Below is a collection of notes about the history of Beaverton High School prepared by Lisa Sandmire for the Beaverton High School centennial celebration. She used Beaverton High School’s archive of past issues of The Hummer and other sources as noted. We obtained Lisa’s notes in July 2016. We thank Lisa for permission to publish her notes here.

Click here to view the chronology of the Beaverton High School physical buildings.

1842

First school in Washington County opens. It was an Indian mission and open to all.

1852

Mary Ann Spencer Watts holds classes in a log cabin near her home in Beaverton. She came from Cincinnati, Ohio via Cape Horn on a boat trip that took 6 months.

1871

More than 250 people in Beaverton. New school is a 1 room frame structure, 2 rooms came later. Pot bellied stoves provided heat and there was no plumbing. A 6 foot fence was needed to keep livestock out of the play yard.

1890

Total costs for the school for the year, including salaries, were $635.25. Student population was 146.

1906

School board forbids football on school grounds. School has 3 rooms and a 9^th grade. The board purchased 2 pans for students to drain their umbrellas in.

1908

New woodshed for school cost $108.00. 39 new desks cost $179.00. 10^th grade was added. 4 room, 2 story structure with full cement basement with heating and ventilation was built to house grad and high school through 1915.

1911

School clock, a gong, 6 dozen noiseless erasers and a drum purchased.

1915

School removed to make room for the new high school. Cost of new school: $21,500. It is 3 stories, 21 rooms, (no additions made until student body reaches 400). Fall of 1915 a junior class was added.

1916

Beaverton High becomes a standard, 4 year high school. US elects the first woman to congress

1917

The US entered WWI, declaring war on Germany.

1918

The 1918 flu pandemic infected 500 million people worldwide, killing 50-100 million (3-5% of the world’s population.

1919

The signing of the Treaty of Versailles ended World War I.

1920

First Annual published. It is called Ee’na, which means “beaver” in the language of the local native tribe. It will be called Ee’na until the 1930 annual when the name is changed to “The Beaver”. Student body in the 1919-’20 school year was 65.

1921

First Hummer published, “Beaverton Hummer Special”. Edited by the junior class. Printed in the Commerce Department. First cafeteria established. Food is made by the Home Economics class. First football team (The Hummer, May 1923).

1922

Mr. Mike Metzler joins faculty as a coach and teacher. He stayed with Beaverton High for 31 years. There are 130 students and 8 teachers. Basketball court was directly above the school office! No football field – games were played in a local lumberyard. Football practice held behind the Congregational church or in a lot across the street from school. Student body took on the well-being of an orphan in the near east. Tennis courts installed where the auditorium currently stands. Student body in the 1922-’23 school year was 130.

1923

Stage curtain purchased for stage at one end of the study hall. No annual published this year due to small class size (only 13 graduating seniors), lack of interest (per Ruth Pasley), and the fact that debt from the previous year’s annual was still outstanding. Women’s suffragist Alice Paul introduced The Equal Rights Amendment to the Senate.

1925

First school buses. Old stage enlarged for play productions.

1926

Freshman initiation was a common event. Land for a football field is purchased. (Hummer, 9/26/29) Hummer is printed outside the school for the first time in order to “make it better in quality & appearance” (1926 yearbook).

1927

First Fire Squad organized. Metzler organized this group to re-direct wayward boys. Geraldine Sanford begins as a teacher. The first motion picture with sound, “The Jazz Singer,” was released. Basketball team at BHS was nicknamed “the orange and black onion growers” and played the “painter boys” of Rasmussen paint Co., the Beaverton Alumni and the Baby Badgers of Pacific University.

1928

Basketball pit covered over.

1929

First changes to the original building. West gym, auditorium and classrooms added for $35,000. Architect is CN Freeman, Builder is FS Starland. Kiwanis Club presented a plaque and organized the dedication ceremony (Hummer, 12/18/29). Woodshed built. New roof on school.

The Wall Street Crash of 1929, also known as Black Tuesday, occurred at the end of the year and was the worst stock market crash at the time. A 10-year recession, known as the Great Depression, began as a result, affecting every industrialized Western country.

1930

The Dust Bowl disrupted the ecology and agriculture of both the U.S. and Canada. With the Great Plains experiencing the worst drought and wind erosion, the Dust Bowl left over 500,000 Americans homeless.

1931

Bus garage was constructed. It held 10 buses and cost $4,500.00.

1932

Amelia Earhart took her famous solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

1933

PA system installed for use in assemblies and games. Seats in certain classrooms are arranged bleacher style.

Prohibition, a nationwide ban on the sale, production, transportation and importation of alcohol, ended with the ratification of the 21st Amendment.

1934

“Only girl President of the student body” elected – Margaret Dickman. (Hummer, May 1936).

The Indian Reorganization Act, also known as the Indian New Deal or Wheeler-Howard Act, was signed into law. The act worked to reestablish and protect many of the native tribes that were previously encouraged to assimilate with American society.

1915-1935

Enrollment increases 333.33%.

1937

Annex built across Erickson street to house the school buses and workshop. Property is purchased from the Erickson estate. Land purchased for new grade school (Merle Davies). The architect is CN Freeman, contractor is George Manges. Magazine drive to raise funds to build grandstands nets $350.

1938

Grandstands built, costing $700.00. The wood for the grandstands was recycled from the 1910 school building which was demolished. Football team had an undefeated season under coach Marble Cook. County football champions.

Orson Welles’ broadcast of “The War of the Worlds” caused widespread panic when listeners didn’t know the broadcast was fictitious.

1939

Football lights purchased by students for $1,500.00. Football scoreboard made by McCready lumber for the school. Ticket office, featuring 3 aisles and windows, was purchased for main gate on north side of the school. Bernice Connoly begins teaching at BHS. 10% of 230 BHS students test positive for tuberculosis (Hummer, Dec., 1939). First Hummer articles published talking about war and patriotism (November issue).

1940

Four new buses added to the fleet. Bus garage partially damaged and 5 busses destroyed by fire for a loss of $15,000.00. $8,000.00 spent on new equipment for fire losses. Garage was later reconstructed. Hot water heater added, new lighting in all classrooms, the “old shed” is converted to locker rooms, complete new interior paint job throughout the school. Grace Larson elected second female Student Body President. Frank Emmons, class of 1936 drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles. Flu epidemic in December. 32% of student body (of 487) out sick.

1941

New trophy case purchased. “Evacuee Adopted by French Class” (Hummer 4/23/41).

Japan declared war on the United States by attacking the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor. Six U.S. ships were sunk, 2,402 Americans lost their lives and 1,247 were wounded.

WWII defense stamp sales begin. War theme references everywhere – “Eat For Defense”, “Red, White & Blue Clothing Day”. Blackouts in Beaverton. Evening activities moved to earlier times in order to observe blackout air raid evacuation drills (Hummer, 12/17/41).

1942

Book drive for USOs. 10K war stamp sales goal. Reference to a “service Flag” with a star representing a student enlistee, Hummer 10/14/42. Student Aiko Yoshihara (female) in a “Japanese evacuation center” in SE Idaho. There are 10,000 Japanese interned at the camp. Alumni Doris Noel one of the first 2 women enrolled in the school of engineering at Oregon State College. 29 freshman hold part time jobs so they can buy more war stamps (Hummer, 11/11/42). Victory bell sold to church, proceeds used to buy more war bonds (Hummer, 11/11/42). Hummer editorial encourages civilian defense. Girl Reserves organize “Ditty Bag Drive” of money and needed articles for servicemen. 93 copies of Hummer sent to boys in service. Organization of teams for the new fad-yo-yo twirling. The 4 positions were string changer, booster, spinner and twirler.

1943

Midterm goal of 30K in war bond (stamp?) sales via auction and classroom competitions (Hummer 12/1/43). Schools At War scrapbook created. Schools at War was a program organized by the Secretary of the Treasury, War Savings Staff. High schools were encouraged to maintain scrapbooks detailing their war efforts. There was a scrapbook competition in Salem. Trying to locate BHS Scrapbook (Lisa Sandmire). Hummer keeps track of boys in service via regular “Keeping Up With The Troops” articles.

1944

9/27/44 – Enrollment: 431 (134 freshmen, 133 sophomores, 100 juniors, 64 seniors). School cafeteria opens. Run by 2 staff and 6 home-ec students will help. They will serve a veggie, meat or cheese dish with bread and butter. Dessert and milks extra. Third female student body president, Mollie O’Donnell. School facelift: new darkroom, fully equipped. Shop has new cabinets. New boys lockers. Industrial art room is enclosed and painted. War bond sales: goal of selling 35K by 12/7 to buy a landing barge. Serviceman will be admitted free to sporting events during school year.

Germany’s final major offensive of World War II, The Battle of the Bulge, began. It would be the deadliest battle for the United States during the war.

12/20/44 – Breaking ground of new. Bond drive $55,815.40, surpassing goal. Will pay for landing barge & other war supplies.

1945

Harold Warren Dobyns awarded Bronze Star. Prom Tips: clean hair, Either pile neatly on top of head or put a velvet bow in to hold it back. Maybe a sequin beany. Only wear a small corsage as a large one isn’t appropriate during the war. Let the boy open doors for you. Tell your date he looks nice, too. Boys, help her with her wrap. Help her into the car. Dance the first two dances with her and at least every third dance. Junior boys will be expected to exchange one dance with a patroness. Serve her refreshments. FDR death, flag at half-mast (reported in 4/18/45 Hummer). 15 BHS student soldiers have died in action so far in WWII (4/18/45 Hummer). Within 2 weeks, BHS lost its student body president and vice-president, senior class president and vice-president, pep club president, Hummer editor and annual editor. (4/18/45 Hummer). May 1945-VE day honored with special assembly.

3/21/45 – Remodeling of gymnasium. Concert scheduled to raise funds for student center. Over 70K war bond sales. Goal of 100K by end of year. Refinishing of gym underway – replacing wall surface with plaster up to 6’ and acoustic plaster 6’ to ceiling, acoustic ceiling.

4/18/45 – Students prepare for VE day, assembly. Clothing drive for those in need in Europe. Mobile Tuberculosis tests completed all BHS students. BHS alum ‘39 not graduate, Akira ”Skeeter” Kaga, Japanese American tells of his hurt over local feeling toward Japanese Americans. Building plans in question – plans made for student union center, many favor a large, indoor pool. Some would like tennis courts or new track. Jack Selves recalls moment of flag raising on Iwo Jima. State law passes requiring kids to stay in school until age 16 or the completion of 12 years of school.

5/16/45 – 60 boys from class of ’45 have entered the armed services. Jim Eastman, Pharmacist mate 3/c, class of ’42, killed in Iwo Jima.

VE DAY 5/8/45

1945 grads:

OSU-5

U of O-2

Multnomah college-1

Northwestern business college-1

University of Washington-1

Other colleges-3

Coast guard-3

Navy-5

Merchant Marines-2

Army-4

Working-10

Staying home-4

Nov ’45 vandals damage 10 BHS windows. Cost of repair $70.00.

Trivia as of Nov 1945:

Fire squad is oldest active organization in the school.

Tex Twyford is the first discharged serviceman to return to BHS.

School site was purchased from Meier and Frank.

14 seniors on the football team.

44 girls in glee club.

When this senior class started in 1942, they numbered 143. Now there are 98.

In 1926, the Hummer was a 3 column paper with holes punched so it could go into a notebook.

BHS has 510 students.

Beaverton becomes BUHS.

Construction on new wing begins.

Gym remodel to be finished in summer. Floor re-sanded and refinished, new paint, backstage remodeling, halls to dressing re tiled, total cost 2K.

Service flag presented to BHS with large blue star representing 450 boys in war and 15 gold stars representing boys killed in action.

10/3/45 – BHS enrollment is 510 (only room for 400). New bus purchased for football transport. Main objective of school year raising funds for student union.

10/31/45 – Victory Loan Drive 10K goal.

11/21/45 – Senior class has 98 students (143 when they were sophomores).

12/19/45 – Students show interest in atomic bomb. BHS doubled war bond / victory loan drive. New band uniforms. 6 cafeteria workers served 45 students per day.

1946

1/30/46 – BHS expansion plan goes to voters with a $280,000 bond measure (drawing in Hummer of plans). Current building max is 400 and there are 512 students. Estimated next year enrollment is 575. If bond doesn’t pass, the home economics department will be closed to make room.

2/20/46 – Tight skirt fad is a bit scandalous. Bond election on 2/23 for 280K for construction of addition of facilities to help with crowding. Juke box controversy – mistreatment and arguing about selections. Students use it to dance before school and during lunch.

3/27/46 – 280K bond passes. Boys haircut fad “The Princeton”.

4/24/46 – Burglars rob school safe. Band Director, Frank Bushnell, retiring after 16 yrs.

10/9/46 – Steady increase in enrollment: 510 in 1945, 545 in 1946. Bond vote deemed invalid, new election in February. Fashions – turtlenecks and saddle shoes, nubby sweaters, kick pleat skirts, cotton dresses, cashmere sweaters, angora sweaters, peter pan collars, belts for girls. It costs 40 cents to go to the movies

11/6/46 – Hummer gets top National honors for 4^th time. ‘Beaver’ annual wins ‘First All American’ award.

11/27/46 – Seven more boys leave BHS for service

12/18/46 – Second bond vote increases it to $325,000 (from $280,000). Former BHS student, Bob Bastian, goes on Antarctic exploration with Navy.

The United States became the first and only country to detonate an atomic bomb. Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki were hit, killing an estimated 150,000 to 246,000 people.

In the 1946 student handbook, excused absences were given for: conventions, fairs, hunting, fishing, athletic games, work and visiting.

1947

1/29/47 – ⅖ bond vote. Installation of new school laundry. $325,000 bond passes for construction of new wing of school.

May 1947 – 36 seniors going to college, most to Oregon State, then Oregon, Monmouth, Willamette, Pacific, Lewis and Clark, Marylhurst.

5/21/47 – All building addition bids rejected. Plans being revised.

10/1/47 – New construction estimate 251K – new shop room on west end, east wing 6 classrooms and study hall, 2 health rooms, 4 washrooms on ground floor. School capacity of 840.

10/29/47 – New modern library has 7,000 books, fluorescent lighting, 24 tables, capacity of 144 new field and stands getting renovated. Behind stands will be a practice field and softball diamond with added lighting. Tower is torn down from grandstand – originally constructed as watch tower in WWII. Total cost of running buses in ’46-’47 school year: $14,378.70. Covered a total of 11,491 miles and 500 students served. Forty eight percent of class of 1948 attend college.

Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first African-American to play baseball in the Major Leagues.

1948

1/21/48 – Fashion – Gibson girl blouses, ballerina skirts, cable knit sweaters.

4/21/48 – New intercom system installed in BUHS (cost $2500.00)

5/19/48 – *photo of new east wing in Hummer. This summer, plans to build new cafeteria, student center and locker rooms. Cafeteria will cost $55,000. Al Walker, 1st in state for high hurdles. Driver’s Ed added to curriculum. Fall 1948 enrollment is 690.

10/5/48 – Construction finished including new field areas. 6 student librarian and one head librarian.

10/26/48 – Driving classes offered to girls. Roller skating very popular. 120’ of new seating added to grandstands.

11/23/48 – Former band director Frank Bushnell dies.

1949

2/22/49 – New cafeteria opens. Said to be one of the finest in the state. A complete lunch of soup, vegetables, meat, beverage and dessert costs 52 cents. It has a dishwasher, a large stove, steam table, 3 sinks, storeroom and an office. Next fall, a walk-in freezer, 2 baking ovens, a cooking oven and an electric soup kettle will be added. Run by a manager and an assistant and helped by 7 student volunteers. Damascus Dairy will deliver milk in paper carton to eliminate the washing of bottles. Teacher Barbara Lappala, former congressional secretary to Senator Hale Boggs of LA joins BHS.

3/22/49 – $300,000 Bond vote to go to voters for new home economics and science classrooms and a gymnasium-auditorium.

April 13, 1949, 11:56a, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake centered in Olympia, WA is felt all over the PNW. Building suffers some cracks in the brick facade and on the ceiling in one classroom. BHS closed school for the day “not because of danger but because the quake left them little concern for their studies,” according to IR Metzler.

Class of ’49-41% attend college

4/26/49 – Earthquake causes school to be closed early.

5/17/49 – new building plans being drawn including new science and home ec classrooms, tennis courts going to be fixed up.

9/27/49 – Construction begins on new science wing. Lavelle Flannery article re swimming. Enrollment above 700. Victory bell given by Southern Pacific Railroad.

10/25/49 – School sends 2238 candy bars overseas to war-torn countries. Bob Sayre article.

11/22/49 – Yearbook gets ‘First class rating’ form National Scholastic Press Association. New student, Jim Kibbee, transfer from Philippine Islands. Spent 3 years in a Manila prison camp.

12/20/49 – Jimmy Tsugawa article. BHS photography department leader in state.

Germany was divided into Eastern and Western Germany as a result of the Allied powers — the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union — taking control after World War II.

1950

2/21/50 – Polish immigrant, Mrs. Blanka Rothschild, a local resident, speaks to students about her life in a German concentration camp and work with the underground during the war. Enrollment at 780.

3/21/50 – Flying saucers are a big topic at school. Article on Jim Tsugawa. Class of ’50-55 go to college.

9/26/50 – Enrollment at 828, Faculty at 30. New gym reading ready in Nov. Lavelle Flannery article.

10/24/50 – Jim Tsugawa article.

11/21/50 – New BHS school bus, 1950 Dodge, holds 60 student.

12/19/50 – Atomic bomb safety instruction at school. Tsugawa article. Bernice Connoly, photo teacher, demolishes wall between two small darkrooms to make a bigger one. Article re new gym – hoping to be complete by end of school year. Plans for swimming pool and varsity dressing rooms, removal of 3rd floor. 8 period day discussed (to replace 6 period day)

President Truman’s orders to aid South Korea prompted America’s entrance into the Korean War.

1951

1/30/51 – Atomic bomb raid information for BHS & Washington County. Article about what students can do to help during time of national emergency – Korean War.

3/27/51 – $500,000 bond election to cover a 12 classroom wing, indoor swimming pool, addition to school garage, building alterations, completion of Physical Education department. *Drawing of plans in Hummer.

4/17/51 – Bond vote fails. Penny drive for war. Girls locker room is “deplorable”.

5/15/51 – New gym ready for graduation. Article about draft. Third floor condemned. It is commonly thought that the instability of the third floor, causing its condemnation was due to the 1949 earthquake, but the instability was actually caused by the removal of a support wall between two classrooms on the second floor sometime during the ‘30s or ‘40s which caused the floor to sag and shake. The engineers also proclaimed the floor joists to be inadequate and the concrete to be of poor quality. The removal happened during the summer of 1951.

$350,000 bond vote-$200,000 for new classrooms, $65,000 for completion of girl’s section of gym, $35,000 to remove the condemned 3^rd floor, alter rooms under the old gym and pave certain parking areas, $10,000 for additions to the bus garage, $40,000 to provide equipment for classrooms and bleachers for the gym.

7/51 – Fire at school. Damage at $5000-$7000. Typewriters, desks, chairs and files destroyed. Schedules that the vice principal had been working on for a month were all destroyed. Ledgers and receipt books charred and water damaged. Fire broke out on the roof, leaving a gaping hole in the ceilings of the office and main hallway.

William Logan hired.

9/25/51 – enrollment is 898

10/23/51 – student fundraiser for new lawn and ‘community chest’. Building of new classrooms begins, should be finished in June. BHS girls form bowling club.

1952

Enrollment is 1005.

2/26/52 – New wing to be completed by May.

9/30/53 – Article about how television is affecting studies & survey about TVs. 1929 school schedule found.

10/28/52 – New electric scoreboard for football field. Cost was $1,400.00 It is 18’ x 9.5’. It was student/parent financed. BHS students choose Eisenhower for president. Girls volleyball established. East wing addition adds 15 classrooms. 1952 college tuition costs: State schools-$100-$200 per year Private schools-$400-$500 per year.

1953

Facts and figures:

6912 pieces of chalk used.

Band costs: $15,500

Students spend $52-$70 per year on supplies, donation and activity fees.

Boys prefer argyles to plain socks and plain shirts over plaid

Favorite gum flavors are double mint and spearmint

Pee Chee folders are favored over notebooks

Average student takes 1,622 steps at school each day.

One month of running the school costs $1,442.00 ($8.49 for gas, $59.36 for telephone, $301.84 for heat, $394.00 for water, $678.73 for light.)

Approximately 600 candy bars are sold at the snack bar daily

1/20/53 – Fire in science wing.

3/13/53 – Mr. Metzler retiring after 30 years. (large article with photos in Hummer)

4/21/53 – New Principal Karl Kahle.

5/12/53 – Mike Metzler Day May 16th. George Erickson new VP. Teachers form local association.

10/2/53 – $611,000 bond approved (24 new classrooms, multi-purpose auditorium, music rooms, and a heating plant. BHS to have ham radio station. Fall of 1953 enrollment: 1099 students, 44 faculty. Tennis courts moving to lot adjacent to football field. New building to house 1800-2000 student. Junior Dorothy Johnson gets Hollywood screen tests, meets Debbie Reynolds.

10/30/53 – Proposed rec program (THPRD) needs BUHS support.

12/18/53 – Election for proposed recreational district. Break in at school office nets burglar $15.00. Tuberculosis main killer 15-34.

1954

1/29/54 – Construction bids open.

3/26/54 – Men’s basketball first in district

10/22/54 – Ground Observance Corps founded. They are directed to watch for enemy air attacks. Members give up 2 hours per week to be on watch.

10/8/54 – First science and drama clubs.

11/12/54 – Concession stand built for field-costs $225.08. 56 bowlers on bowling team.

12/3/54 – Facts:

Building is 450’ long x 250’ wide

3 custodians

25 drinking fountains

11 telephones

4480 windows

80 intercoms

Football grandstand seat 600

East gym seats 2500

15 buses

12/17/54 – Damerow Ford provides new car for Driver’s Ed class. Dorothy Johnson, Junior, crowned Miss City of Roses.

The Supreme Court declared separate-but-equal education in public schools illegal in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

1955   

2/4/55 – Dorothy Johnson article.

4/15/55 – Photo of the new auditorium in Hummer. Dedication of new auditorium to be in late April.

4/29/55 – New auditorium dedicated. Atomic bomb drill at school.

5/27/55 – Hoop skirts popular at school. Students predict what life will be like in 2155. Students develop color slides at school for the first time.

9/9/55 – Staff at 56 (18 new teachers). 12 new classrooms. $12,000 spent on library. New tennis courts. New P.E. equipment: shuffleboards, girl’s locker baskets, gym apparatus, more baseball diamonds. Boys will use East gym, girls will use West gym. School gets out at 3:25. BHS has a school nurse. Each class has their own counselor. Student body at 1391. Dorothy Johnson, ’55 alum, competes for Miss America in Atlantic City.

9/23/55 – Dorothy Johnson is runner up for Miss America. THPRD formed and William Pond is first Superintendent.

10/7/55 – BUHS Board purchases land near Sunset Highway for a new school to be built for $1,500.00/acre. Library updates article and photo. Article on BUHS marching band and band program of 26 years – Frank E. Bushnell, Melvin B. Wells and Allan G. Robertson. 72 students enrolled in Driver’s Ed.

10/21/55 – Article about the history of BUHS Choir program.

11/4/55 – History of BUHS Photography classes since 1943.

11/18/55 – THPRD plans programs “from cradle to grave”. History of BUHS Drama Dept. District plans for increases in enrollment; predicts 2500 students in BHS by 1960.     Debating building Junior High Schools or a new High School.

12/2/55 – BUHS joins Valley Coast League with Hillsboro, Astoria, Gresham, Milwaukie, Parkrose, David Douglas and Central Catholic.

1956

1/13/56 – BHS student poll on religious views of students (see page 3 for corrections)

1/27/56 – History of BHS Industrial Arts program.

10/12/56 – School band to be televised during luxury liner ‘Mariposa’ christening in Portland. Students give mixed opinions of “Elvis the pelvis” in the Hummer.

10/26/56 – Sunset High School plans being made. Guidance program grows as BHS adds counselors.

11/9/56 – Plans for new HS

1957

2/8/57 – Harlem Globetrotters entertain at School.

3/7/57 – Fashion fads: mock turtlenecks, V-neck sweaters, straight or pleated skirts, toreador blouses.

4/12/57 – New Pool is completed. Admission: 15 cents ages through grade school, 25 cents for high school students, 50cents for adults. (photo in Hummer)

5/24/57 – Election to determine if there will be a new high school. *Drawing of planned Sunset high school in Hummer.

6/7/57 – Senior David Wistrand dies during Senior Field Day.

9/13/57 – Position of Student Activity Director created.

11/22/57 – New High School to be called Tualatin Valley High (future Sunset HS)

12/20/57 – Globetrotters to perform again at school. Girls swim 4th in state.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. founded the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) alongside Baynard Rustin, Rev. Joseph Lowrey, Fred Shuttlesworth and Ralph Abernathy.

1958

Class of 1958 has 339, 204 attend college (60.3%), 23 attend vocational schools, 80 are employed, and 24 join the military.

1/17/58 – Home teaching program article. It began in Fall of 1954.

2/7/58 – Article on home teaching program.

9/12/58 – Beaverton will now have 2 shifts of students until the new Sunset High School opens in January 1959. Beaverton students go from 7:30-12:30. Sunset students start at 12:30 and I’m assuming go until 5:00 (it doesn’t say).

9/26/58 – Fashion Fads: Shorter skirts, lowered waists, modified chemise, trapeze skirt, empire waistline, sack dress, stitched down pleats, bulky sweaters. Total enrollment of both sets of students is 2300.

10/24/58 – $600,000 Bond vote to finish Sunset HS set for Nov. 14.

11/7/58 – Sunset students attend BHS late shift until new school is finished.

11/26/58 – $600,000 Bond passes. New Synchronized Swimming club at BHS. Staff is at 64.

12/23/58 – Girl’s Swim gets third in State, sets record for 50 yard breast stroke and and 200 yard free relay.

Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit, an ancestor to the CMOS computer chips that power electronic devices today. Kilby went on to win the Nobel Prize in 2000.

1959

January-Sunset High School opens. Beaverton back to one shift of students.

1/16/59 – New optional 7th period to be added next year.

2/13/59 – *Photo of former cafeteria in Hummer

2/27/59 – Girls start wearing sneakers to school.

3/8/59 – Harlem Globetrotters perform at Beaverton

5/29/59 – Teacher Amarette Barnes to retire after 30 years at BHS

9/18/59 – Student body cards will now have students photos. Voters to decide on District Unification Issue. Class of ’59 alum, Karlyn Mattsson, competes in Miss America as Miss Oregon.

10/30/59 – *Photo of Victory Bell in Hummer. Beaverton Custodian, Mr. John Zimmer, spoke at the International Relations Meeting about his six years in a Russian labor camp. He was in the German army and taken prisoner in 1944 by Russians (*photo of him in Hummer). Article on synchronized swimming.

11/13//59 – Proposal for a Unified School District. Article on concession stand: Football season sold 5,000 boxes of popcorn, 2500 soft drinks, 1799 Candy bars, 1100 lollipops.

12/4/59 – 2nd vote on unified district set for 12/21. Boys Swim gets 2nd in State.

12/18/59 – Girl’s swim team wins state championship, coached by Rod Harman. Freshman Carolyn Wood set 3 new state records. New orchestra ensemble at BHS.

1960

2/19/60 – Article on BHS trophy case; contains 251 awards.

3/4/60 – Student Poll on smoking, dating, future plans, ability grouping and the military.

4/1/60 – Beaverton school buses now total 16. They travel 1000 miles a day. They make 77 trips per day. The first bus leaves the garage at 6:30 am and the last bus returns to the garage at 6:20pm after the activities run. Many of the drivers have second jobs.

4/29/60 – Freshman Carolyn Wood to compete in Olympics in Rome.

9/9/60 – 14 year old Carolyn Wood wins Gold medal at Rome Olympics in the 400m relay. She swims the third leg. District 48 becomes Unified Beaverton School District. Fashion fads: Girls-skulots (Bermuda length skirts made like culottes), bold colors, big plaids, pointed shoes. Boys-wool shirts (Pendleton), khaki pants, big sweaters, corduroy suits, bright vests, continental trousers, low-cut tennis shoes, white sweat socks, green, green, green!

9/23/60 – Sunset marks its 4th year.

10/7/60 – Superintendent D. Herbert Armstrong says school board is deciding if Beaverton should have junior high schools. They feel a better education program is possible with a 6-3-3 program, Elementary 1-6, Junior high 7-9, high school 10-12. District enrollment is increasing approx 1000 students per year. Principal Erickson has mixed feelings about losing the Freshman. The Library now has 11,100 volumes. Library originally was in the back of the study hall, partitioned from the rest of the room. In 1936, all books were tabulated in alphabetical order and fiction books were divided into classes. In 1942, each student librarian (?) was required to make a display covering any topic to make the library more effective. In addition, librarians supplied flowers for the reading room each week. At the beginning of the 50’s, it was estimated that an average of 80 books were checked out daily, with 25 students using the library each period. In 1952, the library was described as being “a handy noontime rendezvous, a place to catch up on the latest crime-busting activities of Dick Tracy or a quiet resting nook. Some people even go there to study.” Centennial High School is built.

11/18/60 – School board approves 3 junior high schools, asks for a 4 million bond.

12/9/60 – Boy’s and Girl’s swim win State Championships (Boys tie with Lake Oswego).

1961

1/20/61 – $3.5 million bond goes to voters for 3 junior high schools construction. Students remember split schedule and talk over coming bond issue in Hummer article.

2/3/61 – Bond measure fails.

4/21/61 – Beaverton chosen as 1 of 10 secondary schools in the USA to be recognized for excellence in science and math. Beaverton’s Future Nurses of America receives National Charter.

5/26/61 – Governor Hatfield speaks at Beaverton.

1960 – 1961 recap:

Fashion-The year of the short skirt, baggy sweaters, tennis shoes and long socks

Sports-300 students lettered, Swim, boys and girls win state, Carolyn wood won gold at Olympics.

9/22/61 – IBM electric typewriters arrive at Beaverton.

11/3/61 – Mrs. Harry Barnes, class of ’12 (as a 10^th grader) honored at half time of football game as the oldest alum. (There was no 11^th or 12^th grade then.)

11/17/61 – Civil Defense Program planned for Beaverton (to prepare for Atomic attack). New School Song introduced: “Hats off to Beavers”. Words and music by Stephen L. Stone. There is much fear for a WWIII.

12/1/61 – Football gets 2^nd in State. Boys swim 1^st in State, Girls swim 2^nd in State. New Bond Measure proposed. Dropped to $2.6 million for 2 Junior Highs instead of 3. They will be the future Whitford and Meadow Park. They will be saving tax payers money by using the same architectural plans for both schools.

Alan Shepard became the first American in space. He helmed the Freedom 7 capsule.

1962

2/23/62 – “Bullwinkle” is favorite TV show of Beaverton High students. Physics teacher, Mr. Ted Gonzalez, relates his past as a National Golden Gloves champ, fighter pilot, counter-espionage agent, and member of the medical corps.

3/9/62 – Mass polio immunization at Beaverton High.

3/30/62 – Bond measure passes to build 2 junior high schools.

5/25/62 – Class of ’61 stats: 58% go to college, 23% employed, 10% armed forces, 5% training for business, 3% housewives, 1% unemployed.

9/14/62 -”Twist” ban lifted at BHS!! College credit Biology class added to BHS curriculum

9/28/62 – Wigs are the new fad at BHS.

10/12/62 – $1,840,000 Bond discussed for 3rd junior high school and addition of 9th grade wings on the 2 existing junior highs. Article on alumni successes. New Superintendent Dr. Thomas E. Woods. Underground room found-gymnasium under cafeteria.

10/26/62 – Article on BHS buses: 49 drivers, 7000 student riders, 1,300 miles a day

11/9/62 – Drawing of new school (additions if bond measure passes). School Board announces Civil Defense Plan.

11/30/62 – Football wins league championship (photo in Hummer). Dick is most popular boy’s name at BHS. Girl’s swimming 2nd in state, Boy’s swimming 5th in state.

12/18/62 – Bond measure fails.

1963

1/11/63 – Bond measure will be resubmitted to voters on 2/25.

2/22/63 – Fashion fads: suspenders, boots for girls (the shock of it!!). Article about swimmer Carolyn Wood.

3/8/63 – Bond measure fails again. Dayle Viar, class of ‘62, selected “Miss Portland”. Faculty plans new “Team Teaching” and “Block classes”. Year round school discussed.

5/24/63 – Hair fads: girl’s-unteased, sleek hair. Boy’s-bangs. All night senior party planned. 80% of class of ‘63 going to college. Re-cap of 62/63 sports: football-1st in league, swim-girl’s 2nd in state, boy’s 5th in state, cross country-13th in state, tennis-league champs.

9/13/63 – Parking not offered to student drivers. They must find parking away from the school. Fashion trends: girls-loafers, boots and riding apparel, sporty and layered looks, pants with patches, tweeds, turtlenecks, dickies, fake fur, vests, wrap around skirts, lower heels. Clothing rules at BHS: Girls can’t wear culottes in any form and beach shifts not allowed. Boys can’t wear sloppy sweatshirts or cut-off jeans and no Bermuda shorts without long socks.

9/27/63 – Changes to BHS: Merle Davies is in use as part of BHS, 16 classroom there are being used. New language lab, new teachers workroom, new scoreboard on football field, new football lights.

10/11/63 – New bond proposal for $3,870,000 for 2 junior high schools. *Photo of unfinished Whitford Jr. High School. Pep Club re-forming. Article about Merle Davies. Bus Drivers Article: 64 drivers, each work 4 hours/day, 9000 riders, 6 new buses bought this year at $11,000 each, 57 buses for Beaverton/Sunset, 4 mechanics, 2 gas fillers, drivers begin their day at 5:45 am to arrive at garage by 6:30, 3551 bus trips/day, garage closes at 6:30 pm, buses travel about 500,000 miles per year. Photo in Hummer of bus and driver.

10/25/63 – $3,870,000 bond measure approved: will finish Whitford and Meadow Park and build 2 more junior high schools and purchase land for future sites. Article about the 2 junior high schools. Article on campus cop Walt Fain and photo. Article on history of BHS homecoming.

11/8/63 – 1892 photo of school and History of Beaverton article.

11/22/63 – Football team wins 3rd consecutive Metro title *photo. Photo of 63/64 cheerleaders. History of Beaverton part 2. Swim wins league title.

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas while traveling in an open motorcade (nothing in Hummer about assassination).

12/13/63 – Article about students complaining about crossing street between BHS and Merle Davies in the rain. *photo. Girls swim 2nd in state, boys swim 6th in state

1964

1/31/64 – Mary Travis of Peter, Paul and Mary wears a BHS sweatshirt, a gift from her acquaintance, BHS junior, Claudia Cranston. *Photo in Hummer.

2/14/64 – Beatles haircut fad at BHS.

3/13/64 – Skateboarding is the latest fad.

5/8/64 – New sister school in Amagasaki, Japan, *photo in Hummer.

5/29/64 – BHS teacher John Needham dies in hospital. Sports recap for 63/64 year: football-metro champs, boys swim-metro champs, 6th in state, girl’s swim Metro champs, 2nd in state, ski-2nd in state, rifle team-1st in metro, golf-Mary Wolfe, senior, wins state.

10/23/64 – Honda motorcycle fad *photo in hummer.

1965

3/12/65 – Article on history of grandstands *photo in Hummer.

4/2/65 – Article on history of BHS *photo.

4/16/65 – Fashion trends: girls-’You would be shocked if you saw someone downtown Portland in slacks!” For boys-madras shirts, white mid-calf jeans, tennis shoes and hair down to the eyebrows.

4/30/65 – History of Spring Reign, 2nd year of intramural soccer teams.

6/12/65 – BHS band and Rhythm B’s in the Rose Festival Parade *photo in Hummer.

1966

Grandstands (built in ‘38) are torn down.

[Editor: BHS stopped retaining issues of the Hummer in 1966.]