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JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
ALUMNI BOOSTERS
Updated:
Wednesday, 27 August 2003 |
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The City of Daly City
was formed in 1911, but for ten years after, there was no high school.
Residents who wanted a high school education for their youngsters had to
send them to San Francisco or high schools in other peninsula cities.
In the fall of 1921, the citizens of the Grammar School Districts of
Tobin, San Pedro, Visitation and Jefferson began the steps of procuring
a high school. In March of 1922, they voted into existence the
Jefferson Union High School district. |
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Temporary quarters in
Old Jefferson Hall ...
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...were secured by the first
school board members, Matthew Grady, Stella Jensen, Florence Stockton,
Adolph Gehrenger and Roderick McDonald.
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They
paid one dollar per year for the rental of the old school house on
Allemany at the corner of Hill and Market Streets. On
August 21, 1922, Jefferson High School opened her doors for the first
time with thirty-eight freshmen, three teachers—Miss Gladys Lukes, Miss
Gilda Belloni and Mrs. Barto Molineux.
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Mr.
Neil O. Best served as Jefferson’s first principal. By the end of the
first week, the enrollment had grown to fifty. |
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The old Jefferson Hall dated back to 1856 when Colma was known as School
House Station. It was first known as La Grainger’s Hall, a place where
Colma farmers held meetings and where they sent their six children to be
educated.
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In 1882 additions were added and the school faced San Pedro Ave. It was
closed when a "real” grammar school was built. It reopened as Jefferson
High School in August of 1922—79 years ago.
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A need for new facilities soon became evident and in November of 1922
the citizens approved a bond issue of $180,000
to build a new campus for Jefferson High School. Two sites were
suggested, and different factions throughout the community became
involved in a controversy where Jefferson Union High School should be
located. One group wanted the new school to be on Hillside Boulevard at
Edgewood Terrace, but the other group wanted the site of the Union
Coursing Park between Mission and Railroad Ave. where the greyhound dogs
chased rabbits for the amusement of weekend crowds. This had been the
site where turn-of-the-century prize fights had been held. The
issue was
submitted to the voters after weeks of deliberation by the board,
followed by a heated campaign. The voters on March 23, 1923 selected
the Union Coursing Park on Mission St. which is the present location of
Jefferson. |
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Click on this picture to
really explore "old" Jefferson. |
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On May 23, 1925 the new building was dedicated and the first
student body moved from Old Jefferson Hall to the new campus--the campus
that those of us who attended Jefferson prior to 1963 remember so fondly
with the beautiful lawns that Coach B.I. and many students remember
planting. |
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Marc Worst and Irene Hoffman |
Marc Worst and Irene Hoffman graduated early and were actually
Jefferson's first graduates in 1925. |
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By graduation day, the Pioneer Class, had dwindled to
thirteen. On May 28, 1926. Rosa Bauer, Joseph Drucker, Harold
Fischer, Dave Gehringer, Ed Goldkuhl, Louis Plansky, Mildred Ross,
Albert Saarinen, Victor Sasrinen, Anita Varni, Lawrence Vereno, and Rae
Wolfe, who began their four high school years at the Old Jefferson Hall,
graduated from the new building. |
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Jefferson's Pioneer Class of 1926 |
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The beautiful building with its lush lawns and winding
driveway was demolished in the early sixties . |
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The present building opened in 1963.
The recent refurbishment cost more than six million dollars. |
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Jefferson, 2001 |
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Jefferson 1939--Look at San Bruno Mountain! What
is that structure on the hill?
Click on the thumbnail to see this picture enlarged--takes time to
download, but worth it!
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Coming soon!
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Webmaster and Jeff Chief
Sidney Warren Rasmussen
Class of 1954
jeffalumni@yahoo.com |
