Nebo High School

Nebo High School Building

Photo by Susan Kane

Welcome to Nebo

Nebo, Illinois

The History of Nebo High School

Nebo (population 408) is located in southern Pike County at the intersection of County Roads 10 and 7. Running through the middle of town is the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and on the outskirts is a creek known as Spring Creek.

The area in which Nebo now sits were first settled in the 1830s. A post office was established in what is currently the village of Nebo in 1871. The Chicago & Alton Railroad line was built through the town of Nebo in 1871 as well and was very instrumental in the town's early growth. Nebo is likely named after a town mentioned in the Bible. For more information on Nebo check out: http://www.heartlandlodge.com/pages/resort/history/nebo-il-history .

The history of Nebo High School is located on the web address listed above. This page states the following:

"The brick school was built in 1917. It was four year high school for two years, then was only a three year high school until 1927, when it became a four year high school again. Around 1926 the gymnasium and auditorium were built on the south end of the building. A much larger gym was added to the north of the building in 1938. Declining enrollment necessitated the closing of Nebo High School in 1955, and the closing of Nebo Grade School in 1984. The brick school was torn down in 1992. The Nebo Community Club has preserved the gymnasium for the use of the village, and a new community building was built onto the north of the gym in 1993."

Nebo HS Building Under Construction 1917

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pike-County-Historical-Society-Pike-County-Illinois/312135451606

The students of Nebo now attend school as part of the Pittsfield School System 12 miles to the north.

Diann Johns tells us the former school gymnasium is still standing in Nebo.

To read more fun articles about Nebo please click on the following links provided by Roberta Van Breisen:

http://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/mail?app=mail#5

http://genealogytrails.com/ill/pike/school1947.html

http://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/mail?app=mail#7

http://genealogytrails.com/ill/pike/nebothatwas.html

Nebo High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1917

Year closed: 1955

Consolidated to: Pittsfield High School

School nickname: the "Pirates"

School colors: Orange & Black

School Fight Song: unavailable

Nebo Grade School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1917

Year closed: 1984

GS team nickname: "Tigers"

Colors: Black & White

(Grade school info submitted by Diann Johns)

Athletics

There is not a lot of information regarding the Nebo High School "Pirates" athletic program. NHS had good success in Boy's Basketball winning three District titles and one Regional title. It is assumed the school offfered possibly track, baseball, and maybe even football. If you can share this information with us it would be greatly appreciated. The best of the Boy's Basketball seasons are listed below. We are looking for the records and coaches names from a fan of Nebo High School. The coach of the 1943 team is provided. A photo of the 1942-43 Pirates can be viewed above.

Nebo School Gymnasium Center Circle

Photo by Susan Kane

Boys Basketball

The Nebo High School "Pirates" won a total of three District titles and one Regional title during their brief existence. We are seeking further information regarding the NHS basketball program, especially coaches' names and season records. Photos are also welcome. We did locate some basketball scores involving Nebo HS on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are printed below as well.

1921-22 through 1928-29 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1929-30 IHSA District Champions Coach Metzger

District Scores Needed

Springfield Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Quincy 28-21

Quincy lost to Beardstown in semi-final

Beardstown beat Springfield in title game

Beardstown placed 4th in IHSA State Tourney!

1930-31 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Metzger

1931-32 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Metzger

1932-33 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Metzger

1933-34 Pittsfield District Tournament Coach Metzger

Season Record Needed

1st Rd Beat Baylis 57-8

2nd Rd Beat Perry 31-19

Semi-final lost to Kinderhook

Kinderhook lost to Pittsfield in title game

1934-35 Pittsfield District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

Season Record Needed

1st Rd lost to Kinderhook 25-24

Kinderhook lost to Pittsfield in title game

1935-36 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Barry 33-25

Semi-final lost to Pittsfield 26-20

Pittsfield lost to Hull in title game

Hull lost to Decatur 30-27 in Elite 8 Rd

Decatur beat Danville 26-22 in State Title game!

1936-37 Pittsfield Regional Champions Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Perry 38-24

Semi-final Beat Pittsfield 35-28

Title Game Beat Pleasant Hill 28-27

Pittsfield Sectional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Jacksonville 26-18

Semi-final lost to White Hall 35-25

White Hall lost to Rushville in title game

Rushville lost to Pekin in Sweet 16 Rd.

1937-38 Milton District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

Title game lost to Milton 26-22

1938-39 Pittsfield Regional Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Pittsfield 26-16

Semi-final Beat Winchester 21-16

Title Game lost to Milton 25-12

1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1941-42 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Barry 25-20

Semi-final lost to Pittsfield 43-25

Pittsfield lost to Winchester in title game

1942-43 IHSA District Champions Coach M.G. West

Season Record Needed

District Scores Needed

Pittsfield Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Perry 43-23

Perry beat Pittsfield in title game.

Nebo High School Pirates

1942-43 District Champions

1943-44 IHSA District Champions Coach's name & record needed

District Scores Needed

IHSA Regional Tournament

Regional Scores Needed

1944-45 Milton District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Pearl 34-24

Title Game lost to Milton 31-30 (O/T)

1945-46 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Pittsfield 60-42

Pittsfield beat Griggsville in title game

1946-47 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Pittsfield 43-27

Pittsfield beat Winchester in title game

1947-48 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1948-49 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Barry 56-39

Semi-final lost to Winchester 65-30

Winchester lost to Pittsfield in title game.

1949-50 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Pittsfield 59-22

Pittsfield lost to Winchester in title game

1950-51 Barry Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Griggsville 55-37

Griggsville beat Pittsfield in title game.

1951-52 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Griggsville 85-27

Griggsville lost to Perry in semi-final

Perry beat Pleasant Hill in title game.

1952-53 Pittsfield Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Griggsville 78-43

Griggsville lost to Perry in semi-final

Perry lost to Pittsfield in title game.

1953-54 Griggsville Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Winchester 68-32

Winchester lost to Griggsville in semi-final

Griggsville beat Pittsfield in title game

1954-55 Pleasant Hill Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Winchester 61-20

Winchester beat Pittsfield in title game.

**Last score listed for Nebo High School, possibly closed in the summer of 1955.

The Winchester Invitational Tournament

Nebo High School had some real nice success in the 1930s while playing in the annual Winchester Invitational Tournament. Check out this record as researched by Mark Jurenga:

Three championships in a row, four overall!

1930- Champions over Murrayville      Coach: Metzger
1931- Champions over Griggsville       Coach: Metzger
1932- Champions over Winchester     Coach: Metzger
1933- 4th Place; lost to Murrayville
1934- Champions over Murrayville      Coach: Metzger
1937- 3rd Place over Winchester

Commencement Excercise

Check out this info from the Class of 1922's graduation ceremony provided to us by Greg and Kay Watson:

Class of Nineteen Hundred Twenty-two
Nebo High School

Commencement Exercises
Monday Evening

May Fifteenth
at eight o'clock

Class Motto:
"Climb"

Class Colors:
Purple and Gold

Class Flower:
American Beauty Rose

Class Roll:
NINA O. W ARD
CARL V. HOLLIS
LODA E. GRIMES
LAVONA M. HACK
JESSIE O. SMITH
BLANCHE B. BARTON
HALLIE E. BURBRIDGE
JESSIE M. TURNBEAUGH

L. T. Whiteside, Principal
M. V. Jouett, Assistant Principal
(Transcribed from Blanche (Barton) Sheppard's scrapbooks)

We are seeking further information regarding Nebo High School's Pirates and the town of Nebo. If you can help us out please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form. We are especially looking for a photo of the school building. You may also write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Flight Sign

Nebo, Illinois