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| Edwardsville Lincoln High School |
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| Submitted by Ryan Downey, Submitted by Dennis Downey |
| Edwardsville Lincoln High School Inscription |
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| Courtesy of Ryan Downey, Submitted by Dennis Downey |
The History of Edwardsville Lincoln High School
Edwardsville (population 21,491) is located in southwestern Illinois in the center of Madison County. Edwardsville
is located about 15 miles northeast of East St. Louis. It is, in fact, the county seat of Madison County.
The Illinois Routes of 143, 157, and 159 all lead you to and from Edwardsville. Interstate Highway 55 is located
about 2 miles east of Edwardsville. Dunlap Lake is located on the cities southeast side. The Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad travels through town as well.
A nice history of the Edwardsville School system is located on the Edwardsville Community School District website.
The information can be viewed on the webpage located at http://www.ecusd7.org/about_us/history.asp . The following is the information in regards to Lincoln High School's history:
"In 1877, a free school for black children was opened in a building that had formerly been used as the county courthouse.
The building, located in “lower town” (North Main Street), would eventually become Lincoln School.
In 1911, a petition was brought to the Board of Education asking for the erection of a new building for black students.
The old building was razed, and a new, larger Lincoln School was built on the same North Main Street Site in 1912. A two-year
high school department was also added to Lincoln at that time.
In 1949, the first steps were taken toward a highly significant and long overdue event in the Edwardsville district:
the integration of its schools. First, the high school department of Lincoln School was consolidated with Edwardsville High
School. Then, in 1951, all city elementary schools were integrated, with Lincoln School also reopening one year later as an
integrated elementary school."
1869 -- Madison County's old circuit clerk's office is designated as Edwardsville's "colored" school.
1912 -- Lincoln
School opens at 1210 N. Main St. in Edwardsville.
1935 -- Curriculum is expanded to include 11th grade.
1939 -- Edwardsville
School District adds two more classrooms and a gymnasium.
1940 -- Curriculum is expanded to include 12th grade.
1951
-- School district is integrated and Lincoln is closed for renovation.
1952 -- Lincoln opens as an integrated elementary
school.
1972 -- School is closed because it's "unnecessary, unsuitable and inconvenient."
1978 -- Building is sold to
local businessman, who converts it into Old Edwardsville Town Square
shopping mall.
1999 -- Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity buys
building and converts it into a fraternity house.
2005 -- Fraternity moves out and lists the building for sale.
2007
-- The Bank of Edwardsville acquires building at public auction There is great news for
the future of this grand and historic building which was presented to us by Nola Jones Williams:
" My name is Nola Jones Williams. I am the granddaughter
of Lincoln School's principal, Mr. Christopher Columbus (C. C.) Jones. Grandpa was at Lincoln School from
1902-1950, 48 years! In 1986 those persons who had attended the historic Lincoln School held a reunion. I wanted
to attend, but the event was closed, due to space limitations, to persons and partners of schools' alumni. That did
not include me.
I wrote a book--Lincoln School Memories, A History of Blacks in Edwardsville, Illinois.
The book became my "ticket" to attend the reunion and to actually speak at the historic event.
Next summer (2015) the Lincoln School building is going to open for
use again. The material you have published on the internet is "dated" in that there is more to the story, and it is very
exciting: Mannie Jackson purchased the building from the bank, has donated the building to
the Lewis and Clark Community College system, and next August the building is scheduled to open as the Mannie
Jackson Center for the Humanities…
Your contact for actuate information
on the future of the building is Lewis and Clark Community College System in Godfrey, IL. I am excited beyond words!"
| Murals on the Walls of Lincoln High School |
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| Submitted by Ryan Downey, Submitted by Dennis Downey |
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Inscription on mural above states:
"We were segregated, but against great odds, learning, life skills, and education took place in
this building." "Herman Shaw"
Unfortunately,
with the 2015 renovation of the building, the mural has been taken down.
Edwardsville Lincoln High School Quick Facts
Year 2-year HS opened:
1912
Year 3-year HS offered: 1935
Year 4-year HS offered:
1940
Year closed:
1951
Consolidated to:
Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7
Ed. Lincoln HS team nickname: "Trojans"
Ed. Lincoln HS team colors: Blue & White
School Fight Song:
unavailable
Athletics
As you can see in the mural above, the Edwardsville Lincoln High School "Trojans" competed in basketball
as part of the athletic program. Baseball and track may have been on order as well for the boys.
If you have any further information regarding this aspect of Lincoln High in Edwardsville please share it with us.
Memories
& Facts **From Nola
Jones Williams: "RE: Lincoln School; 1210 N. Main St., Edwardsville, IL
They (Lincoln School teams) were basketball powerhouses.
I recently researched the Lincoln
Trojans in the local paper, Edwardsville Intelligencer.
What I learned is that there was a high school team and a
grade school team. Sometimes their games also included a game with a team
called "Edwardsville All-Stars". A 1951 newspaper article says that the Lincoln
Trojans did not lose any games on the home court from 1946-1951! They were
awesome!
The list of schools played in basketball seems to be
synonymous with "closed schools" in southern Illinois and St. Louis County. The
Lincoln Trojans played Pocahontas Indians, St. Jacobs, Mulberry Grove, E. St.
Louis Lincoln Tigers, Lovejoy in Alton, Fillmore, Livingston, Festus Trojans,
Milton Turner in Kirkwood, Kinloch, Sorento Greyhounds, Worden, Madison Dunbar
Bears, St. Charles, Venice, Coffeen, Lovejoy (Brooklyn), and St. Paul
(Highland).
There is much more. I suggest that you look at Lincoln
School Memories, follow what is happening over the next year, and look in
local newspaper for information from the past 100 plus years.
I love what you have published!"
Extra-Curricular Activities Other activities of interest may have included dances,
plays, band, chorus, and various clubs. If you have any information please contact us via the means listed below. Famous Alum Mannie Jackson,
part owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, attended Edwardsville Lincoln before finishing his high school education at Edwardsville
High.
Seeking Information
If you have any information regarding the former Edwardsville Lincoln High School please write
to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via real mail at:
IHSGD Website
6439 N. Neva Ave.
Chicago, Il. 60631
| Photo by Ryan Downey, Courtesy of Dennis Downey |
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