Cutler High School

Cutler School Building - 2012

Submitted by James Horaz

The History of Cutler High School

Cutler (population 543) is located in southwestern Illinois about 35 miles northwest of Carbondale and 20 miles west of Du Quoin. The town sits in the southwestern portion of Perry County. Illinois Route 150 is the main roadway to and from Cutler. County Highway 5, also known as Trico Road, will lead you to Cutler as well.

The following provide history information about the town of Cutler and its former school system:

In a book titled "History of Perry County, Illinois" by Turner Publishing Company (page 63) the following history of the town of Cutler and its former high school is available:

Pioneers began to settle the area in which Cutler was eventually established as early as 1825, The village of Cutler was first settled in 1873. It was not incorporated as a village however until 1907. The town is named after a surveyor for the Tamoroa, Chester, and Western Railroad named Cutler Dawson.

The first school in Cutler was a frame building. It was replaced by a brick building iin 1929. This brick building housed both a grade school and a high school. The high school existed through the 1947-48 school year. It was in that year that the towns of Campbell Hill, Willisville, and Cutler agreed to consolidate their high schools.

The new school district was called the Trico School District. The high school was located with an address in Campbell Hill. The Cutler school continued to serve as a grade school through the 1973 school year when it was closed as a school. The town continues to use it for functions including a post office.

Cutler High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1929

Year closed: 1948

Consolidated to: Trico High School (Campbell Hill)

Cutler HS nickname: "Bulldogs"

Team uniform colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Cutler Baseball Diamond - 2012

Courtesy of James Horaz

Athletics and Extra-Curriculars

Cutler High School likely competed in athletics and other extra-curricular activities. It is for certain that basketball was offered, baseball and track were likely offered at one time. Unfortunately there is no mention of any sport at Cutler High School on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org. We are hopeful an area alum or resident can provide some of this information for us.

According to the web address of http://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/il1935dist-1 Cutler HS lost to Tamaroa 30 - 19 in the 1935 Pickneyville HS District Tourney.

Activities such as plays, chorus, band, FFA, FHA, and any other activities are of great interest. If you have information to share please contact us via the means listed below.

BOYS BASKTEBALL

The following scores involving Cutler High School playing in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." If you have any further information please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .

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

1st Rd lost to Willisville 33-31

Willisville beat Marissa in title game

1933-34 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

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

1st Rd lost to Tamaroa 30-19

Pickneyville beat DuQuoin in title game

Pickneyville lost in Sweet 16 Rd

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

1st Rd lost to Hurst-Bush 44-25

Coulterville beat Hurst-Bush in title game

1936-37 through 1939-40 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

1940-41 Campbell Hill District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Campbell Hill 42-36

Campbell Hill beat Percy in title game

1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1942-43 Willisville District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Willisville 50-13

1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1944-45 Steeleville District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Coulterville 45-41

Steeleville beat Percy in title game

1945-46 through 1947-48 Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

Thank You

Special gratitude to our good friend Roberta Van Briesen for her relentless research for the Glory Days website which resulted in the finding of this former high school.

Seeking Your Assistance

If you have any information regarding Cutler and its former high school please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. As you can see, we are missing a lot of vital information in our attempts to keep the memories of Cutler High alive. You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60631