Flat Rock High School

Flat Rock High School

Courtesy of Shirley Rich

Flat Rock Schol Building (in the 2000s)

Building Demolished in 2009

The History of Flat Rock High School

Flat Rock (population 415) sits in southeastern Illinois in southeastern Crawford County. Illinois Route 1 leads the way to and from Flat Rock. The Prairie Central Railroad runs through town as does a branch of the Brushy Creek.. For reference on a map Flat Rock is located about 6 miles west of the Indiana state line, 10 miles north of Lawrenceville and 11 miles southeast of Robinson.

There is not a lot of information available on the internet regarding the history and educational past of Flat Rock. It is known that Flat Rock supported its own 1st - 12th grades-school system through the early 1940s. This is evidenced by the boys basketball titles won in 1938 and 1940. A brief history of the school in Flat Rock was provided to us by Shirley Rich:

Flat Rock School of 1900

Courtesy of Shirley Rich

"I am not sure when the first school was built, probably in the middle 1800s. The school was a two-story frame building. In 1908 they moved the old building and put up a new brick building on the same site. It had eleven classrooms, all twelve grades were taught there. In 1939 a gymnasium was added.

Flat Rock High School was a three-year high school until 1925. If a student wanted to attend a fourth-year of high school they had to continue on to either Robinson or Lawrenceville. Flat Rock High School competed in football and basketball. Our school building served as a grade school until it was closed in 1986. The building is still standing, but is not currently used. The gymnasium is sometimes rented out, and Halloween parties are held there each year."

The photos found on this page were sent to us by Shirley Rich and are from a group in Flat Rock called Pioneer Families. Two books regarding the history of Flat Rock have been written by the members of the Pioneer Families. They are titled "Flat Rock Memories Volume 1" and "Flat Rock Memories Volume 2".

The Flat Rock school building pictured at the top of this page met a sad fate. The building was demolished in the summer of 2009. An article regarding the demolition from 2009 was provided by Owen Pulver.

Flat Rock High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year became a 4-year HS: 1925

Year closed: 1949

Consolidated to: Robinson or Lawrencville

School nickname: "Wildcats"

School colors: Scarlet & Black

School Fight Song: "Flat Rock Loyalty"

Sung to Illinois University Fight Song Tune

We're loyal to you Flat Rock High

We're scarlet and black, Flat Rock High

We'll back you to stand

'Gainst the best in the land

For we know you have sand, Flat Rock High

Rah! Rah!

So crack out the ball, Flat Rock High

We're backing you all, Flat Rock High

Our team is our fame protector:

On! Boys for we expect a

Victory from you Flat Rock High!

Athletics

Flat Rock High School, as mentioned above, definately offered boys basketball and football. If you have any information you would like to share regarding the athletic success of the Flat Rock kids please forward it to us so we can share it with others.

Boys Basketball

The Flat Rock boys had a nice mini-streak in the late 1930s. The years of the two District Championship teams are listed below. Unfortunately team records and coach's names are not available.

We are told that before the gymnasium was built in 1939, the Flat Rock High School boys played in a place referred to as a "sheep barn". We don't think it was a nickname either, it was probably a real sheep barn, as many schools in the early 1900s played in!

The Wildcats of 1933-34 also had a special team. The boys won the Crawford County Championship under the leadership of Coach Mayo L. Magill. The team was presented the Daily News Championship trophy and given a big banquet dinner sponsored by the Business and Professional Women's Club of Flat Rock. An article written about the event stated:

"Flat Rock turned out in style last night to honor their 1933-34 edition of the Flat Rock Wildcats, winners of the Daily News Championship trophy for Crawford County, which was presented to them last night at a banquet sponsored by the Business and Professional Women's Club of Flat Rock.

One hundred and thirteen plates were set around the banquet table with all the county teams being represented. The Lawrenceville Indians with the coach were also present at the celebration.

The principal speech of the evening was made by Pete Ellis, Sports Editor of the Vincennes Sun-Commercial. Ellis compared basketball in Indiana with the brand of Illinois ball, saying, "Indiana has always claimed to play a better brand of ball but I do not believe this to be true at present. The style of ball now played in Illinois is equal to Indiana." In closing he stated, that he "would like to see the basketball champions of each state meeting in a post season affair."

Several scores involving Flat Rock High School were found on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are posted below.

1921-22 Bridgeport District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Bellmont 16-14

Bellmont lost in 2nd Rd.

Bridgeport beat Sumner in title game

1922-23 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed

1923-24 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Paul Fitzgibbons

1924-25 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Albert Willis

1925-26 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Paul Fitzgibbons

1926-27 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Albert Willis

1927-28 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Albert Willis

1928-29 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Albert Willis

1929-30 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1930-31 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1931-32 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1932-33 Lawrenceville District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Sumner 22-6

2nd Rd Beat West Salem 38-14

Semi-final Beat Bridgeport 22-14

Title Game lost to Lawrenceville 31-9

1933-34 Crawford County Champions Coach Mayo L. Magill

Robinson District Tournament

1st Rd Beat Dundas 30-28

2nd Rd lost to Palestine 21-17

Flat Rock Wildcats County Champs of 1934

1934-35 Lawrenceville District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

Title Game lost to Mt. Carmel 31-25

1935-36 Bridgeport District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Dundas 43-19

Semi-final lost to Lancaster 25-19

Lancaster lost to Allendale in title game

1936-37 Bridgeport Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Palestine 37-11

Palestine beat Olney in title game

1937-38 Bridgeport District Champions Coach's name & record needed

Title Game Beat Allendale 27-25

IHSA Regional Tournament

Scores Needed

1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1939-40 IHSA District Champions Coach's name & record needed

District Scores Needed

Robinson District Tournament

Lost to Casey 41-36

DIstrict Champions of 1939-40

1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1942-43 Lawrenceville Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Sumner 27-24

Semi-final lost to Palestine 42-25

Lawrenceville beat Palestine in title game

1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1944-45 Robinson Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Lawrenceville 59-40

Lawrenceville lost to Robinson in title game

1945-46 Bridgeport Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Sumner 49-18

Semi-final lost to Bridgeport 46-23

Bridgeport lost to Robinson in title game

1946-47 Flat Rock District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

Flat Rock scores needed

Title Game Hutsonville beat Sumner

1947-48 Flat Rock District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

Semi-final lost to Palestine 43-23

Palestine lost to Clay City in title game

1948-49 Robinson Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Hutsonville 46-42

Hutsonville lost to Lawrenceville in semi-final

Lawrenceville lost to Robinson in title game

**Final game for Flat Rock High School boys basketball. Flat Rock High School closed in the summer of 1949.

Flat Rock Football Team of 1923

Courtesy of R.V. & Shirley Rich

Football

The Wildcats had an excellent football program through the early 1920s and 1930s. We are searching team records. The photo of the grid iron warriors to the right is of the 1923 Flat Rock Wildcats. If you right click on the photo you will view an enlarged version.

1921 Coach Lester Highsmith

1922 Coach Lester Highsmith

1923 Coach Paul Fitzgibbons

1924 Coach Albert Willis

MEMORIES AND INFORMATION

**From Christina Parker:

"My father, aunts, uncles and grandparents all attended Flat Rock as well as my mother in-law. However, they only attended the elementary school. Many people forget that Flat Rock had a high school. From listening to the older adults in my family talk, Flat Rock was once a town full of life, businesses, and pride. When the school was closed in 1986 the town also began to slowely die. I am only twenty-three years old and the grade school closed the year before I was born, other wise I would have attended there as well. I remember going to birthday parties, 4H dances, and playing basketball in the Flat Rock gym. The school and gym could be rented out until it was condemmed in 2009. Just two weeks ago they tore down the old school."

Seeking Some Assistance

Way too many questions remain unanswered regarding the history of the Flat Rock School system. Those who lived in that era deserve to be remembered for what they accomplished. A photo of the old high school building, information on the great teams, players, coaches, and other great accomplishments in Flat Rock are needed. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Robinson Daily News article submitted by Roberta Van Briesen regarding the demolition of the Flat Rock school building:

March 7, 2011

Memories of a Century Fall With Flat Rock School

Building Vacan Since 1986 Meets Its End

"It is sad, but it needs to go," said Peggy Wesley as she watched Monday morning's demolition of the Flat Rock Grade School.

After years of sitting empty and infrequently used, the school building and gymnasium are finally coming down.

Demolition workers started removing windows and other items from the old school last week. Heavy equipment began bringing down the building Monday morning. The demolition will be considered a "wet demo," with water being used to keep dust and any hazardous material, such as asbestos, out of the air. The air will be monitored for quality throughout the process.

The school was built in 1908. The gymnasium, which was used as a community center until recent years, was built in the late 1930s. High-school students were moved to Robinson after 1949, but elementary classes continued to be conducted in the building until 1986.

A 1957 article from the Daily News archives about early Flat Rock history by Cynthia Ellen Jones describes the Flat Rock school system and surrounding community as the Central Community Unit School District:

"The elementary school is staffed with nine teachers, providing educational opportunities for pupils from kindergarten through eight grade - with an enrollment in excess of 200," the article said. "A gymnasium is attached to the school. An excellent hot lunch program is maintained. Music is taught in all grades and craft and home economics in eighth grade. An active Parent-Teacher Organization is maintained. This organization sponsors a year-round scouting program and a summer recreation program."

The school facility was vacated in 1986, but concerns over asbestos lingered. The village had tried to lease the facility for office space unsuccessfully. The gymnasium was used as a community center for several years until it was condemned a few years ago. The Susie Wesley Memorial Library was also in the building for a time.

In 2001, Flat Rock Village Board President Forest Singer said the major goal for the year was to tear down the school and leave the gymnasium as a community center, but the project remained in limbo.

At the time, board member J. D. Branson said there was one major asbestos problem around the plumbing in the building, and concerns remained about the floor tiles and ceiling.

In 2009, the village pursued a grant to demolish the old buildings, and an auction was held to sell off some of the odds and ends such as chairs, a scoreboard, slates and more.

Wesley said all of her family, and her husband's, went to the Flat Rock School, as well as her children.

"I have got a couple of exit signs. We cleaned them up and put them in the kitchen. They're really neat," she said. "We have that to remember it by."