Madison High School - Federalist Yearbook (Portland, OR)

Page 11 text:

Bulldozers, cement mixers, and long hours furthered the completion of Madison. In the background, the pillars for the foundation of the gymnasium have already been installed and the glass for .classroom windows is being put in place. From Drawing Boards to Dedication Construction workers added final touches to the audi- torium as the days drew to a close before the open mg of Madison. Teachers and administrators, in caps and gowns, participated in dedication ceremonies which took place October 23, 1957. i 7

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Principal Stephen Smith explains the vast network of halls and classrooms to student guides preparing to assist in- coming students upon the first day of school in 1957. The decision was made to build James Madison High School in 1954 because of the growth of northeast and southeast Portland and the over-crowding of Grant, Franklin, and Wash- ington High Schools. After two years of plan- ning, construction began in 1956 on a grassy hill overlooking Rose City Golf Course. The site was transformed into a magnificent five-million dollar campus. Construction materials were the highest quality brick, tile, and stainless steel. The architectural firm of Stanton, Bole, Maguire, and Church plarmed the school so that each classroom has one wall consisting of two- thirds windowsg consequently, people began re- ferring to the building as the Glass Palace. The architects had school dances in mind when they designed a cantilevered roof for the spacious cafeteria, thereby eliminating obtrusive pillars. They planned the auditorium with a seating capacity of over fourteen-hundred seats to serve as an activity center for northeast Portland. One year later, in the early fall of 1957, Madison High School was ready for her students. Befitting the opening of what The Oregonian called a handsome structure, the latest in de- sign, where pupils enjoy all frills of modern education, including swimming pool, several ath- letic fields, theatre, and college-size gym, an impressive dedication ceremony was held on October 23. Faculty members and educational leaders of Portland took part as interested parents and proud students watched. This aerial view, taken August 22, 1957, shows the smooth modern lines of the new high school set in a campus overlook- ing Rose City Golf Course. w l 1 I 4 4 1 l 1

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islanders enjoyed Hawaiian food at the 1960 Boy's League uau. Entertainment at the 1962 fall Luau ,presented by the Boys' League,was provided by Madison's talent troupe. Madisonites Initiate, In 1961, couples attended the third annual Inaugural Ball held in honor of the fall executive council.