The History of Apple River High School
Apple River (population 379) is located in the northeast corner of Jo Davies County in the far northwestern
portion of Illinois. Apple River sits just a quarter mile south of the Wisconsin border. Stage Coach Trail is
the main roadway leading you to and from Apple River. The Chicago, Central, & Pacific Railroad travels through town
and was instrumental in its early growth. As a point of reference Apple River sits about 20 miles northeast
of Galena.
According to the web address of (click here) the following is a brief history of Apple River and its former high school:
Apple River was first settled in the early 1830s. By the 1840s enough families had moved into the
area that a school was established. It was in 1854 when the railroad line, now known as the Chicago, Central, &
Pacific, was laid through the area. The town was so named after a river of the same name which traveled through
the area and was the villages' water supply in the early days.
As railroad workers moved the tracks westward, the town of Apple River began to flourish. In 1868
Apple River was incorporated as a village after a very close vote by the men of the town.
Apple River residents built a school for their children in 1857. The town's population was growing
quickly and it became a necessity that a new school be built to accomodate the influx of new students. In 1873 a new
school building was built to house a high school in town.
A web site showing the graduating class of Apple River High School in 1938 was supplied to us by our good
fan, Roberta VanBriesen. You can take a look at it by clicking on the following web address:
We are continuing to look for information on Apple River High School. We only know that at some point,
the school district consolidated with its neighbor to the east, Warren. Warren High School continues to prosper
today.
Apple River maintained a grade school as part of the Warren School District. However this era
is coming to an end as well. According to the web address of
Apple River High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
1873
Year closed:
late 1940s?
Consolidated to:
Warren School District
Apple River HS team nickname: ?
Apple River HS team colors: ?
School Fight Song:
?
