Publicity photograph for the 1952 Stadium High School class reunion. The chateau-styled school is in the background. The Stadium High School class of 1952 would be celebrating its 20th class reunion with a social hour and dancing at 565 Broadway on August 5, 1972. A midnight breakfast would conclude the gathering. Classmates involved in planning the reunion were: (L-R) David Hedberg, Dr. Anthony Milan, Robert Patterson, Mrs. Jack (Carol Semmern) Hamilton, Mrs. William (June Otto) Tennyson, Mrs. Lynn (Kathleen Sharman) Sommers, Mrs. Earl (Gwen Collier) Pitz, Mrs. Warren (Sharon Parizek) Brown and Warren Brown. Photograph ordered by Lynn Sommers. (TNT 7-23-72, B-8 article )

Reunions--Tacoma--1970-1980; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Committees--Tacoma--1970-1980; Milan, Anthony; Patterson, Robert; Hamilton, Carol; Tennyson, June; Sommers, Kathleen; Pitz, Gwen; Brown, Warren; Brown, Sharon;

1968 Richards aerial stock footage. Stadium High School, portion of Stadium Bowl. Stadium High School, which is currently undergoing extensive remodeling in 2005, resembles a French chateau. It has a magnificent view of Commencement Bay. Built but never completed as a hotel, it converted to a high school in 1905. A small portion of Stadium Bowl, including rows of bleachers, is visible lower left corner. Originally the bowl had a seating capacity of nearly 24,000; however, after numerous mudslides, it has a reduced modern capacity of 15,000. TPL-10144

Aerial views; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Teacher Vella Boyles instructs her students in the fine art of Home Economics at Stadium High School on April 17, 1969. She is shown examining the creation of a woman's suit on a mannequin. Other students are quietly sewing on their Elna sewing machines in the well-lit room. Photograph ordered by Homemaker Supply Co., Portland.

Home economics--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sewing--Tacoma; Sewing machines; Boyles, Vella; Teachers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma;

Another in a series of home economics photographs featuring Elna sewing machines. Girls at Stadium High School are busy during the morning home economics class conducted by Vella Boyles at Stadium High School on April 17, 1969. The brightly lit room was well equipped with many Elna sewing machines, enough so that each student present had a machine to herself. Elna, a Swiss company established in 1940, was well known for its compact sewing machines. Photograph ordered by Homemaker Supply Co., Portland.

Home economics--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sewing--Tacoma; Sewing machines; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Girls were not the only ones interested in sewing as these young men at Stadium High School can attest. Pictured on April 17, 1969, are eight male students hard at work on Elna sewing machines. They were enrolled in Vella Boyles' home economics class. Elna had a reputation for fine quality machines; established in 1940, they built the first compact, portable, electric sewing machine with a free arm. Photograph ordered by Homemaker Supply Co., Portland.

Home economics--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sewing--Tacoma; Sewing machines; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1967 Richards stock file. The Stadium High School band forms their school initials accompanied by a drum major, majorettes and cheerleaders, during a photo shoot at Stadium Bowl in the fall of 1967. The school had a statewide reputation for producing fine musicians. Directed by Jack Lloyd, the band would participate in the Santa Claus and Daffodil Parades in addition to marching in the Turkey Day game. This photograph was used in the 1968 Tahoma, Stadium's yearbook, as a two-page spread. (1968 Tahoma, p. 12-13) TPL-9464 (b&w neg)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; Marching bands; Youth bands--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Aerial view of Stadium District in the city's northend, including turreted Stadium High School, Stadium Bowl, and State Historical Museum on the hillside overlooking the Bowl and with views of Commencement Bay. The school's tennis courts are to the right. Part of Richards stock file, taken on February 9, 1963. TPL-10143

Aerial photographs; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1963. Stadium High School on Stadium Way enjoyed elevated views of Commencement Bay. This 1963 aerial photograph shows the school's proximity to the Washington State Historical Society Building juxtaposed with massive Stadium Bowl, site of football and civic endeavors. Stadium High School had been planned as a grand Tacoma hotel but it was gutted by fire before completion. It opened as a high school in 1906 and changed its name to Stadium in 1913. The school will be undergoing extensive remodeling starting in 2004 and its students transferred to the old Mount Tacoma High School.

Aerial photographs; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

A message board lends an air of modernity which contrasts with the French chateau architecture of Stadium High School. It stands as a reminder that this beautiful building, placed on the city, state, and national registries, is being utilized as a high school by the Tacoma School District. In May, 1958, there were only two high schools in Tacoma, with Woodrow Wilson High School to open four months later. Photograph ordered by Chase, Brass & Copper Co., Waterbury, Conn. TPL-9161

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Placed on the City, State and National Registry of historic buildings, the French chateau styled Stadium High School opened as a school in 1906. Intended originally for use as a hotel, and damaged by fire, the building was saved and remodeled to be used as a high school. View of Stadium High School; the unusual spires, turrets and towers would have been a challenge for roofers to maintain and replace. Nevertheless, $850,000 was spent in the summer of 1958 for renovations to the school. A new roof, rewelded and repainted fire escapes, replacement windows and sashes and a 50 foot steel beam lowered across the top of the gym to make the basketball court regulation sized and turned around were just some of the projects. Photograph ordered by Chase Brass & Copper Co., Waterbury, Conn. (TNT 7-20-58, B-11) TPL-8668

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This side view of Stadium High School was taken on a sunny spring day in 1958 from the corner of N. 2nd and "E" Sts. Fire escapes are attached to the outside of the buildings so that students could exit in case of emergencies. These fire escapes would be removed, rewelded and painted during the $850,000 renovation project at the school during summer, 1958. Hipped and pitched roofs, spirals, and dormers blend in with the French chateau architecture but would have been difficult to repair and maintain. Besides a new roof, 500 windows and sashes were replaced during renovations. Photograph ordered by the Chase Brass & Copper Co., Waterbury, Conn. (TNT 7-20-58, B-11)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This photograph of the front of Stadium High School was taken in January of 1958 for the Mark Mitchell Roofing Company which was located at 662 East 11th Street. Built in the "Chateauesque" style used for the Canadian Pacific Railroad's resort hotels, with steeply-pitched hipped roofs, cone-shaped towers, turrets and pointed spires Stadium H.S. posed special problems for roofers. The section of North E Street that ran past the front of the high school at the time of this image is no longer open to traffic. (Photograph ordered by Mark Mitchell Roofing Co.) TPL-9499

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A Sunnen crane hoists roofing materials to waiting workers on the rooftop of majestic Stadium High School on September 1, 1954. School would begin in a week so repairs would have to be completed by then. In 1954, the high school was nearly fifty years old. Built in the French Chateau style in 1891 and first intended as a hotel, it was converted into a high school and opened on September 10, 1906. The school was placed on the City, State and National Registry. Photograph ordered by Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. TPL-10056

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Members of the Citizens Advisory Committee inspect school classrooms on August 30, 1954. Mrs. A.A. Price is observed opening a small drawer in a large dilapidated work table while Mrs. Gordon Hartwick, of the League of Women Voters, looks on. William Rave of the Carpenters Union leans over a cracked and dirty fish tank. Peeling paint and dirt are clearly visible on the walls and shelves. This classroom has been identified as a fourth floor classroom in Stadium High School, probably Room 424 in the southwest tower. The Citizens Advisory Committee, representing 175 civic and service organizations, toured three northend schools and presented their findings to the Tacoma School Board. They advised replacement of Grant and Stadium schools and praised Sherman school for its modern facilities. (TNT 9-1-54, B-7)

Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Classrooms; Committees--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

Stadium High School was built in 1891, it was built in the French Chateau style and originally designed by architect A. B. Hewitt, architect Frederick Heath remodeled the building and changed it into the school. Stadium Bowl was built in 1909, it has been remodeled many times because of mudslides and weather damage. Aerial view of Stadium High School and Stadium Bowl.

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Waterfronts; Cities & towns--Tacoma; Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Stadium High School first opened as Tacoma High School in 1906, in 1913 the name was changed to Stadium. The building was originally intended to be a hotel, but it was never finished, after a bond was passed by Tacoma voters, money was appropriated for the completion of a new school in Tacoma. View of Stadium High School from east side of building.

Public schools--Tacoma; Cities & towns--Tacoma; Historic buildings--Tacoma; Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Although it was still early in the 1948-49 school year at Stadium High School, the girls in Mrs. Amy Magill's sewing and design classes were already busy on various "make their own" projects. Marion Christie stands atop a work table while Arden Alexson marks the hemline on her skirt. Standing between the tables, Faye Johnson is pinning a sleeve onto the jacket of an unidentified student. Other students around the room are working at sewing machines and doing handwork. (Other names are listed in the newspaper.)

Christie, Marion; Alexson, Arden; Johnson, Faye; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sewing--Tacoma; Sewing machines; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Bill Herdman, gardener at Stadium High School, with beautiful bouquet of flowers including dahlias in a photograph dated September 27, 1948. Mr. Herdman was wearing his signature outfit of "newsboy" cap, vest, tie, rolled-up sleeves and trousers. An article about Mr. Herdman in the Tacoma Daily Ledger's October 11, 1931 edition, 17 years before, also showed Mr. Herdman in similar clothing. William (Bill) Herdman was an Englishman who learned his gardening craft on English estates and also in gardens near Newscastle. He came to Tacoma about 1910 and had been the official gardener for the Tacoma school system since 1913. He first started at Lincoln High School and then Stadium High with six intermediate schools in between. Mr. Herdman was also responsible for the district's playfields, baseball diamonds and football gridirons. A bachelor, he lived in the caretaker's home in back of Stadium High since he began working for the schools. Dahlias and gladiolas were his favorite blooms. (scan of original negative, no print on file) (TDL 10-11-1931, A-16; Tacoma Sunday Times, 12-5-1948, p. 41)

Herdman, William; Gardening--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flowers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Jim Barner, a junior at Stadium High School, is currently the scoring leader for the Stadium Tigers' varsity team. Jim Barner was also involved in reserve basketball, varsity baseball, junior football, Spring activity manager, Big S and Bogey Hi-Y. Stadium was getting ready for a big Cross-State league basketball game against the Everett Seagulls, the game would be played at Stadium's gymnasium (T.N.T., 2/17/49, p. 28).

Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma; Balls (Sporting goods); Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Barner, Jim;

Four young men from the 1936 Stadium High School Band with what the photograph caption in the Tacoma Times calls "Bell Front Horns." The caption calls them the "last word" in brass instruments. The musicians are, left to right, Bob Cromwell, Jack Duncan, Richard Lang and Bob Williams. Each is wearing a school sweater and sailor-type hat with an "S" emblem. (T. Times 10/2/1936, pg.10)

Bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Youth bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Band uniforms--Tacoma; Brass instruments; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Cromwell, Bob; Duncan, Jack; Lang, Richard; Williams, Bob;

Four young men from the 1936 Stadium High School band with "Sousaphones." Each young man is wearing a school sweater with a music emblem. The musicians are Britt Kellogg, Bob Williams, Ray Hurd and Richard Reed. (T. Times 9/18/1936, pg. 7)

Bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Youth bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Band uniforms--Tacoma; Tubas; Brass instruments; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kellogg, Britt; Williams, Bob; Hurd, Ray; Reed, Richard; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Close-up of Stadium High School musical director, Clayton Johnson, in March of 1937. His youth orchestra was practicing for the upcoming original opera, "Masquerade," written by Mr. Johnson himself. All eyes are properly on the director as he begins to conduct.

Johnson, Clayton; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Musicians--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Stadium High School's Clayton Johnson is ready to conduct the original opera, "Masquerade," in March of 1937. Mr. Johnson, Director of Music at Stadium, had written the opera himself. He would remain at Stadium for 30 years with hundreds of students under his musical guidance.

Johnson, Clayton; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Musicians--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Stadium High "bench warmers." Boys sit on a concrete platform in front of school on opening day in 1935. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

These seven Stadium High School girls exhibit the latest fashions of the day upon their return to school in September of 1935. Long, ankle-length skirts were back in style. Shoe wear ranged from sandals to saddle shoes and high-heel pumps. Names of the students were not provided. (T. Times, 9/4/1935, p. 1-alt. back to school photographs).

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On April 22, 1936, students across the nation expressed their displeasure with governmental policy by taking part in a massive anti-war demonstration at 11 a.m. This large group of students, standing among the trees in the school's courtyard, is from Stadium High School. They joined high school and college students throughout the U.S., France, Belgium, Spain and Puerto Rico in the massive walkout pledging their refusal to support any present or future wars and protesting the nation's armament program. In Tacoma, over 500 students walked out of classes at Lincoln High School at 11 a.m. Some of them gathered with the students at Stadium at 12 noon, who chose to demonstrate during lunch periods rather than walking out of class. Large demonstrations with speakers were held at the College of Puget Sound and the University of Washington in Seattle. Sponsors estimated that 400,000 students took part nationwide, a great deal more than were involved in similar demonstrations in 1934 and 1935. (T.Times 4/22/1936, pg. 1) TPL-3214

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Demonstrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Student movements--Tacoma--1930-1940; Protest movements--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacifism;

In March of 1937, the Stadium High School orchestra was tuning up and practicing for the upcoming premier of the original opera "Masquerade," written by their instructor Clayton Johnson, shown here conducting. Mr. Johnson graduated from the College of Puget Sound and after further studies, returned to Tacoma to take the post of Director of Music at Stadium High School. He held that position for 30 years, counting among his students Janis Paige, star of stage and screen, and Metropolitan Opera performers Roald Reitan and Hugh Thompson. "Masquerade" was one of two operas Mr. Johnson wrote during his tenure at Stadium. He died in June of 1982 at the age of 83. (T. Times, 04-01-1937, p.1; TNT 06-21-1982, pg. C-12)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Johnson, Clayton; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Musicians--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In September of 1937, Stadium High School's Coach Christie posed with his team in front of a Gothic arch at the school. Later they would represent their school at the state track meet in Pullman in May. Pictured in the back row, left to right, are McCord, Londos, Reynolds, Bennatts & Coach Christy. In the front row are Smith, Watts, Long & Johns. (T.Times 5/19/1937, pg. 3)

Track athletics--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

Stadium High School Tigers Track Team, circa 1937. Eight team members pose for portrait with school turrets and finials in background. Team members' last names were, in no particular order, McCord, Londos, Reynolds, Bennatts, Smith, Watts, Long and Johns. (T. Times)

Track athletics--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

In March of 1926, Stadium High School initiated its own branch of the national "Longfellows" Club. Members had to measure in at over six feet in height to join. The new club attracted a group of approximately 50 young men who posed in front of Stadium High School at 111 North "E" Street. (WSHS; A-1488 same photo without lettering)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Longfellows Club (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;