The History of Rardin High School
Rardin (population approximately 150) is located in eastern Illinois in the northeast
portion of Coles County. Charleston is about 8 miles to the southwest of Rardin. County Highway 2 is the main roadway
to and from Rardin, located just south of County Road 1600 N. The Eastern Railroad passes at an angle just northwest
of town. The map on MapQuest shows the town as being about four blocks wide and three blocks from north to south.
The history of the town and its former high school are in need of research. We were alerted to the
fact that Rardin had a school with high school curriculum by an article found in the Journal Gazette / Times Courier
of Mattoon and Charleston http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/1998/04/08/news/news-76247.txt.
The article talks of a consolidation effort in Coles County that took place in 1948. At that
time several Coles County School Districts were consolidated into one county-wide school district. The
article goes on to say that of these school districts, three were schools that included high school classes. One of
these was Rardin.
Our guess is that Rardin High School was likely established in the late 1800s, possibly not until the early
1900s. Rardin my have never been more than a three-year high school, quite common in its day. However it
very well may have been a four-year high school, we are in need of someone from the area to clarify this information for us.
We do know that Rardin High School closed in 1948.
The fate of the Rardin High School building is being sought, as well as are photos and information.
Regarding the photo of the Rardin gymnasium at the top of this page, the following is from Faith
Cazares:
"This is a photo of the Rardin High School gym. My grandfather, John M. Hite, had been
wounded in WWII and the town threw a welcome home party. The photo was taken in approximately 1944."
Rardin High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed:
1948
Consolidated to:
Charleston High School
Rardin HS team nickname: unavailable
Rardin HS team colors: unavailable
School Fight Song:
unavailable
