Sentinel High School - Bitterroot Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

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IWMFI1 ' 7 it Lf' +I' ' view N- V, egg r,-. a ' w 7156. 74.5 As MCHS prepares to enter a new building and a new era, the Bitterroot turns to the past to present a brief history of our high school. The first city high school was established before the turn of the century, and was located on the site of the present Central School. In 1890 classes were moved to the site of the old Willard School and included under the University program. After the University moved to its present location, the high school remained at the Willard School. The school originally offered preparatory courses for en- trance to the University. However, in 1901 the Board of Trustees of District No. 1 voted to build a separate high school building. In 1904 the present Roosevelt School was built and operated as a city high school until 1906. By 1906 the new location on Sixth Street was too small and financial difficulties arose from the dual cost of operating both the high school and the elementary schools. Missoula County electors voted for a County Free High School April 7, 1906. The first principal was Prof. J. Franklin Thomas, formerly a mathematics teacher, who headed the faculty of seven for 200 students. In 1908 the high school was moved from Roosevelt School to the present Higgins Avenue site. By 1910 the new building was inadequate, so the board decided to rent space in what is now a garage next to the Bitter Root Market on Higgins Avenue. By 1913 the school was so crowded again that attic rooms in the school were used for home economics and art classes. Mr. G. A. Ketcham became principal in 1912 and by 1916 he faced the over-crowded school problem. The school board submitted a bond issue for an addition to the building which carried, but increased costs due to World War I made it im- possible to build the addition. In 1920 a bond issue carried to build the annex on Higgins and Eddy for physical educa- tion and manual training. Bonds also were passed to add a north wing to the main building. 1. The first Missoula County High School building on Higgins Avenue, 2. Missoula County High School today. 5 and 4. Construc- tion in its early stages at the new high school site on Hale Field.

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Students prcparc apctial assignments in thc library E?- sf -,,,.,,-o--0 A 'l':.'lclcla liukltetlal Halen Stcnlucrg A. lf. ,l.l1CI'I'lLlLlll Hclvn Robson wt f Z X Q 5 -1:5 if E ' E .:.fl :NM.z3i,qBr'::v 4. as f.. ww- A . X , ' ' qu lus manY ounecl students KU Htlllllllm . . - . ' in-ll dutxcs as UW lmm l 5 'X '-.1 MUN Rosc Mt'Vcy Mr Hunt finds time to t' - - MHS finances are handled by a tapalwlc business staff 5. Still, sthnol nurse, takes care of student health needs

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is Q h vefeucew In 1931 the south wing was built, but on Sept. 15, 1931, the high school was gutted by fire. This new addition, with all its new class rooms and auditorium, had been used only one day. Classes were reorganized all over the city, using the city li- brary, the University, and elementary schools when they weren't in session. The school board approved a new building which was opened a year later, Sept. 17, 1952. The new school was soon busy with its regular program plus relief projects due to the depression. Enrollment increased rapidly as students could find no work in the community and the school offered many new, appealing vocational subjects. In 1940 the Toole property east of the school was purchased and a bond issue approved. Before the building was completed World XVar II broke out. Despite lack of equipment and hardships in obtaining supplies, another addition to MCI-IS was opened in 1942. Enrollment in the armed forces and families moving to war industry centers lowered the number of students atending classes in the high school. jan. 9, 1945, marked the end of the thirty-three year ad- ministration of Principal G. A. Ketcham. The board selected D. H. Beary as principal Feb. 28, 1945, and he assumed his duties the following September. Since then the familiar pattern has continued--one of steadily increasing enrollments, adjustments to meet the needs of stu- dents in changing times, bondings, and building plans in line with advancing educational demands that have characterized the growth and development of MCHS. New courses have been added and others revisedg many extra-curricular activities have been brought in. Now, in 1956, part of MCHS will move to the new high school on Hale Field, and the school which has increased to more than 1600 students, will operate in two buildings. 1. The first floor takes shape last August, 1955. 2 and 3. Con- struction progresses with the removal of forms and the beginning of the brickwork in the fall of 1955. 4. The building model depicts MCHS-complete. R x Sify ': L-aL- ..... . tit., 1 Eggffmi 2 ,r , . J- ' Y -, S' -- ' , . --E - -gg ' J - eye'-' I ni:- - gf'-3-'Q , I ' X--ifx Wiliii-f'fi21l4 C..l......1. : X5ii.r.iIl'l ' I gg: f SEEEEEEEEEE it 'iafauatgg ' -ti - . ., '-a- '- a ezfieif 4-eaaaae. s ..f31'rft:ffff-.3. :M s ., ' - -9.1L-L-I - f fl. H 'il -1--- ' ar ' eg - .gi + -..v--- A it ,' .' - v ,ff ff' ' ' -. -,-,'i- 15:4 5. I Q ,,, -a g ,xrt arf 'V 'sti'??