West Salem High School "Warriors"
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West Salem School / Served as High School
westsalemgschool195253dav.jpg
Yearbook of Carol Jane Orrel Andersen Tomblinson / Submitted by Sherry Whitman

West Salem High School Cheerleading Patch 1953
westsalemhscheerleaderpatch1953dav.jpg
Worn by Carol Jane Orrel Andersen Tomblinson / Submitted by Sherry Whitman

The History of West Salem High School
 
West Salem (population 1,001) is located in southeastern Illinois in the northeastern portion of Edwards County. The town is situated on County Highway 3 about two miles east of Illinois Route 130.  The Indiana Hi-Rail Railroad runs through the west side of town. 
 
The Wikipedia web address of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Salem,_Illinois has an excellent history of the town.  A brief summary of that history is as follows:
 
West Salem was initiated by a group of Moravian settlers from the town of Salem, North Carolina in the early 1840s.  An influx of German settlers arrived in the area in the late 1840s.  West Salem was incorporated in 1857 as New Salem. Soon after its incorporation, it was determined that Illinois had a New Salem already.  The settlers decided upon West Salem as the alternative.
 
The first school in West Salem was established in 1850.A brick school building was built in 1880.  The school was added on to over the years to accommodate the many new students that began there in the first half of the 1900s.  In 1947 the school district was enhanced with the annexation of several smaller districts in the area.  
 
It is not clear as to when high school courses began being offered.  If you have this information, please forward it to us. A supporter of the Glory Days website,
Donny Knackmus, advises that West Salem High School was closed in 1960 along with Bone Gap and Browns high schools to join the Edwards School District in Albion.
 
We also know from a 1953 West Salem HS yearbook reported by Sherry Whitman, that it appears that a unit school district was established by Edwards County that allowed for the smaller schools to remain open with all of the fourth year students attending their final year in Albion.  Sherry sent us the following information obtained from the "Echoes" yearbook:
 
"I noticed that you are looking for some information about the West Salem HS - a place my mother, father and step-father all attended in the 1950s. My mother, Carol Jane Orrel Andersen Tomblinson, passed away last year and packed away in her closet we came across her 1953 "Echoes" yearbook. Interestingly, this yearbook is really a compiliation of several different schools and is a little difficult to follow as not all grades are represented for all schools.  The dedication reads as follows:
  
  "To the spirit of cooperation which has played such a great part in the success of the Edwards County Unit, we dedicate this book. With all the persons working together in a friendly, cooperative way a chain reaction is set up with possibilities of developing tremendous power not unlike the atomic bomb. In the Edwards County School system this force has made it possible to pool the resources of the county, with considerable territory from the surrounding counties, to give the youth as well as adults of the area an education comparable to that provided in most areas of the state. This is the fifth year of existence of the Edwards County Unit, and its ever increasing quality of education has been made possible by the excellent cooperation of parents, teachers, administrators, board members, and pupils."
   
Sherry Whitman provided the following information about he history of West Salem High School as well:
 
"I also looked at my mother's book titled "A History of Edwards County, Illinois, Volume One" published in 1980.  This book lists most of the schools in the county, including pictures.  According to the book in the section titled "High Schools" it states:
 
"In West Salem, the Moravian Church started a high school on 8 December 1856 in a large two-story brick building on the south side of the square. The boys attended the morning session and the girls the afternoon session. In November 1919 a county-wide election was held to establish community high schools in the county. The West Salem disrict voted 303 to 305 in favor. District No. 2 was established in the West Salem area, they rented space from the grade school, which made it necessary to build two more frame classrooms. The first basketball games were played outside, but later the teams moved to a low-ceiling room above Ficher's Store. Sill later a gym was constructed on the northwest corner of the public square making it necessary for physical education students to go uptown for classes. Eventually all high school students from West Salem were transported to the Edwards County Senior High in Albion."
          
West Salem still supports a Grade School for grades K - 8 in town.
 
West Salem High School "Quick Facts"
 
Year opened:                 late 1800s/early 1900s
Year closed:                  1960
Consolidated to:             (Albion) Edwards County High School
WSHS team nickname:  possibly the "Warriors"
WSHS team colors:       Gold & Blue 
School Fight Song:        "On West Salem" 
                                                "On Wisconsin" Fight Song Tune
                                                Lyrics provided by Sherry Whitman
                                                Lyrics located in the yearbook of Carol Jane Orrel Andersen Tomblinson
 
                                      On West Salem, On West Salem,
                                     Tear right down the floor.
                                     Throw the ball right through the circle
                                     Baskets one or more.
 
                                     Rah, Rah, Rah!
 
                                     On West Salem, On West Salem,
                                     Fight on for your fame.
                                     Fight fellows, fight, fight, fight,
                                     And win the game.
 
                                     (Repeat)
 
                                     15 Rahs for West Salem

West Salem HS Basketball Team of 1952-53
westsalembballsquad5253dav.jpg
Yearbook of Carol Jane Orrel Andersen Tomblinson / Submitted by Sherry Whitman

westsalembballsquad5253namesdav.jpg

 

Athletics
 
We are certain that the West Salem High School boys competed against other schools in the area in the sport of basketball.  It is quite possible that basetball and track were offered as well.  School team nickname, uniform colors, fight song lyrics, coach's names, and team records are all items were are seeking to share on this page.
 
Extra Curricular Activities
 
We are certain sports were likely not the only item offered at West Salem HS.  It is probable that choir, band, drama, plays, and many other activities made the experience of attending FGHS a rewarding one.
 
MEMORIES
 
The following information was supplied by Sherry Whitman and was taken from items found in her mother's (Carol Jane Orrel Andersen Tomblinson) 1953 West Salem HS yearbook. 
 
"The classes/pictures listed are Albion School students from kindergarten through Grade 8, Bone Gap School from kindergarten through Grade 9, Browns School from kindergarten through Grade 9, Shelby School from 1st grade through 5th, Wabash School from 1st grade through 8th, and West Salem School from Kindergarten through Grade 11.  I am guessing by then most kids went to HS in Albion, but it appears only the seniors of  West Salem went to Albion (or Edwards County HS) in 1953. My mother was in 8th grade in this yearbook, and my father was in 9th grade. My mother was a cheerleader and she was a drummer in the band.  I also have her cheerleading vest, a picture of the back is attached for your reference.  It appears their colors were gold and blue.  Also in her treasures was a High School Days Memory Book, where she transcribed the West Salem HS Fight Song. Here is what she wrote:
   
"On West Salem"
On West Salem, on West Salem, tear right down the floor. Throw the ball right through the circle baskets one or more. Rah, Rah, Rah! On West Salem, on West Salem, fight on for your fame. Fight fellows, fight, fight, fight, and win the game. (Repeat) 15 Rahs for West Salem."
 
I could not tell by reading anything she had what the school mascot might have been. In 1953, West Salem School had a High School basketball squad (my stepfather George Tomblinson was their center), a Jr. High basketball squad, and a grade school basketball squad. They also had high school and Jr. high cheerleaders, and a West Salem High School and Jr. High softball teams as well as the West Salem all school band. Also is a picture of the West Salem High School chorus. I don't beleive they ever had a football squad - my parents always only talked about basketball and softball, which is in keeping with this yearbook.
 
Although the Edwards Senior High folks are not listed in this book, pictures of the Edwards Senior High Girls Athletic Association, FFA and  FHA is in the back - as well as the Edwards HS Senior High First Squad Football team, of which my Uncle Chet Orrel is listed as a player.  He is not listed anywhere else in this book, however, so I am thinking he was a senior at ECHS during the printing of this book- he graduated in 1954 and is listed in the 1954 Edwards County HS "Edwardian" which can be found on ancestry.com. This leads me to believe my mother's yearbook, although it is titled the 1953 Echoes, is actually for the 53-54 school year.
 
I hope this information is helpful to you and other readers of the Glory Days website."
 
Do You Have Information on West Salem High School?  
 
If you do, please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  A photo of the original school building and gymnasium are especially being sought.  You can also send items to us at:
 
IHSGD Website 
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631