George Washington High School - Post Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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POT George Washington High School 2215 West Washington Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46222 1977 FROMADREAM . In the year 1922 a population of about 42,000 Jeople were living west of White River in Indiana- volis. They had a dream . . . to have their own chool in order that their young people would not rave to ride buses into the downtown area and trans- er to other buses in order to attend high school .t Shortridge, Tech, or Manual tpresently Woodi. ..- - ' ,,.f Tk v- ls ' . - 1 I 3, . ':?'f'!'Z 'iT .1 . --.fi ff: -1 VFW - ,ri f Tiff lrlaff 1-ril'l'l f-ry' fi Q ff' J, i-f,.,vr rr? 'ir fl l l UT -... - rf: F F ,ff ', . 1 , ag: ff 1-- .I jr., , sys -sg ,Q N Q - , F - L 3733. ,ff 'I . mln 4, 1 '. Ltr- M- 'k:?.- , I Av V wang, .hi h V V up-nn, I ... an - , 4 . - ' ' . V S . ,Z up W ACTIVITIES 17 ACADEMICS ' 39 SPORTS 55 ALBUM 79 About 670 students made up the high school popula- tion from the entire west side community. As near- ly as could be estimated there were only about 60 west side students graduating from high school each year. The community was divided into three distinct communities: C15 Hawthorne or Washington Street district, occupying the territory south from the B. 8 O. railroad yards to the Pennsylvania railroad yards on either side of Washington Street. C25 Haughville-extending north from the B. ch O. railroad yards. C35 West 'Indianapolis-occupying that portion of the west side which is south of the Pennsylvania railroad yards. Realizing the need of a high school, representatives from the Hawthorne Community Association, the Hawthorne PTA. and Rev. Clarence Baker, editor of the West Side Messenger went before the school commissioners on April 25, 1922, and the dream be- gan to take definite shape. Because of the interest and insistence of these west side community groups and leaders, the School Board purchased 121- acres of land on Washington Street between Sheffield and Tre- mont Avenues, plans were drawn up and construction began in 1925. It took quite a bit of work and public opinion focused on the importance of a high school for the west side to get acceptance by the Board. They were not ready to ,believe that there were a sufficient number of west side high school students to fill or require a building. The contract price approved by the Board on Oct- ober 13, 1925, was 5B435,676.00. Construction began and at the close of the school year 1926-27, the build- ing was ready for occupancy. Pupils in other city high schools were given the opportunity to signify a desire to attend the new high school. The largest number of transfers came from Manual Training High School, hence the largest number of teachers were taken from that school and transferred to the new high school. Shortridge contributed also as the Principal appointed to Washington was Mr. Walter G. Gingery who was serving as Head of the Math Department and Assistant Principal. What a surprise to the entire school system when the doors opened in the fall of 1927 and 983 students enrolled. The building was built to hold only 1000 students and was almost filled the first year.

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No sooner had efforts been made to develop an athletic field on the original ground, than it was real- ized that the plot was too small. Again a group of west side com- munity citizens asked the Board to purchase additional ground. Twen- ty-two vacant lots were purchased to the east of the original plot, to the sum of 317,800 This approval came February 12, 1929, approx- imately 1 1X2 years after the school opened. Right: Aerial view of original building of 1927. Below: Aerial view following the 1938 ad- dition. To A Ei .W A . Y. G QQ! :O YJ U' f-'ji A , 19 .9-F ' ' 1 .' A i I fav .. , va - ' i Q ' .,.-'fmwfs-5 - i ,S ' 1 g,i 1 if 4 r . Vi I 9' ' I-3 E' , 9 i a., an . ':,: 3 w ,- Q H I 'A ni ' f . , Y , 'cf ' .V . ,, W, 1.7.1 .V , . ..g 5pg'f5g-'f' 114, , .V 1. 'xy AV-,IDI .x-U f 1 Q ads- - -.AA-.1--4 -- 2-yr.. 1.59 ' F ..'v.'g? Y' fi 5 -nr - F -1 I 1- . :W . ' .Q . ,v-