Palo Alto High School - Madrono Yearbook (Palo Alto, CA)

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THE NEW PALO ALTO UNION HIGH SCHOOL

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aCo tf)t S cf)ool JSoarb of tije |)alo SUto (Hnton Jjigb fecbool tofjo fjalie toorkeb toisely anb patiently to bring about tfje realisation of our bream of tfje neto Ijiglj school toe respectfully bebicate tl)is Commencement illabrono 1919

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History of Our High School years ago the people who built homes in Palo Alto primarily attracted by the location near to Stan- I niversity. It was, therefore, natural that soon the town of Palo Alto was founded a high school )rganized to bridge the gap between the elemen- ichools and Stanford. At first the school was pri- vate and was housed in two rooms of the present Channing Avenue Grammar School. Three years later, in 1897, larger quarters were pro- vided by Mrs. A. P. Zschokke, who erected a building for the school, which could later he easily changed into a residence. This building was located at 524 Foicst avenue. The district continued to grow rapidly and in 1900 a bond election for $20,000 resulted in the building and equipping of the old high school building at the corner of Webster street and Channing avenue. At the time this building was erected it was considered extremely good and de- cidedly too large. However, but a few years elapsed before it grew to its size and soon it was crowded. In 1910 this building was supple- mented by the studio for the classes in freehand and mechanical draw- ing. Two years later it was necessary to make further accommodations for the classes in domestic science and commercial subjects by the erection of a large bungalow. The cost of these two buildings was approximately $4,150. Meantime, in 190,}- a city block on Webster street had been purchased in anticipation of the need of larger quarters for the school. It was hoped that at some future time a new building would be erected there. In the meantime this block, containing five acres, was used as an athletic field. It was provided with a running track, football field, baseball diamond, tennis courts, and served as a general public playground. On July 15, 1898. the school had been reorganized as a public high school. Soon after the purchase of the block on Webster street, a movement was commenced for a union high school. In 1910, when it became necessary to make additions to the old building, this plan re- ceived a new impetus. Finally, in 1912. it came to a definite sugges- tion that the Palo lto high school district be enlarged to include North Palo Alto, Menlo Park. Mayfield, Stanford and other nearby school districts. P»ut this immediately proved impossible on account of Menlo Park and North Palo Alto being included in San Mateo county. 1 t