2009 Tourism Ornament Celebrates High School
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The Du Quoin Tourism Commission today released its 2009 commemorative Christmas ornament, the 13th in its series.
The ornament depicts the 1906 Du Quoin High School and the current 1955 high school with an inset likeness of the high school's mascot Indian.
The ornaments are available for $22 (prices have not changed throughout the series) and are available by contacting Luana Maxton at 542-2583 or 790-4220 or at Judy & Co. in downtown Du Quoin at 542-4697.
The series focuses on historic landmarks throughout the city and most--if not all--of the ornaments are still available.
History of the Du Quoin High School
The first high school in Du Quoin was established in the J.B. Ward school building under the superintendency of the late John B. Ward. The course was a three-year one and all the classes were conducted in one room.
The first graduating class in 1884 consisted of four girl graduates: Dora Maclin (Porter), Anna Vancil, Laura Blackburn Eaton and Ida Eaton Lauderdale. The graduation exercises were held in the old opera house later known as the Cinderella Ball Room. On the evening of the graduation exercises the house was filled with an interested audience.
The entertainment of the evening was a piano duet, a vocal chorus, and an oration by Professor Reid. This class had no sponsor, no class officers, no motto ad no class colors.
The importance of this class was that it served as an inspiration to higher education for other students.
The Class of 1886 was the first class to choose colors (blue and white); the first to choose alumni colors (yellow and black); and the first to adopt a motto ("Onward and Upward").
It was a custom of each class to have a valedictorian and a salutatorian; each graduate was required to read an original essay.
The First DTHS Building in 1906
More students began to attend high school until in 1906 the Ward school was too small for the combined grade and high school. The new township high school was constructed between 1906-1907 on the corner of South Washington and East Poplar Street in Du Quoin.
The Class of 2007 has the distinction of being the first to graduate from the new township high school, and Professor C.W. Houck had the distinction of being the first superintendent. The high school at first had the same board of education as the grade school, but a separate board was established in 1906 and included: Samuel B. Eaton, president; Robert Plumlee, secretary; and john Forester and William Appuhn.
In 1914 a domestic science course was adopted under the supervision of Miss Carter; in 1917 a commercial course under Miss Hummel.
In 1913, the first athletic coach was hired. Mr. Iddings was named basketball coach. A track program was adopted followed by football in 1928.
In 1923, an addition to the school was erected and included the gymnasium, the assembly, the upper corridors, the library rooms and the office.