Founding
Routt High School was founded in 1902 through the inspiration of Rev. Dean John W. Crowe, the encouragement of Fr. Francis Formaz and the generosity of the Routt family.
Rev. Crowe, priest of Our Saviour parish, conceived the plan to start a Catholic school of higher learning. He was, however, concerned about how its possible failure would affect the community. Nevertheless, with enthusiastic support of his assistant, Fr. Francis Formaz, Fr. Crowe decided to proceed with the venture.
A dozen years prior to the founding of Routt High School, Rev. Crowe formed a social and intellectual group for Catholic men, which he called the Routt Club, named for Charles Routt, who had been a benefactor of the parish. In 1902, Fr. Crowe transformed his men’s club into a co-educational Catholic high school, using the family mansion of William Routt, Charles’ brother, as the first home of Routt High School.
Routt: The Early Years
Routt High School opened with a dozen students, and its teaching staff consisted of Dominican sisters who resided in the parish convent. The school room, which was furnished with a table and a few chairs and soapboxes, was the poorest specimen of a classroom; yet the untiring efforts and teachings of Fr. Formaz more than made up for the deficiencies of the surroundings. As the class size grew, faculty were added, and the school struggled on without charging tuition or receiving other assistance for the next two years.
In the early part of 1904, after its success was assured and the need for a larger building evident, Fr. Crowe began to plan for a real school. Undaunted by his lack of money, he commissioned a Chicago architect to draw up plans for a building to cost about $10,000. Accompanying the architect to the depot, Fr. Formaz advised the man to make a plan for a building about four times that size as well, and, without mentioning the price beforehand, submit both. When the architect arrived, Fr. Crowe had little difficulty in making a choice between the two plans – the larger plan was superior. However, the cost of the larger building was so much greater than he had anticipated that the project was almost abandoned.
William Routt offered to give $20,000 to the project, if the parish would raise the remainder. The earnest appeal for a school that emphasized both religion and education—two indispensable factors in the training and uplifting of the intellect—struck a generous chord in the hearts of the people. The Routt College building, a two and one-half-story red brick and stone structure, was dedicated in 1905 at a cost of $38,000. (“Old Routt” would be destroyed by fire in 1966)
Routt High School would celebrate its first class of graduates, and the Routt family would create a $50,000 endowment at the school in 1905. That same year, a college course was added to the curriculum, and the institution was acknowledged by the state as a legally organized corporation, operating under the name of Routt College Corporation.
In 1912, a boys’ boarding school was opened and housed about 20 boys. That same year, Routt College added a well-equipped chemical lab and a library to its educational offerings.
In 1914, Routt College became accredited by the state. That same year, the school’s endowment grew by $100,000, thanks, once again, to the generosity of the Routt family and of Our Saviour parish members.
Another large infusion of funding came in 1915, upon the deaths of Harvey Routt (William’s only son) and William, himself, within the same month. The estates of both men gave a total of $155,000 to benefit Routt College. About one year later, Routt College founder and first president Rev. Dean John Crowe died. Fr. Formaz was made head of Routt College and, in the first few years of his presidency, brought the endowment fund to the $400,000 mark.
In 1924, daily management of the school was separated from the Our Saviour parish. Fr. Formaz chose to stay with the parish and Fr. William Costello was made president of Routt College.
Martha Routt, wife of William, was equal to her husband in her dedication to faith-based education in Morgan County, and she maintained her family’s generous financial support of Routt College until her death in 1929, when she bequeathed her family’s estate to the school.
In the first quarter of its existence, the two-year high school developed into an eight-year institution, giving high school and college training in the arts and sciences. The enrollment increased tenfold and the endowment eightfold. Routt College was the only school of its kind in this section of the country, providing to Catholic students a cost-free high school and college education.
Routt: Early & Mid-Century
through Modern Day
1922 – First WAG (Routt’s student-produced writing/news publication); first football team Basketball was started here almost from the beginning, but football appears to have been started in 1922 and baseball in 1929. Mostly you see the teams just called Routt at the beginning, but they were often called “The Irish.” Once or twice there was a reference to Routtians and Ramblers. In the June 1931 Wag, they were called The Irish, then in January 1932, they were once referred to as The Irish and several times call the Rockets. After that they were called the Rockets.
1934 – The college section of the school closed in 1934. According to Sr. Mary Aquinas, Catholics were choosing to attend other schools because “by the 1930s there was less prejudice against Catholics getting into institutions of higher learning.”
1949 – First Routt yearbook
1952 – First student council
1955- First Routt band
1959 – National Honor Society chapter established at Routt
Beginning in 1960 through 1990, a Dominican was principal at Routt until their community decided that they did not have enough sisters to maintain the tradition. The first Dominican principal at Routt was Sister Vincent de Paul Huguet, and the last was Sister Philip Neri Crawford.
1963 – Ground worth $113,304 is donated to Routt; Routt Corporation donates $200,000 to assist in building the new high school
1966 – September – A fire, which was the result of arson, destroys the original high school building.
October 30 – The new Routt High School building is dedicated
1967 First class to graduate from new building
Interest from the Routt Trust financed the high school with no tuition charged to families until 1977. At that time $250 was charged for Catholics and $425 for non-Catholics. With increased expenses from inflation and the reduction of the Dominican presence as teachers, tuition was slowly increased and enrollment began to decline, from a high of 265 in 1979.
1984 Routt is the Class 1A State football champion with a perfect record of 13-0
Routt students participate in Hands Across America, a public fundraising event held Sunday, May 25, 1986, which attempted to create a continuous human chain of people holding hands across the United States.
1989 Seeing the need for increased funding, Sr. Philip Neri implemented the first Annual Fund appeal. Sr. Philip Neri also oversaw the incorporation of the Alumni Association in 1990, and the Association members ran the Annual Fund until the school hired a Development Director.
1989-90 – Classroom 9 is converted into a Chapel; Our Saviour School 7th and 8th graders began using two classrooms on Routt’s upper level
In 1993, a group of the school’s supporters initiated the first Dreams raffle drawing to aid in funding both Routt High School and Our Saviour Grade School. Each school has benefited, with approximately $100,000 donated each year.
1993 – Computer Lab established (486 IBM compatibles)
1993-94 – Girls’ basketball team is established; Routt Chapel is dismantled and converted back to a classroom for OSS Jr. High use
From the time of its founding, Routt had been managed by a five-member board, including the bishop, the Our Saviour parish pastor, another priest, and two parishioners, who met once a year. In October of 1993 Catholic Schools Management conducted an objective-setting session of strategic planning for Routt High School. From this gathering of parents, parishioners, alumni, teachers, and clergy, a plan was formed to govern Routt High School with a Board of Limited Jurisdiction. By-laws were adopted in 1996 and the new board of eleven members (later expanded to fifteen) took control in 1997. The initial directors were Mike Sheehan, Karen Douglas, Rev. Ken Venvertloh, the Right Rev. Daniel Ryan, Thomas Doyle, Joan Ryan, Phillip Whalen, Dr. Robert Clancy, Diane Buhlig, Maurice “Dude” Wildrick, and Robert Bonjean, Jr.
1994 2nd annual Dreams campaign – $100,000 1st prize
1995 – August – Our Saviour Parish hosts its inaugural Nun Run 5K to benefit the elementary school and the high school
1997 – May- Librarian Sr. Stella Marie Miller, last Dominican in the school, retired to the Mother House in Springfield
1997 October – Routt High School changes its name to Routt Catholic High School. This was a change made with the encouragement of the Springfield Diocese to highlight the school’s Catholic identity. This same year the school added a small chapel that is used for weekly masses and a statue of Jesus was put on display in the hallway.
2000 – Computers at Routt networked to the Internet; mini-labs established in Science, Math and Social Studies Departments
Routt: The Next 100 Years
July 27, 2002 – RCHS celebrates the school’s 100th anniversary with an all-school reunion – approximately 600 people attended a dinner at Routt.
As stated by Robert Bonjean, Jr., then-president of the Routt Board, at the 100-year celebration, “Routt is not [the current high school] building or the old Routt building. Routt is the people, its alumni, parents, teachers and staff, and the community that support it, with their children and financial support. We celebrate not only the past 100 years, but the beginning of our next 100 years.”
2003 March – Marilyn Merris, who taught at Routt for more than 20 years, dies
2003 Routt & OSS partner to offer 8th grade Spanish
2004 June Routt Board expands to 15 members
2004 Aug. Routt & OSS partner to expand the 8th grade foreign language to include French
2005 Mar. Routt holds inaugural Winter Ball at Hamiltons in Jacksonville
2005 Girls’ softball team wins the team’s first Regional Championship in school history
2005 Nov. Volleyball team are Super-Sectional champs and advance to the Elite
Eight at the state tournament for the first time in school history
2006 Jan. Girls’ basketball team wins first WIVC Conference championship in school
history with a perfect 8-0 record
2006 Swimmer Kelsie Perkins advances to State for a school record in diving
2007 Electrical fire destroys the main electrical feed to the building, resulting in a half day closure.
October – The inaugural Volley for the Cure volleyball match between Routt and Jacksonville High School is held. The fundraiser supports the Mia Ware Foundation and breast cancer awareness.
2008 Cheerleaders capture 3rd place in state competition in Bloomington on Feb. 2, making school history; baseball team wins state championship
July Gale Thoroman is the first non-Catholic to serve as principal of the school
2009 May Sr. Loyola Miller, Springfield Dominican, resigned as Campus Minister,
Theology teacher after 3 years; last religious on staff
2011 Oct. New roof and guttering in installed on the Dome
2012 New roof & guttering installed on the classrooms wing. The work is completed by Pennell Roofing.
2015 Feb. New electronic marquee is installed in front of RCHS. The weight room renovated and six new wooden trophy cases are installed in the Student Lounge, as well as a new wooden platform for the Christ statue
2016- May – Blessing of the St. Thomas Aquinas statue at the front of the school. The statue was donated by student Jayden Ware for his Eagle Scout project.
October – 50th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Routt High School Dome
2017 – August – New flooring in the Dome is celebrated with a reunion of sports teams; Routt offers AP Computer Science course.
May – Demolition begins on the 51-year-old gym flooring in the Dome
2018 – September – Routt presents its first Adult Homecoming at the Knights of Columbus Hall
October – Head Volleyball Coach Pat “Gibby” Gibson (’89) celebrates his 20th season; the football team qualifies for the playoffs for the first time since 2011
November – For the first time since 2010, Routt Girls Basketball welcomes a new member to the 1,000 point club: Katie Abell ‘19
2019 – April – First bass fishing team
June – Major renovations are made to Routt’s two science labs/classrooms. A ribbon cutting is held in October.
September – Routt is recognized as a Centennial Business by the Illinois State Historical Society for its 100 years of service to the community
October – Routt publishes its first e-newsletter
2020 — Monday, March 16-Monday, March 30 – State-mandated school closures due to the COVID 19 pandemic go into effect. Routt enters remote learning using the school’s 1:1 laptop program.
Left to Right: Spanish and English teacher Mrs. Cleta TerHark, History teacher Lisa Hall, and Mathematics teacher Margaret Stinson teaches a class remotely
June – Routt organizes a School Reopening Committee consisting of board members, faculty, parents and administrators to meet weekly to develop a plan for opening the school for the 2020-2021 school year in the COVID 19 pandemic.
June 28 – the Class of 2020 gets a graduation ceremony about one month later than usual. Due to social distancing guidelines, the ceremony is closed to the public and livestreamed.
July – Routt installs 3D printing technology for use by students in the Web Design course
November 9 – After starting the school year in-person, Routt makes the decision to move to a complete Distance Learning model through the Thanksgiving holiday due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Students return to in-person learning Monday, Nov. 30. Each morning our students are greeted with a bright smile (through a mask, of course!), screening questions, and a temperature check, and then will be free to start their day. We have spent the past 2 weeks disinfecting classrooms and common areas,” Routt Principal Nick Roscetti told parents in an email message that welcomed students back to in-person learning, “and we will continue to do so. Our goal is to complete the final 12 days of the first semester using In-Person Learning and hold semester exams as scheduled on December 16-18 …”
2021 – August – The tradition of seniors painting their parking spaces begins; “Routt Catholic High School” signage is added to the north side of the Dome
2022 – June – Routt celebrates its 120 year anniversary with an all-school reunion weekend
October 7 – Routt’s football program celebrates 100 years since its formation.
December – The boys’ basketball team emerge Waverly Holiday Tournament Champions for the first time since 1989 in an overtime thriller against the New Berlin Pretzels
2023 – June – Major renovations are made to the Main Lobby and to the former Library, which is transitioned into a Media Center
Sources:
Early history – Jacksonville Courier 9/18/77 (reprint of Jacksonville Daily Journal 10/4/27)
Early history – Routt College Wag February 1914
Early history – Catholic Times May 15, 1994
Info on Martha Routt – Routt College Wag Mid-Winter 1929
New board structure – Jacksonville Showcase 9/29/97
Catholic identity – Jacksonville Journal-Courier 9/1/98
100-year Celebration – Jacksonville Journal-Courier 7/28/02
The Routt Brothers
It is widely understood that the Routts did more for Catholicism than any other family in central Illinois, and there is plenty of evidence to support that statement.
The Routt brothers, Charles and William (1832-1915), were not born in Jacksonville, nor were they born Catholic. According to an account published in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Charles (born in 1824 in Kentucky) converted to Catholicism after attending a Catholic university in Cincinnati. When Charles moved to Jacksonville, his younger brother, William, followed him.
Charles Routt (1825-1895) moved for the first time from his birthplace in Woodford County, Kentucky, to Jacksonville in 1834. He enrolled at St. Xavier Catholic College in Cincinnati, Ohio, and returned to Jacksonville in 1842. Charles Routt (who never married) moved from his family’s rural home and farmland into Jacksonville proper in 1866, purchasing a home on East State Street.
William Routt (1832-1915) moved from his home in the countryside to Jacksonville proper with his wife, Martha, in 1886. The Routts lived in a home at 1427 South Main Street. In addition to the money William Routt donated to establish and then support Routt College, he also funded the expansion of Routt Hospital which had been established in the former home of Gov. Richard Yates Sr.
Routt Founder’s Day/Ultimate Routt Day
Founder’s Day (or Ultimate Routt Day, as it’s called today) was established in 1905 as a day when Routt students paid tribute to William Routt. The Routt family invited students and staff to their home for a celebration.
The Routt family’s generosity continues to sustain our school today as a viable place for Catholic education. Each year, Routt students celebrate Founder’s Day with a spring picnic for our students and a Day of Giving during which, inspired by the Routt family, our alumni and donor base create legacies of their own through gifts made to support faith-based education at Routt.
The young students of Routt College boarded streetcars at the school every spring and made a pilgrimage to praise their benefactor.
Founder’s Day was established in 1905 as a day when Routt students would pay homage to William R. Routt, the wealthy Morgan County landowner who endowed the local Catholic school.
Routt and his son, Harvey, donated $25,000 and property on East State Street on which to build the school. And the elder Routt also gave another $50,000 to establish an endowment fund for the college. Routt College was primarily a high school which offered college credit courses until the early 1930s.
Founder’s Day was usually held on or near the anniversary of William Routt’s birth — April 1 — at the large Routt home at 1427 S. Main St. The Founder’s Day celebration normally included speeches by the Rev. John Crowe, pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, and his assistant pastor, the Rev. Francis F. Formaz, as well as faculty members and students.
The following description of Founder’s Day was included in the April 1923 edition of “The Wag,” a Routt student publication.
“The large north parlor was used as a social room and the first hour was devoted to the rendition of a carefully prepared program, during which the various class representatives vied with one another in giving honor and in expressing gratitude and good wishes to their beloved founder.”
The unsigned article goes on to summarize some of the other Founder’s Day activities. William Routt allowed the students to roam all over his spacious house, according to the article.
Those with an intellectual bent relaxed in the home’s library. Others listened to records played on the Victrola in the living room. Several of the Routt boys climbed the stairs to the third floor, where they spent the remainder of the day playing billiards. And some of the more mischievous types enjoyed themselves by playing tricks on fellow classmates and even on Harvey Routt.
Founder’s Day usually closed with the Routt students gathered around their host and benefactor for a group photograph.
Credit: Greg Olson, Jacksonville Journal-Courier, 2012-03-25
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Principals
1904-1906 J.C. Madigan
1906-1916 Fr. Francis R. Formaz
1916-1918 Joseph Craugh
1918-1921 James Conlin
1921-1948 John E. Coonen
1948-1950 Stanley Vopat
1950-1953 E. V. Schmidt
1953-1959 George Lehner
1959-1961 Edward Plicta
1961-1965 Sr. Vincent de Paul Huguet
1965-1971 Sr. Aquinata
1971-1977 Sr. Mercita
1977-1983 Sr. Mary Simeon
1983-1990 Sr. Philip Neri Crawford
1983-1990 Sr. Philip Neri Crawford
1990-1991 Colin Letendre
1991-1995 David Miller
1995-1998 Dr. Robert Clancy
1998-2000 Paul Belobradjic
2000-2001 James Woods (one semester)
2001 Harry Lee Hall (interim)
2001-2008 Randy Verticchio
2008-2014 Gale Thoroman
2014-2014 John Bailey
(interim for 6 months)
2014 – 2020 Nick Roscetti
2020 – current Dan Carie