East Mendota High School

East Mendota School

Mendota, IL

The History of East Mendota High School

Mendota, Illinois (population 7,272) is located 15 miles north of LaSalle-Peru and 30 miles south of Rochelle along Illinois Route 251 (old Route 51) in northwest LaSalle County in North Central Illinois. U.S. Routes 34 and 52, Interstate 39 and Illinois Route 92 also take you to Mendota, as well as the BNSF railway.

Mendota was served by two school districts by the turn of the century, just Dixon (see North Dixon), Belvidere, and Batavia were (see East and West Batavia). The dividing line was the railroad tracks, which ran north-south. the East Mendota school district was located on the east side of the tracks.

The school district began in 1867 and a three-story building was built to house school purposes. The school offered a three-year high school course beginning in 1892. In 1906, a fourth year of high school was added.

Before 1910, talks began concerning consolidation of the East school and the West school. The effort became a reality in 1910 when the two schools merged together. The West school retained the school district and the current Mendota High School's records can claim the west school's history.

East Mendota High School "Quick Facts":

Year school organized:                      1867
Year high school program began:     1892
Year high school program ceased:    1910
Building Status:                                 Unknown
School Colors:                                   Purple & Gold
School Mascot:                                  "Spartans"
School Song:                                    "Purple & Gold"

Sung to the University of Notre Dame Fight Song

Submitted by Jonathan Schmidt

Come all students of Mendota High,

We will shout our cheers to the sky.

‘Under the Purple and Gold flying on high

Loyalty will never die.

Wave our flags of purple and gold,

Brightly flashing high over head.

Always loyal, Mendota High,

Great our love for Mendota high.

We sing of glory and fame,

With true pride we’re praising your name.

Known throughout the Land and state

We are a school that’s truly great.

Everyone is singing your praise,

All our voices loudly we raise.

Always upright, noble and true,

three cheers for Mendota High!

Need Your Information

The East Mendota High School may have offered sports and other extra-curriculars, but that is not known at this time. We are hopeful an area "buff" will fill in the open areas regarding the history and accomplishments of the East Mendota school. If you have any information you can offer including our unknown "Quick Facts" information, please drop us an E-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net - or - you can write to us at:

Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 N. Neva
Chicago, IL 60631