School History
The first
school in Lewistown was taught in a log court house erected in 1823. A
small brick church, first used to house the Presbyterian congregation in
1836 - and later sold to the Methodists, was later to be known as the
East Primary School, for the first and second grades. In March of 1864,
the people of the school district, voted to build a new school at a cost
of $10,000. Work began on June 23, 1865 and was completed on October
22, 1866. Fulton Seminary - a Methodist Episcopal School, was
incorporated in 1855, with a four story building, completed in 1857. It
was located in the east part of town, now known as Kohncke's addition.
It's purpose - was to "establish under healthful and Christian auspices a
seminary of learning of the highest degree, which should afford the
sons and daughters of the more wealthy - an education as thorough and
accomplished as the most exclusive in the country!" By a vote of 128 to 6
- the voters approved a one story building. The West Primary School in
1884 - at a cost of $1,500. It was abandoned in 1895, upon completion of
the Baldwin School on South Main Street. The Baldwin School was
approved in a special election held in 1895 - and named in honor of Mrs.
Emma Baldwin, an outstanding primary teacher. The building cost
approximately $10,000. The graduating class of 1875 consisted of three
students - all girls. Most of the early graduates were girls. The
classes of 1880 and 1883 had one graduate each, both female. Two girls
graduated in 1891. In 1892 the number of graduates began to increase
each year, with the Class of 1928 having the largest number of graduates
to that date - 26 boys, and 26 girls. In March of 1929 - the first
Annual Honor Day was held. It consisted of 'A', Scholarship letter
awards, Honor Roll list five times during the school year; 'B', Harold
Osborne Cup Award, Athletic letter winner with the highest scholastic
average for the school year; and 'C', The National Athletic Scholarship
Society Awards. In 1933, school bus transportation was provided, and
students from Bryant, Dunfermline and St. David enrolled. Two graduates
became world famous, American Author and Poet, Edgar Lee Masters, of the
class of 1886, and Lila Acheson Wallace, Co-Editor of the Readers
Digest, class of 1907. Although not a graduate - a world famous athlete,
Harold M. Osborne - of Butler, Illinois began his teaching career in
Lewistown High School in 1921. He won both the decatholon, and running
high jump championships at the Paris Olympic Games, in Paris France in
1924. He set new world records in the running high jump. He married
Margaret Bordner,- a former Lewistown girl and LHS graduate. In 1927
Osborne presented his trophy cup to Lewistown High School - to the
athletic winner with the highest scholastic average for the school year.
The students name was to be engraved on the cup. This was to be an
annual event. The first recipient was Arthur Taylor of the LHS class of
1928. This presentation has been a tradition every year since 1928. 1940
- was the year that we sent a basketball team to the state basketball
tournament in Champaign. The team members were; James Jackson, Alan
Jackson, Harry Wilcoxen, Mike Naden, Tony Butkovich, Robert Gallinger,
Donald Ford, Robert Watson, Joe Radosevic and Bill Fithian. Managers of
the team were; Al Wilson, Dean Ford and Raymond Williams. The
cheer-leaders were; Rosalie Higgins, Shirley Higgins and Norma Jean
Mayberry. The team coach was George Dertinger. In the first game
Lewistown defeated Hebron, 31 to 30, but the glory was short lived,
because, in the second game Lewistown was defeated by Moline, 47 to 32.
In those days, before radio and television coverage, the towns-people
who did not go to the game, were able to gather in the school gymnasium,
and listened to the game relayed to there by telephone and amplified
over a loud speaker. The depression years followed by World War 2,
caused a lot of students to drop out of school, to either work, or to
help support the families, or to enter the service, There have been many
students from LHS and LCHS - who gave their lives in service to their
country. Many students received their education in later years -
graduating through the General Education Test - GED. In 1943, a
Community High School District was formed to take in surrounding
communities. At that time, Lewistown had a very talented musical
director, Robert Jorgenson, who taught music in both High and Grade
school. It became apparent for the need of a school song. The old song
"Cardinal Red and Blue" - was changed to a new song set to music from
"Washington and Lee Swing" - Mr. Jorgenson composed the words to the
song. Also, at that time - District 141 Lewistown Elementary School,
hired as superintendent, Mr. Howard Munroe Leinbaugh. And District 341 -
Lewistown Community High School - hired Mr. H.B. Carlock as
Superintendent. During the 1947 - 1948 school year - LCHS inaugurated a
Drivers Education Program, sponsored by the Chicago Motor Club. LCHS was
the first school in Fulton County to have the relatively new course and
among the first (50) in the State of Illinois. The first car was a new
Ford - six cylinder, on loan from the Doyle Miller Ford Agency in
Lewistown. Stanley Mason was the first instructor. The LCHS Class of
1951 - was the first class to graduate from the Lewistown Community High
School, that ever attended the new J. J. McNally School, this school
was completed in 1939, to take over the elementary grades. The year 1951
- also holds more memories as that was the year that Mr. Keith Parry
came to Lewistown school system, replacing H.B. Carlock as
Superintendent of LCHS. In 1953 the high school on McArthur was expanded
with the addition of a Vo-Ag shop, class rooms, lobby and a new music
room. The construction of the additional class-rooms was discussed
earlier and the price for the addition came to $75,000. It was postponed
until the following year, and the price for the new addition came to
$95,000. This addition soon became inadequate with the abolishment of
the non-high-school territories which consisted of Liverpool, Bryant,
St. David and Dunfermline. The law passed for the abolishment of
non-high school territories, stated, that in order for a student to
enter a high school district, the territories must must have an adjacent
border. In some cases the other territories do not have an adjacent
border with Lewistown High School District, but a special enactment -
permitted the students to attend LCHS as many of them already attended
LCHS for many years, due to the fore-thought of some people and the
earlier busing of these students of Lewistown High School. In December
1958, a school bond referendum was passed for construction of a NEW high
school. The site of the new
school was chosen at the north end of town on land owned by Earl
Pittman, of Lewistown and Leroy Davis of St. David. A total of 25 and a
third acres was purchased. 25 from Mr. Pittman at a cost of $1500 an
acre and $1,800 per acre, purchased from Mr. Davis.
The bond issued was for $l,049,000.00, and to this figure was added
the money from the sale of the old high school to the Grade School
District, for a total of $151,000.00 to which was added a total of
$70,000.00 from interest bearing bonds, with the total cost
approximately $1,300,000.00 for the building and contents. Construction
was started by the laying of the corner stone by Mr. Orville Janes
President of the board of education, at that time. In 1960, an
organization was formed at LCHS. It was the Spoon River Chapter of The
National Honor Society. It was innaugerated May 10th, 1960, at the old
High School, in an impressive candle light ceremony conducted by the
officers and directors of the Canton Chapter. On the third Friday of
March of 1961. the move was made to the new building, without
interruption to classes. The Class of 1961, was the first class to
attend the new high school, and graduated three months later, in May of
1961. Being the first class to attend as Seniors, a large boulder or
rock was placed at the entrance to the new school. It was to be an
annual tradition. The Class of 1965 was the first class to attend all
four years at the new building, and graduate from there as well. The old
high school was demolished in June of 1980, making way for the new
Spoon River Towers that stands in the location now. Prior to the
building of the Towers, the old school was used for Central Grade
School, until the new grade school was built near Avenue 'L''. For a
short time the old High school served as the Tribal Center - a
recreational facility for the townspeople. It was very short lived. It
was then, that 'Poke' Kenzel of Canton was contracted to tear the old
building down.
In 1996, a special series of public meetings and hearings were held
prior to placing a consolidation question on the ballot to consolidate
School Districts 341 and 141, and as well Prichard Clark and St. David.
The referendum passed in the Spring of 1996, and the consolidation took
place in the fall of 1997. Lewistown Community Unit School District #97
was the result of the consolidation. Lewistown Central was remodeled to
accommodate the new students.The McNally Elementary School proved to be
getting too old for the students in the late 1990's. A new elementary
addition was added on to Central School on Avenue "L". The new addition
was open for the 2000-2001 school year and the old elementary was turned
into New Horizons, an alternative school for students with special
needs. From fall of 2001 - fall of 2004, the high school was slowly
remodeled. New windows were installed in the classrooms and hallways.
The old office area was completely torn out and a new office was built
where the old offices stood. The school was fitted with central
air-conditioning after having no air-conditioning for all of its years.
The football and track field saw the addition of a new ticket booth
entrance building. An overhang was put over the concession stand area.
New bleachers were installed at the football field and a new concession
stand/announcer tower was built at the baseball field. The inside halls
of the school were also newly painted. As of the 2004 - 2005 school
year, Lewistown High School is a school with strong curriculum,
organizations, and sports. Lewistown High School looks towards the
future and many years to come and go along the sands of time.
