San Pedro High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (San Pedro, CA)

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3 After the move to a new site the auditorium was the last building (1938) of the original plan to be constructed However, many features had (o be eliminated because funds began to run low 4. Friend and principal. Miss Juliette Pierce left notes of encouragement each i ear She served for 26 years as teacher, vice-principal and principal prior to her retirement in 1936. : feejf|q rrei 5 The Varsity Seniors of the 1938 football team were TOP ROW: Jack Wolfe. Jack Oberdorf. Thomas Potter and Robert Park 2 ID ROW Bob Lucido. Lee Botich. Paul Hill (cocaptain) and Paul Foltz 3RD ROW Howard Petterson. Ha r ■ Craig. Arthur Bartlett and Me i ' in Tousseau 4TH ROW Bill Johnson. Matthew Martin, Carmen DiMassa and Harvey Side . The captain was Chester Meti- ger. pictured center. 6 The Victory Arch was presented to SPHS in 1937. the unknown Pirate graduated in 1940. and the anchor was donated in 1973 in honor of the SPHS victory over Mary Star of the Sea in two football games II 7,5 i Xnn ' wersiiry

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In the years preceding WWII expan- sion was in the spotlight. By 1934 the old SPHS had expanded to nine build- ings, but the 1933 Long Beach earth- quake had proved the school not quite safe in such emergencies. A new site, between 15th and 17th Streets, above Dana where the old Dodson Estate had once been was bought for a new campus. The construction began with the dig- ging of all the foundations by hand. These were so deep and sturdy that after the 1972 earthquake, SPHS had absolute- ly no damage to report, unlike many other schools, such as Dana Junior High. The quality could never be duplicated because of time, cost and effort. For example, the chalkboards in the English building were made of slate and the stalls in most of the bathrooms were made with marble. In 1937 the students and faculty moved into the new school. Dodson Field was soon dedicated in honor of the Dodsons whose ancestral home (now at 13th and Parker) once occupied the school site. The Victory Arch was also presented to SPHS within that year, but all the build- ings were not completed until 1939. Tyrone Comfort was commissioned by the federal government to paint Ameri- can Life murals on the library walls in 1938. These paintsings with their bare- chested males were considered bold for the times. 1. A division page in the 1935 SPHS yearbook shows the San Pedro known by students of that i ear. A similar but much larger version hung for years in 263 and gave the room the name of Chart Room. 2. Still a newcomer to its present surroundings. SPHS dominated the above Gaffey and Vista del Oro areas of San Pedro, as the town had not spread out to the foothills in 1940. ' fe iS

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HomMoming, Novambar 7 , 19SI } -mm. :l ' Princ«st« Corol Thomat ond Dion Etcobor •mil during lh« afternoon HoitiKOming po- rad« on Donicl ' t Field. Homecoming queen. Michelle lufkin ond Vor- tiry footboll ' i Vance Honion lake the Aoor ol the Homecoming Donee. When WWII began, blackout curtains were adcied, air raid drills were practiced and the Japanese Garden abandoned be- cause of anti-Japanese feelings. Despite stringent regulations and the shipment of Japenese-American students to relocation camps, student life continued. The Fore n Aft continued publication b t the yearbook was sus- pended for 1 ■ ' and ' 44. Before the war riod ended, many stu- dents had quit school to fill the ranks in defense of their country. Classes grew smaller and patriotism stronger. The safety drills and brown -outs began again in the late forties as the Cold War began . Student publications were filled with the serious comments by concerned Pirates, angered by the war and ever ready to defend the States and their beliefs. Buckling down in sports as well as out- look, SPHS received the Eastern Marine League football trophy — the first since 1940. Another first in a long time was the Pirate participation in Pasadena ' s Playhouse One-Acts, this the first since 1903. In 1959, SPHS received top honors with its production of Riders to the Sea, ' ' earning 997 out of 1000 points. The 1951 winter class was the first to choose a prom queen, and they invented the Girl of the Week. Any girl with good posture, suitable school clothes, good grooming and neat habits could hope to see her clothes, favorite record and jewelry in the main hall showcase. The student exchange program was started and SPHS ' s first American Field Service student was Barbara Guetz from Berlin, Germany. She was made honor- ary member of the student body cabinet for both semesters in 1959. Bleachers were built on Dodson Field so that SPHS would no longer have to pay rent for the use of Daniel ' s Field. Another first in 1959 was the election of Janice Ong as the first female student body president. Another star was Jim Zar as he was named the Marine League football co-player of that year. 1 Homecoming in the late 50 ' s Not really much different from today, only the styles change, the feelings remain the same. 2. How often does one see snow on Son Pedro hills ? Once every 30 years seems to be the emerging pattern. This photo was taken in February of ' 49. while this February San Pedro has braued the freaky outbreaks of rain. snow, sleet and hail. 3- Athletic students such as Jim Oliphant and Osamu Matsutani worked hard to make their 1959 gymnastic team the League Champs. 4. Do students in the early 50 ' s resemble those of the late 70 ' s? Why not? Those were our parents! In the upper left, students practice drop drill during the Cold War.