George Washington High School - Surveyor Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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while Mr. Arnautoff was high above on a scaffold. He suffered from drafts in all directions, for doors had not yet been built. The artist was so rushed for time that he had to improvise as he was painting. Covering about nine feet of wall a day, he sometimes worked from ten to twelve hours a day to finish a given section. The murals took ten months to complete: ironically, the school was not opened until a full year later. FIRST YEAR AT WASHINGTON. George Washington High was the pride and ioy of the students and faculty when it opened: everyone admired the magnificent view and the handsome build- ing, and the faculty and students were filled with enthusiasm in spite of the fact that they were sadly lacking in facilities. These pioneers realized that the responsibility for Washingfon's coming through the first year lay on their shoulders. Only they remembered all the difficulties that had to be overcome: but we, today, know that they emerged with flying colors. The enrollment of the school in its first year consisted of the new low tens and students who had transferred from other schools. These students had to stand up or sit on the floor because of the lack of chairs and desks: the gym classes met in different class- rooms, and the library was completely empty, save for one set of encyclopedias. These handicaps seemed minor, however, as compared to the terrible noise caused by the construction of the new gymnasium.This construction work, accompanied by the noise, lasted for two years. Despite these difficulties, at the end of the term there were 57 students on the honor roll. Southwest Wing, first floor under construction April 4, 1935 The first student government at Washington was organized in the fall of I936 with David Cunningham, president: Lois Samuels, vice-president: Jane Mayer, secretary: Howard Nielsen, treas- urer: Richard Cohn, custodian: and Gordon Mailloux, head yell leader. The spring I937 officers were: Hal Mendelson, president: Betty Hill, vice-president, Nancy Glaser, secretary: Richard de Graf, treasurer: Phillip Waxman, custodian, and Robert Kahn, head yell leader. The first social event of the term was the lnaugural Ball, held on October 30, l936, in the school library. The lack of a gym did not stop the students from having social affairs. The rallies were held outside on the courts. The first indoor rally was at Pre- sidio Junior High School. At the first indoor rally held at Wash- ington in I940 in the newly built auditorium, the speakers had to stand on chairs. The platform had not yet been completed. The first commencement took place at Commerce High School on December I6, I937. Miss Kirwin had charge of the first graduating class consisting of I48 students. Five students com- pleted their required course six months earlier, in June, but since there were so few eligible for the Spring '37 class, the gradua- tion exercises were not held. These students came back in Decem- ber to graduate with the Fall '37 class. There were three girls and two boys in the first official gradu- ating class: Mariorie Astredo, who had entered the school at its opening: Lois Samuel, Washington's first vice-president and one of the originators of the Girls' Service Society: Frank Hultman, Tod Saylor, and Eleanor Worken. is A S A Looking west across Southwest Wing. Forms for woll ond second story in place April 4, 1935. During the Fall '37 term the Senior Advisory Board was estab- lished, and the Senior-Soph Reception, which is now so popular, was first held in the school library. Because of financial difficul- ties and lack of space, a party was given at the Balboa Theater. Between the showing of films an amateur hour was presented. with talented students from Washington participating. On November 23. I937, the Senior Luncheon was held in the school's cafeteria. December ll, was the date of the Senior Dance, now known as the Farewell Dance. This class owed much of its success to Miss Kirwin, who was unanimously chosen to be in charge of all future senior classes. Many of the teachers on the first faculty are still with us today. The following is a list of the original faculty: Mrs. Melanie Ains- worth, Mr. Donald Atherton, Miss Rose Avina, Mr. William Baker, Mr. Rufus Balaam, Mrs. Birchlyn Bannister, Mr. Eugene Barker, Mr. Bruce Bartholomew, Mrs. Mildred Bickel, Miss Bernice Bilafer. Miss Elsie Bowman, Mr. John Burke, Mr. Cecil Carroll, Miss Kath- leen Cauley, Mr. Paul Chapman, Mrs. Lillian Clayton, Mrs. Alice Collins, Miss Jane Cook, Miss Margaret Coope, Miss Catherine Counihan, Mr. Dennis Crowley, Miss Laurette Cullinan, Miss Catherine Davis, Mrs. Margaret Denny, Mr. John Douglass, Mr. Arthur Fagan, Sgt. Feliciano, Miss Dorothea Forcade, Mr. Thomas Gates, Mrs. Birdeena Gowan, Miss Phylis Haley, Mr. Rex Harris, Miss Margaret Heaton, Mrs. Lenamae Herrick, Miss Eleanor Jack- son, Miss Ethelinda James, Mr. Sylvester Kelly, Miss Marie Kir- win, Mr. Marion Knott, Mr. Lloyd Leith, Miss Mabel Lockhart, Mrs. Edna Logan, Mr. Harry Longaker, Miss Rachael Markley, Miss Doris McMillan, Mr. Willard Morton, Miss Catherine New- port, Miss Marian Ohleyer, Miss Eleanor Parsons, Mr. Seymour Pearson, Mrs. Margaret Poole, Mr. Henry Raphael, Miss Mildred Rauner, Miss Josephine Rausch, Miss Dorothy Reynolds, Mr.James Ripley, Mr. John Roberts, Mr. Marcel Rotchy, Miss Arline Scharff, Miss Florence Shearer, Miss Edith Silberstein, Mrs. Myrtle Swan- son, Mr. Arthur Taylor, Miss Haidee Tobriner, Mrs. Jewell Tor- raeri, Mr. John Uhte, Mr. Eldred Vanderlaan, Miss Frances Vasila- Main Unit finished December 3, 1935

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Air Phofo of Washingfon High School - 1936 shows Shops and Academic Unif. THE BACKGROUND OF GEORGE WASHINGTON The foresighf of San Francisco pioneers is reflecfed in fhe fofal invesfmenf for a secfion of fhe George Washingfon High School sife, as far back as I86I, when I50 x 240 feef was sef aside for school purposes under fhe provisions of fhe oufside lands acf. Ouf of fhis nucleus fhe remainder of fhe sife was purchased by fhe Board of Educafion in l925. The above paragraph, an excerpf from a program of fhe Ground Brealzing Exercises which fool: place November 4, I934, af 3lsf Ave- nue and Anza Sfreef, shows fhaf our school was considered, planned for, baclr in 'fhe days when fhe Richmond disfricf was sand dunes, when George Washingfon High School was a roclr quarry. l86l-cable cars lor fheir forerunnersl were pulled by horses, gold sfrilces were common occurrences, clipper ships sailed fhe Pacific, and San Fran- ciscans of fhaf day had fhe vision fo provide for schools. and especially for one parficular school, locafed af whaf is now 32nd Avenue and Anza Sfreef. Sevenfy-five years lafer, in I936, financed parfly by a bond issue, parfly by fhe Federal Governmenf, Washingfon High School was erecfed af a cosf of approximafely S2,000,000. To relieve congesfion in San Francisco's seven senior high schools was fhe main purpose of fhe new school. Alfhough our presenf enroll- menf is only I,740, if was originally planned fha? Washingfon would provide facilifies for 3,000 pupils. agwaaca Soufhwesi Wing - March 18, 1935 THE FOUNDING OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. A comparafively small arficle appeared in fhe news- papers of fhis cify on Augusf 24, I936, proclaiming fhe opening of George Washingfon High School. Alfhough a parf of fhe five-million dollar educa- fional plan fo build schools from I930 fo I940, Washingfon was permiffed fo sfand idle for fhe firsf six monfhs of I936 because of a furnifure shorfage. GENERAL PLANS, ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE. The general plans for Washingfon called for a main academic unif, shops, an audiforium, boys' and girls' gymnasiums, foofball field, oufdoor fennis and baslcef- ball courfs, a music conservafory, a baseball field, a running fraclr and a swimming pool. Timofhy L. Pflueger, archifecf of George Wash- ingfon High School, died almosf fen years fo fhe day fha? Washingfon celebrafed ifs fenfh anniver- sary. Mr, Pflueger was world-famous in his field, having worlred on fhe San Francisco-Oalrland Bay Bridge, and many of fhe buildings of fhe Golden Gafe lnfernafional Exposifion of I939. Union Square Garage was designed by Mr. Pflueger in l942g Alamo and Jefferson grammar schools, and Roosevelf Junior High School were complefed by him before I930. His lafer proiecfs were George Washingfon, Ihen Lincoln High School, and fhe science building and gymnasium af San Francisco Junior College. Mr. Beniamino Bufano was originally hired fo do fhe frieze locafed on fhe wall of fhe foofball sfa- dium, buf fhe worlr was finished by Sargenf Johnson. The ideas of bofh arfisfs are incorporafed in fhe worlr. Pouring filsf floor slab-Norfhwesf Wing-March 18, 1935 MURALS. Over I,30O square feef of murals, scenes de- picfing phases in fhe life of George Washingfon, cover fhe walls of fhe lobby. Vicfor Arnauloff, painfer of fhese murals, did much research before sfarfing fhe worlr fo gef fhe color and feeling of George Washingfon and fhe days in which he lived. The murals are done in whaf fhe arfisfs call earfh colors, which are made from oxides. For insfance, green is made from chrome, red from iron, and blaclr from coal. The base of murals is lime, a very ancienf mefhod of mural worlr. George Harris and Gorden Langdon were fhe arfisfs who assisfed Mr. Arnaufofl. Since murals have fo be painfed on a wel surface, Mr. Arnaufoff had fo follow righf behind fhe plaslerers, and a scene, once begun, had fo be com- plefed fhaf same day, in order fhaf fhe walls did nof dry. Carpenfers and plasferers worked all around fhe building,

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Main Academic Urril showing Courf Yard. Now Veterans' Courf, December 3, 1935. . los, Mr. Joseph Verducci, Miss Marie Weller, Miss Elsie William- son, Mrs. Alice Wilson, Miss Gerla Woodruff. Firsl Adminislralion: Mr. Ernesl J. Cummings, Miss Edilh Pence, Mr. William A. Wieland. TRADITIONS. Allhough len years is nol a long period in which lo build lradilions, Washinglon High School has managed lo eslablish many: some have survived lhe lesls of lime, olhers have faded, and slill more are yel lo be made .... The Dead Indian, meeling place for lhe whole sludenl body. was lhe sleeping guardian of lhe Washinglon lobby back in I937: and in I957 sludenls slill will parl wilh a reminder lo friends-- Meel you under lhe Dead lndian. How lhis mural depicling a proslrale Indian lnobody is posiiive he is deadll of George Washinglon's day became lhe Grand Cenlral Slalion of lhe school is nol known. Bul lhe D.l.-as il is abbrevialed in lhe heclic, rushed days of I947-has come lo symbolize lhe enlire lobby: any school day al 3:l0 aImos+ every Washinglon sludenl can be found Under lhe Dead Indian. Tillie Mieseles, one of Washinglon's lirsl sludenls, wrole lhe school hymn in l937: bul il was lhis year, I947, lhal lhe new ending was added by Mr. Knoll, making lhal hymn more impres- sive, powerful, and complele. Hail, Washinglon, Hail! Mary Trussell, in I936, wrole Fighl On You Eagles, and lhe song was presenled lo lhe school for lhe firsl lime over lhe radio, sung by Mr. KnoH's regislry. Mr. Lloyd Leilh, former physical educalion leacher here, and now al Mission High School, laughl lhe lricIcs of lhe lrade lo lhe firsl yell leaders who, in lurn, passed on lheir knowledge and pep lo lhose who followed lhem. Red, While and Blue, Boys, forever, will be up lhere for all lo see. Those words could fil lhe Fighl On You Eagles song: and red, while and blue were almosl our school colors. By elec- lion, and a close one il was, scarlel and gray were officially adopled in I93b. Gymnasium under consfruciion, March 19, 1939. Many presenl Washinglonians were in on lhe beginning of some lradilions. The firsl family dinner in Fall, l945 was in lhe cafeleria. Parenls spenl an enioyable evening-so enioyable in facl lhal nexl year saw a repelilion of lhe evenl. And once re- pealed, evenls are well on lheir way loward becoming lradilions. May Feslivals, lhere have been lhree so far, are yearly occur- rences IF earned by lhe sludenls. ln l945 lhe May Feslival proi- ecl was oblaining blood donors: keeping absences and lardies down lo a minimum has been lhe melhod of earning lhe day of fun, surprises, a rally, and a dance, lhis year and lasl. Sporl nighls are recenl addilions lo exlracurricular aclivilies -Fridays al 7:30 in bolh gyms for volleyball, badminlon, ping pong, and even checkers. Anolher Friday-nighl evenl. loo new as yel lo be called a lradilion-is lhe folk-dancing class. The Spring Concerl, when lhe real lalenl of George Washing- lon High School is displayed, was firsl slarled in l94I lo raise money for choir robes. Classical music and folk songs are played and sung by lhe orcheslra, girls choral, mixed chorus, and soloisls. The Chrislmas season is observed wilh lhree lradilions: a beau- lifully decoraled lree slands in lhe lobby, carolers in choir robes slroll lhrough lhe halls imparling lhe Chrislmas spiril lo all who hear, and a Chrislmas pageanl depicls evenls in lhe life of Chrisl. Heads bow in reverence. For whom? The high seniors, of course! The high senior class and ils lradilions are always lhe pride of George Washinglon. The imposing lisl of senior lradilions is headed by Senior Day. On lhis day a rally is presenled lo lhe sludenl body by members Alhlefic Field, March 14, 1939. of lhe senior class. The scripl, wrillen enlirely by seniors, has a serious, hislorical lheme. All day lhe halls are filled wilh color- ful, coslume-clad seniors. Olher lradilions exclusive lo lhis class are lhe Senior Banquel, held in a holel banquel room: lhe Senior Breakfasl which is given in lhe school cafeleria: church services before lhe breakfasl: and lhe Senior Prom, usually presenled in lhe Gold Room of lhe Fair- monl Holel. The lasl aclivilies in which lhe seniors parlicipale before gradu- alion are lhe Farewell Dance and lhe So-Long Rally. The dance is a sludenl body sponsored affair dedicaled lo lhe gradualing class. In lhe rally lhe seniors are afforded a lasl opporlunily lo enlerlain lhe olher sludenls, and lo say so long. FIRST ADMINISTRATION. Mr. Ernesl J. Cummings was lhe lirsl principal al George Washinglon, having come here in I936 from Galileo. He allended privale school and lhen gradualed from Slanford. He laughl al Lowell for a lime and lhen wenl lo Galileo where he laughl Lalin and Greek: he was also principal of lhe nighl school. Mr. Cummings served as Washinglon's prin- cipal unlil January, I945, when he wenl lo lhe 'Board of Educa- lion as Depuly Superinlendenl of Secondary Schools. Miss Edifh Pence came lo Washinglon in I936 as dean of girls. She is a graduale of Lowell and lhe Universily of California, has I0