The commencement exercise program pictured to the left was created in 1904. It announces that year's
program as being the "Tenth Annual" program. Therefore the first graduation exercise for Ashmore High School was held
in 1894. If you place your cursor over the photo and 'left click' you will be able to view a larger version of the photo.
Thank you to Ann Winkler Hinrichs for sending it to us.
A newspaper article from the Journal Gazette - Times Courier of Mattoon and Charleston (http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/1998/04/08/news/news-76247.txt) states that the school districts of eastern Coles County agreed to consolidate their efforts into one district. According to
the article, beginning in 1947 Illinois legislation called for a school district to have an average attendance of 10
students per day in order to receive state-aid. Individual districts had until 1949 to comply.
Ashmore residents agreed to the united community school district of eastern Coles County. The
district was formed, by popular vote, in July of 1948. The high school students of the area, including those of
Ashmore, would now be attending school in Charleston.
The fate of the original Ashmore High School building is needed. Ashmore is home to an elementary school for
students in grades K - 4.
Ashmore High School Quick Facts
Year opened: early
1890s
First graduation exercise: 1904
Year closed: 1948
Consolidated to:
Charleston High School
Ashmore HS team nickname: "Golden Aces"
Ashmore HS team colors: Lavender & White
School fight song:
unavailable
(School colors and nickname provided by Robert Bayes - Class of 1947)
