Ellensburg High School - Klahiam Yearbook (Ellensburg, WA)

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Ellensburg Schools GROWTH OF SCHOOLS Sun streaming through the window of a log cabin in Taneum Canyon disclosed twelve Indians, under the guardianship of Charles Splawn-such was the first school in Kittitas Valley. Today, sixty years later, the beams of the same sun shine in the windows of the modern schools of Kittitas County, which have an enrollment of 4,752 pupils, 1,750 of whom are enrolled in the city schools of Ellensburg. It was a long and hard road, with seemingly unconquerable obstacles, but backed by the settlers' desire for education, and by the efforts of a long line of courageous teachers, a gradual growth has resulted in the present schools, with their up-to-date facilities and broad curricula. In 1874, a public school was established in Yakima City, the only town between Walla Walla and Seattle. In 1883, at the time of the county division, district schools were begun in Kittitas. In the late years of the 1880's, John H. Morgan served as terri- torial superintendent, and continued to serve for many years in the guiding of the schools of Kittitas Valley, being connected with the Normal school, and later with the public schools, retiring from his position as principal of the Ellensburg High School in 1929. When the old Ellensburg Central School, destroyed by fire on November 6, 1924, was built, it accommodated lower grades, high school and Normal school. Shortly after that time, the first Normal School buildings were constructed, leaving the Central School for the city schools exclusively. For several years previous to 1904, Ellensburg had a school ol eleven grades. In that year Ellensburg established the first four-year high school in the county, and thus became a twelve-year school. With rapidly increasing enrollments, the present high school was constructed in 1912. With the consolidation of six districts in 1927, District 101 was formed, with six bus routes to accommodate students from Umtanum, Rosa, Rollinger, Wilson Creek, and Edgemont-Thrall districts. , In 1930, with the completion of the junior high school building, the modern six- three-three plan of grade organization was introduced in Ellensburg, with six grades giving the elementary work, three grades the try-out courses preliminary to high school study, and the three grades for more specialized work in the senior high school. CURRICULUM Ellensburg High School, with a total enrollment of 402 students for the year 1932-33, has a course of study which allows freedom in the selection of work. Part is definitely prescribed, part devoted to major study, and part freely elective. Seven courses are offered. College preparatory courses are scientific, general, and classical. Vocational courses are commercial, agriculture, home economics, and manual arts. Page 1

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C In the early history of the Valley, three roads or trails stand out in the memory of the pioneers. They are: The Squaw Creek Trail to The Dallesg the Snoqualmie Trail to the coastg and the Caribou Trail, outlet for the Caribou mines in British Colum- bla. The Squaw Creek Trail was by far the most im- portant. A large percentage of settlers entered the valley by this route, and all supplies for several years were brought in over this trail. The road passes through what is now Badger Pocket, over the hill past the silica mines, and on into the sage- brush. It is still passable. The round trip between The Dalles and Robbers' Roost took from two to three weeks. The Snoqualmie Trail is about the earliest trail into the Valley. The Coast Indians used it for gen- erations on their way into- the land of the Camas. The trail was obstructed in many places, and was passable only on horseback. It was in use by settlers entering the Valley as early as 1870, and later be- came a part of the Snoqualmie Pass Highway. The Caribou Trail Went over what is now known as Colockum Pass to Wenatchee. It was later made into a regular road, but has fallen into disuse during the last decade. A later important route was the Durr Road to Yakima, built in 1882-83 by Jacob Durr, crossing the Umtanum Hills. Yearly passes for this read sold for twenty-five dollars, and life passes for fifty dollars. A toll bridge across the Yakima River was built Where the Upper Bridge is now located. The road was an important freight road.

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I Administrators 13111111.61 11112 111110 111 11121611 I 111l1'9 11111211 Il 11111111- 11111' of f111' 5011001 11011r11, I 111111 .seen 1111111.11 51111111 111111 e1'1111011111' f'1I!l1lg6S. This 11108 111111111 111111111712 111, 11111' 31111101 pl'0g1'C1H'l 111e1f1t1111113. It 11113 11121111 the f11111'f1011 of the 513110111 11011111 111 1IIIpl'O1'C 111111 11ppr111se 911011 policies as 11,7111 pre- pare Sf1lf1l?111f.S' for 1'1f1ze11s11ip 1711 11111' Rep11111ic. 117111711 011r boys 111111 girls SWICCPPI1 117011, 81111001 111111111 111c11111e1's feel 11111191111 r1211'111'111J11 for 1111?1l' 1111112 111111 Pff0l'f. J. C. S1'121'1111g, C'1111i1'1111111, B011111 of Di1'e111'111's. Mr. J. C. Sterling has been a member of the Board of Directors continuously since 1917, and is at present chairman of the Board. Mr. J. N. Faust has served for five years, and was recently re-elected for a three-year term. Mr. Albert Crimp has been an active member of the Board since 1928, and is now the clerk of the Board. MR. STERLING MR. FAUST MR. CRIMP MISS ARG-ALL MISS BAKER English Girls' Physical Education M ISS DAWSON MISS BUZZETTI Physics, Biology Shorthand Typing Journalism BRAM LETT xal Arts ON MR. JOHNSON Agriculture Page 2