The Revised Early History of Warren Township High School and Its Sports Teams.

By James Lodesky

This book contains the early history of Warren Township High School, from its beginnings as Gurnees two-year high school. The two-year high school evolved first into a three-year high school and finally into a four-year township high school in 1917. It contains an early history of Warren sports teams, experiences of its students, and descriptions of life at Warren.

If you are wondering why I named the book the Revised Early History of instead of just the Early History of, Ill explain. Originally, I only intended to write a history of Warrens football teams. While researching football, I occasionally ran across articles about the early years at Warren. I saved what I found and filed it away.

Next, the Warren Township Historical Society asked me to write an account of Warren football for their newsletter. While writing about the football team, I decided to add all the other information about Warren I had found earlier and then called it the Early History of Warren Township High School. Six months after writing the article, I noticed a couple of mistakes that needed correction and decided to do a more in-depth study of the high schools history. I ended up with enough Warren history that I was able to write this book and correct my mistakes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524543846

James Lodesky

James Lodesky is a 1969 Warren Graduate. He grew up in Gurnee a short distance from the high school. His family has lived in Gurnee and the surrounding area for generations. James played football and track at Warren and has many good memories of the high school and his fellow students. James currently lives in Lisle, Illinois. Research for this book was done at public libraries in Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties. Local Historical societies were also helpful. James is the author of the book “Polish Pioneers in Illinois 1818-1850 and the web-site “Uncledicksanimaltales.com”.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by James Lodesky.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5245-4385-3

                eBook            978-1-5245-4384-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/12/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

735004

CONTENTS

Early History

Ad Promoting Warren Township High School in 1918.

A Reflection

Warren Faculty.

Blue Devils Team Name

Vocational Agriculture

Home Economics

Miscellaneous Events and Happenings

Schedule of events at the high school in 1920.

Gymnasium 2:30

Wednesday Evening 7:45

Calendar of Events at the High School in April, May and June, 1921.

Warren Cheer from 1921.

Warren Angelus 1922.

Warren Loyalty Song

Alumni Banquet in 1923.

Night School.

School Newspaper.

Literary Society

High School Remodeled.

A Band at Warren.

High Schools of Northwest Conference

The W Club.

Gymnasium Show

The High School At Gurnee Is Looted.

Cost of Educating Students at Various High Schools in Lake County in 1932.

Some Early Experiences of Warren Students.

Warren’s Most Famous Graduate

Sports

Success and Failure of Warren Sports.

Warren’s Enrollment Compared To Other Schools in the Conference.

Formation of the Northwest Conference.

Creation of the Northeast Conference.

The North Suburban Conference.

1948 North Suburban Conference enrollments.

Warren’s First Sports Rivalry.

Warren Fans

Warren Basketball

1938-39 Warren record.

Girls’ Sports

Warren Track.

Warren Baseball.

Warren Wrestling.

Intramural Sports.

Warren Football.

Football Rules

Enrollments of Northeast Conference football teams in 1941.

1946 Enrollments of Warren and their Opponents.

Total Football Championship’s from 1923 to 1999.

Total Conference Championship’s 12.

Total Second Place Finish’s 17

Top Ten Defense 1923-2000

Warren’s All-Time Football Win/Loss record, 1923-1999.

Footnotes

T his book contains the early history of Warren Township High School from its b eginnings as Gurnee’s two-year high school. The two-year high school evolved first into a three-year high school and finally into a four year township high school in 1917. It contains an early history of Warren sports teams, experiences of its students and descriptions of life at Warren.

I f you are wondering why I named the book the Revised early history of instead of just the Early History of, I’ll explain. Originally I only intended to write a history of Warren’s football teams. While researching football I occasionally ran across articles about the early years at Warren. I saved what I found and filed it away. Next the Warren Township Historical Society asked me to write an account of Warren football for their newsletter. While writing about the football team I decided to add all the other information about Warren I had found earlier and then called it the Early History of Warren Township High School. Six months after writing the article I noticed a couple of mistakes that needed correction and decided to do a more in-depth study of the high school’s history. I ended up with enough Warren History that I was able to write this book and correct my mistakes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

T hese people were most helpful.

M artha Detogne

B ill Eiserman

D on Hough

D ick Hyde

J ohn Kozuch,for giving me the idea to research Warren football.

M ike Ray

B arbara Richardson

R uss Schneider

B ob Hahn and Mike Marro from Spring Grove Heating and Air Conditioning. AI Winters

H istorical Societies.

R on Wendt and Tom Mellen from the Warren Township Historical Society. Shawn Ford and Larry Ames from the Wadsworth Historical Society. Charlotte Renehan from the Grayslake Historical Society.

T he Waukegan Historical Society.

T he Lake County Genealogy Society.

T he Lake Zurich Historical Society.

P ublic Libraries.

A ntioch Public Library

A rlington Heights Public Library

B arrington Public Library Bensenville Public Library

C ook Memorial Library (Libertyville)

C rystal Lake Public Library

F ranklin Park Public Library

L ake Forest Public Library

L ake Zurich Public Library

L isle Public library

M cHenry Public Library

R ound Lake Public Library

W arren/Newport Public Library

W auconda Public Library

W aukegan Public Library

W oodstock Public Library

Zion Public Library

EARLY HISTORY

L ake County had a total of just three high schools by the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Waukegan High School was the oldest high school in the county and had been in existence since 1870. 1 The other two schools were located in the far southern part of the county. Highland Park/Deerfield High School was established in 1890 2 and Barrington High School in 1903. 3 Students from Warren Township commuted to Waukegan High School. 4 Students from the rest of the county also went to the nearest school but it was much more difficult and expensive for those from the northwestern part of Lake County. They had to move to town and rent an apartment. For them it was more like going off to college nowadays. Some Lake County students also went to high school in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Josie Bidwell is probably the first Warren Township student to graduate from Waukegan High School, graduating in 1876. 5 There was no two-year high school in Gurnee at the time so she must have gone the full four years at Waukegan. Josie started her freshman year in 1872. Students from Warren Township attended Waukegan High School until spring, 1917. A period of 46 years. Warren Township High school did not come into existence until fall, 1917.

The Bidwell farm was situated on the east side of Rt. 21, north of the tollway. The Bidwell’s were my family’s closest neighbors. Josie’s father, Thomas Bidwell raised prize Red Devon cattle. He was also the administrator of my great-great grandfather’s will.

Gurnee had a two year high school by at least 1892. 6 The school was not accredited and its students could not attend college. According to Wikipedia, to get accredited a school had to be evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. 7 Applicable Standards mean advanced courses. Getting accredited wasn’t easy. Warren’s first graduating class in 1917 claims that the school got accredited in its first year of existence. 8 The 1922 Warren Angelus wrote that the school was only accredited for two years in 1921. 9 Warren students could attend any college in the state and the majority of the colleges in the country by 1924. 10

Most high schools in Lake County started out as part of a grade school and were either one or two year high schools. 11 Gurnee Grade School was located in a log cabin by 1840. In 1868 a brick building was built. A new two-room school building was constructed in 1892. One room was used for the grade school and the other for the high school. 12

Gurnee’s two-year high school had a great reputation. Their students attended Waukegan High for their junior and senior years. The July 14, 1906 Waukegan Daily Sun referred to Gurnee as the Athens of Lake County. 13 The article claimed that its boy and girl students were the top scholars at Waukegan High School ever since they began coming there. They were known as hard workers and far more advanced in their studies then Waukegan’s own students. Not all Warren Township pupils went to the Gurnee School but they also had reputations as great students. 14

I know the names of a few of these Waukegan graduates from Warren Township. Norman Brown, a member of Warren High School’s first school board was a Waukegan graduate. 15 Rowley McClure, a 1907 graduate 16 founded McClure’s Garage in 1910. 17 Judge Ralph J. Dady has to be one of the most successful Waukegan High School students from Warren Township.

Dady was the son of Gurnee Blacksmith James Dady. The Dady Blacksmith shop was located next to the Des Plaines River at the corner of Rt. 132 and Rt. 21. Ralph was born November 1, 1878. After graduating from Waukegan High School he attended the Kent College of Law in Chicago. He came back to Lake County in 1904 after completing college and began his law practice. Ralph ran for and was elected Lake County state’s attorney in 1908 and 1912. 18

Ralph came under the national spotlight in 1916. William Orpet of Lake Forest was accused of murdering his girlfriend Marion Lambert. The case was tried at the Waukegan County Courthouse. Ralph was the prosecutor and the trial was closely followed around the country. The crime took place in Lake Forest and everyone was interested in the lifestyles of the rich and affluent. Ralph lost the case and Orpet was acquitted. 19

Dady was an assistant attorney general by 1922. He was one of the prosecutor’s in a case against Illinois Governor Len Small. Small was accused of not paying interest on $1,250,000 of state money. He had deposited the money in his own bank account when he was state treasurer. Small was acquitted when it was found out that no other governor had ever paid interest on state money either.

Ralph was prosecutor in another high profile case soon after. Chicago Mayor William Hale (Big Bill) Thompson’s school board was accused of graft. Renowned attorney Clarence Darrow defended the school board.

Mr. Dady was judge of the 17th District Circuit Court by 1930. The district encompassed four Illinois counties, Lake, McHenry, Boone and Winnebago. He held the position until 1951. He was also an Appellate Court judge from the years 1939 to 1951.

Judge Dady came down on the side of business in 1937. The case made national headlines. John L. Lewis of the CIO union had been organizing sitdown strikes in the area. One sitdown strike occurred at the Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation in North Chicago. Dady ordered an immediate end to the strike. According to the Waukegan News Sun, it was the First mandatory injunction in the country against the strikers. 20

Next he ordered strikers at the North Chicago Hardware Foundry to end their strike. The workers however declined to end the strike. Judge Dady ruled them all in contempt. Thirty-nine strikers along with some of their supporters were arrested and sentenced to jail time.

Judge Dady retired from the Circuit and Appellate Courts in 1951. He didn’t retire from law though and became partners with his son, attorney Ralph Dady Jr. Judge Dady died July 3, 1961. He was 82 years old. 21

Prairie Farmer Magazine claim’s that the two year high school never had much money to operate with. They also hired teachers who seemed to teach whatever subjects they knew the most about. There were no Labs and the seventh and eighth grade classes shared the same room with the high school students. 22

Warren High Schools first agriculture classes also operated on a shoe-string budget for a time. Mr. Clem, the Ag instructor wrote, I could see little difference in the results and quality of learning whether building and equipment were old or new. It was the desire to learn that really counted. 23

Gurnee’s two-year high school liked their plays and always put on an annual one. They did Sweet Girl Graduate in 1912, 24 a play called Willowdate in 1916 25 and Diamonds and Hearts in 1917. 26

The 1899 graduation from Gurnee’s two-year high school was a memorable event. Only five students graduated but five-hundred people showed up for the ceremony. They were all crammed into Woodman Hall, which was only meant to hold three-hundred. Some thought it the largest number of Gurnee people to ever come together in one place. The teacher in 1899 was Prof. Samuel Bayle. It was Bayle’s first year at the Gurnee High School and the town really appreciated his work. Prof. Bayle told the audience that he enjoyed teaching at Gurnee but was not sure if he would be around for another year. 27 It looks like he stayed around for a while. He might be the same person that John Michaelson wrote about. John claims that a husband and wife team named Bale taught at Gurnee’s high school and grade school. John spells the name as Bale. Mr. Bale taught at the high school and Mrs. Bale the grade school. The Bales were paid $100/month for teaching at both schools. 28

The idea to establish a four-year high school in Gurnee might have been making the rounds around town since at least 1907. That year Mr. Grandy, principal of Gurnee’s two-year high school resigned because of his health. William Beale was hired to take his place. Beale had already turned Princeville High School from a two-year school to a four-year school. He also got Princeville accredited so its students could attend the University of Illinois. Beale however, was not able to convert Gurnee’s high school. 29

Walter Swanson attended Gurnee’s two-year high school in 1909. His family was living in Roundout at the time but later moved to a farm north of Gurnee in 1910. He took the northbound train to Gurnee every day to go to school and was the only student to come from that direction. Students from Newport Township took the train south to attend the school. His teacher in 1909-10 was Miss Floy Hawkins and there was around a dozen students enrolled. They had a different teacher named Forrest M. Bullock in 1910-11. There were only 6 students that year. Latin and Geometry were some of the subjects. Walter thought that Bullock was a top notch teacher.

Walter was one of only two boys to graduate from the two-year school in 1911. The other was Van Ness Young. Two of the girls were Ethel Haines and Irma Klein. The names of the other two are unknown. 30

High School classes were probably held in the grade school until at least 1912. That year Gurnee voters decided by an almost unanimous vote to turn the two year high school into a three-year-school. The grade school building was too small to accommodate a three-year school so an addition would have to be built. They would also have to hire another teacher. Everything would be financed by selling bonds. Despite the overwhelming vote the transition never took place. No reason is given other then it was not feasible at the time. 31

A new principal named J. H. Harnly was brought in to run Gurnee’s two-year high school in July, 1913. Harnly was from Zion and a good friend of John Alexander Dowie, the founder of Zion. Harnly had taken a break from education but was now ready to return. He was a big anti-smoking zealot and spent his summers campaigning against the evils of tobacco. Even after school started he continued his anti-smoking crusade on the weekends. Harnly also invented a card game. The game was supposed to incorporate fun and education. I was not able to find out the name of the game. 32

Alice Smith of Grayslake also taught at Gurnee’s two-year school in 1913. The 1913 graduating class was composed of only four students but three-hundred people showed up to the graduation ceremony at the Gurnee Christian Church. Judge Ninian Welch of Chicago spoke at the graduation. 33

Welch was born on a farm near Rosecrans, Newport Township in 1873. Ninian was an Assistant Probate Judge of Cook County when he addressed Gurnee’s graduating class in 1913. Both his parents were among the earliest settlers of Newport Township. The Welch family was really into education. Ninian’s brother Willian was an attorney in Chicago. His sister Sue Emmeline, graduated from the University of Chicago and taught at a high school in Chicago. He also had another brother named John.

Ninian graduated from Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Science degree. Then he did post-graduate studies in philosophy and history at Beloit College. Ninian must have really liked school for he attended Lake Forest College next. There he earned a Master of Arts degree. After getting his Masters at Lake Forest he went to the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He paid for his college education by teaching at local schools while still a college student.

Ninian began his law career in Chicago on June 1, 1902. He was promoted to Assistant Judge of Probate Court of Cook County in 1907.

Ninian was known as a great speaker. The History of Cook County writes, He has achieved distinction as a speaker, his public utterances being characterized by logic, incisive reasoning and oratory of a high order, and his services are always called for during political campaigns. 34

Newport Township had two other prominent citizens in the law business during this time, Christian and Edward Heydecker. Both served as Waukegan city and States attorneys. The father of our two subjects was an Abolitionist who settled in Newport Township in 1844. The Heydecker farm was a stop on the Underground Railroad. 35

D.W. Thompson, Warren’s third superintendent, claims that the two-year high school was located at Woodman Hall in 1913. He also noted that the transition to a three-year high school took place there. 36

An interesting event took place in Gurnee in September, 1914. It has absolutely nothing to do with the high school but it’s my book and can write about whatever I want. Gurnee Grade School’s principal suddenly vanished and was never heard from again. Principal Charles Stevens was only 22 years old but managed to talk his way into the principal’s job despite the fact that he was only certified to teach first grade. No one bothered to check his credentials. His mother said he cashed his $90 check and took off. T. A. Simpson, Superintendent of Lake County schools placed the blame squarely on Gurnee’s officials for the mess. Simpson compared Stevens to some type of fashion bug who could talk his way out of anything, or into anything if need be. 37

There was a three year high school by at least the fall of 1915. Leslie J. Vedder was principal. The 1916 three-year high school graduating class had three graduates. Two of the graduates were Helen and Jessie Cannon, my grandfather’s sisters. The Cannons were from Millburn. The other graduate was Edward Klein. The two-year high school had eleven graduates that year. 38 A large number of people showed up for the ceremony. Music for the graduation was supplied by Lamb’s Orchestra. Twelve of the graduates gave speeches at the ceremony. Jessie Cannon’s topic was Immigration. Edward Klein talked about Some Republican Possibilities. 39

Before I write about how Gurnee’s three-year high school became a four-year school, I have to mention the state of education in Illinois at the time. The governor signed the Non-High School Act on June 28, 1917. 40 Non-high school districts were now required to pay a school tax every year even if they had no students attending a high school at the time. The Libertyville Independent newspaper wrote that the law provides Illinois with a workable law whereby to create new high school districts and also to provide for the payment of high school tuition. 41 The Independent then wrote that the act would probably spur creation of more high schools in the county.

The new non-high school act was very unpopular in many parts of the state. Lawsuits were filed in at least seven Illinois counties, many by railroads. The railroads considered the new law unconstitutional and were unwilling to pay the tax. 42 The non-high school act went before the Illinois Supreme Court in December, 1918. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the law on December 23, 1918. 43

Illinois farmers didn’t like the non-high school act either. The State Farmers Institute tried to get it declared unconstitutional in 1922. The farmers felt that the act was unfair to them because the more land you owned, the more tax you paid. They of course owned more land than most residents of towns and cities. 44

A month after the governor signed the act, Lake County held elections for non-high school boards on July 31, 1917. Each non-high school district board was responsible for levying a tax on their district. 45 In Lake County the tax was .75/$100 assessed value in non-high school districts. 46

In 1921 there were 300 students attending high schools from eight non-high school districts in the county. The number increased to 350 by 1922. 47 Most non-high school districts soon realized that they might as well establish their own high schools. Non-high school districts paid $99,000 in taxes in 1934. 48

Some districts never did establish their own high schools. Newport Township being one of them. Newport Township was a Protectorate School District. A Protectorate School District was given a certain amount of time to form their own high school. If no school was organized after the designated time had expired, the district was disbanded and its students sent to another district. 49 Newport never had enough of a tax base to create their own high school and its residents have attended Warren since the school first opened in the fall of 1917. Newport’s students went to Gurnee’s two-year school as well. Avon and parts of Lake Villa Townships went to Warren until Grayslake High School came into existence in the fall, 1946.

Four new high schools had already been established in the county before the non-high school act was signed in 1917, Wauconda, Antioch, Libertyville and Warren. I mentioned earlier that students from the northwestern parts of the county had to move to town in order to go to a four-year high school. Wauconda and Antioch, both located in the far western part of the county were the first of the four towns to establish four year high schools. Both schools had two-year high schools before establishing their four year schools. 50

Wauconda voted to create a high school sometime before March, 1915. 51 Construction of the school’s building was not completed until September 11, 1916. 52 I estimate that Wauconda had about 50 students their first year. 53

Antioch voted to establish a high school on May 15, 1915. 54 The high school was dedicated on March 24, 1916. 55 Antioch also had 50 students its first year. 56

Libertyville voted to establish a high school on April 8, 1916. 57 An interesting side note about voting to establish the high school is worth mentioning. F. G. Blair, state superintendent of public instruction would not allow women to vote for creation of the high school. Those in favor of creating a high school were a little nervous about the outcome of the vote. They worried that not enough men would show up to vote. 58 The men didn’t let them down though and enough votes were cast. Libertyville High School opened its doors in September, 1917. 59

Warren Township voted to create a high school on April 3, 1917. 60 Construction of the high school building was not finished until September, 1918. 61

Several new high schools came into existence after the Non-High School District Act was signed. Lake Zurich High School (Ela-Vernon) was established in 1926. Construction of the high school building started in 1928 62 and it opened in 1929. 63 Ela-Vernon split into Lake Zurich High School and Stevenson High School in 1964.

Grant voted to create a high school on December 21, 1928. 64