North Central High School - Tamarack Yearbook (Spokane, WA)

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T t Contents t t t Administration Pages 10-25 Classes Pages 28-91 School Life Pages 94-131 Productions Pages 134-143 Sports Pages 146-185 Advertising Pages 186-202 Acknowledgements Page 20%

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t This is. then. Progress eternal . . . Working best for what we love, Each step above the one before it Striving; toward the stars above. The theme of the 1957 Tamarack might be called Progress, because within this book is not only the record of year of whirling activities at North Central, but also proof of the progress that has been made since Spokane ' s first school opened in the home of Henry T. Cowley, the teacher. Here, in brief, is a history of Spokane, her schools, and the legends that make up North Central. Reading this, we can see how some of our traditions came into being, and we can appreciate more fully the many advantages we have over Spokane ' s first students and North Cen- tral ' s first class 48 years ago. These, then, are the reasons for using history as the theme of this year ' s Tamarack. The division pages depict those early scenes familiar to the pioneers and the Indians who once frequented the dusty Spokane streets. A dawning of a new era is represented by the stars twinkling over the tree on the cover. A broken wagon wheel reminds us of other years, forgotten years, in which our forefathers fought and struggled valiantly for a richer education for themselves and for their children. Even the colors seem symbolic— green has long been considered a sign of life and growth, and yellow, a bright future. One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the earth endureth forever. — Ecclesiastes 1:1.

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Spokane citizens have always shown a sincere interest in the educational grow th of their schools. Because of the progress evidenced today in our public schools, we turn to early education in Spokane as the them e for the 1957 Tamarack. Strange as it may seem, the area ' s first school was for the Indians. Spokane Garry. la e - Diiel of the Spokanes. was sent to a Presbyterian school in Winnipeg, wher jggfeg fljfc out Christianity, languages and agriculture. Returning here in 1 830. nTltarteo ' school near Drumheller ' s spring, now Euclid and Maple streets. There m a 20x50 foot frame building, he tausrht his fellow tribesmen about Chris- tian ideals and the growing of wheat and vegetables. The first school for white children in Spokane came much later. During the sum- mer of 1874. the Reverend Mr. Cowley came to the infant town as a missionary for the Indians. It was in the Cowley home and mission that Kg n.rst school for white children opened. District No. 8 was organized, with foi Jap ls eagerlv pursuing their studies. Mr. Cowley. Cyrus F. Yeaton and a Mr. Poeiij ere the directors, and L. S. Swift, a lawyer, was clerk. Since no building was available, the students met at the home of Mr. Cowley. Until the summer of 1 878, it was not necessary to build a real public school house: besides, there was little money available for the purpose. Since Washington was not yet a state, the sections of land set aside as school property could not be sold. Then, many of the district ' s landowners were bachelors who didn ' t see why they should have to pay taxes to educate other people ' s children. Finally, a one-room building, the first public school in Spokane, was erected near the Northern Pacific Railroad just off Lincoln street. A very crude structure, it was about 20x30 feet, furnished with rough, hand-made desks, a wood stove and a rickety kitchen table for the instructor. When J. J. Browne became superin- tendent in 1879. an enrollment of 22 pupils was reported. By 1880-81. the Rev- erend W. H. Stratton and Professor A. }. Varre- werevtlre teachers, and the total number had jumped to 45. The ennjllnienf e d ifl the next two years to 200 scholars. Now. lour teachers were needed . ' ' ■t ' A 5f As the school prospered and grew, a newtmilding- ' becamc necessary. On the present site of Lewis and Clark high sc hool in 1 883. Spokane ' s second public school was built, and an enrollment ol 17 1 was recorded. W. W. Johnson was principal until 1886, when he was succeeded by Professor L. H. Prather, The lively little town of Spokane was growing rapidly now. Two new looms were added to the