Thomas Jefferson High School - Monticello Yearbook (Council Bluffs, IA)

Page 17 text:

UQOHZQQ gSffE'Z6,0I2 . . . Thomas Jefferson high school, better known at T. J., was born in June, 1920. It might have been born sooner, for its construction was approved by popular vote on March 12, 1917, but was thwarted by the World War and legal ob' structions. In the two years that followed, the school, built of Bed' ford limestone with Georgian architecture and soft pine wood' work, grew in size and beauty. From the front, the building took on the appearance of a half court' yard, with an east wing contain' ing the cafeteria downstairs and the auditorium upstairs. On the extreme west was built a similar wing which housed the library and the gymnasium. It was then constructed so that each wing could he entered from the outside through three parts of double doors, the entrance through the east wing permitting patrons to go to the auditorium without hav- ing access to the rest of the build' ing. For the use of the pupils, front entrances were made at the extreme right and left of the center section. At the rear of the school, appeared two doors which corresponded directly with those of the front. On the east side of the building, near the steps leading to the cafeteria, can be found the corner stone, which was laid March 15, 1921. The school was dedicated in January, 1922 and opened its doors to 716 young knowledge seekers the same year. The main building has fifteen classrooms on its first floor and fourteen on its second. Though it has no full third floor, room 300 makes a grand beginning. This room, since it is rather isolated, often remains unknown to some students. However as the rendezvous of the journalism students who organize the Signal, the school's weekly newspaper, it is one of the most important rooms in the school. South of the main building is the object of the student printer's desire--the print shop. Here all the school's printed material originates. Included in this are the Monticello, school yearbook, and the Signal, weekly newspaper. The print shop was enlarged in 1926 and printing facilities were improved in 1930 by addition of a larger press. R O.T.C. training began with the opening of the school. In 1923 the R O.T.C. unit was under the instruction of Sergeant Bertram L. Rhea. Few boys were enrolled in the classes. and they had never been in a drill hall or a rifle range. In 1929 a small R 0 TC laall was built on the east side of the annex. As the number taking this training increased, the need for more room became evident. Therefore, in 1937 one of the school's biggest improvements came in the form of a large band and R.O.T.C. hall adjoining the west side of the old printing room. The first R.C.T.C. rifle squad at Thomas Jefferson was organized in 1930, and in 1934 an indoor rifle range was built. A football game was first played on the T. I. field October 13, 1922. T. J., whose coach was Bill Thompson, played Oakland. The Yellowjackets, as the players

Page 16 text:

FOREWORD PECIAL acknowledgments for years of loyal service, re- trospective glances at the past of the school, a silver cover ..... all these denote a special occa- sion .... ln these and many other Ways has the annual staff at- tempted to make a significant occasion of the twentieth anni- versary of Thomasjefferson high school .......

Page 18 text:

ECZOHZEQ . came to be known, played a memorable game for the school's football history for they won, 19 to 9. That season T. J. emerged allfvictorious, for not a game was lost. The season's encounters summed up to T. jfs winning a total of 61 points to their oppon- ent's 9. In 1922, the school band was organized. The Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln high school bands consolidated in 1923, and won first place in a contest with the Omaha Central and Lincoln, Nebraska bands. Following this success, they participated in the National High School Band contest held at Chicago. Here they were awarded third place among the hundred high school bands that took part. The first Thomas jefferson high school orchestra, organized in 1923, was com' posed of seven members. Debate was introduced at Thomas Jefferson in 1924 by the debate club. On January 10, 1924, the negative team defeated Atlantic and Woodbine. In February