Troy McCray-Dewey High School

Troy McCray-Dewey H.S.

Photo Taken by Douglas Combs

Dewey-McCray Academy 1883-1917

Submitted by Douglas Combs

The History of Troy McCray-Dewey High School

Troy (population 8,524) is located in southwestern Illinois in the south-central portion of Madison County. Illinois Route 162 and U.S. Route 40 take you to and from Troy. Interstate Highway 55 runs just to the west of town while Interstate Highway 70 runs to the north of town. Troy sits about 15 miles northeast of East St. Louis.

According to the town's official website http://www.ci.troy.il.us/History.htm, the area of Troy was first settled in 1819. The town's population and importance to the area grew by the mid-1850s. In 1857 Troy was officially recognized by the state of Illinois as a town. Schools and businesses soon littered the area.

Mrs. McCray-Dewey

Photograph of Dr. Dewey

The late 1800s brought a forward-thinking Doctor and his wife to the forefront of the community of Troy. Dr. John S. Dewey and his wife, Angeline McCray-Dewey saw the need for advanced education for children in the area. It was in 1883 that a house which they owned became home to McCray-Dewey Academy which offered high school courses to kids from the Troy area.

This arrangement lasted until 1917 when it was decided to establish a township high school. The land where the Academy stood was sold to the developers of the new school district. The original Academy building was razed and, eventually, in 1929, a new high school building was built on the land. The new building was named Jarvis Township High School as the name of the township it was built in was named Jarvis.

Jarvis HS Plaque

Courtesy of Douglas Combs

The 1930s brought another change for the school in name only. It was decided at some point to change the name of the school to McCray-Dewey Township High School to honor the Doctor and his wife.

Consolidation talks then began with the towns of Marine and St. Jacob. The effort resulted in the creation of the Triad School District in 1954 (http://www.triad.madison.k12.il.us/). The Troy McCray-Dewey High School building served the community and surrounding township as a high school through the 1958-59 school year.

The high school for the Triad District landed in the town of Troy. A new building has since been built. The building in the photographs at the top and bottom of this page (sent to us by Douglas Combs) show the building built in 1929. It was home to McCray-Dewey Junior High School, part of the Triad School District through the 2007-08 school year.

Dewey-McCray High School Entrance Sign

Courtesy of Douglas Combs

The final fate of this grand school building has recently been sealed however. Our good friend Mark Jurenga sent us the following information:

"Triad to Demolish Historic School."

(Highland News-Leader Pg. A1, A3. Thursday, January 31, 2008).

"The Triad Schoo Board voted 7:1 on January 28, 2007 to tear down the old McCray-Dewey School in Troy.The school building was constructed in 1929 and served as a township high school. After St. Jacob (Triad) was built, it became Troy Junior High. As of the 2007-2008 school year it is a 5th grade center."

Read a news article on this information at http://www.bnd.com/living/story/246523.html .

Troy McCray-Dewey High School Quick Facts

Year McCray-Dewey Academy opened: 1883

Year McCray-Dewey Academy made township HS: 1917

Year Jarvis Township HS building built: 1929

Year name changed to McCray-Dewey HS 1930s

Year McCray-Dewey HS closed: 1959

Consolidated to: Triad School District (Troy)

Troy M-D HS team nickname: "Trojans"

TM-D HS team colors: Royal Blue & Orange

School Fight Song: Sung to Notre Dame University Fight Song Tune

Troy Football vs. Jerseyville - 1924

Troy team in white jerseys

Athletics

Troy McCray-Dewey High School definitely competed in basketball. Track and baseball were probably offered as well. Team records and coach's names are being sought.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team won two District titles in the 1940s. Unfortunately this is the extent of the current information we have regarding the Troy McCray-Dewey HS basketball program. Several basketball scores involving Troy High School were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are listed below.Please contact us if you have any further information.

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

1st Rd lost to Brighton 24-11

Brighton lost to Madison in 2nd Rd

Collinsville beat Mascoutah for title

1923-24 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1933-34 Edwardsville District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Grafton 24-21

2nd Rd lost to Edwardsville 26-12

Edwardsville lost to Collinsville in semi-final

Collinsville lost to Granite City in title game

1934-35 Wood River District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Granite City 34-30

Granite City beat Alton in tile game

1935-36 Highland District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Worden 49-14

Semi-final Beat Highland 42-14

Title game lost to Venice 28-27

(Top two advance to Regional)

Highland Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Granite City 43-26

Granite City lost semi-final to Edwardsville

Edwardsville beat Collinsville in title game

1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

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

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

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

District Scores Needed

IHSA Regional Qualifier

Regional Scores Needed

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

1941-42 Edwardsville Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Granite City 42-14

Granite City lost to Edwardsville in title game

1942-43 Postseason scores, record needed. Coach Al Auwater

1943-44 11 - 14 Postseason scores needed. Coach C.A. Henning

C.A. Henning-Troy HS Basketbal Coach 1943-1954

1944-45 21 - 8 Roxana District Runner-Up Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd Beat Venice 47-26

Semi-final Beat Lebanon 32-31

Title Game lost to Roxana 38-37

1945-46 22 - 4 Roxana District Champions Coach C. A. Henning

(early round scores needed)

Title Game Beat Lebanon 29-23

Edwardsville Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Edwardsville 50-36

Edwardsville lost to Collinsville in title game

1946-47 Roxana District Runner-Up Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd Beat Venice 51-39

Semi-final Beat Bethalto 62-42

Title game lost to Roxana 38-36

1947-48 23 - 4 Roxana District Runner-Up Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd Beat Bethalto 52-28

Semi-final Beat Venice 66-38

Title game lost to Roxana 59-46

1948-49 12 - 13 Venice District Tournament Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd Beat Bethalto 59-29

Semi-final lost to Venice 48-45

Venice lost title game to Lebanon

1949-50 15 - 11 Roxana District Tournament Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd Beat Bethalto 59-25

Semi-final lost to Venice 57-54

Venice lost to Roxana in title game

1950-51 12 - 12 Wood River District Tournament Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd lost to Madison Dunbar 41-24

Dunbar lost to Roxana in semi-final

Roxana beat Venice in title game

1951-52 23 - 5 Bethalto District Tournament Coach C. A. Henning

1st Rd Beat Bethalto 53-44

Semi-final lost to Madison 77-44

Madison beat Madison Dunbar in title game

1952-53 25 - 3 Roxana District Runner-Up Coach C. A. Henning

Semi-Final Beat Venice 62-46

Title Game lost to Roxana 59-44

1953-54 Postseason scores, record needed. Coach C. A. Henning

1954-55 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1955-56 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1956-57 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1957-58 Venice District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

(early round scores needed)

Title game lost to Venice Lincoln 60-58

1958-59 Venice District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat St. Jacob 81-68

Semi-final Beat Venice 69-65

**Title game lost to Venice Lincoln 65-42

**Last game as Troy High School, consolidated to form Troy Triad High School in the summer of 1959.

MEMORIES

An anonymous writer:

"McCray-Dewey sports teams were known as the "Trojans", the high school baseball ,track, basketball coaches were Glenn Bean and Mick Pahl. The fight song for the orange and blue was a spin off of the Notre Dame fight song."

**From Gary Trent:

"The last year that McCray Dewey ceased being a high school was 1959, because that is the same year that Triad High School opened. I know because my brother graduated from St. Jacob High School in 1959 and I graduated from Marine Grade School in 1959. I was in the second 4-year class from Triad high School in 1964. My friends in the grade ahead of me, Marine Grade School Class of 1959 and Triad High School Class of 1963 was the FIRST 4-year class. You will not find a copy of the Triad High School 1959 year book because the first Triad Class was graduated in 1960."

If You Have Any Information...

...you would like to share regarding the Troy McCray-Dewey High School successes we urge you to share them with us. The hard work and dedication of those who made the school work and succeed should not be forgotten. You can e-mail information to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinios HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Troy McCray-Dewey High School Building

Submitted by Gary Trent

Troy McCray-Dewey High School

Photo Submitted by Douglas Combs