Alhambra High School - Alhambran Yearbook (Alhambra, CA)

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THE HISTORY OF ALHAMBRA HIGH SCHOOL ALHAMBRA ' S first high schcxil classes were held in the Garfield grammar school buildint;. In 1900 the first graduating class of this high school held its exer- cises with only three graduates. Later, as the sehix:il grew, a building was erected on the place where the high schtxil now stands. The new building was completed in the fall of 1905. Mr. Wheat, who is now assistant superintendent of the schools of Los Angeles County was then principal of the school. This first year there were five teachers and less than one hundred pupils. Now there are one hundred and eleven teachers and over two thousand pupils. Following Mr. Wheat, Mr. Trowbridge was principal. Then Nathan L. Smith took over the duties of superintendent and principal. Later, when the work grew too burdensome he became superintendent and Mr. Routt was made principal. Mr. Routt held this position until 192 ' ! when Mr. Bettinger took his place. The first building on our campus was located where the administration building now stands. All of the classes were carried on in this one building, with the gymna- sium in the basement. Later the science building, gym, manual training, and com- mercial buildings were built. One of the cottages was Mr. Routt ' s home. The rivalry between South Pasadena and Alhambra started in 1913, when the high school organised its first football team. Fourteen years later, our team beat South Pasadena for the first time, and, on its fifteenth birthday, became the cham- pionship team of California. The school also won glory in 1922 by having the cham- pionship basketball team in Southern and Central California. In 1917 seventeen of our boys from Alhambra High School enlisted in the army. These boys were able to come back to the school that June to receive their diplomas before they left for France. The girls played their part m the war by joining the Red Cross Auxiliary. Five of our teachers are graduates of Alhambra High School. They are Miss Green, Miss Abbey, Mrs. Gilstrap, Miss Artz, and Miss Pease. One of the first Mid-year classes to be formed in Alhambra High graduated in 1924. This was the year that the old administration building was torn down and a new one built in its place. With the passing of the old building went the last of the eventful Tramp Day. The school was growing up and we could no longer permit a childish thing like Tramp Day to interfere with our studies. However, the Seniors have given a substitute for this event in their annual Kid Day. In looking over the history of Alhambra High School, we see that we have made great progress in the last twenty years. May we spend that next twenty years im- proving as much as we have in the past. Thirteen