Weldon High School

Weldon Nixon Township High School

1925 - 1949

Nixon Township High School 1923

Weldon, Illinois

The History of Weldon High School

Weldon (population 440) is located in central Illinois in southeastern DeWitt County. The town is located on Illinois Route 48 at Illinois Route 10. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad passes through Weldon as does a branch of the Friends Creek Ditch. Weldon is located about 20 miles northeast of Decatur.

The town's history needs research. There is limited information available on the history of Weldon's school system on the DeLand-Weldon CUSD #57 website which can be viewed at http://www.geocities.com/dwes2001/History.html. Weldon had its first school in Nixon Township in 1856, and the first school in the village was open in 1876. High School courses were started in the late 1800's as a three-year course, with the fourth year available in a neighboring town. A fourth year was added in 1916, and the first graduates received their diplomas in 1918. In 1925, a new building was built and joined the kids within Nixon Township to continue their education.

Weldon Nixon Township High School served Weldon from late 1800's until the late 1940's. It was then that the townspeople of Weldon and nearby DeLand began consolidation talks of their school districts. The two schools agreed to combine their efforts in 1947, though it is believed the actual merger did not take effect until 1949. The creation of this district (DeLand-Weldon High School) effectively ended the run of high school efforts in Weldon.

DeLand-Weldon High School continues to serve the two communities today. The fate of the original Weldon High School building was settled in May 1967 when it was consumed by fire. The land in which the school once stood adjoins a park near the center of the village.

Weldon High School Quick Facts

Year opened as 3-yr school: late 1800's'

Became 4-yr school: 1916

Year voted to merge with DeLand: 1947

Year closed: 1949

Consolidated to: DeLand-Weldon High School

School nickname: unavailable

School colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

We are certain that basketball was offered at Weldon. This is confirmed on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org. It is believed that baseball and track were also offered. Football was also a school sport too, as evidenced by the Bloomington Pantagraph in a 1925 story. Team nickname and school fight song are being sought. Conference affiliation as well as the team records and coaches names of the better teams in Weldon High School's storied past are being sought as well.

Boys Basketball

The Weldon High School boys basketball team is the only group to have won some IHSA hardware. The WHS basketball program won a total of three District titles. Unfortunately, the team records and coach's names of these and other great Weldon teams are not known.

1925-26 DeWitt Co. Tourney Champs

1937-38 District Champions

1941-42 District Champions

1943-44 District Champions

Memories

**From former Weldon student Ann Fox Moore:

"I attended the grade school from 1958-1960. I attended jr. high in 1960-1961,1961-1962. I think for at least one of those years the grade school students played and romped. My glory days were pretty ordinary.

I lived across the street from the school building. I played on the swings a lot. I climbed up the tunnel fire escape and tried to open the hatch in the school wall, and, slid down as fast as I could! The slide surface could be REAL hot in the summer. You learned quickly to check that first before you begin the climb up to slid down.

I recall there was a fence between the school and the Trigg funeral Home. My friend and I played CandyLand in the front parlor. It was nice and cool on a hot summer day; we didn't mind the casket next to the wall; pretty flowers. Across
the street was a store that had the most dazzling candy selection I have ever seen in my life.

I played in the band, complained about girls having to take industrial arts and having to wire a lamp. It is all very clear to me, as it has been for my lifetime...maybe the dates of school will be helpful to you and wonderful site."

**Submitted by Vicky Cunningham:

"Nixon Township High School, Class of 1931. Class Motto was Strive Onward, Class Flower was Sweet Pea and the Class Colors were Orchid and Silver. There were11 in the class. Mary Baker, Eunice Baker, Dorothy Cotton, Margaret Edwards, Vernell Gift, Virginia Gray, Alice Jamison, Wils Mattix, Marion Lyle Shinneman, TJ Shinneman and Joseph Shinneman."

Searching for Further Information

If you have ANY further information regarding the great successes of Weldon High School then, please, contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631