Woodstock St. Mary Catholic H.S. "Fighting Irish"
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Woodstock St. Mary High School Building 2020
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Now St. Mary's Grade School

Woodstock St. Mary's School Complex & Church
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Woodstock St. Mary's School Entrance 2020
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The History of Woodstock St. Mary Catholic High School
 
Woodstock (population 21,985) is located in far northeastern Illinois. The city of Woodstock is the county seat of McHenry County. It is also a far northwestern suburb of Chicago, located 51 miles from the downtown Chicago area. U.S. Route 14 travels through Woodstock as do the Illinois Routes of 47 and 120. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad line passes through Woodstock as well.
 
According to the web address of http://www.awaketowoodstock.com/history_of_woodstock_il.htm, Woodstock was originally named Centerville. It was platted in 1844. The name of the town was changed to Woodstock in 1845 as the town was named the county seat of McHenry County. Woodstock was incorporated as an official Illinois village in 1852. Its status was changed to that of a "city" in 1873. The addition of the Chicago and North Western Railraod in 1855 contributed greatly to the town's rapid and early growth. 
 
St. Mary Parish in Woodstock was established in 1853. According to the web address of http://www.stmary-woodstock.org/parish_history4.asp, St. Mary's parish built a parochial school for its children in 1916. High School classes were added to the school in 1923. A gymnasium was added to the growing school complex in 1929. 

Woodstock St. Mary's School Cornerstone
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According to http://www.stmary-woodstock.org/parish_history5.asp, a new school building was built and added to the gym in 1951. Marian Central Catholic High School was erected in 1959, taking the lead in the education of high school-aged catholic students of the area. This effort led to the closing of St. Mary Catholic High School. The former St. Mary High School building was converted to a grade school serving grades 1-8. St. Mary Parish continues to support a K-8 grade school today.
 
St. Mary Catholic High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                        1923
Year closed:                         1959
Students now attend:             Marian Central Catholic High School
St. Mary HS team nickname:  the "Irish"
St. Mary HS team colors:       Green & White
St. Mary HS fight song:          unavailable

Woodstock St. Mary's Gym Entrance 2020
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ATHLETICS
 
With the gymnasium built in 1929, we are certain that basketball was a part of the St. Mary athletic program. We know that the Irish competed in football. We believe that other sports may have been offered as well, possibly baseball and track. We are searching for St. Mary High School's fight song, team records, coach's names, and individual accomplishments.

Woodstock St. Mary's HS Football Field 2020
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Woodstock St. Mary's Football Field Memorial
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FOOTBALL
 
The Irish were always competitive on the grid iron. Coach Mel Steussey was head coach of the football program for a remarkable 30 years from 1924 to 1953!! Coach Dick Rabbitt took over the coaching reins in 1954 and held the role until the school closed in the spring of 1959. 
 
Coach Steussey's boys won three Northeast Catholic Conference Championships. Research by our good man Tom Sikorski revealed the following excellent seasons that were turned in by the St. Mary High School Irish of Woodstock.
 
 
 
1945  3-3     Northeast Catholic Conf. Champions   Coach Mel Steussey
1949  6-1     Northeast Catholic Conf. Champions   Coach Mel Steussey
1950  5-1-1  Northeast Catholic Conf. Champions   Coach Mel Steussey
1955  4-2-1                                                                    Coach Dick Rabbitt        
1957  4-3                                                                       Coach Dick Rabbitt
1958  4-3                                                                       Coach Dick Rabbitt

Woodstock St. Mary's Gymnasium 2020
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BASKETBALL
 
The boys basketball program was also headed by Coach Mel Steussey at least through the 1951-52 school year, likely into the 1952-53 school year as well. One District Title was won in the IHSA State Tourney.
   
1922-23    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1923-24    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1924-25    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1925-26    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1926-27    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1927-28    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1928-29    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1929-30    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1930-31    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1931-32    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1932-33    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1933-34    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1934-35    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1935-36    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1936-37    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1937-38    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1938-39    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1939-40    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1940-41    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
1941-42    Team record needed                                           Coach Mel Steussey
    
1942-43                 Hebron District Tournament                   Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd lost to Huntley 21-16
                              Hebron beat Huntley in title game.
 
1943-44                 Hebron District Tourney Champs       Coach Mel Steussey
                              Early Round Scores Needed
                              Title Game Beat Hebron 33-30
                              Woodstock Regional TOurney
                              1st Rd lost to Arlington Hts. 46-44
                              Elgin beat Dundee in title game
    
1944-45                 Hebron District Runner-Up                   Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd Beat Capron 44-21
                              Semi-Final Beat Elgin St. Edward 42-36
                              Title Game lost to McHenry 38-33
   
1945-46                 Hebron District Tournament                   Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd Beat Poplar Grove 50-44
                              Semi-Final lost to Hebron 56-32
                              Elgin St. Edward beat Hebron in title game
   
1946-47                 Hebron District Tournament                   Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd Beat Poplar Grove 40-23
                              Semi-Final lost to Hebron 39-37
                              Hebron beat Elgin St. Edward in title game
   
1947-48                 Hebron District Tournament                   Coach Mel Steussey
                              Semi-Final lost to Hebron 47-43
                              Elgin St. Edward beat Hebron in title game.
                                   
1948-49    9 - 13    Hebron District Tournament                   Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd lost to Hebron 38-34
                              Elgin St. Edward beat Hebron in title game.
    
1949-50    7 - 17    Woodstock District Tournament             Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd Beat Huntley 28-20
WOODSTOCK ST. MARY’S (28): Nihan 11, Dunham 8, Freund 5, Collins 3, Menzel 2, Pokorny 1.
HUNTLEY (20): Williams 8, Donahue 5, Cohactner 5, Hughes 2.
                              Semi-Final lost to Alden-Hebron 44-27
ALDEN-HEBRON (44): Elliot 12, B. Nichols 9, Pa. Judson 8, Halsted 8, D. Nichols 5, Schulz 2.
WOODSTOCK ST. MARY’S (27): Pokorny 6, Freund 6, Nihan 6, Dunham 3, Burg 2, Collins 2, Menzel 2.
                              Alden-Hebron beat St. Edward in title game
         
1950-51    8 - 15    Richmond District Tournament               Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd Beat Richmond 45-41
                              Semi-Final lost to Elgin St. Edward 51-18
                              Hebron beat Elgin St. Edward in title game
                
1951-52    7 - 13    Richmond District Tournament               Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd Beat North Boone 51-45
                              Semi-Final lost to Hebron 45-16
                              Hebron beat Elgin St. Edward in title game
                              Hebron Won IHSA State Championship
   
1952-53                 Elgin District Tournament                        Coach Mel Steussey
                              1st Rd lost to Huntley 62-52
                              Elgin St. Edward beat Hebron in title game.
       .
1953-54  Team Record & coach's name needed.
1954-55  Team Record & coach's name needed.
       
1955-56                 Elgin District Tournament                       Coach's name needed
                              1st Rd lost to Richmond 73-56
                              Elgin St. Edward beat Richmond in title game.
            
1956-57                 Woodstock District Tournament             Coach's name needed
                              1st Rd Beat Huntley 40-37
                              Semi-Final lost to Richmond 73-43
                              Hebron beat Richmond in title game
                         
1957-58                 Poplar Grove District Tournament          Coach's name needed
                              1st Rd lost to North Boone 72-51
                              Elgin St. Edward beat North Boone in title game
     
1958-59                 Elgin District Tournament                       Coach's name needed
                              *1st Rd lost to Hampshire 70-60
                              Elgin St. Edward beat North Boone in title game.
*School's final HS basketball game.
  
       
Extra-Curricular Activities
 
Dances, plays, clubs, and many other activities were likely a part of the St. Mary HS experience as well. If you have any of this information you would like to share please contact us via the means listed below.
 
Do You Have Information About St. Mary High School of Woodstock? 
 
We are expecially interested in a photo of the high school building. You can reach us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via USPS at:
 
IHSGD Website
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631

Woodstock St. Mary's High School from NE
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Woodstock St. Mary's HS Building Side View 2020
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Now St. Mary's Grade School

Woodstock St. Mary HS Girls Entrance 2020
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Woodstock St. Mary's School Boys Entrance
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Woodstock St. Mary's HS Gym North Side 2020
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Woodstock St. Mary's Church Entrance 2020
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Woodstock St. Mary's Junior High School 2020
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Woodstock St. Mary's Statue & Playground
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