Shipman High School Pirates

Shipman School April, 2007 (Former HS Building?)

Photo Taken by Doug Combs

Shipman HS Dedication Plaque (inside of school)

Photo Taken by Doug Combs

The History of Shipman High School

Shipman (population 655) is located in southwestern Illinois in the southwestern portion of Macoupin County. Illinois Route 16 is the main roadway leading to and from Shipman. A branch of the Macoupin Creek flows to the west of of Shipman. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad runs through Shipman as well. A town of note near Shipman is Alton located about 15 miles to the southwest.

The history of the town of Shipman and its educational progress are in need of research. It is thought that Shipman probably started a school system and subsequent high school in the late 1800s, possibly even the early 1900s. Shipman High School definitely served the community through the 1940s. This is where we found a discrepency.

We do know that Shipman High School joined its neighbors of Brighton, Medora, and Piasa to create the Southwestern School District. According to the Piasa Southwestern School District website (www.piasabirds.net) the consolidation took place with about 20 area country schools after the 1947-48 school year. However according to the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) Shipman High School won a District title in boys basketball in 1953. The IHSA website also shows that Brighton won a District title in baskeball in 1955.

Shipman High School Building - 1953 Yearbook

Submitted by Doug Owen via Geraldine Travers

Our deduction is that the Southwestern School District was indeed formed in 1948. John Wilson and Bill Barnett tell us the following:

"The first combined High School classes were held in a Reno's Garage in Piasa. This was shop and ag classes. This started the fall of 1949."

The high school districts did not combine into one school until after the 1954-55 school year.

Shipman is still home to an elementary school for grades K - 6 as part of the Southwestern School District. The original Shipman High School building is now home to Shipman Grade School.

Shipman High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s (possibly early 1900s)

Year closed: 1955

Consolidated to: Southwestern School District (Piasa)

Shipman School nickname: the "Pirates"

School colors: Purple & Gold

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

Shipman High School competed, and won IHSA hardware, in the sports of boys basketball and boys baseball. Boys fast-pitch softball was also offered in the 1940s. It is quite possible that track & field was at one time offered. We are searching for the Shipman school fight song as well as its conference affiliation.

Boys Basketball

The Shipman High School boys basketball team brought home two District titles during its existence. Unfortunately the coach's names and team records of these and other great Shipman teams are not available.

*For an excellent account of some of the Shipman High School Pirate basketball seasons please check out: http://www.piasabirds.com/shipmanhs/home.html

Piasa Southwestern faculty member Matt Hasquin offered this site to us and we suggest you view and help Matt with the missing information. Matt was assisted in his research by Brian Hanslow. A great job done in remembering the past of Piasa Southwestern's "feeder" schools.

1927-28 Lost District Tourn. semi-final to Collinsville

1932-33 GIllespie District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to CHesterfield 20-15

Gillespie beat Benld in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Benld 24-22

2nd Rd lost to Gillespie 21-17

Litchfield beat Staunton in title game

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

1st Rd Beat White Hall 40-21

2nd Rd lost to Chesterfield 31-19

Gillespie beat Jerseyville in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Kampsville 36-18

Semi-final Beat Kane 21-19

Title Game lost to Grafton 34-26

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 Medora District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Title Game lost to Mt. Olive 35-32

1940-41 Medora District Tournament Coach's name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Brighton 39-35

Brighton beat Hettick in title game

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

1942-43 Medora District Champions Coach's name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Medora 33-25

Title Game Beat Hettick 22-19

Hillsboro Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Litchfield 41-31

Hillsboro beat Gillespie in title game.

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

1944-45 Brighton District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Chesterfield 40-13

Semi-final lost to Hettick 49-46 (O/T)

Hettick beat Brighton in title game

1945-46 Brighton District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Medora 42-30

Semi-final lost to Brighton

Palmyra beat Brighton in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Bunker Hill 33-28

Palmyra beat Bunker Hill in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Modesto 52-51

Semi-final lost to Brighton 39-38 (O/T)

Benld beat Brighton in title game

1948-49 Jerseyville District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Brighton 48-30

Title Game lost to Benld 68-37

1949-50 22 - 6 Little Four Conference Champs Coach Oral Ragle

                             Brighton Tourney (Champs)
                             vs. Bethalto    W 63-46
                             vs. Brighton    W 50-29
                             vs. Medora     W 62-43
                             Hardin Tournament (3rd Place)

Brighton District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Medora 34-33

Title Game lost to Benld 71-45

1950-51 Medora District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Medora 44-39

Title Game lost to Benld 62-33

1951-52 Brighton District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Brighton 62-54

Brighton lost to Benld in title game

1952-53 22 - 5 Brighton District Champions Coach Ewood Hughes

Little Four Conference Champs

Hardin Tourney Champs

Brighton Tourney Champs

Brighton District Scores

Semi-final Beat Medora 61-57

Title Game Beat Benld 74-56

Litchfield Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Litchfield 80-56

Hillsboro beat Mt. Olive in title game

Skhipman High School District Champs 1952-53

Submitted by Doug Owen via Geraldine Travers

Team members included:

Bernie Spurgeon. Bill Lowis, Lee Stampe, Bill Barnett, Charlie Burns,
Dick Spurgeon, Harold Hubbard, Ronald Lahey, Donald Breitwiser, Darrell
Allen, John Parker.

1953-54 Medora District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Title Game lost to Benld 86-72

1954-55 Shipman District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

*Title Game lost to Brighton 64-55

*Final basketball game for Shipman High School boys. School consolidated to form Piasa Southwestern High School in the summer of 1955.

Boys Softball

The Shipman Pirates competed in softball as well. The team of 1952-53 won the conference championship by beating Bunker Hill HS in the title game.

1953-53 Conference Champions

Shipman HS Softball Conf. Champs 1952-53

Submitted by Doug Owens via Geraldine Travers

Team Members included:

Harold Hubbard, Danny Hansen, Dick Spurgeon, Pat Caveny, Ronald Lahey, Darrell Allen, Charlie Burns, Bernie Spurgeon, Wayne Barnett, Tom Mills, Clifford Talley

If You Can Provide ANY Further Information...

If you have any further information regarding the history of Shipman and its former high school please contact us via email. We are looking for a photo of the original high school building as well. Our e-mail address is ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N.Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Aerial View of Shipman - 1953

Submitted by Doug Owens via Geraldine Travers