Here is a news article I have in my possession concerning the little town/school that I attended in 1940's- 50's.  The town has since been "unincorporated".

From Waterloo  (IA) Daily Courier, Tuesday, March 1, 1932
 

Oneida, Delaware County Hamlet, Has a Major League Prep Basketball Machine
_________
Consolidated School Five Has Won 26 of last 27 Contests.
__________
 

Manchester, Ia. Even the larger maps of Iowa indicate the position of Oneida by nothing more than a tiny dot and fine type, but at present this little railroad junction point is the most talked-of portion of Delaware county in sports circles. The reason for this unusual attention is the boysı  basketball team representing the consolidated school perched on a hill at the edge of the hamlet, and at this time almost any cage fan in northeastern Iowa will solemnly affirm that this quintet is playing basket ball of a type that you might expect, but seldom find, in the larger class A schools of the state.
   Out of a total high school enrollment of only 43.  Oneida is one of the two smallest four-year high schools in the county.  Coach Marvin Hammer has found a squad of 12 lads who are gathering unto themselves records and trophies that would do credit to many a larger institution. Practically all of these boys are from farms in the district [sic], where chores occupy each morning and evening, and practice sessions are held at the school during the noon hour and recreation periods. But when you see this team in action, you would hardly believe that intermittent drills of two to four hours per week could result in such polished, concerted effort.
 

The ³First Team²
 

As is usually the case, the brunt of the work falls on the shoulders of five players, known as the ³first² team in larger schools, but Hammer has built for the future by working with his reserves and at present he has no less than three capable substitutes ready for duty  at a moments notice. The starting lineup in practically all games has been the same, a forward, center and guard, each of whom is six feet tall or taller, and a forward and guard who will do well to measure better than five feet six inches, up and down.
The tall boys are Capt. Paul Grimm, center, who has scored 237 points in 16 games (The opposition scored a total of 259 in 17); Carl Grimm, forward, who is second to his older brother in scoring with 168 points and Howard Zobel, standing guard. The little fellows are Russell Paris, forward, and Ralph Brown, guard. The Grimm brothers and Brown come from the two-year high school at Delaware, just outside the Oneida district, and the Grimms enjoy the distinction of being the only ³town² residents on the squad.
 

Score 622 Points
 

   In 14 regular season games and three county  tournament affrays, so far this season, the Oneida quintet has been undefeated, rolling up a total of 622 points to a total of 259 for their opponents. This averages up to 36 1-2 points per game, or better than a point a minute for Oneida, to  15 1-4 points per game for the enemy.
   The record of which Oneida is particularly  proud is that of  having gone thru its 12-game league schedule without a defeat, thus surpassing Buck Creekıs three-year-old record of 10 wins and no losses compiled when the conference consisted of six clubs instead of seven. Another record is that of having won 14 consecutive league contests, beginning with the last two conference battles of the 1930-31 season. And still another.  The high score for any game ever played in this league, 55 points scored against Buck Creek on the latterıs floor.
 

The Teamıs Record
 

   While no claims are made in regard to the final game of the county tournament, it is doubtful if any championship games have gone by scores of 77 to 8 or better. And it might be remarked in passing that buck Creek, the team thus heartily trounced, is no set-up  and is especially noted for its sparkling tournament play.
   Going back to Jan. 30, 1931, when Oneida rallied after going stale in mid-season, it is found that this club has won 26 out of the last 27 games. The Oneida team  won the county tournament, then went to the finals of the sectional meet only to drop a decision to Hopkinton.
   Oneidaıs record for this season:
  Oneida 24, Hopkinton 7
   Oneida 26, Greeley 13
   Oneida 55, Buck Creek 24
   Oneida 21, Colesburg 8
   Oneida 21, Dundee 6
   Oneida 33, Earlville 14
   Oneida 38, Delhi 22
   Oneida 34, Hopkinton, 6
   Oneida 22, Greeley 14
   Oneida 43, Buck Creek, 26
   Oneida 32, Lamont  23
   Oneida  37, Colesburg 16
   Oneida 43, Earlville 25
   Oneida 38, Delhi 11?
   Oneida 43, Greeley 23
   Oneida 35, Delhi 19
   Oneida 77, Buck Creek 8



 

Submitted by Ruth M.F. Tucker on April 4, 2004.

Back to Tid-Bits