Viola High School "Lumberjacks"
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Viola High School
violahsmons.jpg
Viola, Illinois

The History of Viola High School
 
Viola (population 956) is located in upper western Illinois on Iliniois Route 17 at the intersection of U.S. Route 67. The town sits in the eastern portion of Mercer County. Viola is situated about 20 miles south of the Quad Cities. 
 
A good fan of the Glory Days site, Jeff Crummy, provided this bit of history regarding the former Viola High School:
 
"The first high school was built on present day Ill. Rt. 17 on the same  block as the later high school (NW of the present school) in 1888.  A new brick High School was completed in 1924 and still stands; it became Winola H.S. in 1953. The new brick Grade School was completed in 1923 (by the same contractor that built the H.S. the next year), replacing a wooden structure on the S.E. corner of that same  city block. This building served the Viola kids until the new present day brick building was built in 1979 on the east edge of Viola.  This facility is still known as Winola Grade School, and serves as part of the Sherrard School District . The previous Viola Grade School is being used as an apartment complex today."
 
The communities of Viola and New Windsor took on a consolidation effort between their schools in the early 1952. The new school system was called "Winola" with the high school occupying the Viola High School building.  
 
Winola High School existed for many years until a consolidation effort with Sherrard High School became a reality in the 1988. To check out a web site regarding Winola High School please visit  http://groups.msn.com/winola .      
Viola High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:          1888
Year closed:           1952
School nickname:   the "Lumberjacks"
School colors:        Blue & White
School Fight Song: "On Viola, On Viola"
                             Sung to the tune of "On Wisconsin" 
 
Athletics
 
Viola High School enjoyed many great seasons of success.  They brought home two District titles, the second won during their final year existence.  Football was offered and it is assumed other sports were offered at the school as well, however research and information is needed from an alum or townsperson from Viola. 
 
Several scores from the IHSA postseason tournament were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." Those scores are listed below as well as Viola High School's other basketball successes.
 
Boys Basketball
 
**All postseason scores, records, and coaches' names for seasons prior to 1933-34 are needed.
  
1933-34               Rock Island District Tourney                 Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Rock Island 43-13
                          Rock Island lost in semi-final round
  
1934-35               Galesburg District Tourney                   Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Galesburg 51-20
                          Galesburg won District tourney.
   
1935-36               Galva District Tourney                          Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Annawan 24-15
                          Annawan lost in semi-final round
  
1936-37               Galva Regional Tourney                       Coach's name & record needed
                           District Tourneys not played this year
                          1st Rd lost to LaFayette 24-20
                           LaFayette lost in semi-final round
  
1937-38               Aledo Regional Tourney                       Coach's name & record needed
                          Viola did not play in District Tourney
                          Aledo Regional score
                          1st Rd lost to Alpha 41-22
      
1938-39               District Champions                            Coach's name & record needed
                           District scores needed
                           Aledo Regional Tourney
                           Lost to Sherrard 23-19
                           Sherrard lost in title game
      
1939-40 through 1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coaches' names needed.
  
1942-43               Aledo Regional Tourney                       Coach's name & record needed
                          Viola did not play in District Tourney
                          Aledo Regional score
                          1st Rd lost to Aledo 36-20
                          Aledo won Regional title
  
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
   
1944-45               Aledo Regional Tourney                       Coach's name & record needed
                          Viola did not play in District Tourney
                          Aledo Regional score
                          1st Rd Beat Biggsville 27-21
                          Semi-final lost to Roosevelt Military 23-21
                          RM lost in title game
    
1945-46               Joy Regional Tourney                          Coach's name & record needed
                          Viola did not play in District Tourney
                          Joy Regional score
                          1st Rd lost to Roosevelt Military 29-28
                          RM lostr in semi-final round
  
1946-47               Aledo Regional Tourney                       Coach's name & record needed
                          Viola did not play in District Tourney
                          Aledo Regional score
                          1st Rd lost to Joy 32-21
                          Joy lost in semi-final round
   
1947-48 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
  
1948-49               New Boston District Tourney               Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Seaton 54-26
                          Semi-final lost to New Windsor 32-31
                          New Windsor lost in title game
          
1949-50               New Windsor District Runner-up      Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Seaton 44-23
                           Semi-final Beat Keithsburg 65-46
                           Title game lost to New Boston 42-40
  
1950-51               New Boston District Runner-up        Coach's name & record needed
                           1st Rd Beat Little York 51-45
                           Semi-final Beat Keithsburg 63-53
                           Title game lost to New Boston 48-37  
     
1951-52               New Windsor District Champions      Coach's name & record needed
                           Semi-final Beat New Windsor 39-38
                           Title game Beat Keithsburg 61-56
                           Joy Regional Tourney
                           1st Rd Beat Reynolds (forfeit weather)
                           **Semi-final lost to Aledo 77-58
                           Aledo won Regional title
     
**Last game played by Viola High School. Consolidated with New Windsor High School in 1952 to form Winola High School.
                  
Football
 
Tom Sikorski provided information on the following conference championship football team of the Viola Lumberjacks:
 
1948    6-0    Corn Belt Conference Champs    Coach: Leo Traister
 
Track & Field
 
From Jeff Crummy:
 
"Viola H.S. Lumberjacks track team won the Central Military District championship in 1919. This encompassed all of Illinois from the Illinois River west to the Mississippi River, including many large schools such as Galesburg, Kewanee and Rock Island."

Individual Events
 
In the final year of existance of Viola High School, the Individual Events club was able to send a person to the state tournament. In 1952 Rose Terry placed fifth in "O.D.", which means Oratorical Declamation.
 
Great Athletes
 
Rich Lawson, football standout in late 1940's ; Leo Crummy, "Hacker" Newton, Wayne 'Wheeler' Anderson and Vic Holdsworth. The 1937 basketball team went on to  the Sectional Championship losing to Kewanee by one point, the Frakes boys were exceptional athletes in all sports.
 
Memories and Facts
 
From a great fan of Viola High School, Jeff Crummy:
 
"Viola High School was know as the Blue and White. The local papers reported them as ViCoHi. The basketball teams in the late 20's and thru the 1930's were feared by all of the high schools in Mercer County winning most of the games played!"
 
Seeking Further Information
 
We are sincerely seeking further information regarding Viola High School and the town of Viola.  We would like to to post a photo of the old high school building on this page.  If you can offer any information regarding Viola High School please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You may also write us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.     60631