Union High School (Illinois)
On April 13, 1895, an election was held in the First National Bank of Biggsville for the purpose of voting for or against a township high school. The vote was in favor of the school. The high school probably started operation in the fall of 1895, but there is no record as to where school was held. The first election for directors for the new school was held May 18, 1895. Those elected were: Isaac William McQuown, Henry Cowden, August Wiegand, Robert McMillen, and William Plummer. The first high school building was built in 1896 and sat just west of the present Biggsville Methodist Church. The cost of the frame structure building was $8,000. It was not modern by today's standards. Mr J. A. Strong was the first principal. His salary was $850 per year. He organized the school, bought and arranged the library, prepared the first course of study, provided the system of records, secured the laboratory equipment, and did all the teaching himself for the first few months.[6]
The high school course of study was limited to three years from 1896 to 1900. Then it was increased to four years. Students were admitted to the high school by examination only. In 1900 the school library had 600 books. These books were selected with reference to the course of study. The school was on the accredited list of the University of Illinois. The first high school building and its contents were destroyed by fire on July 26, 1906. Classes were held in the Wiegand Building on Main Street while the new building was being built.[7]
The second high school building was built in 1906-1907 and was occupied in 1907. Members of the school board were: August Wiegand, D. F. Whiteman, John McIntosh, Dr W. A. Henderson, and John Pearson. L. O. Culp was principal. Diplomas were issued to those who had completed the four years work prescribed in the course of study. In addition to completing the course of study, students were required to write a thesis of not less than 1200 and not more than 2000 words.[8]
The use of tobacco in any form was forbidden on the school grounds. Violation of the rule was considered cause for suspension or expulsion. During the early years various means of transportation were used to get to school. Some students rode horses to town, stabled them, and rode them home after school. Cars furnished a popular way for those who could afford them. Busing of students started during the 1940s. At first there was only one bus, and it had to make several trips to get students to school and back home. Later, more buses were added. Hot lunches were introduced during the years 1948-1949. Meals were first served in the home economics room. Later, lunches were prepared and served in the gym. The brick gym was built in 1925, after a frame building, built three years before, was destroyed by fire. The new addition to the second building was ready for the school year 1949-1950. The new facilities gave much needed equipment and space for science, home economics, and vocational agriculture.[9]
The Class of 1960 was the last class to graduate from the old Biggsville Township High School. The Class of 1961 was the first to graduate from the new Union High School.[10]
The town of Biggsville is technically the address given to Union High School, though the school itself is located in the country two miles west of Biggsville at the intersection of US 94 and US 34.[11]