A new Aquinas Academy rose on the site of the former girls' school in 1957. A workman is shown on August 28, 1957, smoothing down a concrete walkway in front of the modern pre-fabricated concrete building. The original Aquinas Academy opened in Tacoma under the auspices of the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1899. The school was razed in October, 1955, and a new school with facilities for 400 students was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. The new Aquinas was dedicated on October 27, 1957, by Seattle Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly. The three-story building had 10 classrooms, a library, two science laboratories, a home economics room, a gymnasium and a cafeteria. It was built at a cost of $656,000. 1112 North "G" St. is now the site of the Saint Patrick School. When Aquinas vacated the building in 1974 to consolidate with Bellarmine and Saint Leo's as Bellarmine, Saint Patrick School left their 55-year-old building at North 11th & "J" and moved down the hill to occupy the newer Aquinas structure. Photograph ordered by Catholic Northwest Progress. (TNT 10-27-57, B-8; www.saintpats.org) ) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Aquinas Academy (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Patrick's Parochial School (Tacoma);

6A Class at Irving School in January of 1926. Irving was built in 1890, one of three schools made possible by the approval of a $100,000 bond issue on Nov. 30, 1889. The new school was named after author Washington Irving. By 1930, it was declared unsafe and it was closed. The school was razed in 1934. (WSHS)

Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Irving School (Tacoma);

Graduating class at Point Defiance School. The school began in 1909. Land was purchased at North 45th and Visscher streets in August, and a portable was ready for students one month later. The first school was named Francis W. Cushman after the Congressman from Tacoma who had helped get legislation passed for the federal government to give the City title to the land at Point Defiance. When the school was built two years later the name was changed to Point Defiance. (For the Record, Winnifred L Olsen) (WSHS)

Public schools--Tacoma; Point Defiance School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Sherman School 8-B class photographed in January of 1926. This northend school was built in 1891 from a design by Pickles & Sutton, architect. It was, as were several other Tacoma schools, named after a Civil War general, Union officer William Tecumseh Sherman. It was built on land purchased from Allen C. Mason. The school was used for 63 years before it was demolished in 1953, when a new school was built. (Olsen, "For the Record.") (WSHS)

Sherman School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Group portraits; Education--Tacoma;

Large crowd of students with a sprinkling of adults assembled in a field during the Northwest Washington School Music Competition Festival in March of 1941.

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music festivals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Students, all wearing a very serious expression, were photographed at Washington School wearing colonial costumes and powdered wigs. The eight couples had been rigorously rehearsing the minuet to perform in a series of three big music festival concerts taking place May 4-6, 1926 at Jason Lee, Lincoln and Mason. The concerts were part of the observance of National Music Week. Pictured, in no particular order, are Alene Symser, Daniel Stixrud, Barbara Bryan, Frederick Wolf, Barbara Rothermel, Gordon McEachran, Helen May, Lofton Tatum, June Everson, Lewis Jones, Muriel Ellis, Malcolm Shaw, Nancy Quick, Robert Cromwell, Phyllis Zeigler and Robert Martin. (WSHS) (TNT 4/30/1926, pg. 11)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Costumes;

Eight very serious couples were photographed at Washington School wearing colonial costumes and powdered wigs. They had been rigorously rehearsing the minuet to perform in a series of three big music festival concerts taking place May 4-6, 1926 at Jason Lee, Lincoln and Mason. The concerts were part of the observance of National Music Week. Despite their expressions, the group felt the experience was great fun. Pictured, in no particular order, are Alene Symser, Daniel Stixrud, Barbara Bryan, Frederick Wolf, Barbara Rothermel, Gordon McEachran, Helen May, Lofton Tatum, June Everson, Lewis Jones, Muriel Ellis, Malcolm Shaw, Nancy Quick, Robert Cromwell, Phyllis Zeigler and Robert Martin. (WSHS) (TNT 4/30/1926, pg. 11)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Costumes;

One hundred and ten Tacoma public school music students posed for a group portrait in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop before setting off for Spokane to perform at the Music Educator's National Conference of Region #1, opening March 29th, 1941. In Spokane they met and competed against 45,000 music students from Washington, Oregon and Montana. Included in the photograph are members of local middle and high school bands, orchestras, choruses and Stadium High School's 60 member Girls Glee Club. Donna Mae Jaden, who became the movie actress Janis Paige, is third from the right in the second row. (T. Times 3/21/1941 p.13, names in caption under photograph)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Actresses; Paige, Janis; Jaden, Donna Mae; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950;

St. Leo's Parochial School Girls Glee Club. The combined Glee clubs of St. Leo's parochial high school were preparing for the spring music festival at the school auditorium, scheduled for April 29, 1941. (T. Times 4/11/1941, pg. 4- names in caption)

St. Leos Parochial School (Tacoma); Singers; Choirs (Music);

View of Lowell Elementary School. The roots of Lowell School run deep as it is the Tacoma School District's oldest school. Established in 1869, and originally known as the First Ward School, it served families living west of Division Avenue in Old Tacoma. After moving to several locations, it was renamed Lowell after the American poet James Russell Lowell in 1890. A new Lowell School was built in 1950 on North 13th & Yakima Sts. as the nearly sixty year old Lowell, located a block away, was condemned following the 1949 earthquake. Students were moved into the new classrooms in November, 1950, although total construction was not completed until February, 1951. Photograph ordered by Bonnell Construction. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 43)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Gordon Gilbertson directed both the 27-piece orchestra and the 48-member concert band at Pacific Lutheran College in 1958. He is standing to the extreme left of the January 14, 1958, photograph, next to the bass player. The PLC Concert Band added to the spirit at football and basketball games with cheerful, colorful tunes. They also performed at the Rainier State School, McNeil Island, and the First Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Occupants of Eastern Washington, Idaho and Oregon were privileged to hear the concert band during its nine day tour. The band concluded its year with participation in the graduation ceremonies. Names of band members are listed in the 1958 SAGA yearbook. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (1958 SAGA yearbook, p. 97)

Bands--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Gilbertson, Gordon;

Pictures of the cast of "Of Men and Models," an original musical produced at Lincoln High School.

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pictures of the cast of "Of Men and Models," an original musical produced at Lincoln High School.

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;

Interiors and exteriors of the new buildings at Clover Park School; the music room. A few large instruments lie abandoned, waiting for their student musician.

Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

Interiors and exteriors of the new buildings at Clover Park School. A birds eye view of the new library, already in use despite mostly empty shelves.

Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

Interiors and exteriors of the new buildings at Clover Park School. This appears to be a science classroom, with lab tables in the rear of the room. Added to the school were both a biology and botany lab and a chemistry and physics lab. (T. Times 5/7/1941, pg. 3)

Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

Idlewild Elementary School was located in Lakewood at 10806 Idlewild Rd. S.W. , a part of the Clover Park School District. James E. Rediske was listed as principal in the 1958 Tacoma Suburban Directory. The school's buildings were clustered together; they all seemed to be of modern style and one-story in nature. The largest building with a steep roof shown in this March 4, 1958, photograph appeared to be the auditorium. Idlewild followed the new trend in wood framing and glue-lam beams for school construction. 70,000 feet of fir plywood was used for roof decking. Donald Burr was the architect for the project; Strom Construction was the contractor. Photograph ordered by Penman Neil, Inc. (TNT 2-9-58, A-19)

Idlewild Elementary School (Lakewood); Public schools--Lakewood;

Washington School 6A Graduating class, taken in front of school, on May 22, 1941. Building by Frederick Heath, Architect, 1906.

School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington School (Tacoma);

The Concert Chorus at Pacific Lutheran College posed for the camera seated in an open fan shape in the Music-Chapel on April 9, 1958. The men all sported tuxedoes while the women were primarily dressed in evening gowns. According to the student yearbook, the SAGA, the popularity of the group was increasing rapidly in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The chorus performed several times on Fort Lewis, at various churches, and at chapel exercises on campus. They were honored to be the first choral group to sing at the new Central Lutheran Church in Tacoma. The Concert Chorus, under the direction of R. Byard Fritts, concluded its year by recording music for the sound track of a technicolor movie to be released by the United Good Neighbors. (1958 SAGA yearbook, p. 94)

Choirs (Music); Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Photograph labelled "Stanley School- 6A Class, June 1941"

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Education--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits;

The ivy-covered walls of Annie Wright Seminary do not appear to have changed in the decades since the school was established. The elegant brick buildings of the college preparatory school for girls still remain in the city's northend. The Tudor Gothic style buildings were designed by architects Sutton Whitney and Dugan and built by J.E. Bonnell, contractor. Photograph ordered by the Shield yearbook.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--Buildings; Private schools--Tacoma;

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;

The glass-encased multi-story fine arts annex at Lincoln High School was dedicated in November of 1957 and open for public viewing as part of the annual Back-to-School night and observance of American Education Week. It was the first major improvement at the school in several years. The modernistic steel and concrete Fine Arts Building is adjacent to the ivy-covered walls of the main building. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. TPL-8474

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

The finished interior of the new Henry F.Hunt Junior High cafetorium at 6501 South 10th Street was photographed on June 23, 1958. The school opened in September of 1958, and the dedication was held on October 29th. The innovative dome-shaped building combined the cafeteria and the school auditorium. The curved stage blends with the building's curved glue-lam beams. The cafetorium had 20 bays with the dome covering a 144 foot span. The dome was formed by the use of 7" by 26" glue-lam beams; the purlins between the beams were covered with a half-inch fir plywood sheathing. There were many skylights to help with the natural lighting. The feeling of spaciousness was further accentuated by the lack of supporting columns within the building. Because of the extensive use of wood, the school district was able to save quite a bit of money in construction; costs ran 15 cents per square foot. (TNT 2-9-58, A-19, 20)

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A covered walkway would offer protection to students on their way to the cafeteria/auditorium on the campus of the new Henry F. Hunt Junior High School at 6501 South 10th street when it opened in September of 1958. The saucer-shaped building was designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price and was made primarily of wood. The glass walls, along with the many skylights, provided plenty of natural light. The innovative building had no supporting columns within to distract from the feeling of spaciousness. This photograph was taken in June of 1958 while it was still empty. It was built to serve the burgeoning student population of Tacoma's West End and Fircrest neighborhoods.

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

College of Puget Sound summer band camp group posed on the campus. For the first time, the music department of CPS would be offering a program combining music study with vacation and recreation. The camp would be open to high school students receiving a superior rating in solo and ensemble playing, who exhibit scholarship and good character. The students would live at the college and be given a private lesson each week as well as instruction in harmony and arranging. In addition, the group would perform several concerts throughout the summer. Sixty five students participated in the first month long camp. (T. Times 6/6/41, pg. 8; 6/13/41, pg. 7; 6/27/1941, pg. 7- picture with names in caption)

Students--Tacoma; Bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brass instruments; Musicians--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School was applauded for its innovative use of wood. Architect Robert Billsbrough Price designed the new West end school to be built on one-level using primarily wood instead of the traditional brick or concrete. Costs were kept low at 15 cents a square foot because of the wood usage. View of Hunt cafetorium, an unusually shaped cafeteria/auditorium, showing huge curved glue-lam beams. Photograph ordered by American Lumberman, Chicago.

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;