![]() The Wigwam survived even when Anderson High School could not. (And that this was not an unusual thing.) Hoose's excellent 1984 book, "Hoosiers: The Fabulous Basketball Life of Indiana," a whole chapter is dedicated to Indiana's craziest fans, those of the Anderson Indians - though it was telling that even then, the chapter opens with an industrial worker calling in from Houston, where he had gone because there were no jobs in Anderson, to have someone hold a phone up to a radio broadcast. ![]() That might be a higher total than you might expect, given that by 2006, the number of auto industry jobs, GM and otherwise, had fallen from 40,000 to zero.įor a while, the Anderson fans, and the Wigwam, held on. Census, 56,129 people living in the city. Its population has fallen steadily since that 1970 peak, with, as of the 2010 U.S. When the American auto industry started hitting the wall, Anderson crashed with it. Even as Anderson opened two more high schools, Anderson Indians games were the big-ticket event in town, with a perennially successful team charged up by sellout crowds fired up by a pregame "maiden and Indian" ceremony, a touch unchanged despite the advances of time and questioning of whether white people dressed as Native American mascots was really a good idea.Īlas, the advances of time were extremely unkind to Anderson. At that point, GM employed 40,000 in Anderson. Anderson jumped from about 50,000 people at the time the new Wigwam opened to nearly 71,000 in 1970. The Wigwam opened as Anderson boomed, helped in large part by many, many union jobs provided by its major employer, GM. ![]() Anderson's conference, the North Central, is notable in that most of the state's largest gyms are in it, with the smallest being Logansport's Kokomo's 5,200-seat pipsqueak. That would give a school the first round of the playoffs, which attracted the fans of anywhere from four to eight schools, and often provided enough money to help make a major dent in paying for such oversized gyms, as Hoosiers would call them, even when they got to be (at the time) bigger than some NBA arenas. Its opening was part of a boom in gym sizes in Indiana in the 1950s through the early 1970s, as schools built bigger and bigger facilities to hold larger and larger crowds and, most importantly, win the right to host the one-class, all-comers sectional. The Wigwam, the gym for Anderson High, opened in 1961, replacing a previous version that had burned down in 1958. Anderson, the Flint of Indiana, has taken a lot of kicks in the head over the last 30 years, and closing the Wigwam is an acknowledgment that the city can't take any more. With its commitment to excellence, supportive community, and diverse range of athletic opportunities, Highland High School sets its students up for success both on and off the field.Even though the stands are rarely half-full, much less full, anymore, and even though it's almost impossible to justify $350,000 per year just in utility costs for a building that's not even attached to a school, it will be a sad moment if and when the school board decides to put the Wigwam out of its misery. Highland High School is a remarkable institution that provides its students with a well-rounded education and a platform to pursue their athletic passions. ![]() The school's athletics program not only focuses on winning games but also places a strong emphasis on character building, sportsmanship, and overall personal growth. The dedicated coaching staff at Highland High School is committed to helping students develop their skills, instilling a sense of discipline and teamwork, and promoting a spirit of healthy competition. The school is a proud member of the state athletics association and competes in a multitude of sports, including football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track and field, among others. Highland High School boasts a robust athletics program that encourages students to participate and thrive in various sports. With a rich history and strong community support, Highland High School offers a wide range of opportunities for students to excel both academically and athletically. Highland High School, located in the town of Highland, IL, is an exceptional educational institution that prides itself on fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for its students.
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