The ALEXANDRIA PAPERS #6

D O   N O T   P I C K   M E   F O R   B A S K E T B A L L

I do not run anywhere.  Those days are past.  I do not shoot well.  Never did.

There used to be a number of small high schools in Licking County that are no more.  There was Union High School along State Route 37 between Granville and Luray at little known Union Station.  A distant relative of mine helped plan this school and sat on the board.  This was a rural high school for people who did not go to Granville, Hebron, or Pataskala High School.  This school disappeared when Granville absorbed outlying areas, when Pataskala consolidated with Etna and became Watkins Memorial, and when Hebron took in southeastern Licking County to become first Lynnwood, then Lakewood.  Just a few miles away along Route 40, Kirkersville High School was renamed Harrison Township High School around 1940 before consolidation with Watkins Memorial about 15 years later.

In 1938, the Licking County League looked like this:  Alexandria, Etna, Granville, Hanover-Toboso, Hartford, Hebron, Homer, Jacksontown, Johnstown, Kirkersville, Pataskala, Summit, and Utica.

Then, there was what I call the Classic Licking County League: Utica, Northridge, Johnstown, Licking Heights, Watkins Memorial, Lakewood, Licking Valley, Granville (Exempted), and Newark Catholic.  That is how I remember it in the 1970s.  But for a brief moment, two years, I was able to enjoy the past.  I was an Alexandria Red Devil.  The junior high schools kept their pre-consolidation community identities.

Consolidation was painful for some.  The first graduation class from Northridge did not necessarily identify as Vikings.  One person in particular was upset that after three-and-one-half years in Alexandria High School, the remaining time meant their diploma would say Northridge, not Alexandria.  But Northridge was a consolidation of consolidations.  Before Northridge was Northridge North (Hartford and Homer) and Northridge South (Alexandria).  I suspect that for all the consolidations, there are similar stories.

I was a Red Devil.  I shared a past with many community leaders I knew.  Alexandria played six-man football.  I played outdoor sports on the Red Devils football field.  When former Alexandria resident and teacher Helen Irwin Cunningham shared some ticklish stories about shenanigans at that football field, I knew exactly where she was talking about.

The 1954 Lickingana (Licking County High School Yearbook) lists these schools:   Alexandria, Pataskala, Homer, Hanover-Toboso, Summit Station, Jacksontown, Hebron, Kirkersville, Johnstown-Monroe, Utica, Etna, and Hartford.

Alexandria "Red Devils" (Red and Black) - became Northridge South (1960), then consolidated with Northridge North (Croton and Homer) into Northridge (1963)

Etna "Eagles" (Green and White) - consolidated into Watkins Memorial (1955).

Hanover "Panthers" (Maroon and White) - renamed Hanover-Toboso 1934, consolidated into Licking Valley (1959).

Hartford "Yellow Jackets" (Orange and Black) - consolidated into Northridge North (1960), consolidated into Northridge (1963).

Hebron "Trailblazers" (Blue and Gray) - consolidated into Lynnwood-Jacksontown  (1958), consolidated into Lakewood (1960).

Homer "Blue Devils" (Blue and Gold) - renamed Northridge North 1960, consolidated into Northride (1963).

Jacksontown "Trojans" (Red and White) - consolidated into Lynnwood-Jacksontown  (1958), consolidated into Lakewood (1960).

Johnstown "Johnnies" (Red and White) - at some point, became Johnstown-Monroe.

Kirkersville "Komets" (Red and White) - consolidated into Watkins Memorial (1955).

Pataskala "Blue Streaks" (Blue and White) - consolidated into Watkins Memorial (1955).

St. Francis "Green Wave" (Green and White) - later changed to Newark Catholic.  [Found on 1950s era Alexandria Sports Schedules - TEB]

Summit (Summit Station) "Yellow Jackets" Maroon and Gold - consolidated with Jersey to form Licking Heights (1958).

Toboso - consolidated into Hanover-Toboso (1934).

Utica "Redskins" (Red and White).

Today's Licking County League is a different entity than this poor Red Devil remembers.  The following list comes from Wikipedia with team name, dates of inclusion, and colors:

Big School Division

Granville Blue Aces (1927-1950, 1963-1991, 2013-) Colors: Blue and White

Zanesville Blue Devils (2020-) Colors: Blue and White

Licking Heights Hornets (1927-1983, 2013-) Colors: Maroon and Gold

Licking Valley Panthers (1959-1991, 2013-) Colors: Red, White and Blue

Watkins Memorial Warriors (1955-1991, 2013-) Colors: Black and Gold

Small School Division

Heath Bulldogs (1964-1991, 2013-) Colors: Brown and White

Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (1927-1991, 2013-) Colors: Red and White

Lakewood Lancers (1959-1991, 2013-) Colors: Red, White and Blue

Newark Catholic Green Wave (1973-1991, 2013-) Colors: Green and White

Northridge Vikings (1963-1986, 2013-) Colors: Green and White

Utica Redskins (1927-1991, 2013-) Colors: Red and Gray

Somewhere is the Red Devil that was center court in the 1954 gym before it was replaced by a Viking.  I may no good at basketball, but it would be nice to revisit this old icon.

ADDENDUM:

Union Township High School graduated classes into the 1940s. However, I have not fully researched their participation in the Licking County League.

At various times, Utica High School appears as Washington (Township) High School or Washington-Utica High School.