Bowen High School "Bulldogs"
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Bowen High School Building 2013
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Photo by Owen Pulver

Bowen High School Building Inscription
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Courtesy of Owen Pulver

Original Bowen High School Building
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http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/createPostcard.php?cardNum=851185

The History of Bowen High School 
 
Bowen (population 535) is located in the southeastern corner of Hancock County in western Illinois. The town is located at the intersection of Il. Rt. 61 and Il. Rt. 94 approximately 35 miles northeast of Quincy. The town of Bowen was originally platted in 1863 by a man named Peter Bowen and was first named Bowensburg. It was located along the Toledo, Wabash, & Western railroad at the time of its birth. A short Youtube video of the main intersection of the town of Bowen can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVBdROlwkZM .
 
It is not known at this time what year the school system was begun. The Bowen school system held strong for several years until a consolidation effort with nearby Augusta was started.  The consolidation effort became a reality in 1970 when the two districts merged to form Southeastern High School. 

Further information regarding this merger and the many towns that now make up Southeastern High School was provided to us by Dan Veach:

"Southeastern High School was the result of a merger, (Bowen Bulldogs and Augusta Redskins). The high school is now located in Augusta. In the early 90s Plymouth High (Blackhawks) students were welcomed into the district. Other communities included in the district are: West Point, Stillwell, Colmar, Huntsville, Mindale and Birmingham."

Bowen HS Building Cornerstone
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Photo by Owen Pulver (Left clickon photo for larger view)

Bowen Hotel 2012
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Photo by Roberta VanBriesen

Bowen Village Hall 2012
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Photo by Roberta VanBriesen

Bowen HS Building 2012
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Photo by Roberta VanBriesen

Bowen School Bell 2013
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Photo by Owen Pulver

 
 
 
The high school building in Augusta is used for the high school students. The former Bowen High School building now serves as the Middle school for the Southeastern School District. The school building appears to be in good shape as is evidenced buy the photos at the top of the page taken in 2013 by Owen Pulver. 
  

Bowen High School Quick Facts
 
Year school opened:         late 1800s
Year school deactivated:   1970
Consolidated to:               Southeastern School District (Augusta)
School nickname:             the "Bulldogs"
School colors:                  Purple & Gold
School Fight Song:           "Onward Bulldogs"
                                       University of Wisconsin Fight Song Tune
                                                    Courtesy of  Cheryl O'Halloran  
 
Athletics
 
The Bowen athletic teams were the mightiest of the small schools in Hancock County when it came to the sport of basketball.    Bowen has also had success in boys baseball.  Their best seasons are listed below.  We need your help in gaining the coach's names and the records of the various teams.  We are also searching for the school's fight song.

Bowen HS Gymnasium 2013
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Photo by Owen Pulver

Boy's Basketball 
 
We understand that Bowen High School's gym was "unique".  Small in stature with a few rows of permanent wooden bleachers on each side.  Pillars holding up the ceiling would obstruct some fan's views.  The Bulldogs didn't allow this to effect their accomplishments.
 
The teams from Bowen took home an AMAZING 18 District titles.  Included in this were also three regional titles and one sectional title.  Going even farther the Bowen boys of 1953-54 made it all the way to the Elite 8 of the state tournament.  Incredible considering the one class system they competed in then.  Their loss in the state tournament that year was to Chicago DuSable, a school probably 10 - 15 times their size! 
           
Some scores from the IHSA Tourney involving Bowen High School were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores". They are transcribed below.  
           
No scores available prior to 1922.
   
1921-22                    Quincy District Tournament         Coach's name & record needed
                                Beat Hamilton 18-13
                                Lost in 2nd Round
                                Score not available
 
1922-23 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, coaches names, and season records needed.
   
1933-34                    Macomb District Tournament       Coach's name & record needed.
                               1st Rd. - Lost to Carthage 26-13
                               Carthage lost in 2nd Round
           
1934-35                    Macomb District Tournament       Coach's name & record needed.
                               1st Rd.- Lost to Bushnell 20-19
                               Bushnell lost in title game.
          
1935-36                    Carthage District Tournament       Coach's name & record needed.
                               Semi-final - Beat Elvaston 31-18
                               Title Game - Lost to Burnside 38-23
                               Top two from District went to Regional
                               Carthage Regional Tournament
                               1st Rd. - Lost to Carthage 62-17
                               Carthage lost in title game of Reg.
           
1936-37    N.R.A.      District Champions                     Coach's name & record needed.
                               District Scores unavailable
                               Carthage Regional Tournament 
                               1st Rd. - Lost to Burnside 46-12
                               Burnside Regional Champions
                               Burnside lost in 1st Rd. of Sectional
     
1937-38                    Plymouth District Tournament       Coach's name & record needed.
                               Title Game - Lost to Burnside 31-22
                               Burnside lost in Regional title game
    
1938-39    N.R.A.      District Champions                     Coach's name & record needed
                               District scores unavailable
                               Carthage Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. Beat LaHarpe 38-23
                               Semi-final Beat Dallas City 26-23
                               Title Game - Lost to Hamilton 29-27
                                         
1939-40    N.R.A.      District Champions                     Coach's name & record needed
                               District scores unavailable
                               Regional scores unavailable
    
1940-41 Postseason scores, coch's name, and record needed
          
1941-42                  Carthage Regional Tournament  Coach's name & record needed
                               Bowen did not compete in District
                               Carthage Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. - Beat Dallas City 31-26
                               2nd Rd. - Beat Plymouth 40-26
                               Title Game - Lost to Hamilton 20-13 
     
1942-43                  Carthage Regional Tournament       Coach's name & record needed
                              Bowen did not compete in District
                              Carthage Regional Tourney
                              1st Rd. - Lost to Hamilton 49-32
                              Hamilton lost in semi-final round
      
1943-44 Postseason scores, coach's name, and records needed.
      
1944-45    N.R.A.      District Champions                     Coach's name & record needed
                               District scores unavailable
                               Carthage Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. - Lost to Hamilton 50-39
                               Hamilton lost in semi-final
    
1945-46                    Fountain Green District Tourney     Coach's name & record neeeded
                               Lost title game to Elvaston 42-40
               
1946-47 Postseason scores, coach's name, and record needed.
         
1947-48                  Carthage Regional Tournament       Coach's name & record needed
                              Bowen did not compete in District
                              Carthage Regional Tourney
                              1st Rd. - Lost to Carthage 66-35
                              Carthage won Regional title.
     
1948-49                  Colusa District Tournament             Coach's name & record needed.
                             Title game - lost to
                             Nauvoo Sts. Peter & Paul 47-43
                 
1949-50    N.R.A.    Colusa District Champions           Coach's name & record needed.
                             Semi-final Beat Colusa 63-37
                             Title game Beat Plymouth 67-65
                             Carthage Regional Tourney
                             1st Rd. - Beat Augusta 33-32
                             2nd Rd. - Beat Dallas City 53-51
                             Title game - Lost to Carthage 73-48
                            
1950-51    N.R.A.    Carthage Regional Champions    Coach's name & record needed
                             Bowen did not compete in District
                             Carthage Regional Tourney
                             1st Rd. - Beat Dalas City 48-39
                             2nd Rd. - Beat Carthage
                             Title game -  Beat Plymouth 43-41
                             Galesburg Setional Touurney
                             1st Rd. Lost to Macomb Western 61-43
                             Macomb Western won Sectioal title.
                             Macomb Western lost in Sweet 16
          
1951-52    N.R.A.    Nauvoo District Champions          Coach's name & record needed       
                             1st Rd. - Beat Nauvoo 40-38
                             Title game - Beat Plymouth 69-46
                             Carthage Regional Tourney
                             1st Rd. - Lost to Warsaw 60-59
                             Warsaw lost in semi-final round. 
         
1952-53    N.R.A.      District/Regional Champions        Coach's name & record needed
                               Hancock County Tourney Champs
                               District scores unavailable
                               Carthage Regional Champions
                               1st Rd. - Beat LaHarpe 71-39
                               2nd Rd. - Beat Augusta 61-45
                               Title game - Beat Carthage 71-44
                               Macomb Sectional Tourney
                               1st Rd. Lost to Canton 60-49
                               Canton won Sectional title.
                               Canton lost in Sweet 16 round
                
1953-54    30 - 3       IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifier!!             Coach Jim Lewis
                               Hancock County Tourney Champs
                               District Champions
                               District scores unavailable
                               Carthage Regional Champions
                               1st Rd. - Beat Warsaw 79-53
                               2nd Rd.- Beat Carthage 73-55
                               Ttle game - Beat LaHarpe 48-36
                               Macomb Sectional Champions
                               1st Rd. Beat Joy 85-55
                               Tite game - Beat Monmouth 56-54
                               IHSA State Finals
                               Sweet 16 - Lost to Chicago DuSable 87-64
                               DuSable lost in State Championship game.
                                  
1954-55 Postseason scores, coach's name, and record needed
    
1955-56    N.R.A.      District Champions                     Coach's name & record needed
                               District scores unavailable
                               Carthage Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. - Beat Plymouth 54-48
                               2nd Rd. - Lost to Dallas City 59-56
                               Dallas City won Regional
                               Dallas City lost Sectional title game
            
1956-57 Postseason scores, coach's name, and record needed.
 
1957-58    N.R.A.      Nauvoo District Champions          Coach's name & record needed 
                               Title game - Beat Nauvoo 54-41
                               Warsaw Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. Beat Hamilton 62-61
                               2nd Rd. Lost to Warsaw 59-51
                               Warsaw won Regional title
    
1958-59    N.R.A.      Plymouth District Champions       Coach's name & record needed 
                               1st Rd - Beat Terre Haute Lomax 93-47
                               Title Game - Beat Plymouth 59-51
                               Carthage Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. Beat Nauvoo 64-58
                               2nd Rd. Lost to Carthage 72-69
                               Carthage lost in title game.
               
1959-60    N.R.A.      Bowen District Champions            Coach's name & record needed 
                               1st Rd - Beat Colusa 79-34
                               Title Game - Beat Plymouth 53-44
                               Regional scores unavailable 
                            
1960-61  Postseason scores, coach's name, and record needed 
                                 
1961-62    N.R.A.      Bowen District Champions           Coach's name & record needed 
                               1st Rd - Beat Industry 72-42 
                               Title Game - Beat Plymouth 59-49
                               Hamilton Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. -Lost to Warsaw 51-43
                               Warsaw lost in semi-final round
               
1962-63    N.R.A.      Plymouth District Champions       Coach's name & record needed 
                               1st Rd - Beat Plymouth 68-64
                               Title Game - Beat Augusta 68-52
                               Dallas City Regional Tourney
                               1st Rd. - Beat Carthage 89-54
                               2nd Rd. - Lost to Dallas City 69-56
                               Dallas City lost title game 
                      
1963-64    N.R.A.      District Champions                       Coach's name & record needed 
                               District & Regional Scores Unavailable   
                   
1964-65    N.R.A.      District Champions                       Coach's name & record needed 
                               District & Regional Scores Unavailable
                               Hancock County Tourney Champs
           
1965-66 & 1966-67 Postseason scores, coaches names, and records needed
          
1967-68    14 - 12      Industry District Tourney                 Coach Carroll Herman 
                               1st Rd lost to Augusta 78-65
                               Augusta lost to Industry in title game
              
1968-69                    Plymouth District Tourney               Coach's name & record needed 
                               1st Rd. - Lost to Industry 68-58
                               Industry lost in title game                                     
                    
1969-70    N.R.A.      Augusta District Champions         Coach's name & record needed 
                               1st Rd. - Beat Plymouth 80-63
                               Title Game - Beat Industry 52-51
                               Dallas City Regional
                               **1st Rd. Lost to Dallas City 64-55
                               Dallas City lost in semi-final round
           
**Final game played as Bowen High School, became part of Augusta Southeastern in the fall of 1970.
 
**Dan Veach tells us Bowen High School only had 4 losing basketball season records between 1952 - 1970!
     
Boy's Baseball
 
1940-41    N.R.A.      District Champions
 
Memories & Facts
 
From Cheryl O'Halloran (Class of 1965): 
 
"I graduated from Bowen High School, Bowen Illinois in 1965. Our school colors were purple and gold and the school song was "Onward Bulldogs" The picture you have (at the top of the page) is the old school building not the brick building which was the last Bowen High. By the way, I love this site and appreciate all the work it has taken."
 
 
Further Information Being Sought
 
We are seeking further information regarding other sports and facts you would like to share about Bowen High School.  We are especially interested in a photo of the high school building.  If you are interested in providing more information about Bowen HS please complete a School Submission form or write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write us at the following address:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.      60631

Bowen HS Building Rear View
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Photo by Owen Pulver

Bowen HS Building Front View
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Photo by Owen Pulver

Bowen High School Entrance 2013
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Photo by Owen Pulver