Harmon High School

Harmon School & Student Body 1900

Submitted by Roberta Van Briesen

Harmon Water Tower

Harmon, Illinois

The History of Harmon High School

Harmon, Illinois is located 3 miles south of United States Route 30 on Harmon Road in western Lee County in Northwest Illinois. It is about eight miles in between Dixon and Sterling-Rock Falls as the crow flies. The hamlet of Harmon has just a little over 100 people residing there and was served by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (later Burlington Northern) until the mid-1980's. The tracks are now gone, but there is still a couple of empty downtown buildings as well as a tavern and a couple of grain elevators.

The origin of the school system in Harmon is in need of research. The school was located on the northeastern corner of Harmon Road and "Main Street" (Sterling Road). The origins date back to 1854. The people of Harmon kept their school until the plans of state-wide consolidation efforts were agreeable with the town. In 1948, the high school students were bused to Amboy High School to the east. The school building may have served for an Elementary purpose before ceasing.

From Roberta Van Briesen:

"Harmon School was located on Harmon Rd. North of Sterling Rd. on the East side of the road in Harmon Twp.

On April 1, 1861, a new district was formed. It would be known as District #3 but would later be known as Harmon School District #12. The building, fourteen by twenty feet was built and equipped for the use of a school. The building would be used as a church by the Latter Day Saints and also for several other functions over the years.

In 1869, a new building was built north of the original building. In 1869, that building was sold. A new school was built that was later destroyed by fire. A new brick school was built in 1900. (Source: Illinois Historical Society, Jan 1918 issue) (this issue is quoted a lot in the book)

Harmon School District dissolved and was annexed to Amboy CUD #272 in 1956. The school operated as an attendance center for District #272."

Today, the building is used as an apartment complex. For more information on Harmon High School please go to http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolharmon.html .

Harmon High School Building 2008

Building Now Utilized as Apartment Building

Harmon High School "Quick Facts":

Year schools organized:       1854
Year HS closed:                      1948
Deactivated to:                        Amboy School District
Building Status:                       Apartment complex
School Colors:                         Unknown
School Mascot:                        Unknown
School Song:                           Unknown

Athletics

Harmon High School played their home Basketball games in a building just east of the school on Main Street. That building is pictured above and is still in use as the Harmon Community Center. They may have offered baseball or track as well as other sports. They didn't win any IHSA state hardware in any of their sports, but played with a lot of school and town pride we are sure.

Harmon Community Center

Home of Harmon H.S. Basketball Games

Boys Basketball

The Harmon High School boys participated in basketball. A website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores" lists final scores from games involving Harmon High School in the annual IHSA Tournament. These scores and the location of the District tournament are listed below. Season records, coaches' names, and other information is being sought.

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

1st Rd lost to Amboy 40-16

Amboy lost in semi-final round.

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

1st Rd Beat Compton 26-24

2nd Rd lost to Amboy 48-8

Amboy lost in semi-final round.

1935-36 Walnut District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Tampico 50-18

Tampico won District title.

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 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 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Lee 48-33

Lee lost in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Compton 60-37

Semi-final lost to Franklin Grove 46-42

Franklin Grove lost title game to Steward

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

1st Rd lost to Franklin Grove (forfeit)

Franklin Grove lost in semi-final round

1947-48 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

**It is uncertain if the final basketball team at Harmon High School competed in the 1946-47 school year or the 1947-48 school year. However the Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores website does not list Harmon High School in the 1947-48 school year and beyond.

Seeking More Information

If you have ANY information about anything related to Harmon High School, including our unknown "Quick Facts" information, please drop us an E-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You can also write to us at:

Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, IL 60631

Harmon, Illinois