Kane High School "Hornets"
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Kane School Building
kaneschooldav.jpg
http://greene.ilgenweb.net/Education/schpic2.htm

The History of Kane High School
 
Kane (population 459) is located in southwestern Illinois in the southern portion of Greene County ( Kane Township ).  The town is situated midway between Carrollton to the north and Jerseyville to the south.  The village, which is served by county blacktops and Illinois State Route 67 one mile to the west, is about 5 blocks square. 
 
The original settlement in the area was started around 1820.  In 1865, a new village was platted one mile to the east, along the line of the new railroad.  The two nearly adjacent areas are still known as “Old Kane” and “New Kane” today.
 
Information on Kane High School is from a history of Jersey County schools written in 1977 by O.A. Wilson, former county superintendent of schools. The photo at the top of this page can by found at http://greene.ilgenweb.net/Education/schpic2.htm.  The following is an excerpt from O.A. Wilson's report:
 
“In 1951 some parents in the Kane school district and several other nearby districts in Greene County but adjacent to Jersey County Community Unit #100 across the Greene-Jersey county line petitioned to have their districts annexed to Community Unit #100. Kane had maintained a small high school for years, but the petitioners apparently wanted to make available to their children the wider choice of courses and other advantages of the much larger Jersey Community High School . They were opposed by many residents of Kane, who did not want to lose their high school, and by other Greene County residents who hoped to see the Kane area included in a future Greene district, probably a Community Unit based on Carrollton . . . . The referenda were held Jan. 26, 1952. The voters in Community Unit #100 approved the proposed annexation easily, 262-71, but the referendum in the Kane area developed into a first-class political brawl. When the votes were counted it was found that the annexation had carried, 209-167, and the territory became part of Community Unit #100.”

Kane High School Building Snapshot
kanehsbldgdav.jpg
Submitted by Buatte Springer

Regarding the Kane School photo above submitted by Buatte Springer:
"While studying my family history I have found a picture of Kane High School. Apparently my great grandfather, CH Branom, taught 7th and 8th grade at the school  I’m not sure of the exact years but it was probably in the late 1800s or early 1900s."
 
Based on information supplied it appears as though Kane High School closed in 1952.  The following history of the Kane school buildings was sent to us by Nancy Sullivan, Kane School student from 1977-1981:
 
"Kane High School became Kane Elementary School and housed students from K-6 grades until the end of the school year 1981-1982.  The school was closed in the spring of 1982 due to the high cost of keeping it open versus the small number of students attending the school.  The students who attended Kane School were bussed to East Elementary School in Jerseyville the following year, and have been ever since.  Teachers and staff from Kane School were relocated to other positions in the Jersey Community Unit School District . 

The school’s colors were purple and white, and the mascot was the Hornet.  Today, parts of the school remain standing – including what was the gymnasium.  The gymnasium was converted into a farm implement repair shop. Other older parts of the building – including most of the classrooms and the cafeteria, were torn down.   I believe the Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms, which were housed in a smaller annex building, were converted into apartments."

Request from Brad Nunamaker:

"I went to Kane Elementary from 1975 to 1981. I was wondering if anyone had a photo of the hornet mascot that was painted on the wall in the gymnasium?"

If you do have a photo of this mascot, send it to us via e-mail at eganann@sbcglobal.net and we will insure that Brad receives it.

Kane High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                       late 1800s?
Year closed:                        1952
Consolidated to:                   Jerseyville High School
Kane HS team nickname:     the "Hornets"
Kane HS team colors:          Red & Green
School Fight Song:              unavailable    

ATHLETICS
 
We are confident that the Kane High School boys competed with other schools in the area in the sport of basketball.  It is likely that baseball and track were offered to the boys as well. Coaches names and team records are items we are interested in.  Memories and great players are welcome as well.
 
Kevin Brown provides the following information on the Kane High School athletic program:
 
"The high school colors were red and green.  I still have my fathers "K" varsity athletic letter.  It is green with red trim. The Kane Elementary school cheerleaders sang a song at the games that went something like this:

"We are rough and we tough
And we're the team thats hard to bluff,
La de da, our Hornets are the best 
La de da, our Hornets are the best."

This is possibly how the high school fight song went as well.  My mother also passed along a little snibbit (cheer) about the high school, 

"Red and green, red and green, the prettiest colors that you've ever seen"

This site brings back great memories.  My sister also graduated from Kane about 1969."
 
BOYS BASKETBALL
        
The Kane High School "Hornets" competed in basketball for certain. Several scores from the IHSA State Tourney were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores."
 
1931-32               Greenfield District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                             1st Rd Beat Hillview 28-12
                             2nd Rd lost to Modesto 31-19
                             Jerseyville beat Modesto in title game
  
1932-33               White Hall District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                             1st Rd Beat Alsey 37-28
                             2nd Rd lost to Jerseyville 29-21
                             Jerseyville beat Murrayville in title game
  
1933-34               Greenfield District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                             1st Rd lost to Chesterfield 47-16
                             Jerseyville beat White Hall in title game
  
1934-35               Jerseyville District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                             1st Rd lost to Jerseyville 46-27
                             Gillespie beat Jerseyville in title game.
  
1935-36               White Hall District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                             1st Rd Beat Brighton 41-31
                             Semi-final lost to Shipman 21-19
                             Grafton beat Shipman in title game
  
1936-37               Greenfield District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                             1st Rd Beat Kampsville 28-21
                             Semi-final lost to Hillview 36-21
                             Hillview beat Medora in title game
  
1937-38          Coach's name & record needed.
1938-39          Coach's name & record needed.
1939-40          Coach's name & record needed.
    
1940-41               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Alsey 49-28
                            Eldred beat Kampsville in title game.
  
1941-42          Coach's name & record needed.
  
1942-43               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Grafton 65-18
                            Eldred beat Grafton in title game.
   
1943-44          Coach's name & record needed.
  
1944-45               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Hillview 33-29
                            Scottsville beat Kampsville in title game
   
1945-46          Coach's name & record needed.
  
1946-47               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Carrollton St. Johns 41-31
                            Eldred beat Grafton in title game
  
1947-48               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Kampsville 44-33
                            Grafton beat Eldred in title game
  
1948-49               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Hillview 48-38
                            Eldred beat Hillview in title game
   
1949-50               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Eldred 47-24
                            Carrollton St. Johns beat Kampsville in title game
   
1950-51               Eldred District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Carrollton St. Johns 48-34
                            Eldred beat Grafton in title game
    
1951-52               Grafton District Tournament                   Coach's name & record needed
                            *1st Rd lost to Hillview 48-38
                            Grafton beat Eldred in title game
     
*Last game ever played by the Kane High School "Hornets" basketball team.

Kane High School Girls Basketball Team - 1924-25
kanehsgirlsbball1925dav.jpg
Submitted by Beverly Jones Gover

Girls Basketball
 
 
 
Kane High School competed in girls basketball for a short while in the 1920s.  The photo to your right is of the Kane High School lady cagers of 1924-25.  The photo was submitted by Beverly Jones Gover.  The player standing next to the coach is Fay Holbert Reynolds.  The last player in the line is Beverly's mother, Audrey Davenport Jones.  The names of the coach and three players in the middle of the line are being sought. Any information regarding the lady basketball program at Kane High School is welcome.  
                    
The following information was sent to us regarding the photo of the girl's basketball team to the right.
 
"With regard to the picture of the Kane High School girls' basketball team of 1925, the coach pictured Thomas G. Roady.  He was the assistant principal of the Kane High School at the time and later was the principal.  He remained principal until the high school closed in 1952."
 
 
Extra-Curricular Activities
 
We know sports were not the only activity to help the KHS kids enjoy a well-rounded education.  School plays, dances, clubs, intramurals, and many other activities were more than likely an important part of the Kane High School experience.  Write to us if you have information on these activities you would like to share.
 
If You Have ANY Further Information Regarding Kane High School....     
...please share it with the readers of this site.  You can send photos and information to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also mail items to us at:
 
IHSGD Website
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.   60631