Alpha (Oxford Twp.) High School “Bulldogs”
First High School Building
The History of Alpha High School
The town of Alpha, Illinois is located in the southwestern portion of Henry County on US Rt. 150 and IL. Rt. 17 approximately 17 miles north of Galesburg.
The residents of Alpha (population 726 today) started a school in 1857. A new building was built in 1884 and was replaced in 1909. This building housed the first Alpha High School, which has its first commencement in 1895 with 12 graduating pupils. The 1909 building became the grade school in 1924 when a newer, Oxford Township High School, building was built next door specifically for the high school grades.
The 1909 building (grade school) was destroyed by a 1941 fire. It was replaced by the brick structure pictured here.
Alpha supported their school proudly until consolidation talks with nearby Woodhull became a reality. This took place in 1948 when the school districts of Alpha and Woodhull formed Alwood School District #225. The Alpha High School building from 1924-1948 has since been torn down. The “new” building now serves as the grade school for the Alwood school district pictured below.
Alpha High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1895
Year closed: 1948
Consolidated to: Alwood School District
School nickname: the “Bulldogs” (sometimes the “Miners”)
School colors: Red & White
School Fight Song: unavailable
Above information and pictures are provided by: http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id69.html
These are the only yearbooks that we have for this school. If you or someone you know has access to more from this school please Contact Us and we would love to scan them in and include them here for everyone to enjoy.
Alpha 1928Linked items on this site are available only in PDF format. They can be viewed on-line, or downloaded and saved to your hard drive. If unable to view you may download a free viewer here: https://get.adobe.com/reader/