Siskiyou Union High School - White and Gold Yearbook (Weed, CA)

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g g 1 is is 1922 Sisson High School Student Body. 'lf s Sisson High School with Annex added, 1922. Pine Streetl present St, Germaine Foundctnon burldnngl in Aon... Mount Shasta High School 1927-1959. Eost Alma Street

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north side of the school lcorner of Pine and West Jessie Streetsl had been graveled and prepared for use as Tennis courts. The two year high school course that had been offered at the high school up to 1920 was changed in March, 1921 and from then on a full four year course was offered. Night school was started and even day pupils could attend. Eng- lish, History and French were the first classes offered. John W. Anderson, a local' contractor lnow deceasedl started construction on the annex to the small and bulging high school building in June of 1921 and was to have the addition com- pleted by the opening of school on Monday, September 5. The annex gave a good and re- laxed feeling to the school. There was plenty of elbow room and room in which to grow and ex- pand. In the spring of 1922, the boys felt the pressing need of a shower after P.E. classes. They were given permission to improvise one in the basement of the new annex and in the school notes it was recorded as a great improvement. December 2, 1921, French Field Marshall Foch came through Sisson on the train. All the high school students were at the depot to meet him with ci banner - Viva la France y viva Marechal Foch-Bon Voyage. This moved Foch deeply and he came out onto the end of the train to speak iust as the train pulled away. A few days later the high school received his thanks written in French on his personal card. This was framed and hung in the assembly room. Registration numbers continued to mount. September, 1925 gave a tally of 56 students and the faculty numbered seven. Again the co.n- ditions were crowded and a new building was being sought. Weed had a new high school building. It had cost more than was anticipated so Mount Shasta lname Had been changed from Sisson in June, 19251 would have to wait another year for a new building. With the old school re- paired, Jere E. Hurley was named principal and he exerted every effort possible to the advance- ment and improvement of the school. He was a very young rnan and Mount Shasta was his first principalship. There had been discipline prob- lems but these were soon smoothed and Mr. Hurley gained the very highest respect and es- teem of his students. Early in August of 1926, ground had been purchased on East Alma Street as a site for the erection of a new high school. The plans were adopted and funds were provided in the budget. To the people of Mount Shasta Prospects are bright for this much needed building. The orig- inal plans were for an 580,000 plant but the supervisors cut the amount and allowed only S40,000. The contract was finally let in two parts l11 with the money on hand l21 on what the next year's tax collections could bring in, to William Shaltz of Chico for S67,790. The ground was broken the last of May, 1927 and by June 4, all supplies were being easily hauled up the newly paved Alma Street to the new school property. Tool houses were quickly erected and the founda- tions were soon appearing. The cornerstone was laid August 20, 1926 at 2:30 p.m. H. A. Wilson, M.A., LLD., City Superintendent of Berkeley schools was the main speaker. An American flag over 150 years old with 13 stars waved in the breeze and music for the ceremony was furnished by the American Legion Band. The contents of the box was a Mount Shasta Herald, post card views of Walnut Street, a list of officers of the local masonic lodges, board of trustees of Siskiyou Union High School, faculty of Mount Shasta High School, a Teachers' College verse class publica- tion, Schulers' sales poster,,and cards of the con- tractors, L. B. Hill and William Shaltz. The new building was not ready for occu- pancy by the opening date of school. The high

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school band under the most able leadership of a loved director, Charles Graham, set out to be the best band in northern California and to pre- pare music for the approaching dedication cere- monies. December 7, 1927, the new high school was completed and accepted after duly being inspected, by the Board of Trustees. The towns- people and the students and faculty were ex- tremely proud of their new possession-modern educational equipment--and prepared for all future growth. The Mount Shasta Herald for De- cember 22, 1927 quotes, These are the last High School Notes to be written from the old school. Friday, the whole student body will participate in the migration into the new building. The stu- dent body will aid in moving every way possible. We leave the old building with a kindly feeling toward it. Although it was built to accommodate less than half of the students now enrolled, the school has been very successful within its walls. Three years ago, we felt badly because we would not have a new school. Then Mr. Hurley came. He told us that a build- ing never makes a school. That a school is a group of students associated together for the purpose of gaining an education. Hhe pointed out that it was possible to have a splendid school with a pupil on one end of a log and an instructor on the other end. We appreciate the new building and the efforts and vision of all those who made it possible and we shall see that it is kept new and shall always remember that it is spirit and cooperation that makes a high class school possible. January 3, 1928, the moving was completed and not a day of attendance had been lost in the moving. The public dedication which had been untir- ingly awaited was held the evening of March 9, 1928. For thirty-two years a constantly increasing enrollment of youth, having become known as the Bears proudly inhabited their new quar- ters, an imposing and glistening structure. Faculty members were proud to be at its leadership. The eager and aspiring students and athletes brought honors in sports, band and academic fields. Pen- nants and banners of blue and gold attested their accomplishments in sports. The professions claimed a iust percentage of Mount Shasta's graduates. Graduation was always an event anticipated by the seniors. Fitting and proper exercises were held in Yreka. It was mandatory that each stu- dent qualified should be in attendance at that mass graduation of all high schools in the District in order to receive a diploma. The last District Graduation was held at the McCloud High School in June, 1935. ln the years following each high school has had its own local graduation. This was one of the steps forward effected by Jere E. Hurley when he became District Superintendent in June, 1935. Freshmen came and seniors graduated. Num- bers continued to increase and in spite of think- ing that future growth had been amply provided for, the corridors and rooms of the new 1927 building began to suffer growing pains. The in- creasing number of young people made for traffic snarls and iams in passing between classes. Classrooms became overcrowded. About 1955, it was time to think about rejuvenation and adding on to the old building or a complete new structure. The State condemned the building and dedicated it too costly to raise it to modern building standards. Thus, a new site on the Everitt Memorial Highway was selected and purchased by the