Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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Gym dedicated to C. W. Boucher In the fall of 1 965 a completely new termite proof gym floor and a new mercury vapor lighting system was in- stalled in Boucher Gym The previous floor served 37 years Valparaiso High School ' s gymnasium, named in honor of Chauncey Watson Boucher, was dedicated to civic effort on November 28, 1927. Mr. Boucher introduced the speakers: Mr. Despard, president of the Valparaiso Gymnasium Asso- ciation; Mr. Morris, president of the Valparaiso Board of Education; and Mr. Sisson, a community leader The men spoke of the good the gym would do the people of Valparaiso and future generations. The opening of the gymnasium came in December when the Bounding Brownies met and beat LaPorte 27-19. According to the Vidette Messenger of November 28, 1927, the gymnasium was built through the purchase of mortgage bonds bythepublic. The cost of the gymnasium was $100,000. In 1934 the students of VM S tethered their horseless carriages on the south side of the gym The area has since been blacktopped. and us today used for teach- er ' s parking The northeast comer of the gym has changed little since 1 934 except for the addi- tion of roll-away bleachers on the floor Mr Chauncey Boucher was superin- tendent of the Valparaiso Schools from 1915 to 1928 The gymnasium was dedicated in his honor in 1927

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Intenor of Boucher in 1 928 The neu- gymnasium was named after Supenntendent Boucher who ser ved as head of the Valparaiso schools from 1915 to 1930 V iew of Boucher Gymnasium in 1 928, the first year it was in use With the proper facilities, basket- ball became a popular sport at VHS 8

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Classrooms and equipment improve In 1928. the shop classes met in a small room under the bleachers in the f(ym In the thirty-nine year history of VHS in its present location, there have been only a few changes in the interior. This year ' s remodeling of the courtyard into new administrative offices, the addition of the south wing in 1957, and the remodeling of the chemistry and physics rooms are the only major changes. New flourescent lights have been installed in almost all class- rooms, and the main floor halls have been tiled. Here, as well as other places in the school, new equipment has been in- stalled to replace that which was outdated. All in all these few changes have helped to improve the facilities of VHS. Chemistry students now have the advantages provided by the modem equipment and lab tables not present in the chemistry room of 1 928 The modem flourescent lights and the over-flowing bookshelves are the only noticeable changes in the VHS library since 1928 Note that the same tables and chairs are in use todau The physics lab as seen in 1 928 was remodeled and new equipment installed in ' the summer of 1963 10