Seaton High School Wolves

Seaton Community High School Building 1928-1951

Submitted by Timothy Jarman

Aerial View of Seaton, Illinois

Courtesy of Tim Jarman

The History of Seaton High School

Seaton is located in the southwest portion of Mercer County in upper western Illinois. This town with its population of 242 is located near Snake River, 7.5 miles east of the Mississippi River at the intersection of county roads 20th Avenue and 150th Street. Further information regarding Seaton has been provided below by Tim Jarman:

Seaton Elementary School History

by Tim Jarman

Downtown Seaton - 1910-12

Submitted by Timothy Jarman

The village of Seaton, Illinois was founded on June 28, 1883 and was incorporated on August 10, 1907. The Seaton Elementary School and the Seaton High School were located on Hickory Street in the southwest corner of Seaton, Abington Township, Mercer County, Illinois.

The original Seaton School House was a two-story wooden building. Before 1891 children in Seaton attended the McClure School, located southwest of Seaton near the McClure Cemetery. This school was moved into Seaton, where additions were made providing the school with six rooms. The first term was opened in October of 1891. In 1928, this wooden school house was replaced with a two-story (with a basement) brick building at a cost of $60,000. Students moved into this building shortly after Christmas of 1928.

Traverse Rock Wright began teaching at the Seaton Elementary School on Monday, September 19, 1892. Eventually, he became the principal of the Seaton Elementary School. In 1898, Ralph Bolton came to Seaton as principal of the school and brought with him the idea of a high school in the town. Previously it had not been called high school. The lower grades were taught in the first floor rooms and advanced subjects for college preparation were taught on the second floor. This writer believes that Ralph Bolton replaced Traverse Rock Wright as principal of the Seaton Elementary School. In 1898, Traverse went into business with Thomas D. Gayler and opened the Gayler & Wright grocery store in the town of Seaton.

Apparently, prior to 1920, the Seaton Elementary School and Seaton High School formed the Seaton Community Consolidated School District Number 115. This School was a combination of grades one through twelve. In 1920, the Oak Knoll School - District Number 110, and the Walnut Grove School - District Number 114, consolidated with the Seaton Elementary / High School, to form the Seaton Community Consolidated District Number 115. This school district was dissolved in 1922 and the original districts were reestablished. Also, apparently grades’ one through eight of the Seaton Elementary School went back to School District Number 115 and grades’ nine through twelve were formed to create School District number 126. In the early 1920's, the Scaly Point School, consolidated with the Seaton Elementary School. The Scaly Point was located two miles Southeast of Seaton in Ohio Grove Township. Scaly Point was School District number 108 and consisted of grades one through eight.

At some point after 1951 (in the start of the 1952 school year), the Seaton Elementary School became an attendance center for elementary students through the 6^th grade. Later the elementary students were split between Seaton, grades three through six and Sunbeam, a new redwood school for students first through third grades. When kindergarten was added to the curriculum, the sixth grade was sent into Aledo. Before it closed in 1982 the Seaton Elementary School had six grades K-6. All students now attend various Aledo schools.

According to some local residents, the brick building that housed the Seaton Elementary School / High School was torn down in 1985. As of May 24, 2008, the only things that remain on the site of the Seaton Elementary School / Seaton High School are the sidewalks that were in front of the school and the baseball field behind the school."

Seaton School - 1891 through 1928

Courtesy of Timothy Jarman

Seaton High School History

By Tim Jarman

The Seaton Community High School was established after 1920 as School District Number 126 with grades nine through twelve. Prior to 1920, the Seaton High School, appears to have been part of School District 115. This school was a combination of grades one through twelve. In 1920, the Seaton Elementary School and Seaton High School were apparently consolidated to form the Seaton Community Consolidated School District Number 115. This School District was dissolved in 1922 and the original districts were reestablished. Grades one through eight stayed as School District number 115 and grades’ nine through twelve went back to School District number 126.

The original Seaton School House was a two-story wooden building. Before 1891 children in Seaton attended the McClure School, located southwest of Seaton near the McClure Cemetery. This School was moved into Seaton, where additions were made providing the school with six rooms. The first term was opened in October of 1891. In 1928, this wooden school house was replaced with a two-story, and basement, brick building at a cost of $60,000. Students moved into this building shortly after Christmas of 1928.

Traverse Rock Wright began teaching at the Seaton Elementary School on Monday, September 19, 1892. Eventually, he became the principal of the Seaton Elementary School. In 1898, Ralph Bolton came to Seaton as principal of the school and brought with him the idea of a high school in the town. Previously it had not been called high school. The lower grades were taught in the first floor rooms and advanced subjects for college preparation were taught on the second floor. This author believes that Ralph Bolton replaced, Traverse Rock Wright as principal of the Seaton Elementary School. In 1898, Traverse went into business with Thomas D. Gayler and opened the Gayler & Wright grocery store in the town of Seaton.

Class of 1899 - Seaton High School's First Alumni

Provided by Timothy Jarman (Left Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)

The first graduating class of the Seaton High School was the class of 1899. The Seaton High School had a yearbook called the “Arch.” In this yearbook, only the senior class members rated individual pictures. Each of the other high school classes were shown in a full class group picture. The nickname for the Seaton High School was the “Wolves.” The Seaton High School class of 1951 was the last class of the Seaton High School. In the years of existence, the Seaton High School had 379 graduates. At an election on Saturday, April 21, 1951, 293 voters of the Seaton School District number 126 cast their votes on the proposal to annex Community District Number 126 to Community Unit District Number 201, commonly called Aledo High School. The proposition was favored by 167 voters, with 116 voting no. In the unit precincts the proposition was approved by a vote of 113 to 19. Administration Offices for School District number 201 are located in Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois, the county seat. The High School students from Seaton and surrounding communities are now transported to the Aledo High School in Aledo, Illinois. In 1954, the current Aledo High School was built at a cost of $850,000 in Aledo, Mercer Co., Illinois.⁵ This School opened on September 18, 1954. Prior to opening of the new high school in 1954, the old Aledo High School was a two-story building next to the main shopping area in downtown Aledo. The junior high School was in the same building.

At some point around 1951, the Seaton Elementary School became an attendance center for elementary students through the 6^th grade. Later the elementary students were split between Seaton, grades three through six and Sunbeam, a new redwood school for students first through third grades. When kindergarten was added to the curriculum, the sixth grade was sent into Aledo. Before it closed in 1982 the Seaton Elementary School had six grades k-6. All students now attend various Aledo schools. According to some local residents, the brick building that housed the Seaton Elementary School / High School was torn down in 1985. As of May 24, 2008, the only things that remain on the site of the Seaton Elementary School / Seaton High School are the sidewalks that were in front of the school and the baseball field that was behind the school."

The students of Seaton now attend school as part of the Aledo School system. (A special thank you is owed to Terry Tracy for this correction at an earlier time.) When viewing the photo above, the school building would have sat in the foreground and a little to the left.

Seaton High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1898

Year closed: 1951

Consolidated to: Aledo High School

School nickname: the "Wolves"

School colors: Purple & Gold

School Fight Song: "Cheers, Cheers for Old Seaton High"

University of Notre Dame Fight Song Tune

Athletics

Limited information was available regarding the athletic program at Seaton High School. The Wolves' boys basketball team won one District Title and a boy by the name of F. Carlson brought home two medals from the State Track Meet. More information is being sought regarding the athletic successes gained at Seaton High School. If you have this information and would like to share it please contact us. The IHSA accomplishments of Seaton HS are listed below.

Boys Basketball

The Wolves' team of 1942-43 won a District Championship, the only one in the school's storied history. Scores of other Seaton High School post season contests were located on the web site titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores" and are subsequently listed below. If you have season records, coaches names, and photos of the Seaton HS Wolves basketball teams please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net

Seaton HS Wolves - 1929-30

Provided by Timothy Jarman - (Left Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)

Seaton HS Wolves of 1922-23

Submitted by Timothy Jarman (Left Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)

1933-34 Roseville District Tournament

1st Rd. Beat Biggsville 18-14

2nd Rd. Lost to Avon 31-30

Avon lost in semi-final round.

1934-35 Roseville District Tournament

1st Rd. Seaton forfeited to Stronghurst

1935-36 Reynolds District Tournament

1st Rd. Lost to Keithsburg 49-17

1937-1942 Scores for Seaton HS unavailable

1942-43 District Champions

District Tourney scores unavailable

Aledo Regional Tournament

1st Rd. Beat Little York 35-14

2nd Rd. Lost to Alpha (score unavailable)

Avon lost to Aledo in title game.

1944-1948 Scores for Seaton HS unavailable

1948-49 New Boston District Tournament

1st Rd. Lost to Viola 54-26

Viola lost in semi-final.

1949-50 New Windsor District Tournament

1st Rd. Lost to Viola 44-23

Viola lost to New Boston in title game.

1950-51 New Boston District Tournament

1st Rd. Lost to Keithsburg 54-46

Last basketball game in Seaton High School history.

Keithsburg lost in semi-final.

Boy's Track & Field

1927-28 F. Carlson 880 Yard Run 3rd Place

1928-29 F. Carlson 880 Yard Run 5th Place

MEMORIES

From M. Constance:

"Thanks for the Seaton, Il school reminders! Lived there until 1960. You will find more information, photos, etc from article in The Times Record, Aledo, Il dated May 15, 1985 (Section 3?). Originally written by my aunt, Violet Duncan (Beckham), class of 1920 and contributor to her families paper the Seaton Independent. The final Seaton school reunion was on June 13, 2009 in Aledo, IL."

We Are Seeking Further Information...

...regarding the origin of the town of Seaton, its high school, and their accomplishments. If you have this information and would like to share it please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form. You can also contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. We are especially interested in a photo of the school building. You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

The Concession Stand

Seaton Baseball Park

Seaton Baseball Diamond

Seaton, Illinois

Seaton High School Alumni List

"Left click" on photo for larger version.

In the years of existence, the Seaton High School had 379 graduates. This list of alumni was compiled in 1975. As of this compilation, there were 118 were deceased, 115 were in Mercer County, Illinois and 146 resided in 21 other States. The names in parenthesis ( ) are the female’s married names. This list was submitted by Tim Jarman.

Class of 1899 - Professor Ralph Bolton

Hattie Ditto (Carlson), Maude Duncan, Ray Elrick, Mary Ewing, Alice Haney (Farrell), Anna Haney (Farrell), Lois Henry (Pruyn), Frank McClure, Lulu McClure (Hunt), Rose McClure (Dickinson), Will Rice, Angus Seaton, Fred Spence.

Class of 1900 - Professor C. B. Baymiller

Apparently there were no students for the class of 1900.

Class of 1901 - Professor C. B. Baymiller

Ora Cabeen (Stitt), David Candor, Boyd Ditto, Kate Haney (Johnson), Charles Logan.

Class of 1902 - Professor C. B. Baymiller

Bessie Ditto (Murphy), Wilhelmina Ditto (Streets).

Class of 1903 - Professor C. C. Butler

Richard McPherren Cabeen, Essie Ditto (Bopp), Sue Ditto (Rowley), Verna Harper (Morgan), Mona Hawkins, Inez Henry.

Class of 1904 - Professor C. C. Butler

Alta Chambers (Greer), George Chandler, Walker Jones, Ward Jones, Carl McPherren, Alice Nagel (Arbuckle).

Class of 1905 - Professor A. E. Robinson

Edna Gaylor (Alexander), Murl Greer (Vance), Adolphus Hagerman, Nola Hainline (Robb), Mabel Johnson (Brasheer), Frank Robb, Gertrude Robb (Zimmer), Wilbur Scott, Charles Shike.

Class of 1906 - Professor A. E. Robinson

Apparently there were no students for the class of 1906.

Class of 1907 - Professor A. E. Robinson

Robert Criswell, Roscoe Duncan, Robert Peterson.

Class of 1908 - Professor A. E. Robinson / F. McRay Byers / N. E Johnson

William Davis, Maude Chambers (McGee) (Fox), Roy Greer, Nona Morris (Rowley), Anna Peterson (Davis), Blaine Seaton.

Class of 1909 - Professor A. E. Robinson / N. E. Johnson

Forrest Hainline, Theodore McGee, Walker McIntyre.

Class of 1910 - Professor Donald Ross

Clara Davis (Van Sickle), Scott Greer, Viola Hermon (Vance), Mary Peterson (Logan), Lena Pollock, Lester Scott.

Class of 1911 - Professor J. M. Wilson

Robert Lee Cabeen, Grace Dalrymple (Johnson), Etta Davis (Pepper), Lois Ditto (Cox), Lura Ditto (Hawkins), Charles Van Eaton, Nellie Greer (White), Orville Jones, Lorraine Kinnamon (Stephens), Samuel Pollock, Juanita Vance (Sturdivant).

Class of 1912 - Professor J. M. Wilson

Richard Boggs, Lucile Cabeen, Mable Callahan (Howe), Magdalene Callahan (Otto), Ward Callahan, Edward Conley, Rose Conley (Grace), Ruth Dalrymple (McCaw), Bernice Ditto (Henry), Floyd Dunn, Wilma Gray (Keilman), Allie Hainline, Meva Keel, Earl Keilman, Mable Kinnamon, Emma Pepper (Shannon), Dora Thompson (Hood), Marie Swearingen (Dacy), Louise Gazelle Wright.

Class of 1913 - Professor G. E. Platt

Apparently there were no students for the class of 1913.

Class of 1914 - Professor G. E. Platt

Vera Brock (Crouch), Eugene Conley, Florence Ditto (Moore), Lillian Ditto (Greer), Tony Dunn, Roland Kinnamon, Willis Orth.

Class of 1915 - Professor G. E. Platt

Mylo Cabeen, Margie Craig (Ranney), Paul Dalrymple, Boyd Henry, William McCannon, Marie McIntyre (Callahan), William Pepper, Mildred Peterson (Boggs), Harold Shike.

Class of 1916 - Professor G. E. Platt

Dwight Greer, Robert Burns Wright.

Class of 1917 - Professor G. E. Platt

Jennie Craig (Garland), Harland Davis, Edith Keel (Dalton), Lucille Keilman (Smith), Helen Kinnamon (McCaw), Robert Williams, Ellen Wilson (Wadleigh).

Class of 1918 - Professor G. E. Platt

Dale Hamilton, Herbert Lucas, Mary Roth, Rilla Van Eaton, Arminta Wray (Mckelvey) (Sheats), Elizabeth Wray (Norris), Marian Kate Wright (Jarman).

Class of 1919 - Professor G. E. Platt

Bertha Amy (Metcalf), Florence Greer (Coffland), Carl Lucas, Charles Pepper, Jewell Welch.

Class of 1920 - Professor D. C. Thompson

Violet Duncan (Beckham), Dorothy Guthrie (Nall), Martha Meyer, Clarence Shoemaker, Mildred Thornton.

Class of 1921 - Professor D. C. Thompson

Naomi Hottle (Cofer), Bertha Mackey (Burns), Vera Nelson (Colclasure).

Class of 1922 - Professor George Mellitz

Clair Ditto, Lee Henry, Margaret Henry (Lyle), Dorothy Keilman (Carson), Willard Roth, Mable Roth (Hall), Edith Schroll, Edna Shoemaker (Fisher).

Class of 1923 - Professor A. D. Johnson

Frances Brock (Hilsenhoff), Max Constant, Sadie Craig (Boock), Ralph Duncan, Virginia Duncan (PaTmor), Lily Goss, Wilson Graham, Vivian Henry (McPheeters), Milton Olson, Gertrude Roth (Olson), Helen Scott (Bensenberg), Lillian Seaton (Neyra), Everett Shoemaker.

Class of 1924 - Professor A. D. Johnson

Elmarene Duncan (Constant), Robert Flynn, Curtis Reily.

Class of 1925 - Professor Albert Fulton

Howard Craig, Lemoine Duncan, Earl Olson.

Class of 1926 - Professor Albert Fulton

Edwin Douglas, Torrence Free, Lee Greer, Kenneth Greer, Lucille Hood (Weeks), Scott Rader.

Class of 1927 - Professor Donald Bethel

Gertrude Seaton.

Class of 1928 - Professor Donald Bethel

Clyde Baker, Inez McPherren.

Class of 1929 - Professor Donald Bethel

Viola Lou Amy (Strong), Floyd Carlson, Lois Henry (Wernette), Opal McCannon (Connerley), Cozetta Peterson (Henry), Carl Workman.

Class of 1930 - Professor Donald Bethel

Robert Duncan, Mildred Griffith (Clark), Verlea Henry (Johnson), Gwendolyn McNeal (Muhlenburg), Ed Rader, Clinton Whitehall.

Class of 1931 - Professor Lee Delabar

Margaret Amy (Sandberg), Martha Davis (Bird), Glenn Free, Evelyn Greer (McPheeters) (Green), Emma Peterson (Chandler), Evelyn Swails.

Class of 1932 - Professor Win. Pogue

Amy Jo Constant (Hale), James Greer, Paul Greer, Evelyn Jellinger (Purlee) (Philipp), Roberta Klooster (Schneider), Beulah McKay (Swires), Stanley Newman, Letha Rader (Livingston), Bertha Ranney (Fredrickson), Mary Seaton, Merlin Shike, Wayne Swails, Alice Thompson (Hill).

Class of 1933 - Professor Win. Pogue

Edward Brock, Earle Davis, Lois Douglas (Walters), Frank Hood, Jr., Freda Kell (Kiddoo), Dorothy Kernan (McKnight), Bernice Ranney (Shike), Mildred Shike (Hood), Gladys Spaulding (DeMarteleare),

Class of 1934 - Professor Win. Pogue

Boyd Greer, Robert Hale, Elmore Hood, Lucille Hunter (Donnely), Dorothy Jellinger (Haysbrook), Preston McCartney.

Class of 1935 - Professor Win. Pogue

Eleanor Amy (Buskirk), Ruth Chambers (Harlan), Helen Douglas (Springer), Barbara Greer (Sawin), Harold Griffith, Frances Henry (Bergstrom), Pauline Johnson (Chard), Richard Keilman, Donald Kinnamon, Ray McNeal, Mae Ranney (Fredrickson), Elizabeth Smith (Waugh), Herschel Swails.

Class of 1936 - Professor Win. Pogue

Henry Ewing, George Greer, Zola Greer (Donaldson), Boyd Griffith, Alice Harrison (Waugh), Ruth Kinnamon (Duenow), John Seaton, Rozella Swails (Scheid), Olive Toops (Biddle), Ila Mae Vance (Keilman).

Class of 1937 - Professor H. A. Renwick

Mary Frances Allen (Treloar) (Smart), Margaret Armstrong (Stelle), Frances Cooper (Oaks), Caroline Harrison (Douglas), Mary Jane Jellinger (Nevius), Cathryn Johnson (Kroesh), George Johnson, Leonard Kinnamon, Ferno McNeal (Hay), Florence Meyers (Haas), David Newmon, Leonard Pepper, Margaret Ranney (Carley), Mary Smith (Grimsey), Fred Lee Stelle, Mary Margaret Tully (Larkin), Pauline Van Eaton.

Class of 1938 - Professor H.A. Renwick

Loren Clark, Robert Gordon, Billie Marie Meyers (McKillip), David Stokes, Mary Amy Wise.

Class of 1939 - Professor H. A. Renwick

Helen Allen (Barger), Gerald Anderson, Harriet Chandler (Keilman), Louise Davis (Bateman), Joe Garland, Mary Ellen Griffith (Ewing), Irene Johnson (Bradford), George Laird, Betty Meehan (Whitehall), George Henry Meyers, Floyd McCaw, Mary Pepper (Fullerton), Frances Root (Standard), Betty Van Eaton (Brown), Dorothy Belle Welch (Smith).

Class of 1940 - Professor H. A. Renwick

Glenn Blythe, Marvin Clark, Mary Garland (Southwick), Chester Gordon, Albert C. Greer, Hayse Greer, Robert D. Greer, Jr., Boyd Henry, Jr., John P. Keilman, William Root, Ruth Ricketts (Hone), Lawrence Shike, John Thompson, James Unsworth.

Class of 1941 - Professor H. A. Renwick

Roberta Amy (Olin), Willard Greer, Allen Hutt, Mary Gertrude Meehan (Shike), Martha Ranney (Sandona), Evelyn Shike (Jacobs), Everett Shike.

Class of 1942 - Professor E. A. Johnson

Rosamond Chandler (Meredith), Esther Clark (Morford), Ward Douglas, Edwin Dye, Estalene Dye (Ferrillo), Patricia Greer (Chism), Richard Griffith Frank Henry, Jr., Harold Meredith, Lawrence Pepper, Betty Peterson (Unsworth), Howard Shike, Maxine Van Eaton (Davis) (Blick), Rex Welch.

Class of 1943 - Professor E. A. Johnson

James Anderson, Betty Brunkow (Forsythe), James Davis, John Davis, Leonard Gordon, James Kernan, Donald McIntyre, Robert Walters.

Class of 1944 - Professor E. A. Johnson

Annabelle Blackman (Kell), Eva Mae Brown (Galbraith), Donald Dye, Gladys Garland (Cox), Frances Peterson (Harrison), Nellie Ranney (Galbraith), Daniel Sims, Violet Van Eaton (Davis), Eileen Wadleigh (Gimer).

Class of 1945 - Professor E. A. Johnson

Richard Gladson, Donald Greer, Jack Greer, Miriam Keilman (Braucht), Geneva Medhurst, Lewis Milner, Beverly Otto (Van Fleet), Kenneth Shike, Bill Sims, Jane Van Eaton (Sims).

Class of 1946 - Professor Robert M. Fee

Vernon Brunkow, Muriel Faye Douglas (Miller), Charlene Duncan (Forsythe), Evelyn Ewing (Moran), Gladys Greer (Carson), Marilyn Keilman (Siemens), Jean Pulliam (Lanphere).

Class of 1947 - Professor Robert M. Fee

Esther Boruff (Ricketts), Kenneth Boruff, Richard Carson, Ernest Gordon, Jack Lyle, Joe Reedy, Harold Swensen, Robert Wadleigh.

Class of 1948 - Professor Donald E. Metzger

James Daley, Marilyn Douglas (Hollembeak), Mary Jane Greer (Hardin), Ward Jones, Pearl Reedy (Eckert), Dwight Ricketts, Harold Ricketts, Everett Sims, Betty Streets (Gray), Patricia Welch (Brunkow).

Class of 1949 - Professor Donald E. Metzger

Roger Anderson, Byron Blackman, Junadel Donaldson (Kronn), William C. Duncan, Betty Green (Johnson), Herold Newton, Nettie Newton (Owens), Juanita Predrickson (Sims), Lois Shike (Gladson), Martha Sims (Bogart).

Class of 1950 - Professor Donald E. Metzger

John Bird, Burdette Hansen.

Class of 1951 - Professor Donald E. Metzger

Jenivee Blackman (Maynard), Rodney Boruff, Donna Jean Donaldson (Naber), Jean Lyle (Blick).

The Class of 1951 was the last class of the Seaton High School. Starting in the fall of 1951, High School students from Seaton and surrounding communities were bused to the Aledo High School in Aledo, Illinois.

The Town of Seaton, Illinois

View from the Baseball Diamond

The Press Box

Seaton Baseball Diamond