La Harpe High School "Eagles"

La Harpe High School Building Complex

http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/hancock/laharpe/sch_laharpe.html

La Harpe High School Entrance

http://www.hancock.k12.il.us/laharpe/

The History of La Harpe High School

La Harpe (population 1,385) is located in upper-western Illinois in the northeastern corner of Hancock County. The Illinois Routes of 9 and 94 intersect on the western edge of the town. The Railroad lines of Keokuk Junction and Toledo, Peoria, & Western also meet in La Harpe. The Mississippi River flows about 10 miles to the west of town. Macomb is located about 15 miles to the southeast of La Harpe.

An excellent history of the town of La Harpe can be viewed at http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/hancock/laharpe/history_laharpe.html. In summary the article states the following:

The area of La Harpe was first explored in the early 1700s by a French Explorer named Bernard de LaHarpe. In the 1830s the town was established and was initially named Franklin. When the townspeople were advised that Franklin was a name already used by another town in Illinois, it was suggested to name the town La Harpe after the French explorer.

The town of La Harpe was chartered in 1859. It welcomed a railroad line in 1867, a new fire truck in 1888, and a new library in 1905.

La Harpe Grade School Building - First HS Bldg.?

A website regarding La Harpe School District is found at http://www.hancock.k12.il.us/laharpe/. The school was likely founded in the late 1800s. The high school has served the community and surrounding farm families for over 100 years. It was in the early 2000s that talks of consolidation arose.

La Harpe residents agreed to a consolidation effort with Carthage and Dallas City. The effort would create the Illini West School District. Illini West High School will be located in Carthage. This consolidation effort was realized at the end of the 2006-07 school year, causing the end of the era of La Harpe High School.

For more historical information on La Harpe and its former high school, check out the Wikipedia web address of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Harpe,_Illinois .

To view exerpts from "The Quill Newspaper" regarding La Harpe HS that were recorded during the school's final month check out the web address of

http://www.quillnewspaper.com/2007/May/index.html .

La Harpe High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1898

Year closed: 2007

Number of graduates final year: 23

Consolidated to: Illini West School District (Carthage)

LaHarpe HS team nickname: the "Eagles"

LaHarpe HS team colors: Purple & Gold

School Fight Song: "We're Loyal To You La Harpe High"

Provided by Jean Dougherty

We're loyal to you La Harpe High
We're purple and gold La Harpe High
We'll back you to stand
We’re the best in the land
For we know you can stand, La Harpe High!

RAH! RAH!

So do all things right La Harpe High
Take all things in sight La Harpe High
Our team is our fame protector
On! boys, for we expect a
Victory from you La Harpe High!

Rah! Rah!

ATHLETICS

The La Harpe High School Eagles had some memorable seasons in several different sports. The boys competed in football, basketball, baseball, and track. The girls competed in softball, volleyball, basketball, and track. On the academic side the kids of La Harpe High School faired well in Speech Sweepstakes, Individual Events, and the Scholastic Bowl competitions.

We do need several season records and coach's names from each sport. We would also like to share information regarding the school's fight song.

BOYS BASEBALL

The boys of the baseball diamond had four seasons in which they earned some hardware in the IHSA State Tournament. Regional titles were won in 1997, 2002, 2004, and 2006. Former Coach Todd Porter tells us of the co-ops that La Harpe High School was a part of during the 1990s and 2000s:

"I was the varsity baseball coach for the LaHarpe-Northwestern Thunder from 1992-2003, which was the last year that co-op existed. I was also the varsity coach for what then became the LaHarpe-West Prairie Cyclones from 2004-2006."

As you can tell by looking at the records below, Coach Porter's teams had some incredible seasons. Coach Porter has carried on his winning tradition as the current head coach of Carthage Illini West High School.

1992-LH/NW     7 - 9                                            Coach Todd Porter
1993-LH/NW     8 - 4                                            Coach Todd Porter
1994-LH/NW     9 - 8                                            Coach Todd Porter
1995-LH/NW   16 - 8                                            Coach Todd Porter
1996-LH/NW   18 - 2                                            Coach Todd Porter

1997-LH/NW 20 - 6 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter

1998-LH/NW   14 - 6                                            Coach Todd Porter
1999-LH/NW   22 - 7                                            Coach Todd Porter
2000-LH/NW   22 - 7                                            Coach Todd Porter
2001-LH/NW   27 - 6                                            Coach Todd Porter

2002-LH/NW 27 - 4 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter

2003-LH/NW 8 - 17 Coach Todd Porter

2004-LH/WP 25 - 8 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter

2005-LH/WP 19 - 6 Coach Todd Porter

2006-LH/WP 18 - 9 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter

GIRLS SOFTBALL

The lady Eagles earned a trophy for their school as well. The girls of 1975-76 earned a Regional title trophy for the school. Team record and coach's name of this and other softball teams at LCHS are needed.

1975-76 Regional Champions

BOYS BASKETBALL

The boys of the hardwood court earned three Regional titles in a very tough basketball area. One of the titles was won in the original one-class IHSA Tournament. Several scores involving La Harpe High School while participating in the annual IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores". These scores are printed below. Again, coach's names and team records are needed to help make this section complete.

1922-23 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1933-34 Macomb District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Augusta 48-34

Augusta won District Tournament

1934-35 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1935-36 Carthage District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Burnside 44-22

Burnside won District Tournament

1936-37 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1937-38 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1938-39 Carthage District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Bowen 38-23

Bowen lost title game to Hamilton

1939-40 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1940-41 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Plymouth 22-21

Plymouth lost in semi-final round

1942-43 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Dallas City 35-17

Dallas City won Regional Tournament

1943-44 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1944-45 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Dallas City 48-29

Dallas City won Regional Tournament

1945-46 Carthage Regional Champions! Coach's name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Dallas City 42-33

Semi-final Beat Elvaston 34-24

Title Game Beat Warsaw 32-20

Macomb Sectional Tournament

Semi-final lost to Canton 54-31

Canton lost title game to Galesburg

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

1st Rd lost to Hamilton 40-25

Hamilton lost title game to Dallas City

1947-48 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Dallas City 55-27

Dallas City lost title game to Carthage

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

1st Rd lost to Dallas City 56-29

Dallas City won Regional Tourney over Hamilton

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

1st Rd lost to Carthage 59-38

Carthage won Regional Tournament over Bowen

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

1st Rd lost to Plymouth 74-40

Plymouth lost title game to Bowen

1951-52 8-15 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach Bob Jones

1st Rd lost to Carthage 66-26

Carthage lost in semi-final round

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

1st Rd lost to Bowen 71-39

Bowen won Regional over Carthage

1953-54 Carthage Regional Runner-up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Hamilton 48-31

Semi-final Beat Augusta 44-40

Title Game lost to Bowen 48-36

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

1st Rd lost to Warsaw 53-44

Warsaw lost in semi-final round

1955-56 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Augusta 69-62

Augusta lost in title game

1956-57 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carthage 61-45

Carthage lost title game to Plymouth

1957-58 Warsaw Regional Tournament Coach Evemeyer

1st Rd lost to Warsaw 82-35

Warsaw beat Carthage for title

1958-59 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Warsaw 70-40

Warsaw beat Carthage for title

1959-60 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1960-61 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Warsaw 67-63

Warsaw lost in semi-final round

1961-62 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Hamilton 62-47

Hamilton lost to Carthage in title game

1962-63 Dallas City Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Warsaw 56-45

Warsaw beat Dallas City for title

1963-64 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Warsaw 70-51

Warsaw beat Dallas City for title

1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1965-66 Dallas City Regional Runner-up Coach's name & record needed

Title Game lost to Hamilton 72-56

1966-67 LaHarpe Regional Runner-up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Carthage 52-42

Semi-final Beat Hamilton 62-53

Title Game lost to Dallas City 58-57 (2 O/Ts)

1967-68 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Hamilton 68-37

Hamilton lost title game to Carthage

1968-69 18-7 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach Logan

1st Rd lost to Augusta 63-53

Augusta lost in semi-final round

1969-70 Dallas City Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carthage 57-40

Carthage lost title game to Warsaw

1970-71 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Carthage 80-50

Carthage lost to Hamilton in title game

1971-72 Hamilton Class 'A' Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Augusta SE 47-40

Augusta won Regional Title over Hamilton

1972-73 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' name needed.

1973-74 23-3 Regional Champions Coach Steve Mitchell

Title Game Beat Nauvoo-Colusa 68-59
Quincy Sectional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Quincy Catholic Boys 77-63

Quincy Catholic Boys won Sectional over Havana

Quincy Catholic Boys placed 4th at State Tourney

1974-75 through 1981-82 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' name needed.

1982-83 Regional Champions Coach's name & record needed

Regional Scores Needed

Lewistown Sectional Tournament

Semi-final lost to Beardstown 78-50

Beardstown lost title game to Havana

Havana placed 4th at State Tournament

1983-84 through 2000-01 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

2001-02 Coach David Billitor (partial season 2 - 7)

2001-02 through 2006-07 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

*LaHarpe High School closed after the 2006-07 school year to join the Carthage Illini West School District.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The girls did not win any IHSA tourney hardware, but we are confident there were some nice seasons in the school's history. Coach Jim Cox led the charge in the late 1980s. More team records and coach's names are needed to complete the history of this sport for La Harpe High School.

1987-88 6 - 16 Coach Jim Cox
1988-89 2 - 20 Coach Jim Cox

BOYS FOOTBALL

The football program at La Harpe High School ventured into the IHSA State football playoffs twice in the late 1980s. Coach Tim Lafferty led the grid iron heroes from at least 1986 through 1991. We know that the La Harpe boys played football through the close of the school as they were part of the West Prairie co-op between LHS and Sciota Northwestern. Any further information on this program is welcome.

1951-52 5 - 2 - 1 Coach Bob Jones

1957-58 Coach Don Corry

1968-69 3 - 4 - 1 Coach Ray Downs

1985-86 5 - 4 (Coach's name needed)

1986-87 6 - 4 IHSA Class 1A Qualifier Coach Tim Lafferty

Lost to Warsaw 16 - 8

1987-88 6 - 4 IHSA Ciass 1A Qualifier Coach Tim Lafferty

Lost to Roseville 20 - 0

1988-89    0 - 9                                                      Coach Tim Lafferty
1989-90    0 - 9                                                      Coach Tim Lafferty
1990-91    2 - 7                                                      Coach Tim Lafferty
1991-92    3 - 6                                                      Coach Tim Lafferty

We are told that La Harpe High School co-oped with with Sciota Northwestern and were known as the "Thunder" in football through the consolidation of Northwestern and Colchester (who formed the West Prairie School District). The West Prairie - La Harpe co-op was then called the "Cyclones".

As a part of this co-op arrangement, the La Harpe folks enjoyed some incredible football success, including SECOND place finishes in the IHSA State Finals in 1996 and 2000!

La Harpe football results as part of the co-op with Sciota Northwestern and West Prairie schools:

As Sciota Northwestern - La Harpe "Thunder":

1992-95 Coach Tim Lafferty

1995-96 10 - 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Stronghurst Southern 34 - 8

Beat Flanagan 34 - 8

Lost to Carthage 14 - 0

Carthage State Champions

1996-97 13 - 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

TEAM FINISHED SECOND IN STATE!!

Beat ROWVA 26 - 0

Beat Biggsville Union 41 - 0

Beat Monmouth Warren 20 - 13

Beat Greenfield 14 - 10

Lost to Chenoa 35 - 28

1997-98 9 - 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Undefeated Regular Season

Lost to Villa Grove 14 - 9

1998-99 7 - 3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Lost to Sterling Newman 35 - 8

Newman finished 2ND

1999-00 10 - 2 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Forreston 30 - 8

Beat Walter Lutheran 36 - 35 (O/T)

Lost to Fulton 34 - 7

2000-01 13 - 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Undefeated Regular Season

TEAM FINISHED SECOND IN STATE!!

Beat Yorkwood 39 - 8

Beat Forreston 32 - 14

Beat Lexington 35 - 7

Beat East Dubuque 23 - 16

Lost to Carthage 14 - 0

2001-02 11 - 1 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Undefeated Regular Season

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Iroquois West 42 - 0

Beat Tuscola 28 - 15

Lost to Moweaqua 26 - 18

Moweaqua Finished 2ND

2002-03 10 - 2 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Virginia 50 - 6

Beat Beardstown 38 - 13

Lost to Carthage 30 - 8

Carthage Finished 2ND

As West Prairie-La Harpe Cyclones:

2003-04 9 - 2 Qualified for Class 3A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Beat Petersburg PORTA 42 - 20

Lost to Tolono 21 - 14

2005-06 7 - 3 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty

Lost to Bushnell-Prairie City 38 - 27

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

One District title and two Regional Championships were the highlights of the lady netters program. This includes one great "last hurrah" as the Cyclones won the last Regional title in the school's history in the school's final year of existence. Team records and coach's names of these and other great Eagle volleyball teams are needed.

1981-82            District Champions
1997-98            Regional Champions
2006-07            Regional Champions

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

The Eagle thin clads had four boys earn medals at the IHSA State Track meet. Two of those individuals, a gentleman named Claycomb and Gene Maynard, earned Gold Medals! In fact, Gene Maynard earned his under the old one-class system, earning him the unquestionable state championship in his event, the 880 Yard Run !!

1921B Individual Medalists

              Claycomb              440 Yard Dash      State Champion!!
              Hancock                100 Yard Dash      4TH Place
              Nelson                   Pole Vault            4TH Place

1949 Gene Maynard 880 Yard Run 3RD Place

1950 Gene Maynard 880 Yard Run State Champion!!

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

The Eagle lady tracksters had one individual medal at the IHSA State Meet. Jaimie Jones earned medals in FOUR consecutive trips to the State Finals in her specialty, the high jump!! In her junior and senior years Jamie captured the IHSA Class 'A' STATE CHAMPIONSHIP as part of the Northwestern-LaHarpe Girls Track Coop effort!!

1995A Jaime Jones High Jump 3RD Place

1996A Jaime Jones High Jump 2ND Place

1997A Jamie Jones High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

1998A Jamie Jones High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

OTHER EXTRA-CURRICULAR COMPETITIONS

The IHSA also offers competition in non-sporting events as well. La Harpe High School faired well, bringing home hardware in the "Speech Individual Events", "Speech Sweepstakes", and "Scholastic Bowl" competitions!!!!

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

1958 Individual Medalist - Delbert Dahl After Dinner 4TH Place

1959 Individual Medalist - Karen Moyes After Dinner 3RD Place

1960 Individual Medalist - Karen Moyes Orat. Declam. 5TH Place

1960-61 Team Won District and Sectional Championships!!

1961-62 Team Won District Championship

1961 Individual Medalist - David Louden Orig. Comedy 3RD Place

1968-69 Team Won Sectional Championship

1969 Individual Medalist - Jackie Howd Orat. Declam. 3RD Place

SCHOLASTIC BOWL

1999-00 24 - 4 Team Place FOURTH in IHSA Competition!! Coach Barbara Ramsey

Team Won Sectional Championship

SPEECH SWEEPSTAKES

1953-54 Team Won District Championship

1957-58 Team Won District Championship

1959-60 Team Won District and Sectional Championship

LA HARPE HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

*Charlie Apt - Principal 1984-85 to 2003-04

We Are Seeking Further Information...

...regarding La Harpe High School's Cyclones. If you can help us out please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. We are especially looking for a photo of the school building. You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

La Harpe High School Building Entrance Letters