Chicago Lourdes High School "Lions"
*HOME PAGE
Closed High Schools Alumni Apparel
*RECENT UPDATES
FAQs
*CLOSED HIGH SCHOOLS LISTED BY COUNTY
IN THE BEGINNING - Where Closed High Schools Consolidated To
CLOSED HSs SOUTH of I-72
*YOUR COMMENTS
*CONTACT US
*THE "TO-DO" LIST
*ABOUT THE AUTHORS
GREAT CONFERENCES
*CLOSED ILLINOIS GRADE SCHOOLS
RELIGIOUS ORDERS
MASCOTS & NICKNAMES
HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOLS
*LINKS TO OTHER SITES
COUNTRY SCHOOLS / SPECIAL BLDGS
*Ctry. Schools-Wtsde. Cty.
THE TOP 25
*Schools That Start With "A"
*Ashland High School
*Ashkum High School
*Schools That Start With "B"
*Balcom High School
*Blue Is. Mother of Sorrows
*Burbank Queen of Peace HS
*Schools That Start With "C"
*Cabery High School
Champaign St. Mary HS
*Chicago Calumet H.S.
Chi Central YMCA HS
*Chicago Forrestville HS
*Chgo Harvard St. George
*Chi Heart of Mary HS
*Chicage Little Flower HS
*Chicago Lourdes HS
*Chgo St. Benedict HS
*Chgo St. Mary of Per. Help
*Chicago St. Mel HS
*Chi St. Pat's Girls/West
Chicago St. Sebastian HS
*Colchester High School
*Schools That Start With "D"
Dalton City High School
DesPlaines Maryville Ac.
Dudley Township HS
*Schools That Start With "E"
*Schools That Start With "F"
*Forrest Township H. S.
*Forrest-Strawn-Wing HS
*Schools That Start With "G"
*Gridley High School
*Schools That Start With "H"
*Schools That Start With... "I"
*Schools That Start With "J"
*Schools That Start With "K"
*Kempton High School
*Kempton-Cabery H.S.
*Kenney High School
*Schools That Start With "L"
La Prairie High School
Landes High School
*Logan (Hanaford) HS
Ludlow High School
*Schools That Start With "M"
*Macedonia High School
*Macomb Western HS
*Mineral High School
*Mound City Lovejoy HS
*Schools That Start With "N"
*Neponset High School
*Schools That Start With "O"
*Schools That Start With "P"
*Paw Paw HS
*Plattville High School
*Schools That Start With "Q"
*Schools That Start With "R"
*Rankin High School
*Schools That Start With "S"
*Sprngfld Cathed./Griffin HS
*Stockland High School
*Strawn High School
*Schools That Start With.. "T"
^T'toplis/W'mont St. Joseph
*Schools That Start With.. "U"
*Schools That Start With.. "V"
*Valier High School
*Schools That Start With "W"
*Wing High School
*Schools That Start With.. "X"
*Schools That Start With.. "Y"
*Schools That Start With.. "Z"
CLOSED HSs CHICAGO

Lourdes High School
lourdeshsentrancedav.jpg
Courtesy of "A History of Offices, Agencies, & Institutions in the Archdiocese of Chicago"

 
                             The History of Chicago Lourdes High School
 
Chicago (population: 2.8 million) is located along the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois. From its early days as a Potawatomie settlement, then as the site of Fort Dearborn in 1803, which led up to the formation of the city and its incorporation in 1833 and 1837, respectively, the "City of Big Shoulders" became a major location in the US for various reasons. Railroads and water transportation were two reasons why Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the country during the 19th Century.

Today, numerous railroads and highways of interstate, US, state, and local designations bring people together in the city on a daily basis, as does air traffic at O'Hare and Midway Airports. Chicago is a melting pot of people from many nationalities, making it ethnically diverse, and thus, is referred to as "the cultural, economic, and financial capital of the Midwest" (according to Wikipedia).   

Lourdes High School opened for business in the middle of the Great Depression as high school-aged girls began attending classes in 1936 on the South Side of Chicago in the Bridgeport neighborhood. The school was operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, and served its purpose to educate young ladies under the name of Lourdes until its closing in 2002. The remaining students were admitted to DeLaSalle Institute, and moved into a building that was used by St. Mary of Perpetual Help. The building in which Lourdes was located is now used by being used as John Hancock High School.

Lourdes alumni have formed themselves an alumnae association that deals with gathering all 8,000 or so graduates together to remember the school and what it meant to their teenage years. The following link gives some details: http://www.dls.org/alumnae_lourdes/index.jsp?rn=4125187

Lourdes High School Logo
lourdeslogo.jpg
courtesy of Margaret Grabowski

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CHICAGO LOURDES HIGH SCHOOL
 
Year opened:         1936
Year closed:           2002
Now used as:         John Hancock High School
School Colors:        Blue & White
School nickname:   the "Lions"
School song:          "The Lourdian"
                                        Submitted by Richard Stalmack
 
                             When a Lourdian walks down the street,
                             She looks a hundred per from head to feet. 
                             She's got that smile, that style, that winning way,  
                             Why just to look at her, you will recognize her and
                             You'll say now that's a girl I'd like to know,
                             She's got that Lourdes High Spirit, Pep and
                             Go..........................it's hard to be beat a Lourdian!
 
 
ATHLETICS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
 
Lourdes students had the opportunity to compete in athletics while it was a member of the Girls' Chicagoland Athletic Conference (also known as GCAC). Basketball was a big sport, as well as volleyball and badminton. It could be possible that softball and track were also offered at the school, but there are no records to prove this on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org).
 
 
BASKETBALL
 
In a two-year period, Lourdes established itself as a top team in the state of Illinois. Heading into the AA tournament during the 1987-88 season, coach Don Haynes' girls were fifth in the final regular season poll conducted by the Associated Press that season. All-stater Arlena Roach and her teammates made it to the Elite Eight in Urbana-Champaign before bowing out in a tight game to Naperville North.  
 
1986-87AA          Regional Champions         unknown
1987-88AA  26-4  ELITE EIGHT IN STATE!!  Coach Don Haynes
                           Regional Champions
                            Sectional Champions
                             Defeated Chicago Heights Marian 65-41 in supersectional
                              Lost to Naperville North in quarterfinals, 40-39
 
The program is also mentioned in the IHSA record books for scoring at both ends of the spectrum. The 1988 team defeated Good Counsel 121-41 in a January contest for one of the highest point totals, but less than two years later in November 1990, Mother McAuley outscored Lourdes, 107-6, in one of the largest margins of victory.
 
 
BADMINTON
 
During the springs of 1979 and 1980, Lourdes was one of the top 10 teams in the state finals standings. Led by Sandy Colby, the school was also blessed with having an outstanding player who made it to the singles finals both years and brought home a state title in 1980. 
 
1979      Tied for 9th in state             coach unknown
              STATE FINAL STANDINGS
               1  Arlington Heights Arlington       19
               8  Oak Forest                                  6.5 
               9  Springfield Sacred Heart            6  
                   Waukegan East                          6  
                   Barrington                                   6  
                   Burbank Reavis                          6  
                   Chicago Lourdes                      6
            
                INDIVIDUAL PLACER
                Sandy Colby ---  2nd in singles
                 (lost to Linda French of Elmhurst York in finals, 11-2, 11-3) 
 
1980        Tied for 9th in state           coach unknown
                STATE FINAL STANDINGS
                 1  Arlington Heights Arlington        20   
                 8  Oak Park-River Forest                7.5 
                 9  Tinley Park Andrew                     7  
                     Wheaton North                           7  
                     Chicago Lourdes                      7
 
                INDIVIDUAL PLACER
                   Sandy Colby --- STATE CHAMPION in singles!!!
                   (defeated Linda French of Elmhurst York in finals, 0-3, 11-7, 11-6) 
 
 
VOLLEYBALL
 
This may have been the most consistent sport that the school played, based on the number of plaques won in the state tournament series. In an eight-year period, Lourdes brought home five pieces of hardware for their trophy case.
 
The Lions' volleyball history goes back as far as 1940. That year, the Catholic girls schools of Lourdes, Loretto High, Loretto Academy, St. Martin, and Mercy competed in a tournament. In 1944, the Catholic Youth Organization began sponsoring an annual girls' tournament among the Chicago Archdiocese schools, according to prep historian Robert Pruter.
 
1979AA              District Champions     coach unknown     
1980AA              District Champions     coach unknown     
1984AA              Regional Champions  coach unknown    
1985AA              Regional Champions  coach unknown   
1986AA              Regional Champions  coach unknown  
 
 
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
Even though Lourdes is no longer a high school operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph – Third Order of Saint Francis, there is a need to preserve the school's history. According to its alumni relations director, Margaret Grabowski, she is asking for all Lourdes alums and friends for help:
 
"Part of my job description at De La Salle is to work with Lourdes High School Alums, and I am working on creating a welcoming atmosphere at the De La Salle Lourdes Hall Campus for the women who attended Lourdes High School.

If you had any pictures of the interior and exterior of the building, a copy of the school song, any memorabilia, etc. or if you happen to know where I can go to do more research on the history of the high school I would really appreciate your help in accomplishing my goals for the women of Lourdes High School.

Please feel free to email me back at grabowskim@dls.org with any information you have. Or you can call me at either: 312-842-7355, ext 138, or at 773-650-6800, ext 194.

Thank you again for all of your help.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Margaret Grabowski

Assistant Director of Admissions/Alumni Relations-De La Salle Lourdes Hall

WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS DID LOURDES PARTICIPATE IN?
 
That is a question we need help answering. If you are a graduate or know something about the school's history, we'd like to hear from you. Items such as the words to the school song, names of famous alums, coaches and athletes, as well as win-loss records are greatly appreciated. A photo of the school during its prime would also be a welcome addition. Please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can send your information via USPS to us at:
 
Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 North Neva
Chicago, IL  60631