference Champions

Girls Athletic Association

Sheffield High School girls participated in the Girls Athletic Association. In the 1946-47 school year 28 girls participated in this club coached by Miss Iona Burgess!

Other Sports

We are truly hopeful some of the esteemed alumni of Sheffield HS will provide the details and share a story or two. It is also known some of these teams were even inducted into the Bureau County Sports Hall of Fame.

We Need Your Help

If you have any information you can share regarding Sheffield High School, especially a photo of the high school building, please complete a Guest Commentary Form. You can contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Sheffield Brickyard Factory - Photo Taken 2005

Buildings Have Since Been Razed