Franklin Grove High School
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Franklin Grove School Building - 1870
franklingrovehs1870dav.jpg
http://www.franklingroveil.org/testt.htm

The History of Franklin Grove High School
 
Franklin Grove (population 1,052) is located in north-central Lee County in the eastern part of north-central Illinois.  The town is located about seven miles east of Dixon. Illinois Route 38 is the main roadway to and from town. Interstate Highway 88 runs just to the south of town.  The Chicago Northwestern Railroad travels alongside Route 38.  Franklin Creek flows through the northwest side of Franklin Grove.
 
An incredibly informative website regarding Franklin Grove is available at http://www.franklingroveil.org/welcom2.htm.  The history of the town and activities currently offered there are all documented on the site.  In summary the area Franklin Grove is now located on was first settled in the 1830s.  The village began to take shape in 1849.  In 1857 it was incorporated as a village in the state of Illinois. 
 
By 1870 a solid school system was established.  There was even a classroom of "higher learning" which eludes to offering high school courses.  By 1923 Franklin Grove had established an effective and respected high school offering a wide variey of extra-curricular activities.
  
The early 1950s brought consolidation talks between Franklin Grove High School and its neighbor Lee Center High School.  This effort was finalized in 1956.  The new district was called the Franklin Center School District.  The high school for the new district was located in Franklin Grove.

Back Side of Comemorative Plate
franklincrovehsplatebackdav.jpg
Courtesy of Mike Pacione

Franklin Grove HS Commemorative Plate
franklincrovehsplatedav.jpg
Submitted by Mike Pacione

The commemorative plate above belongs to Mike Pacione. The rear of the plate reads:
 
                                            "Wheelock China 
                                     Made in Austria for J.D. Sitts 
                                          Franklin Grove Illinois"
  
If anyone has any information regarding Mr. Sitts or this plate please contact the Glory Days staff via the means listed below.
   
The fate of the original Franklin Grove High School is being sought. For more information on Franklin Grove High School please visit http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolfranklin.html .
 
Franklin Grove High School Quick Facts
 
Year HS courses offered:                          1870
Year HS merged with Lee Center HS:        1956
New District name:                                   Franklin Center School District
Franklin Grove HS team nickname:            unavailable
FGHS team colors:                                   unavailable
School Fight Song:                                   unavailable

Athletics
 
It is a fact that boys basketball and cross country were offered at Franklin Grove High School.  It is quite probable that track, baseball, and possibly football, were offered as well.  Team nickname, team colors, school fight song, team records, and coach's names of the better teams in Franklin Grove High School history are all items we are seeking.
 
Boys Basketball
 
A District title hi-lited the boys basketball success at Franklin Grove HS. Unfortunately the team record and coach's name of this and other FGHS teams are currently not available. 
 
Franklin Grove High School basketball scores from the IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are listed below as they were available on the site.
 
1933-34           Oregon District Tournament                       Coach's name & record needed
                       1st Rd. - Beat Leaf River 32-22
                       2nd Rd. - Lost to Oregon 21-4
                       Oregon lost in semi-final round
             
1934-35           Dixon District Tournament                          Coach's name & record needed
                       1st Rd. - Lost to Mendota 26-9
                       Mendota lost in 2nd round
         
1935-36           Walnut District Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                       1st Rd. - Beat Lyndon 34-13
                       Lost in 2nd round (game results unavailable)
           
1936-37  Postseason scores, record, & coach's name needed.
          
1937-38            Franklin Grove District Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                       Tourney results unavailable
        
1938-39           District Champions!                                  Coach's name & record needed
                      District scores unavailable
                      Mount Morris Regional Tournament
                      1st Rd. - Lost to Leaf River 35-18
                      Leaf River lost in semi-final.
                 
1939-40 through 1943-44 Postseason scores, records, & coach's names needed
             
1944-45           Franklin Grove District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                       1st Rd. - Lost to Lee 57-44
                       Lee lost in title game
               
1945-46           Franklin Grove District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                       Semi-final - Beat Harmon 46-42
                       Final - Lost to Steward 65-38
           
1946-47           Franklin Grove District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                       1st Rd. - Beat Harmon (forfeit)
                       Semi-final - lost to Steward 50-39
                       Steward lost title game
           
1947-48           Franklin Grove District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                       Semi-final - Lost to Steward 63-28
                       Steward lost title game
            
1948-49           Franklin Grove District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                       Semi-final - Lost to Steward 43-34
                       Steward won title game
          
1949-50           Dixon Regional Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                      (FGHS did not play in District)
                      1st Rd. - lost to Sterling Catholic 72-46
                      Sterling Catholic lost in semi-final
          
1950-51           Sterling Regional Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                      (FGHS did not play in District)
                      1st Rd. - lost to Sterling Catholic 59-55
                      Sterling Catholic lost in title game
           
1951-52           Sterling Regional Tournament                      Coach's name & record needed
                      (FGHS did not play in District)
                      1st Rd. - lost to Sterling 57-46
                      Sterling lost in semi-final
          
1952-53           Dixon Regional Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                      (FGHS did not play in District)
                      1st Rd. - lost to Dixon 73-48
                      Dixon lost in semi-final
            
1953-54           Dixon Regional Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                      (FGHS did not play in District)
                      1st Rd. - lost to Sterling 80-42
                      Sterling won Regional title
          
1954-55           Rock Falls Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                      (FGHS did not play in District)
                      1st Rd. - lost to Dixon 85-39
                      Dixon lost in semi-final
          
1955-56 Postseason scores, record, & coach's name needed..
         
 
Boys Cross Country
 
There are no team records available regarding FGHS Boys Cross Country, but an athlete by the name of Crowell had success at the state meet:
 
1946-47           Crowell                                           State 9th Place
 
Looking For More Information
 
If you have any information you would like to share regarding Franklin Grove High School and its many accomplishments, especially a photo of the original High School building, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631