The First Commencement of the Public School was held May 16, 1896, at the Town Hall. The Second Commencement was also held at the Town Hall, May 13, 1897. Those receiving diplomas were: Misses Margaret Gray, Pearl Kindig, Clara Schertz, Gertrude Fischer, and Mr. O. N. Fisher, Albert Brown, and Herman Upton. The address by the President of Eureka College, J. H. Hardin, was entitled, "Problems for the Twentieth Century".

In February, 1901, an article in the Roanoke Call stated a need for a free (no tuition) township high school with a Board of Education. When this did, in fact, come to a vote, it passed by a majority of 89-5, to bond the district $11,000 for building a new school. This building was completed in 1910, and is now used for grades 4-6. This school contained the high school until 1920, when the new school was built and Roanoke Grade School became so crowded that some classes had to be held downtown and in the Methodist Church basement.

Some early memories of the Roanoke School are the two outdoor "privies", said to have had eight or ten holes each. Alsok, the outside pump served everyone well with its cup tied to the pump, until health and hygiene began to be stressed. Thus, flat paper cups were given to each individual by the teacher. One early student remembers that her mother always sent her lunch in a miners bucket, and in the very cold weather there would be soup in the tray of the bucket which the janitor would let her heat on top of the furnace. Much to the delight of the students, school had to let out early when there were excessive rains and the creeks were up, or if it got so dark the pupils could not study before electricity was in use.

In the country schools during the month of November, there would be two days called "Corn Days". This exhibit would include ten ears of corn and three compositions on different subjects relating to corn. The prize to the one room school that presented the best exhibit was a handsome gilt-trimmed banner with oak-crossed bars, tassels and curtain drape, size two by three feet, bearing the inscription "Championship Corn Exhibit."

On April 20, 1901, there was an election to select six Directors of Education, instead of the usual three. Those elected were: President E. F. Burkholder, G. R. Swigart, Solomon Belsley, C. H. Gish, E. L. Herbst, N. R. Moore, and Will Zimmerman. This type of direction lasted until the first high school district was planned in 1912-1913, and the first high school Board of Education was organized in 1915.

On June 3, 1919, six students graduated at the Opera House. Diplomas were presented to: Misses Rose Wagner, Beulah Schertz, Beulah Brown, Lela Schertz, Mary Paluska and Mr. Edward Zimmerman. The weather was fit and the Madolin Orchestra from Eureka entertained. It is interesting to note that the senior girls, under the instruction of their teacher, made their own graduation gowns and were all dressed alike.

On August 10, 1916, a new high school was authorized by a vote of the people. The estimated cost of the building was $45,000. Due to World War I and its accompanying shortages, ground was not broken until March 21, 1917. The corner stone was laid July 4, 1919. The speaker was Professor Roy L. Moore, County Superintendent of Schools. A container with records and papers was placed inside the stone. The building was open for enrollment on August 28, 1920, and the total cost of the building was $112,000.

The first teachers for the 1920-21 year at Roanoke Victory High School were as follows: J.. P. Scheid, Superintendent; Raymond Yeck, manual training, athletics, physical culture, general sciences; C. E. Campbell, agriculture; Hazel Snuff, history and mathematics; Gladys Hanna, home economics, household arts; Ruth Strubhar, music and French; Ruth Ambrose, physics, botany and zoology; Nellie Moore, English.

During the mid-twenties, the Roanoke area felt the weight of decline. The community depended on the coal mine and when the mine began to be periodically closed and was not very prosperous neither did the schools prosper. During this time the percentage of eight grade graduates entering high school was low. Not only did "hard times" cause this problem, but religious background and national origin of the parents caused a goodly percentage of students not to go on to high school.

During the mid-thirties, the merchants, farmers, house-wives and laborers got together and formed the Roanoke Civic Association, and with stimulated interest and pride in the community the people started working together. By 1948, the town had paved streets, water system, year round garbage collection on a tax basis, street lighting and a new housing addition. With new prosperity, a $1000,000 bond issue was passed for an addition for the high school. During this period of revitalization, the community school enrollment gradually rose.

On July 1, 1949, after a vote of the districts, the Roanoke Township High School, Roanoke Grade School, Benson High School, and Benson Grade School were unified into a single school district known as the Roanoke-Benson Unit 60. Each of the individual schools continued to operate as before consolidation. By this time the rural one-room schools had passed out of the picture and elementary pupils went to school in town.

Due to pressing needs for additional space another bond issue of $283,000 was passed in 1953 to complete a needed addition to the Roanoke High school. After many delays, the new addition was completed in 1954. These additions included a completely equipped home economics department, commerce department, science department, music and band room, locker rooms and a new gymnasium. After completion of this addition, the old gymnasium was used for industrial arts. The balcony, stage and shower rooms became study hall, two classrooms, a library and library office.

The school year 1956-57 was the actual consolidation of Benson High School and Roanoke Victory High School. The Roanoke Victory High School name changed to Roanoke-Benson High School. The consolidation caused the seventh and eight grade pupils of Unit 60 to be transported to the Benson High School building, which now became Roanoke-Benson Junior High. Also in 1956-57 kindergarten was added. Sixty-one pupils were taught by Mrs. Anoyna Mueser.

During the years 1959-60, enrollment surveys were studied, site plans were developed and building needs were determined. By November 6, 1961, a motion was passed to purchase 17 acres of land adjacent to the high school, at a cost of $1,750 an acre. The school campus now included a 26-acre site to be the home of a new elementary building, track and athletic field. Sowers Elementary School was built and ready for use in 1962. This building houses the kindergarten and the first three grades.

Many changes were brought about in the educational system. The National Honor Society was instituted, educational television was installed, adult classes, college extension classes, and veterans classes made up a part of the whole school system. In 1965, Roanoke along with other Woodford County towns, voted to join Peoria and Tazewell Counties in support of a Tri-County Junior College. It was named Illinois Central College and it gave more Roanoke-Benson area students a chance for higher education. In 1967-68, the high school took part in the Student Foreign Exchange program. Jean Gingrich was the first student the Roanoke area sent abroad. She spent the summer studying in Colombia. Since that time Roanoke-Benson has participated both in sending and in turn receiving students in this program.

Roanoke Public School

Built in 1879 at Ann and Franklin Street where Ed Hostetler lives now

The first two rooms were erected in 1879, the two rooms at the rear were added later.

Two more rooms were added to the north still later. This school stood on the corner two blocks west of Roanoke's uptown square and one block north. (Joe J. School home site 1937) Daniel Hollenback, janitor, is seen under the sign at front corner of building. Several children are about pump near the tree. Building was heated by coal stoves; no electric lights; narrow stairways; outdoor toilets; brick sidewalks. (Photo by Pettigrew)