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

Page 7 text:

RE LITY During the summer of 1931, four temporary rooms in frame build- ings tportablesj were added at the west rear of the building. It was the 1930's and the depression had al- ready laid its unwelcome pall on hundreds of homes in the west side' when spring matriculation began in February, 1931, but George Wash- ington High School was not to be y 'yi ww A -1i'r'-0-vul 'W ' T .ln-4 u:-ii' JM' Y x x L. ,qw Mb, y -at .A .. fu S' v 4 SQ! halted by a slowing down of bus- iness a n d industry. T h e record showed entrance of 1,435 pupils, far beyond the actual capacity of the school. In September, 1931, the west side school found 1,448 young men and women flowing through its channels of education. In Febru- ary, 1932, another boost came to the roster and 1,627 pupils said Here we are! Old Man Depres- sion. with all of his imposed sacri- fices, could not halt George Wash- ington High School. West side par- ents were determined that their children's future success was not to be impeded through lack of proper education. From year to year the enroll- ment grew by leaps and bounds and by the 1934-35 school year the en- rollment had reached the astound- ing number of 2103 students and 67 teachers. During the summers of 1935 and '36, eight more portables were ad- ded, four each summer. An addi- tion was requested. It was approved in 1937 at a cost of 95325000 and contained classrooms, shop rooms, science and home economics labs, art room, dean's ofhce, and gym with locker rooms and showers. The addition ten years later cost almost as much as the original building. The 1937 addition eased t he bursting at the seams for a short time. Enrollments increased and in 1958 another addition w a s ap- proved by the Board of Commis- sioners and now houses the science and home economics wing of the building. Enrollments increased again and again until at one point early in 1960 over 3,000 students were enrolled at this west side school that was so dear to the hearts of all those who had watch- ed it grow and their dreams realiz- ed. It was at this point that North- west High School was built to help ease the enrollment and incredible growth of Washington. Left: April, 1977 aerial view. 3

Page 6 text:

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-

Page 8 text:

As early as IEHST. dreams began lu once more develop. Why not huild a new gvmnusiuin and re- model the present facility. There was a constantly ,growing need for hetter lihrary facilities and an im- proved cafeteria. The dreams were placed on paper, requests were made, meetings held, discussions Bottom picture: The new gym was dedi- eiiiell with pusl and eurn-nt School Board m--mbers, Superintendent Karl Kalp, ffoutractors and Architects present for the ce: monies. ' Jun 1 -L n sam I' - 1 2 cl:i-mm: Q , m a - if s mum' V Ill! A arenas 1. l,l'.ll Vi-'u':L 5 Q1 Vnuzv .- .mi ' ' as what all needed to he done, what would make this facility unique and new, and what it would cost to purchase land. The plans were laid aside for a short time and once again the School Board was awak- ened to the fact that this west side i-onimuuity school should be re- cognized and improvements made. , I , ,i N, u 3 v I, ,f -hunnnn. .Q ! ' l -.1 4 I v . ini Q. I Q 'i'uk,.-M4 -, Contracts were let and construction began in 1975. A gymnasium with the latest in scoreboards, sound equipment, automatic bleachers, classrooms, weight room, wrestling room, whirlpool, two locker rooms, and gymnastics facility was com- pleted and opened in the Fall of 1976. ii 'I ci - A1