"W" is for Wyandotte High school

My 'W' post is about my high school....Wyandotte High School in Kansas City Kansas, while attending it, at the tender ages of 15-17, I wasn't in awe of the building or the history of this school....I had to go, and I just wanted to get through it. Which I did, graduated in the class of 1985. This year marks our 25th reunion. So, I feel this to be an appropriate salute to the ole girl....in all her fantastic glory!

WYANDOTTE BULLDOGS! GO BIG RED!!

 Wyandotte originally existed as a school in several forms and locations. First it was as the old Riverview Grade School and 7th and Pacific from 1886-1887. Then it was the Palmer Academy building between 6th & 7th and Minnesota from 1888-1898. Next it was located at 9th and Minnesota and called Kansas City High School. Kansas City High School was built in 1899. The school's name was officially changed to Wyandotte High School on January 3, 1928. Wyandotte HS stood at 9th and Minnesota until it was destroyed by fire in March 1934.

After the fire, the new Wyandotte High School was built at 25th & Minnesota under President Franklin D Roosevelt's WPA Plan. It was completed in 1937 at a cost of $2 million. The new building could house 3,000 students in 85 classrooms and could provide a staff of 90 faculty members. The new gym could seat 1,900 and the new auditorium 1,800.

Interesting Facts:
Wyandotte has two towers. They were given names by Principal J.F. Wellemeyer. The West Tower represented knowledge while the East Tower represented character.

(Me & Dwen....he too, is an 1985 graduate!)

Wyandotte's campus sits on 22 acres that was once owned by the US Army and 

used to train World War I soldiers.

The name of the school did not appear on the building until the Class of 1965 took it on as a project.

(The Social Hall....the office is to the right and to the left is a hallway and classrooms. Behind me, is another fireplace...that they actually lit and this is the area where the 2 huge Christmas trees would be displayed...before everything got all politically correct!)

The Class of 1983 became the first freshman class since the 1950's at Wyandotte. That year enrollment for the school surged to 1,800 students.

December 4, 1985 - Wyandotte High School approved by the Kansas historic Sites Board of Review for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Listed in the Register of Historic Kansas Places.

(The main entrance for the gymnasium)

(One of two) 

The school auditorium, like the building itself, was designed in Indian motif. Four workers fell to their death during construction of the auditorium's ceiling, and they are immortalized by four walking figures above the lighted vases to either side of the stage.

(You can see the four figures at the top of this photo)

Notable alumni of the school include actor Edward Asner, actress Dee Wallace, and UCLA basketball star Lucius Allen.

There was a movie filmed in the library, "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge" Starring Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward.

  There is 2 swimming pools, 2 gymnasiums, 2 auditoriums and 2 lunch rooms.

 The campus is gorgeous. I don't have pictures of it. It has a football field, baseball field, tennis courts and 3 parking lots. The architecture of this school is simply amazing with marble floors throughout. Now I am proud of my school, where I came from but I would never go back and want to relive those days...not in a million years! We do go back every chance we get, just to look around and reminisce, even took my kids...I enjoyed watching their faces when the strolled through the halls that I couldn't wait to get out of!

Come play along with us for Alphabet-Thursdays!