Emden High School Eagles

Emden High School / Community House 1921

Submitted by Harold Krusemark

Emden High School / Community House 2018

Submitted by Harold Krusemark

Emden Grade School

Now Hartsburg-Emden Grade School

The History of Emden High School

Emden (population 515) is located in south-central Illinois. Emden was platted in 1871 in northwestern Logan County, about 12 miles northwest of Lincoln. The town was named after a town in Germany by its founders Teis Smid and William Smith. Emden is located just south of U.S. Route 136 and just west of Interstate Highway 155. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad runs at a northwestern angle through town. The Prairie Creek surrounds the town on three sides. Emden is named after Emden, Germany, a town where many early settlers of the area originated from.

It is thought that Emden provided education for its children as far back as the late 1800s. One thing is for sure, Emden was one of the smallest high schools in the state! Along with the likes of Rollo High School, which is also on this site, it was reported that in 1931 Emden High School had a total enrollment of 10 students.

Emden High School served the community for about 5 decades. It was in the mid-1940s that the town of Emden began consolidation talks with its neighbor to the southeast, Hartsburg. These talks became a reality after the 1946-47 school year. Hartsburg-Emden School District was established in 1947.

The following historical information was provided by an anonymous fan:

"The school pictured above is Emden Grade School -- still in use! The Emden Community House was used for a 3 year High School for many years! During the school year the basketbal gym was used as the study hall and classroom. During the basketball season a heavy basketball goal was lowered from the stage to the side of the gym floor each Wednesdays and Fridays. This enabled movies to be projected on a screen that was set up on the gym stage. All thru the school year the classroom desks and chair had to be moved to the side on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. This work was done by the students!

Noted graduates include Darrell Klink a distinguished Lincoln Attorney, Thomas E. Komnick a highly successful business,and investmant man, and Dean B. Rademaker; founder of the 50 and DC Marathon Group USA!"

*From Harold Krusemark:

"The beginning photo of the Emden High School page was definitely the Emden elementary school. There were four large rooms with a play room and a furnace room in the basement. When I attended there in 1934,1935 and 1936, the lower level east room was for grades 1 and 2. Grades 3-5 were in the lower level west room. The 6th-8th were in the upper level East room. The upper level west room was not being used and contained a few larger size desks, maps and equipment. The students referred to this as the High School room.

In reference to attached picture, there is an article from the Bloomington Paragraph in February 1924, the school won the junior division Logan county Tournament. The plaque is the trophy they received (photo below). It still hangs over the fireplace in the greeting room of the Community House.

The Community House was completed in 1921 and served as the Emden High School building from 1922 through 1947. I am sending a photo of the community House that was on the dedication program (top of this page)."

Emden Last Graduation Article 1947

Submitted by Harold Krusemark

The high school for the Hartsburg-Emden School District was located in Hartsburg. The grade school (pictured above) was located in Emden. It is quite possible that the building pictured above also served as Emden High School at one time. If you have this information please write to us.

Emden High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Total enrollment in 1931: 10

Year closed: 1947

School building today: Hartsburg-Emden Grade School

School nickname: "Eagles"

School colors: Red, Blue, & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

ATHLETICS

Emden High School served the town of Emden quite well during its existence. We are confident that Emden High offered the boys sports of basketball, track, and baseball. According to an account in the Bloomington Pantagraph in February 1924, the school won the Junior Division of the Logan County Tournament. The school also was affiliated with the Tri-High Conference during the early-1940's with Chestnut, Congerville, and Shirley Ben Funk.

Unfortunately, there are no records of any kind listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). We are extremely hopeful an area fan, alumnus, or resident will come forward with some information on Emden High School's athletic program for us to share.

BOYS BASKETBALL

From Dean Rademaker, former student of Emden High School:

"Although only a three year H.S. Emden boasted some very good basketball teams. In the 30's, with an enrollment of 25, they actually defeated Taylorville H.S, a school with an enrollment of 700 students!! In 1943 Emden High School won the Tri - High Tournament Championship!

I remember the entire H.S. had only 14 boys in school and all went out for basketball! The entire H.S. enrollment attended the County Basketball Tourney! Our warm-up jackets were red and blue with white being the third color. The Emden Eagles were a fearsome group!

I remember the cheerleaders major call:

Push on the starter, shove it in low, come on team let's go!!"

Several basket all scores involving Emden High School were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores." They are listed below.

1921-22 Mason City District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to New Hollan

d 50-12

Athens beat Green Valley in title game

1923-24 Logan County 'B' Division Tourney Champs Coach's name needed

Beat Latham in Semi-Final 22-11

Scoring against Latham by Emden players: Taylor - 6, Hallman - 6, Wagner - 10, Myer - 0, Hilson - 0.

Beat Elkhart in Title Game (score needed)

Emden HS 1924 Logan County Championship Plaque

Submitted by Harold Krusemark

1931-32 Lincoln District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Beason 29-17

Lincoln beat Mt. Pulaski in title game

1932-33 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1933-34 Lincoln District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Elkhart 36-24

Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game

1934-35 Lincoln District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Waynesville 46-16

Mt. Pulaski beat Hartsburg in title game

1935-36 Delevan District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Delevan 60-8

Delevan beat Green Valley in title game

1936-37 Hartsburg District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Minier 33-18

Hartsburg beat Elkhart in title game

1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

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

1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1940-41 New Holland District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Armington 35-9

Hartsburg beat Latham in title game

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

1942-43 New Holland District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chestnut 50-12

McLean beat Chestnut in title game

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

1944-45 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1945-46 New Holland District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Chestnut 36-25

McLean beat Armington in title game

1946-47 New Holland District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Beason 47-20

Armington beat Beason in title game

**Final boys basketball game for Emden High School. Became part of the Hartsburg-Emden school consolidation in the summer of 1947.

HELP US REMEMBER...

...Emden High School before there are no longer those around to tell the stories for us to remember. The great teams, the great players and coaches, the many great games that were played all deserve to be documented. We always enjoy sharing photos of these teams and special people with others. You can e-mail items and information to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Emden HS Diploma 1939 Graduating Class