The Second Helena High School - 1025
N. Rodney
1935
to 1955
Heavily Damaged by the 1935 Earthquakes
Later Became Helena Junior High and Helena Middle School
New Helena High School Before the Earthquakes
COURTESY
OF THE DAVID POOR COLLECTION • CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
|
The school
was built 1934-35 with Federal money under the auspices of
the Public
Works Admnistration (PWA), part of the Roosevelt administration's
"New
Deal". Labor/union squabbles repeatedly delayed work
on the project. To build the school, portions of five streets
were permanently closed: Davis, Hoback, Billings, Livingston
and 16th.
Dedicated
on September 21 1935, the new building was heavily damaged
by the October 1935 earthquakes. According to post-quake estimates
by U. S. Army engineers, it was about 75% destroyed.
It took
nearly two years to repair the structure, during which time
classes were held in railroad passenger coaches, set up on
specially-laid rails on Lyndale Ave. See the feature "High
School on Wheels" on this site.
In 1955,
the present High School on Montana Avenue opened, and this
school became Helena Junior High School. It is now Helena
Middle School.
|
Rodney
Street Location Chosen, 1933
| The scale
of the damage shown here may not be apparent until one notices
the rows of seats at the bottom of the photo. |
Principal's
Office Damaged
Shattered Interior Staircase
COURTESY
OF THE DAVID POOR COLLECTION • CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Why
Did the New Building Fail so Dramatically in the Earthquakes?
From the Helena Daily Independent...
Post-Quake
Photo by Les Jorud
Mid-1940s Aerial View of the Helena High School Area
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ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Postcard
Views
Helena
High School Glee Club Patch, 1930s
COURTESY
OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON
Helena
High School Bengal Band ~ March 15, 1941
"Tag Day" Performance Downtown
Photo by Maxine Gilmour, courtesy of Richard Smith
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Helena
High School Bengal Band ~ 1955
Concert in the Auditorium
COURTESY
OF RAY LINDSEY
| Many thanks
to Ray Lindsey for this wonderful 1955 HHS Band photo. The auditorium
interior will be familiar to so many. Click
on the photo for a closer look at the band, in a new window! |
Helena
Middle School , 1997
Hallways, Gym and Exterior - Including Vigilante Stadium
PHOTOS
BY MARC SWANSON • COURTESY OF JACK WOMACK
Many
thanks to Jack for sharing these photos!
Gymnasium
When New...
COURTESY
OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON
Gymnasium,
1997...
South
Exterior
Vigilante
Stadium
