Nauvoo High School "Indians"
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Nauvoo High School Building 1925
nauvoohsbldg1912dav.jpg
Submitted by Pam Knowles

Nauvoo High School Building 2009
nauvoohsbuildingmons.jpg
Courtesy of Richard Sosemon (Now Nauvoo Grade School)

The History Of Nauvoo High School
 
Nauvoo (population 1,063) is located on Illinois Route 9 in upper-western Illinois.  The town is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in far western Hancock County. Nauvoo is located about 35 miles west of Macomb. The town was platted in 1835 and originally named Commerce. In 1839 Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saints moved into town and set off a population explosion.  The town was renamed Nauvoo (which literally means "beautiful location") and quickly spread its wings.  By 1845-46 Nauvoo had an estimated population of 15 - 20 THOUSAND residents.  This would have made Nauvoo Illinois' largest city of that time and, in fact, one of the 20 largest cities in the United States.  Events soon occurred which led to the steady decline over many years of Nauvoo's population.  Nauvoo is still quite a tourist attraction with many historic sites and places to visit.  For an entertaining and informative look at Nauvoo go to www.nauvoo.net or www.visitnauvoo.org/.
 
Nauvoo's school system was begun soon after the town was platted.  This dates the educational opportunities for the Nauvoo kids back to the mid 1800s.  Nauvoo has had three high schools in its town including two different parochial schools.  Nauvoo supported its own public school system through the early 1960s.  It was in 1961 that the residents of Nauvoo and nearby Colusa agreed to consolidate their school districts.  The Nauvoo-Colusa School DIstrict was established in 1961, effectively closing the solo efforts of the high schools in both towns.

Nauvoo HS Bldg Entrance "NAUVOO HIGH SCHOOL"
nauvoohsfront.jpg
Photo by Richard Soseman

The fate of the original Nauvoo High School building is a good one.  Sandy Stevenson tells us that though the building stopped being used as a high school in 1961, the building continued as a grade school for kids in grades K - 8.  Sandy further tells us the following:
 
"In 1968 the 7th and 8th graders were moved to the High School creating a Jr./Sr. High School.  The Elementary school now has Pre-K thru 6th grades in attendance.  A lot have changes have been made to the building---but it is still in use as a school.  Four generations of my family have attended school in this building."
 
Marilyn S. Candido advises if you are interested in more great information on the city of Nauvoo check out the Nauvoo Historical Society's website at www.nauvoohistoricalsociety.org
 
Nauvoo High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                  mid 1800s
Year closed:                   1961
Consolidated to:              Nauvoo-Colusa School District (Nauvoo)
School nickname:           the "Indians"
School colors:                Purple & White
School Fight Song:         "We're Loyal To You Nauvoo High"
 
                                     We're loyal to you Nauvoo High
                                     We're Purple and White, Nauvoo High
                                     We'll back you to stand
                                     'Gainst the best in the land
                                     For we know you have sand, Nauvoo High
 
                                                Rah! Rah!
 
                                     So crack out the ball, Nauvoo High
                                     We're backing you all, Nauvoo High
                                     Our team is our fame protector:
                                     On! Boys for we expect a
                                     Victory from you Nauvoo High!
Athletics
 
Nauvoo High School attained state tournament success in boys basketball.  It is probable that track and baseball were also offered.  Great success was eventually attained by the Nauvoo-Colusa consolidated high school when a state championship was won in boys basketball in 1998.
      
Boys Basketball
 
The two District title basketball teams of Nauvoo High School are listed below.  Unfortunately the team records and coaches names of these and other great Nauvoo teams are not available.
 
We did located some basketball scores involving Nauvoo High School in the annual IHSA Tournament on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores."  These scores and the location of that particular year's District are listed below.
 
1933-34            Macomb District Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed 
                            1st Rd lost to Bardolph 27-16
                            Bardolph lost in semi-final round
   
1934-35  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
    
1935-36            Carthage District Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd Beat Denver 45-15 
                            (other scores unavailable)
    
1936-37  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
 
1938-39             Carthage Regional Tournament                  Coach's name & record needed
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             1st Rd lost to Carthage 39-17
                             Carthage lost in semi-final round
   
1939-40  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1942-43  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
   
1943-44              IHSA District Champions!                            Coach's name & record needed 
                             Postseason scores needed!
          
1944-45              Carthage Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             1st Rd lost to Carthage 54-24
                             Carthage lost in title game
   
1945-46              Carthage Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             1st Rd Beat Hamilton 35-32 
                              Semi-final lost to Warsaw 32-30
                              Warsaw lost in title game
                
1946-47               IHSA District Champions!                            Coach's name & record needed
                              (District scores neeeded)
                              Carthage Regional Tournament
                              1st Rd lost to Carthage 38-17
    
1947-48  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1948-49  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
   
1949-50               Carthage Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             1st Rd lost to Dallas City 75-50
                             Dallas City lost in semi-final round
    
1950-51  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
   
1951-52               Nauvoo District Tournament                       Coach's name & record needed
                              1st Rd lost to Bowen 40-38
                              Bowen won District title.
  
1952-53  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1953-54  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
    
1954-55               Hancock County Tourney Champs           Coach's name & record needed
                             Carthage Regional Tournament      
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             1st Rd Beat Plymouth 55-35 
                             Semi-final lost to Augusta 65-60
                             Augusta won Regional Tourney.
    
1955-56  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1956-57  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
   
1957-58               Nauvoo District Tourney Runner-up        Coach's name & record needed
                              Lost title game to Bowen 54-41
    
1958-59               Carthage Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             1st Rd lost to Bowen 64-58
                              Bowen lost in semi-final round.
   
1959-60              Bowen District Tournament                          Coach's name & record needed
                              1st Rd lost to Plymouth 72-57
                              Plymouth lost in title game.
   
1960-61              LaHarpe Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                             (Nauvoo did not compete in District)
                             **1st Rd lost to Hamilton 71-58
                             Hamilton lost in semi-final round.
   
**Final game as the Nauvoo High School "Indians". Consolidated with Colusa High School in the summer of 1961 to form the Nauvoo-Colusa High School "Vikings".
                            
Need More Information
 
Nauvoo High School lasted way too long not to have some incredible stories of success still available.  Great teams, school nickname, school colors, school fight song, ect., are all items of interest that should be shared.  A photo of the original high school building is especially being sought.  You can e-mail information and photos to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.   60631

Nauvoo High School
nauvoohsbuilding2.jpg
Photo Taken by Richard Soseman