Steward High School "Blue Jays"

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Steward High School Building Circa 1930s
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Submitted by Jim White, Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge

The History of Steward High School

Steward High School Building, Approximately 1935
stewardhs1dav.jpg
Courtesy of Jim White, Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge

Steward, Illinois is located seven miles south of Rochelle just off of Interstate 39-US 51 in Alto Township in northeastern Lee County. It has a population of 300 and is mostly a residental area save a couple businesses and a tavern. The town was founded in 1855 and the present-day Burlington Northern-Santa Fe line brought prosperity to Steward.
 
The first schoolhouse in Steward was built in 1859. In 1881, a high school was organized at the southeastern corner of Perry Road (Main Street, County Route 2) and Steward Road (County Route 8) and served the village until the 1953-54 school year after which the high school students were sent to Rochelle. 
 
An update on the Steward school system and its former high school buildings was provided by John Metelko:
 
"The main part of the old Steward High School that was used for the Elementary school in the 60's 70's 80's and 90's was torn down and replaced by a new building.  The new Steward School is still connected to the old Steward High School Gym which is still used. Steward School now has students in grades Kindergarten through Eight." 
 
**From Asheri Campbell:
 
" In regards to the old part of Steward School being torn down and the new building be attached to the old that was the year of 1998, i was a member of the graduating class, May 8th 1998. We had started school almost a full month ahead of time and went to school most holidays so we could graduate in early May because of the construction and the hopes of it being completed by the following school year. We spent the last couple of months in the Gym with big partitions separating class so they could start construction."
 
For more information on Steward schools check out http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolstewardhs.html .
 
Steward High School "Quick Facts":
 
Year Opened:                              1881
Different High Schools in Steward: 3 (2 burned down)
Year Deactivated:                         1954 
Consolidated to:                           Rochelle High School
School Colors:                              Blue & White
Nickname:                                    the "Blue Jays"
School Song:                                ??
 
Athletics
 

Steward High School Gymnasium Entrance 1935
stewardhsgymentrancedav.jpg
Submitted by Jim White / Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge

As far as known, Steward offered Basketball as an extra-curricular and it was their prime sport, because the team brought home five IHSA District Championships according to the IHSA Website (www.ihsa.org). Steward Basketball was a surely a small school force in the 1940's. We are still looking for more information about athletics and other activities in and about Steward High School.
                   
Boys Basketball
 
 
Several scores involving Steward in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores" and are reprinted below.
 
1931-32                  Mt. Morris District Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd beat Forreston 42-9
                               2nd Rd lost to Kings
                               Polo beat Ashton in title game
    
1932-33                  DeKalb District Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd beat Compton 39-14
                               2nd Rd lost to DeKalb 70-6
                               Sycamore beat DeKalb in title game
    
1933-34                  DeKalb District Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd beat Compton 36-16
                               2nd Rd lost to Shabbona 54-17
                               Sycamore beat Waterman in title game
 
 
1934-35     19 - 3    District Scores Needed                        Coach E. Skaarhaug   

Steward HS Basketball 1934-35
stewardhsbasketball1935dav.jpg
Submitted By Jim White / Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge

1935-36                  Leaf River District Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd beat Kishwaukee 48-24
                               Semi-final lost to Ashton 21-19
                               Ashton beat Leaf River in title game
   
1936-37                  Leaf River District Runner-Up           Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd beat Monroe Center 32-14
                               Semi-final Beat Leaf River 21-16
                               Title Game lost to Kings 19-18
   
1937-38                  Steward District Runner-Up               Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd beat Malta 38-18
                               Semi-final Beat Lee 38-20
                               Title Game lost to Rollo 48-34
           
1938-39                  Steward District Champions              Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd Beat West Brooklyn 48-29
                               Semi-Final Beat Lee 56-8
                               Title Game Beat Paw Paw 35-19
                               Dixon Regional Tournament
                               1st Rd Beat Rock Falls 34-19
                               Semi-Final lost to Sterling 33-31 (O/T)
                               Dixon beat Sterling in title game
   
1939-40                  Steward District Tournament                Coach's name & record needed
                               Steward Scores Needed
                               Paw Paw beat Franklin Grove in title game
  
1940-41                  Byron District Tournament                    Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd lost to Lee Center 60-17
                               Byron Beat Leaf River in title game
        
1941-42                  Franklin Grove District Champs        Coach's name & record needed
                               Early Rd Scores Needed
                               Title Game Beat Paw Paw 49-48
                               Dixon Regional Tournament
                               1st Rd lost to Sterling 47-38
                               Dixon Beat Sterling in title game
     
1942-43                  Lee District Tournament                       Coach's name & record needed
                               1st Rd lost to Paw Paw 37-27
                               Paw Paw beat Lee in title game
  
1943-44   Postseason scores, coach's name, and season record needed.
     
1944-45                  Franklin Grove District Champs       Coach J.M. Thompson
                               1st Rd Beat Compton 55-23
                               Semi-final Beat Lee Center 41-26
                               Title Game Beat Lee 43-36
                               Sterling Regional Tournament
                               1st Rd lost to Amboy 42-25
                               Sterling Beat Rock Falls in title game
AMBOY (42): McGrath 19, Dominetta 14, Tranum 7, Clayton 2.
STEWARD (25): D. Van Reenen 8, R. Macklin 7, Rednour 6, Jones 4.
          
1945-46                  Franklin Grove District Champs       Coach J.M. Thompson
                               Semi-final Beat West Brooklyn 51-16
                               Title Game Beat Franklin Grove 65-38
STEWARD (65): Thompson 22, Van Reetan 19, Macklin 15, Ross 5, Phipps 4.
FRANKLIN GROVE (38): Dierdorff 28, Torti 5, Miller 3, Holley 2.
                               Dixon Regional Tournament
                               1st Rd lost to Amboy 54-40
                               Dixon Beat Rock Falls in title game
      
1946-47                 Franklin Grove District Runner-Up    Coach's name & record needed
                              Semi-Final Beat Franklin Grove 50-39
                              Title Game lost to Lee Center 36-30
        
1947-48                 Franklin Grove District Runner-Up    Coach's name & record needed
                              Semi-Final Beat Franklin Grove 63-28
                              Title Game lost to Lee Center 42-41
    
1948-49     21 - 5   Franklin Grove District Champs         Coach Maurice "Moe" Errion
                              Semi-Final Beat Franklin Grove 43-34
                              Title Game Beat Lee Center 30-26
                              Sterling Regional Tournament
                              1st Rd Beat Sterling Community 54-52
STEWARD (54): Starnes 27, Jordal 12, Holle 9, Rogde 3, Oleson 2, Mackin 1.
STERLING COMMUNITY (52): Wahl 14, Reed 10, Zitkus 9, Hollem 8, Papoccia 3, Regan 2.
                               Semi-Final lost to Dixon 62-41
DIXON (62): Mercer 13, Elliot 11, Acker 9, Phelps 9, Naffziger 8, Laney 5, Christ 4, Fish 2, Nolan 1.
STEWARD (41): Starnes 14, Oleson 11, Holle 6, Jordal 4, Benner 2, Rodge 2, O’Donnell 2.
                                Sterling beat Dixon in title game
   
1949-50                   Waterman District Tournament            Coach's name & record needed
                                1st Rd lost to Malta 67-40
                                Hinckley beat Burlington in title game
  
1950-51                   Hinckley District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                                1st Rd lost to Big Rock 37-26
                                Hinckley beat Big Rock in title game
    
1951-52                   Maple Park District Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                                1st Rd lost to Hinckley 62-48
                                Hinckley beat Waterman in title game
  
1952-53  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
  
1953-54                   Maple Park District Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                                *1st Rd lost to Waterman 78-31
                                Waterman beat Kirkland in title game
**Final game for Steward High School varsity boys basketball program.
 
Steward participated in the Green River Valley Conference against foes from the towns of Paw Paw, Compton, Kings, Lee Center, Lee, Franklin Grove, and Rollo.
 
Information on two of Steward High's District Championship teams was provided to us by our good fan, Brian Hoxsey:
 

"In 1944-45 season head coach J.M. Thompson and the Blue Jays won a district title with a 43-26 victory over Lee High School in a game Donald Rednour scored a game-high 20 points.

 

Thompson led Steward to their second straight district title in 1945-46.

 

Head coach Maurice "Moe" Errion guided the Blue Jays to a 21-5 record and a district title in 1948-49.  In the district tournament, Steward defeated Lee Center High School and then Franklin Grove High School 50-36 in the title game.  The season ended with a 62-41 loss to Dixon High School in the Regional semi-finals." 

 
MEMORIES
 
We hope you enjoy these photos provided by Jim White from yearbooks of Steward High School from the years of 1934-36, courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge.  Place your cursor over any photo and "left click" on your mouse to view an enlarged version of the photo. 

Stewardson HS Parking Lot
stewardhsparking2dav.jpg

Study Hall
stewardhsstudyhalldav.jpg

Ladies at the Entrance, Check Out Those Skates!!
stewardhsgirls11dav.jpg

Steward HS Girls Club 1935
stewardhsgirlsdav.jpg
Submitted By Jim White / Courtesy of Mrs. James Trowbridge

Steward HS Entrance
stewardhsentrancedav.jpg

More Information Welcome
 
More information is being sought about Steward High School; use the Guest Commentary Form or the School Submission Form to submit. If you have more Information about Steward High School, including a photo of the school, nickname, school colors and especially win-loss records and other great teams you would like to share please e-mail this website at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .
 
You may also write us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago,  IL  60631

Steward Grade School
stewardgs.jpg
Steward, IL