The History of New Salem High School
New Salem (population 136) is located in the lower western portion of Illinois. The village sits in
the northwestern portion of Pike County. The nearest city of note might be Quincy, located about 30 miles west-northwest
of New Salem. County Highways 2 and 3 intersect at New Salem. County Highway 3 is also named Pittsfield road and
connects New Salem to the county seat of the same name. Interstate Highway 72 passes by town about 2 miles to the south.
The Norfolk Southern Railroad passes by the south edge of town as well.
The history of this town and its former high school is in need of research. We could find no historical
account of its origin on the internet. We do know that it must often get mistaken for the historical site of Abraham
Lincoln's boyhood home in Menard County. If you have any information on the history of New Salem please write to us and share
it on this site.
The only knowledge of New Salem High School that we have comes from the contents of a 1941 yearbook from
New Canton High School submitted to us by B. Waters. According to this yearbook, New Canton HS defeated New Salem HS in
boys basketball twice that season. We believe that like many of the smaller town high schools in the area,
New Salem was a three-year high school whose kids would finish there fourth year of education at Griggsville or Pittsfield.
It is probable that New Salem High School closed in the late 1940s, either 1948 or 1949. It is likely
the kids of New Salem now attend high school at Griggsville-Perry, Barry Western, or Pittsfield high schools. We
are interested in any information you can share about the former New Salem High School.
New Salem High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
1920s?
Year closed:
late 1940s
Consolidated to: Griggsville
or Pittsfield high schools
New Salem HS nickname: unavailable
New Salem HS colors: unavailable
School Fight Song:
unavailable
