Dixon High School (Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Dixon High School is a high school
located on Lincoln Statue Drive and Peoria Avenue on the northern side of Dixon, Illinois
. In 1918 the north (North Dixon High School) and south (South Central High School) districts were consolidated into one district and it was decided that a new, larger high school was needed. The new $600,000 High School was completed in 1929.
Dixon High School is likely best known as the alma mater of President Ronald Reagan
.
located on Lincoln Statue Drive and Peoria Avenue on the northern side of Dixon, Illinois
. In 1918 the north and south districts were consolidated into one district and it was decided that a new, larger high school was needed. The new $600,000 High School was completed in 1929. The school replaced the North Dixon High School and the South Central High School. In 1959 two large wings and a new gymnasium were added. It serves students in grades 9-12 on a partially open campus. Freshman Academy was implemented in 2007. About 1000 students currently attend DHS. Students at Dixon High School have the opportunity to attend classes at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling IL. The gymnasium was named for a former superintendent of the school, A.H. Lancaster. Mike Grady is the current Principal(Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
Red Brick School later known as E.C. Smith School - Red Brick School, completed in 1869, was located on Seventh Street, near Highland Avenue, in the City of Dixon for a cost of $32,000. Red Brick School opened for classes in the fall of 1869. It contained eight classrooms and served the South side of Dixon. (History of Lee County, Hill Publishing, 1881) Red Brick School was also known as the Old Red Brick School and later the name was changed to E.C. Smith in honor of its former superintendent. (Stevens History of Lee County, 1914) The school operated until 1938 when Lincoln School opened and students were sent there. In the summer of 1939 the E.C. Smith School was torn down to make way for tennis courts and a playground. (Dixon Telegraph, February 26, 1954)
E.C. Smith School, along with Woodworth School, was part of District #27 which consisted of the south side of the river in Dixon. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
North Dixon School, District #23 - North Dixon School was located on the corner of East Morgan and Brinton Avenue. (Loveland Records) It was erected in 1868-69 at a cost of $20,000. The building was constructed of brick to the third story, with a Mansard roof, crowned with a neat belfry. Including the basement, the school was four stories high. The first two stories contained two classrooms each. The Mansard room, located on the top floor, was one large room. (History of Lee County, Hill Publishing, 1881) The school served students on the North Side of Dixon until a new High School was built next door in 1900. It then served the needs for the younger students until Washington School was built about 1954. (Source: Dixon Evening Telegraph, February 28, 1976) District #23 served the north side of the river in Dixon. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
South Side School also known as White Brick School, - South Side High School, also known as White Brick School, was located on the corner of Fifth Street and Hennepin Avenue in the City of Dixon. The school was completed in 1887 and an addition was added in the winter of 1892 to accommodate more students. South Side School served both elementary and high school students until a fire destroyed the building in September 1907. (Stevens History of Lee County, 1914) White Brick School was replaced with a brand new school a few years later. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
North Dixon High School, also known as North Side School - North Side High School was built in 1900, next to North Central School, in Dixon. North Side High School was used for high school until the new high school was built in 1929. After 1929 it was used, along with North Central School, to house elementary students until Washington School was opened in 1954. In June 1954 the property of North Side and North Central Schools were sold at auction for $21,000 to Lowell and Olin Wilson. The North Side School was torn down and North Dixon High School would eventually be bought by St. Anne’s Church to be used as a Catholic School. (Dixon Telegraph, February 26, 1954) Today Heritage Square sits on the site of the two schools. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
South Central High School - South Central School was completed in 1908 to replace the White Brick School that burned down in 1907. Originally built as a high school it later served as an elementary school. The school is most famous for being known as the school that Ronald Reagan attended as a child. Today the building has been restored and known as the Dixon Historical Center. It is slated to open in the future as a museum displaying local history and exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution
. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located on Lincoln Statue Drive and Peoria Avenue on the northern side of Dixon, Illinois
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
. In 1918 the north (North Dixon High School) and south (South Central High School) districts were consolidated into one district and it was decided that a new, larger high school was needed. The new $600,000 High School was completed in 1929.
Dixon High School is likely best known as the alma mater of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Current Dixon High School
Dixon High School (DHS) is a high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located on Lincoln Statue Drive and Peoria Avenue on the northern side of Dixon, Illinois
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
. In 1918 the north and south districts were consolidated into one district and it was decided that a new, larger high school was needed. The new $600,000 High School was completed in 1929. The school replaced the North Dixon High School and the South Central High School. In 1959 two large wings and a new gymnasium were added. It serves students in grades 9-12 on a partially open campus. Freshman Academy was implemented in 2007. About 1000 students currently attend DHS. Students at Dixon High School have the opportunity to attend classes at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling IL. The gymnasium was named for a former superintendent of the school, A.H. Lancaster. Mike Grady is the current Principal(Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
Former Dixon Schools
Dixon First High School - The First High School in the City of Dixon was located at 117 East Second Street in the City of Dixon. The building was originally constructed in 1843 and used by the Methodist as their first church building. Later it was sold to the school district and became the first high school in Dixon. The basement was used for the fifth grade until the Woodworth School was built. In 1859 the school had an enrollment of 400 students and consisted of five departments. It is believed that this school served all of the needs of a high school until 1868 or 1869. (Sources: Loveland Museum Records)(Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)Red Brick School later known as E.C. Smith School - Red Brick School, completed in 1869, was located on Seventh Street, near Highland Avenue, in the City of Dixon for a cost of $32,000. Red Brick School opened for classes in the fall of 1869. It contained eight classrooms and served the South side of Dixon. (History of Lee County, Hill Publishing, 1881) Red Brick School was also known as the Old Red Brick School and later the name was changed to E.C. Smith in honor of its former superintendent. (Stevens History of Lee County, 1914) The school operated until 1938 when Lincoln School opened and students were sent there. In the summer of 1939 the E.C. Smith School was torn down to make way for tennis courts and a playground. (Dixon Telegraph, February 26, 1954)
E.C. Smith School, along with Woodworth School, was part of District #27 which consisted of the south side of the river in Dixon. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
North Dixon School, District #23 - North Dixon School was located on the corner of East Morgan and Brinton Avenue. (Loveland Records) It was erected in 1868-69 at a cost of $20,000. The building was constructed of brick to the third story, with a Mansard roof, crowned with a neat belfry. Including the basement, the school was four stories high. The first two stories contained two classrooms each. The Mansard room, located on the top floor, was one large room. (History of Lee County, Hill Publishing, 1881) The school served students on the North Side of Dixon until a new High School was built next door in 1900. It then served the needs for the younger students until Washington School was built about 1954. (Source: Dixon Evening Telegraph, February 28, 1976) District #23 served the north side of the river in Dixon. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
South Side School also known as White Brick School, - South Side High School, also known as White Brick School, was located on the corner of Fifth Street and Hennepin Avenue in the City of Dixon. The school was completed in 1887 and an addition was added in the winter of 1892 to accommodate more students. South Side School served both elementary and high school students until a fire destroyed the building in September 1907. (Stevens History of Lee County, 1914) White Brick School was replaced with a brand new school a few years later. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
North Dixon High School, also known as North Side School - North Side High School was built in 1900, next to North Central School, in Dixon. North Side High School was used for high school until the new high school was built in 1929. After 1929 it was used, along with North Central School, to house elementary students until Washington School was opened in 1954. In June 1954 the property of North Side and North Central Schools were sold at auction for $21,000 to Lowell and Olin Wilson. The North Side School was torn down and North Dixon High School would eventually be bought by St. Anne’s Church to be used as a Catholic School. (Dixon Telegraph, February 26, 1954) Today Heritage Square sits on the site of the two schools. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
South Central High School - South Central School was completed in 1908 to replace the White Brick School that burned down in 1907. Originally built as a high school it later served as an elementary school. The school is most famous for being known as the school that Ronald Reagan attended as a child. Today the building has been restored and known as the Dixon Historical Center. It is slated to open in the future as a museum displaying local history and exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. (Source: Pictorial History of Lee County Schools)
Notable alumni
- Charles Rudolph WalgreenCharles Rudolph WalgreenCharles Rudolph Walgreen was an American businessman who founded Walgreens.-Background:He was born in Galesburg Knox County, Illinois, the son of Swedish emigrants. When his father, Carl Magnus Olofsson, came to America from Sweden, the family name was changed to Walgreen...
(c. 1889), the founder of the Walgreen Company. - Louella ParsonsLouella ParsonsLouella Parsons was the first American news-writer movie columnist in the United States. She was a gossip columnist who, for many years, was an influential arbiter of Hollywood mores, often feared and hated by the individuals, mostly actors, whose careers she could negatively impact via her...
(1901) an American gossip columnistGossip columnistA gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially a gossip magazine. Gossip columns are material written in a light, informal style, which relates the gossip columnist's opinions about the personal lives or conduct of celebrities from show business ,...
. - Douglas MacLeanDouglas MacLeanDouglas MacLean was a silent motion picture actor, producer, and writer.-Life and career:...
(c. 1906)) a silent film actor, producer, and writer. - Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
(1928), 40th President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. - Rondi ReedRondi ReedRondi Reed is an American stage actress, singer and performer.-Career:Reed has been a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois, for 30 years, appearing in 51 productions with the company....
(1970), a Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning actress.