Basco High School "Bulldogs"

Basco School Building - 2012

Photo By Roberta Van Briesen

Basco Bank Building 2012

Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen

The History of Basco High School

Basco (population 99) is located in west-central Illinois in the south-central portion of Hancock County. County Highway 11 is the main roadway to and from Basco. North County Road 1600E also travels through town. According to 'Mapquest' Basco is about six blocks from east to west and three blocks from north to south. The town was platted in 1891. Basco is about 5 miles southwest of Carthage.

Further history of the town of Bsco and its former high school is needed. We were made aware of the town once supporting a high school through research by Roberta Van Briesen. On a recent "road trip" through the area Roberta was advised by a local resident that his father had attended high school in Basco. Further research revealed an obituary (http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?mobile=15d3213961 ) Mr. LeRoy A. Ufkes, who passed away on October 18, 2011, attended Basco High School for three years (1936-39) before finishing his high school education taking the fourth year at Carthage High School.

Keith Bruns tells us the following regarding Basco High School:

"My records show that a three year high school was started in 1916 with classes being held until 1948 in Basco."

Most students who graduated from the three-year program at Basco and wanted to continue in high school for a fourth year would attend Carthage High School to do so.

Basco High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1916

Year closed: 1948

Consolidated to: Carthage Hancock Central (Now Illini West)

Basco HS team nickname: "Bulldogs"

Basco HS team colors: ??

Basco HS fight song: ??

Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities

We believe the Basco High School boys competed in basketball, baseball, and possibly track. We are in need of season records, coaches names, team nickname, uniform colors, and school fight song. It is probable that many other extra-currricular activites were offered as well such as chorus and band. If you have any of this information that you would like to share regarding Basco High School please follow the directions below.

Basketball

The Basco High School boys competed in basketball for certain. The following information about the team of 1929-30 was uncovered through research of the Carthage Republican newspaper by Keith Bruns.

Carthage Republican newspaper April 9, 1930:

A story of Basco High School basketball team honor program. The main speaker was Prof. A. C. Wubbena, basketball coach of Augusta High School. Those receiving letters for one year's service were: Wendell Caldwell, Hurley Biggs, Albert Tieman, Paul Hopson, and Darrell Lucie. Those receiving letters for two year's service were: Eugene Crear, Captain, Arthur Collins, and Clarence Summers. The Basco coach was W. R. Holloway.

1929-30 Coach W.R. Holloway

Basco HS Basketball Team of 1930-31

Submitted by Michael John Neill

**From Michael John Neill regarding the photo above:

"My maternal grandfather attended Basco High School for three years--I'll have to look and see when he graduated. Like Uncle LeRoy (mentioned on your site) he finished out his last year at Carthage High School.

This picture appears to be from 1930-1931. I think I know which one is my grandfather (John H. Ufkes) but I'm not 100% certain--I'll let you know. The team name was the Bulldogs."

Track and Field

The boys competed in track and field as well. The following information was sent to us by Keith Bruns regarding the Basco track program of 1930-31:

Hurley Biggs went to the state district field and track meet at Monmouth and took third place in the high jump.

Another article regarding a track meet held at Basco in 1930 is summarized below by Keith Bruns:

May 3, 1930

Basco High School sponsored a track and field meet in which all five of the three year high schools of Hancock County were entered. The schools were Fountain Green, Ferris, Burnside, West Point, and Basco. West Point won first, Burnside was second, and Basco was third. The article lists the student that won each competition as well as the time or distance. A music and declamation contest was held the same day with the same schools competing. The results were the same as the track meet.

Memories and Facts

Historical research conducted by Keith Bruns has produced the following information regarding Basco High School via the Carthage Republican newspaper::

May 10, 1931

"Basco High School will graduate twelve students. This is the largest class Basco has graduated in four years. The speaker will be Dr. Jacob Diehl, president of Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois."

If You Have Any Further Information...

...you would like to share regarding the successes and memories made at Basco High School please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also contact us via real mail at:

Illinois Hs Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Av.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Basco Corner Store Building 2012

Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen