Royalton High School "Pirates"

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Royalton High School Building
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Royalton, Illinois

Royalton High School Building - 2010
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Submitted by James Horaz

The History of Royalton High School
 
Royalton (population 1,130) is located in far southern Illinois about 12 miles southeast of DuQuoin. In its "hey day" in the early 1900s Royalton enjoyed a population of over 3,800!  Illinois Route 149 is the main roadway to and from this southwestern Franklin County town.  The town's area was settled in the mid 1850s but it was not recognized as an officila Illinois town until 1907.  the Missouri Pacific Railroad runsto the southeast of town.  A branch of the Big Muddy River flows through the south side of Royalton.  For some EXCELLENT history and facts about Royalton and its former High Schol please visit the town's officila website at:

Inscription on One of the School Buildings
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Photo Taken By James Horaz

School Building Inscription
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Photo Taken By James Horaz

A school was established in Royalton by the late 1800s.  Royalton High School served the town as, at first, a three year school, and later earning a four year high school status.  The original school building was found unsafe in 1936.  A new building was quickly constructed and ready for use in 1937.  This is the building you see pictured above.  Royalton High continued to be the pride and joy of Royalton residents until the early 1960s.  It was then that dwindling enrollment led to a consolidation effort with its neighbor four miles to the northeast, Zeigler.  This effort became a reality in 1962 with the creation of the Zeigler-Royalton School District.
 
The high school for the new district landed in Zeigler.  The Royalton folks had the grade school and junior high in their town for the new Zeigler-Royalton District, however all schools for Z-R School District are, today, in Zeigler. 
 
After the school was discontinued, the Royalton High School buildng was utilized in many capacities, as relayed to us by Adam Rosoho:
 
"The Royalton High School building served as the Royalton City Hall.  The Royalton Public Library was housed there as well.  The Royalton Police Department also used the building.  The Library moved out in 2001 and the City Hall/Police Department moved out around the same time.  People still rent the gym to play basketball."
 
The Royalton High School building fell into a dilapidated state. The building was razed and only the gymnasium remains. To read more about Royalton High School go to www.royaltonillinois.com/RHS.html .
 
Royalton High School Quick Facts 
 
Year opened:                         late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed:                          1962
Consolidated to:                     Zeigler-Royalton High School
Royalton HS team nickname:  the "Pirates"
RHS team colors:                   Black & White
School Fight Song:                "Royalton Loyalty"
                                           (sung to Illinios Loyalton - Click play below and sing along!)   
 
                                              "We're loyal to you Royalton High,
                                               We're "Black and White," Royalton High,
                                               We'll back you to stand
                                               Against the best in the land,
                                               For we know that you can Royalton High,
                                              
                                                               Rah! Rah!
                                               So pass out that ball Royalton High,
                                               We're backing you all Royalton High;
                                               Our team is our best protector,
                                               On! boys, for we expect a vict'ry from you
                                               Royalton High!
                                             
                                                              Rah! Rah!
 
                                               Fling out that dear old flag of
                                               Black and White,
                                               Lead on your sons and daughters
                                               Fighting for you
                                               Like men of old, on giants.
                                               Placing reliance, shouting defiance
 
                                                              Oskee-wow-wow---------
 
                                               Amid the broad green plains that nourish our land,
                                               For honest Labor and for Learning we stand.
                                               And unto thee we pledge our heart and our hand,
                                               Dear Alma Mater, Royalton High!

Royalton HS Gym Side View
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Courtesy of James Horaz

Royalton HS Gym - 2010
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Courtesy of James Horaz

Athletics
 
The Royalton High School Pirates definitely offered boys basketball and, for a short while, 6-man football.  We believe that baseball and track were also offered at the school.  We are searching for team records and coaches names of the better Royalton Pirate athletic teams.
 
Boys Basketball
 
The Royalton High School boys basketball program had many great seasons during their tenure. We know that the 1945-46 school year wasa good one as the Pirates earned their only IHSA District title that year (www.ihsa.org).  Unfortunately this is currently the only information we have available on the basketball successes of Royalton High.
 
1945-46               District Champions
 
To view a nice photo of the 1926-27 boys basketball team at Royalton check out the following website address:  http://www.carolyar.com/Illinois/Photos/Royalton.htm 
 
Football
 
We found a line on the Royalton website (www.royaltonillinois.com) that told of how Royalton High School won the conference championship in 6-man football in 1942.  Again, this is currently all of the information we have available.
 
1942            6-man Football Conference Champions
 
Memories
 
**From Joe Dewees:
 
"ROYALTON HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS COMPETED IN A CONFERENCE WITH VALIER, WOODLAWN, WALTONVILLE, THOMPSONVILLE, CRAB ORCHARD, AND DAHLGREN DURING THE 1950'S UNTIL THE HIGH SCHOOL CONSOLADATED WITH ZIEGLER TO FORM THE ZIEGLER - ROYALTON SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE EARYLY 60'S.
 
SOME WELL KNOWN BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL  PLAYERS NAMES FROM THE 1950'S AND EARLY 1960'S WERE STAFKO, JONES, TEFFERTELLER, YOUNG, BENNETT, MCDOWELL, BRANDON, KNOX, AND SHBLOSKY,
 
PLAYER GARY JONES SCORED 52 POINTS DURING A GAME IN THE 1960-61 SEASON.
 
THE PIRATES WERE ALSO VERY COMPETITIVE IN BASEBALL WITH MANY PLAYERS PLAYING FOR THE  SUCCESSFUL SUMMER ZIEGLER LEGION BASEBALL TEAM."
 
**From Roberta Van Briesen:
 
"IN TODAY'S (November 01, 2010) ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR THERE IS A GREAT ARTICLE ON FEDERAL JUDGE STANLEY ROSZKOWSKI. I AM GOING TO CUT AND PASTE THE PART ABOUT ROYALTON HS.

"My dad was president of the School Board and was the instigator for getting the WPA to build a new school. When they ran out of money for mortar, they came to see my dad, and he gave them some. Dad had only gone to sixth grade in school, but both he and my mother spoke English, Russian, Slavic and a little bit of Italian so they could serve customers. When I got out of high school, I worked in the store until I entered the service."
 

THE JUDGE'S FATHER HAD A STORE IN ROYALTON DURING THE DEPRESSION,  THE ROCKFORD NEWSPAPER IS DOING A SERIES ON PEOPLE WEATHERING THE DEPRESSION.  THIS IS A VERY WORTHWHILE ARTICLE."
 
Tp view this article on Judge Stanley Roszkowski check out the following web address:
 
Special Thanks:
 
To Adam Rosoho for much of the information on this page.
 
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION
 
If you would like to provide ANY more information on the successes of Ashley Township High School please e-mail us.  All information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.   You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago,  Il.   60631

Rear of Royalton HS Building - 2010
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Photo Taken by James Horaz