Mendon Township High School

The History of Mendon Township High School

Mendon (population 883) is located in far west-central Illinois in the west-central portion of Adams County. The town is located about 10 miles north (and a little east) of Quincy. Illinois Route 61 is the main route to and from Mendon. Illinois Route 336 connects Mendon to Quincy and runs just east of town. The Mississippi River flows about 4 miles to the west of Mendon.

A nice early history of the town of Mendon can be read at the web address of http://history.rays-place.com/il/adams-mendon.htm. A brief summary of this article is as follows:

The area in which Mendon is located was first settled in the late 1820s to early 1830's. The town was platted in 1833 and originally named Fairfield. There was, however, already a town in Illinois named Fairfield so the name was changed to Mendon (the reason why the name Mendon was chosen is not listed). The town enjoyed immediate and steady growth. In 1867, the town of Mendon was officially incorporated. At that time it enjoyed the fruits brought to it by a railroad line that passed through town.

The information we have on the former Mendon Township High School was found on the Unity High School website at the internet address of http://www.fourstar.lib.il.us/community/cusd4/who/. The school was originally called simply Mendon High School. In 1937, several additions to the school building were made (including a gym) and the school soon became known as Mendon Township High School.

From the "Peoples' History of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois: A Sesquicentennial History" written in 1974 by Rev. Landry Genosky, OFM, Mendon had its first school in 1832, and the first high school was built in 1871 at a cost of $20,000.00. The two-story building had four classrooms, library, and offices along with a basement, large enough to house 250 students in grade and high school. The building was later renovated in 1904.

Mendon High would be become a four-year school in 1882 with seven graduates in the first class. The school would move into a newer building in 1918-19 and renamed Mendon Township High School at that time. The new location had six classrooms with manual training & domestic science courses added to the curriculum, cloakrooms, gym, and an auditorium that seated several hundred people. This school could also handle students from other school districts that wanted to complete their fourth year of high school when their school did not offer it.

It was in 1948 that the voters of the area agreed to pool their educational resources. At this time, all of the local schools came under the control of one school district. The high schools of Mendon Township, Lima, Loraine, and Ursa combined into one high school which was named Unity High School. The high school was located in Mendon.

The fate of the original Mendon Township High School building is needed.

Mendon Township High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800's

Year closed: 1948

Consolidated to: Unity High School (Mendon)

Mendon HS team nickname: ?

Mendon HS team colors: ?

School Fight Song: ?

Athletics

Mendon Township High School competed in boys basketball with other schools in the area. It is probable that baseball and possibly track were offered as well. We are searching for the Mendon Township High School athletic team's mascot and the school fight song. Coach's names and team records are needed as well. If you have this information, please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.

Boys Basketball

The Mendon Township High School boys basketball team of 1938-39 left their mark on the hardwood courts of the area. This team won a very tough Regional Championship against some stiff competition. Any information on this and the other MTHS basketball teams is welcome.

Several scores involving Mendon playing in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled "Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are reprinted below.

1921-22 Quincy District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Barry 39-12

Pittsfield beat Barry in title game

1931-32 Quincy District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat LaPrairie 22-10

2nd Rd Beat Quincy 9-7

Semi-Final Beat Golden 28-12

Title game lost to Payson 23-19

1932-33 Quincy District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Hamilton 37-29

Quincy beat Hamilton in title game

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

1st Rd lost to Quincy 52-4

Quincy beat Hamilton in title game

1934-35 Quincy District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Quincy 39-13

Quincy beat Camp Point in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Loraine 59-7

Semi-Final lost to Augusta

Augusta beat Timewell in title game

1936-37 Quincy Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Quincy 35-19

Quincy beat Clayton in title game

(Mendon did not compete in District this year.)

1937-38 Mendon Regional Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

Early Rd Scores Needed

Title game lost to Quincy 24-22

(Mendon did not compete in District this year.)

1938-39 Mendon Regional Champions Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat LaPrairie 33-30

Semi-Final Beat Golden 35-20

Title Game Beat Quincy 23-17

(Both teams advanced to Quincy Sectional.)

Quincy Sectional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Bowen 43-28

Semi-Final lost to Roodhouse 30-24

Roodhouse beat Quincy in title game

ROODHOUSE (30): Roodhouse 10, McPherson 7, Wimberly 5, McDonald 5, Lewis 2, Whitney 1.

MENDON (24): Anderson 12, J. Mealiff 8, F. Mealiff 2, Myers 2.

1939-40 Mendon Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Ursa 53-18

Semi-Final lost to Camp Point 27-21

Quincy beat Camp Point in title game.

1940-41 Mendon Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Ursa

Semi-Final lost to Camp Point 39-21

Camp Point beat Quincy in title game.

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

1st Rd Beat Golden 22-14

Semi-Final lost to Quincy ND 31-29

Quincy beat Quincy ND in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Payson 23-20

Quincy beat Liberty in title game.

1943-44 Quincy Regional Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Kinderhook 60-42

Semi-Final Beat Camp Point 37-34

Title game lost to Quincy 49-23

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

1st Rd Beat Payson 60-30

Semi-Final lost to Quincy 61-42

Quincy beat Quincy ND in title game.

1945-46 Quincy Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Quincy ND 31-24

Quincy beat Camp Point in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Clayton 33-27

Quincy beat Clayton in title game.

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

1st Rd lost to Quincy ND 58-38

Quincy beat Quincy ND in title game.

*Became Mendon Unity High School in the summer of 1948.

Boys Track & Field

One trackster left his mark at the IHSA State Track Meet in 1940. It was this year that Duane Myers took SECOND PLACE at the then one-class track meet!!

1939-40 Duane Myers 880 Yard Run 2ND PLACE

Extra-Curricular Activities

We are sure that attending Mendon Township High School was an well-rounded experience. School plays, dances, clubs, and other activities were probably offered to the students who attended there. If you have any of this information, please contact us via the means listed below.

To Provide Further Information On Mendon Township High School