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| Little York High School - Built in 1942 |
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| Photo Courtesy of Beau Spencer |
| Little York School Entrance - Bldg. Built in 1942 |
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| Courtesy of Mike Edwards - Taken in 2007 |
The History of Little York High School
The village of Little York (population 269) is located on Il. Route 135 approximately 10 miles north
of U.S. Route 34. The nearest town of note is Monmouth which is about 8 miles to the southeast of Little York.
The Cedar Creek runs to the north of town and Davids Creek to the south. Little York is located in northwestern Warren
County.
The history and origin of the town needs further research by a local citizen. A great history
of the Little York School District was provided to us by Mike Edwards:
"I have a copy of the Little York Sesquicentennial bulletin that was
put together for 150 years. Little York started in 1836 and the Sesquicentennial was held in 1984 (August 18-24). It has quite
a bit about the Schools.
The picture of the brick building reflects information about the school in
present day. The original building is just North of the existing high school building which has been refurbished into apartments.
The stonework still shows the school name. Here is the text of the information.
| Little York First Brick School Building |
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| Submitted by Dave Armstrong |
It must have been shortly after that, possibly in 1903 or 1904, that the
first brick school building was built in Little York. It is presumed that it housed both the elementary and the high school
from its beginning for various sources agree that Little York High School opened in 1904 as a two-year high school and became
a three-year school in 1905.
Dave Armstrong tells us the following about the first brick
school building pictured above:
"This photo shows the original part of the Little York Grade & High School.
this picture is from around 1909. The building was doubled in size a few years later. The gym was added around 1932,
the new part, which is the section in the picture Mike Edwards sent you was built around 1956. This
school was last used in the 1978-79 school year. At that time it held 2-4 grade classes."
In an article written by Carol Clark and printed in the
Daily Review Atlas, May 30, 1979, it is said that it became a four-year school in 1906, and continued the four year
program until 1921 when it reverted to a three-year high school.
According to David Pardee, as reported in an article by
Ralph Eckley for the same newspaper, in 1915 Little York had eight grades of elementary school and four years
of high school, all of which were located in one four-room building. The high school occupied one room, and J.K. Neumann was
principal for the entire school, as well as the only teacher in the high school. The picture of the student body of 1915 shows
twenty-six high school students and the principal.
Another article written by Ralph Eckley for the June 2,
1983, issue of the Review Atlas, Lavona Adams Steepleton is quote as saying that when she started to Little York High School
in the fall of 1923 it was only a two-year high school but by the time she was a junior it had been expanded to a three-year
school.
During the times when there was only a three-year high school it was not
uncommon for some of the students to go to Monmouth High School for their last year, staying in Monmouth boarding houses during the week.
| Little York High School Addition of 1927 |
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| Submitted by Mike Edwards - Photo Taken in 2007 |
About 1927 the first addition was made to the school. If the original school
was only four classrooms, the addition must have doubled the space or possibly tripled it. The second addition was a gymnasium
which was built in the 1930s. One source says in 1932 while another states it was built about 1938. This gym was used by students
in both schools.
In the fall of 1938 Little York Community High School became a four-year
institution. From that time until the new high school was built, the high school was on the second floor with the exception
of the science classes which were taught on one room on the first floor. When the high school added home economics and agriculture
courses, these classes were held in the basement of the building.
| Little York HS Addition & Gymnasium |
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| Courtesy of Mike Edwards |
In 1941 and 1942 the Little York Community High School was built at a cost
of $75,000. General contractors for the new construction were Jorgenson and Son of Clinton, Iowa. The
move to the new high school building was made in February of 1942. The second semester of the 1941-9142 school year, the high
school had a six-day week. By that time the United States was in the Second World War and there was a
man-shortage so the male students were needed to work in the fields. The last day of school that year was May 2.
The building formerly occupied by both the elementary and high school classes
became the Little York Elementary School. The gymnasium attached to the elementary school continued to be used by both schools
although they were in two different school districts governed by two school boards.
The next major change was the addition to the elementary school in 1956 when
classrooms were added to the front of the old building.
These seperate elementary and high school districts continued to operate
until 1960 when the Yorkwood School District was formed. This was the combination of the Little York and Kirkwood schools. During the first years of the new district
which encompassed grades K-12, the kindergarten through sixth grade grade went to the respective elementary buildings. Grades
seven, eight, and nine went to the Kirkwood High School, while grades ten through twelve attended classes in the Little York High School building.
The Little York baseball field is used by the Junior Sheriffs League presently.
I don't know if it was used by Little York High school but I am sure it was. The
Pavilion that sits on the Northwest corner of the field is called "Tapole's Pad". It was named after my father whose
real name is Richard S. Edwards but everyone in three counties knew him as "Tadpole". He was a board member
for Warren County for several years."
The former high school in Little York still stands and is in use today as an apartment building. The
building served as Yorkwood High School for grades 10 - 12 from 1960 through 1969. It then served the school
district as a grade school from 1970 through 1979 when a new school building was built.
Recent consolidation talks have been kicked around. It was decided that Yorkwood High School would
be closed at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year. Students of Little York and Kirkwood will now attend high school as
part of the Alexis United School District.
Little York High School Quick Facts
Year opened: probably late 1800s
Year closed: 1960
Consolidated to: Yorkwood High School
School nickname: the "Eagles"
School colors: Purple & Gold
School Fight Song: unavailable
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| Little York High School Gym Building |
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| Submitted by Mike Edwards - 2007 |
ATHLETICS
Little York High School for sure offered boy's basketball. Football was offered for a time too. The boys also
competed in track and baseball. We are always searching for more when it comes to the accomplishments of schools
on the Glory Days site. If you have any further information you can share regarding the Little York High School athletic
porgram, or any other aspect of Little York High School, please contact us via the means listed at the bottom of this page.
BOYS BASKETBALL
The Little York boys had a nice run in the middle 1950s. The boys of the 1955-56 team won a District
and Regional title. The 1956-57 team brought home a District title. Information is being sought as to
the overall records and coaches names of the more successful Little York teams. We are hopeful someone will
assist us. The two seasons shown on the IHSA web site are listed below.
Several basketball scores involving Little York High School participating in the IHSA State Tournament were located on
a site titled " Illinois High School Basketball Scores." These results are printed below.
1932-33
Galesburg District Tourney Coach's name
& record needed
1st Rd lost to Rio 20 - 10
Galesburg
beat Knoxville in title game
1933-34
Galesburg District Tourney Coach's name
& record needed
1st Rd lost to Altona 38-13
Galesburg
beat Knoxville in title game
1934-35 Roseville
District Tourney Coach's name
& record needed
1st Rd lost to Monmouth (forfeit)
Roseville
beat Stronghurst in title game
1935-36 Blandinsville
District Tourney Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Blandinsville 29-10
Alexis
beat Blandinsville in title game
1936-37
Colchester District Tourney Coach's name
& record needed
1st Rd lost to Good Hope 32-17
Good Hope beat Stronghurst in title game
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1940-41 New
Boston District Tourney Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Gladstone 26-23
Semi-Final lost to Seaton 32-27
New Boston beat Seaton in title game
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1942-43 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1944-45 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1945-46
New Windsor District Tourney Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Good Hope 32-17
1946-47 New
Boston District Tourney Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Keithsburg 54-33
Semi-Final lost to Oquawka 54-28
Oquawka
beat Alpha in title game
1947-48
New Windsor District Tourney Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Gladstone 35-32
New Boston beat Seaton in title game
1948-49 New
Boston District Tourney Coach's name & record
needed
1st Rd lost to Keithsburg 58-35
New
Boston beat New Windsor in title game
1949-50
New Windsor District Tourney Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd lost to New Windsor 44-37
New Boston beat Viola in title game
1950-51 New
Boston District Tourney Coach's name & record
needed
1st Rd lost to Viola 51-45
New
Boston beat Viola in title game
1951-52 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1952-53 New
Boston District Tourney Coach's name & record
needed
1st Rd lost to Winola 53-42
Winola
beat New Boston in title game
1953-54 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1954-55 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
| Eagle Basketball Team of 1954-55 |
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| Submitted by Dave Armstrong |
1955-56 27 - 2
IHSA District & Regional Champs Coach Earl Foster
Little York District Tourney Scores
Semi-Final Beat Alwood 80-70
Title Game Beat New Boston 97-69
Aledo Regional Tourney Scores
1st Rd Beat Reynolds 78-46
Semi-Final Beat Winola 63-60
Title Game Beat Aledo 63-62
East Moline Sectional Tourney
Semi-Final lost to Galesburg 102-64
GALESBURG (102): Lind 28, Graning 20, Owens 18, Young 10, Odell 8, Williams 8, Junkins 6, Douglas 4.
LITTLE YORK (64): Ca. Goff 30, Cl. Goff 13, Stokes 8, Damewood 6, Gullinger 5, Boock 2.
Galesburg beat Moline in title game
Galesburg lost in Sweet 16 Rd to Rockford West in 2 O/Ts
Rockford West won State Championship
| Little York HS Eagles 1955-56 District Champs |
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| Submitted by Dwight Boock |
From Roger Icenogle regarding the team of 1955-56:
"The 1955-1956 Little York High School basketball team was one of the finest small town teams in my memory in western
Illinois. They were big, strong, experienced and very tough to beat. In IHSA play, they were defeated eventually
by Galesburg, I believe, in the sectional finals at Moline. The starting players were: Carl Goff, Clyde
Goff, Ancil Guilinger, Dwight Boock, and Bill Damewood.
I am not certain of their records
in '56 & '57, but they were very good. Carl Goff went on to a great college career at Monmouth
College."
**From Dwight Boock regarding the District and Regional Champs of 1955-56:
"The 1955-56 Little York Eagles were led by Carl Goff, a terrific shooting guard.
IHSA basketball was all one class back then and we had about 85 kids in the high school, but faced Galesburg in the sectionals.
John Thiel was coaching Galesburg and they were a Western Illinois power . The Silver Streaks were
edged out in the super-sectionals by Rockford West, in overtime, and they went on to win back to back state titles.
I believe we had 64 points in our loss to Galesburg, but Carl had 30 of our 64 total, proving he could score
against the best. Carl averaged about 23 points per game and would have easily been the scoring
leader for all of West Central Illinois, but weather cancelled two of our games , and he finished 23 points behind
Ken Anderson of Moline. And of course there were no three pointers back then, and an awful lot
of Carl’s points came from what would have been three point range."
1956-57
Joy District Champions Coach's
name & record needed
Semi-Final
Beat Keithsburg 75-37
Title Game Beat Joy 65-60
Sherrard Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Winola 64-57
Semi-Final lost to Alwood 69-62
Alwood beat Aledo in title game
1957-58
Joy District Tourney
Coach's name & record needed
Semi-Final lost to Joy 71-51
Joy
beat New Boston in title game
1958-59
Joy District Tourney
Coach's name & record needed
Semi-Final lost to New Boston 67-66
Joy
beat New Boston in title game
1959-60
Joy District Runner-Up
Coach's name & record needed
Semi-Final Beat Keithsburg 78-25
**Title
Game lost to Joy 54-51
FOOTBALL
David Armstrong tells us the Little York High School football field was located across the street from
the school building. It continues to be used today as a baseball field. The football field was used until
the consolidation took place withwith Kirkwood.
The research of Tom Sikorski brought us the following Little York football records.
1953 3-3 Coach
Earl Foster
1954 Coach
Earl Foster
| Eagle Football Team of 1954 |
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| Submitted by Dave Armstrong |
1955 3-2 2nd place (tie) Valley Conference Coach Earl Foster
1956 5-0 Valley Conference Champions Coach Earl Foster
1959 4-2-1 Last team.
Last win in school history was 26-0 over Keithsburg.
BASEBALL
We know that Little York High competed in baseball. If you have any information on these teams please drop us a
line.
| Little York Baseball Team of 1922 |
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| Submitted by Mike Edwards |
TRACK & FIELD
The Little York Eagles competed in track and field.
The photo to below depicts the Eagle track team of 1926. The photo was submitted by Mike Edwards.
It is a part of an article that was written on the team in the newpaper called the Monmouth Review Atlas. The article
was written by Ralph Eckley. Names of the those who are in the photo are as follows:
left to right: Eddie Johnson - coach, Curtis Anderson, Wendell Brown, Ralph
Steepleton, Robert Young, Clifford Armstrong, Russell Darrah, Gerlad Smith and, Charles Greeley
- a teacher. .
| Little York Eagle Track Team of 1926 |
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| Submitted by Mike Edwards, as preserved by Ralph Eckley |
LYHS ACTIVITIES
Little York had a great activities program as well, evident in an IHSA District championship in Debate in 1958 and
1959.
MEMORIES
From Dwight Boock (Class of 1957):
"I attended and graduated LYCHS in 1957 and was fortunate to be on the football team of 1956 , and we were conference
champions, However our record was not 5 & 5 but 6 & 0, and we were the only undefeated
football team in school history. We played 8 man football and had previously played 6 man , but never 11
man . I believe our basketball team of 1955-56 had a 27 & 2 record and did indeed lose to Galesburg back in
the days of one-class basketball."
Newspaper Article
The following article was written ver batum from a newspaper article from 1983. It was submitted by Mike
Edwards. The photo accompanying the photo is posted above. The article is by Ralph Eckley
of the Monmouth Review-Atlas. Mike could not recall the date but guesses it was written in
1983. The picture was loaned from Ralph Steepleton of Little York for publication in the newspaper.
"Little York Schools Progressed"
"More than 40 years ago I wrote a series of stories about the
villages in Mercer, Henderson and Warren counties, and a 1942 story told of the Little York High School.
Early in February, the story told, pupils of the Little York Community
High School were to move into a new $75,000 building, located at the south edge of the village. The general contractor, Jorgenson
and Son, expected to finish up the building about Feb. 1.
Opening of the high school marked a new high in the 105 years
of educational history (up to then) in Little York.
The first school in Sumner township, in which the village of Little
York is located, was opened in 1834 at Denny and was taught by Betty Hopper. Peter Terpening taught the first
school at Little York in 1837.
For many years the Little York High School and grade school had
occupied the same building (to the North), but with the opening of the new high school, the crowded condition was relieved.
The Little York High School was opened as a two-year school in
1904, and became a three-year school in 1905. Pupils had to go elsewhere for their fourth year and in "my day" as a high school
student, from 1915 to 1919, many came to Monmouth to graduate.
The story said that the old grade school building, erected around
the turn of the century, had an addition added 15 years before and five years before a gymnasium was added. it was to be used
by both schools.
Then , some years ago, the high school was located on Ill. Rte
135, south of Little York, as part of the Yorkwood Community School District, serving Kirkwood and Little York. The elementary
schools continued for some years in the two villages, but now they are in the new elementary building adjacent to the high
school.
The former Little York High School, erected 41 years ago, was
sold and has been converted to apartments. The building was sold by the school district to Tom Sims,
local banker, who converted the building into apartments."
WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
As with every page, we are seeking some in-put from a Little York resident, fan, or alumnus as to the history
and great successes accomplished at Little York High School. If you can provide us with information please complete
a School Submission Form or Guest Commentary Form. You may also write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or via "real" mail at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
| Little York Baseball Diamond - Moon Field |
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| Thank You To Mike Edwards |
| Little York Student Body 1922 |
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| Submitted by Mike Edwards |
| Little York High School - 1954 (Built in 1942) |
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| Submitted by Dave Armstrong |
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