Hillview High School

Hillview High School Building

Photo Submitted by John Strain - March 2007

Hillview HS Main Entrance

Submitted by John Strain

The History of Hillview High School

Hillivew (population 179) Is located in northwestern Greene County in southwestern Illinois. For reference how about Jacksonville located about 25 miles northeast of Hillview. The Greene County Highway intersects with County Road 10 in Hillview. Hurricane Creek flows through town and was instrumental in the early settlement of the town. The first settler arrived and built a cabin on the land that is now Hillview in 1836. The town was a major lumber camp in the area in the 1800s and was known as Happyville. Railroad tracks (now run by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad) were soon laid along the Hurricane Creek and Hilllview was renamed and incorporated in 1903. To read a brief but informative history of Hillview check out this web page: http://www.greene-county.com/hillview.htm . The photo above was found on this page (easy to see where the town name originates) .

Education in Hillview is need of research. One would assume some type of education was afforded the children of Hillview in the mid to late 1800s. The high school was probably started at or near the incorporation date of 1903. It served the town for some time. Eventually, probably in the late 1940s, Hillview High School closed with the Hillview kids being bused 8 miles to the east to White Hall to attend high school.

Sign Over Entrance to Hillview HS

Courtesy of John Strain

The Hillview school building was used as a an elementary school until it was decided to close it in (approxiamtely) 1987. The high school building is still standing in Hillview. The photos on this page were submitted by John Strain.

Hillview High School Quick Facts

Year opened: around 1903 / maybe sooner

Year closed: late 1940s?

Consolidated to: White Hall North Greene

School nickname: Lumberjacks?

School colors: unavailable

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

The accomplishments of the Hillview High School kids is is need of research also. The school did win one District Championship in basketball. It is believed baseball and track were also offered.

Boys Basketball

The Hillview High boys team won a District Championship and were the best of "the little guys" in their area. The year was 1937, though team record and coach's name is unavailable. If you have further information on the Hillview High athletic program or the high school in general please take the time to send it to us so we can share with others.

1936-37 District Champions

Seeking Further Information

If you have any information you can share regarding the history of Hillview and its former school system please take the time to share it with us so we can share it with others. The hard work of the Hillview ancestors should be forever remembered. We are especially anxious for a photo of the old school building and characters of Hillview High's historic past. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Hillview High School

Submitted by John Strain

Hillview Park

Hillview, Illinois