Boise High School

Infobox High School
name=Boise High School


imagesize=230px
principal=Ken Anderson
established=1902
type=Public
location=1010 W. Washington St.
Boise, Idaho
country=United States
enrollment=1,409
grades=10-12
mascot=Braves
colors=Red & White
website= [http://www.boiseschools.org/schools/boise/ Boise High School]
athletic conference=Southern Idaho Conference (5A)

Boise High School is the one of five public senior high schools within the city of Boise, Idaho. It is one of four Boise School District three year comprehensive high schools and is located on the outerlying edge of the city's downtown business core. Current enrollment for the 2007-08 school year is approximately 1,409 studentscite web|url=http://www.sd01.k12.id.us/schools/boise/information/372157.pdf|title=Boise High School Profile|publisher=Boise High School|accessdate=2008-03-03]

History

1882 to 1930

1882 brought the building of Central School in downtown Boise. Completed at a price of $44,000, it was widely seen as too large and costly. By 1893, however, nearly 700 students overcrowded the school. During 1902-03 the decision was made to replace it with a new structure and a new name. Land on Washington Street was purchased, and in 1906 took form as a two-story red brick answer to overcrowding.cite web |url=http://www.boiseschools.org/administration/dist1st.html |title=History of the Boise School District |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ]

For nearly half a century, most of the district's printing was completed here. Replacing the original building built in 1902, the 1920 Industrial Arts Building housed the print shop.cite web |url=http://www.boiseschools.org/schools/boise/history/historytext.html |title=Boise High School's History |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ] The school's modern day yearbook began in 1900 as the Boise High "Courier". Similarly, "The Pepperbox" was established in 1919 and which would later become the school newspaper "The Boise High Lights", . "The Boise High Lights" was established in 1928. Archives kept within Boise High predate the "High Light"'s founding. These archives include copies of "The Pepperbox" as old as 1919, and earlier for "The Courier".

Similar to the press, high school military training predated Boise High itself. Forming around 1900, this group would later be known as the Boise High Cadets. After a request for federal funding to support the group was denied, the group purchased some supplies and their own uniforms. Receiving drill instruction from noncommissioned officers several times a week, the group grew from approximately 30 to 70 in two years. During World War I, the program disbanded. Reorganizing in 1918 and receiving congressional funding the next year, the group became the Boise High Cadet Corps.cite web |url=http://www.boiseschools.org/administration/dist1st.html |title=History of the Boise School District |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ]

The growing student body resulted in additional classes and sports being offered by the school and the district. The curriculum between 1904-1908, for example, saw the addition of manual training, sewing, music and cooking. The domestic science courses at the high school can be credited to Marguerite Nolan, wife of former Boise Mayor Herbert Lemp. During the years 1908-1915, the manual arts and economics programs grew while stenography and typewriting programs were added. Also, offered during this period was the first free night school.cite web |url=http://www.boiseschools.org/administration/dist1st.html |title=History of the Boise School District |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ] Consisting of seven members, began Boise High's first girls basketball team in 1907. "It was an honor to be defeated by such a team," read a Boise High School yearbook that same year.cite web |url=http://www.boiseschools.org/administration/dist1st.html |title=History of the Boise School District |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ] Originally started in the 1890s, boys athletic activities increased as did girls, adding to the increasing number of courses offered.

Having only been named a couple years, in 1908 the school building began a massive building transformation. Adding an east wing to the school began the change into the modern day building. It had white brick contrasting with the existing red bricked structure. Deviating from the common building practice of the time of using red brick exterior provided a new and modern look. A matching west wing was added for four more years. Not until 1922 would the main central section be completed to match. When it was, it consisted of three floors, a basement and included a multi-use cutting edge auditorium. Today, this auditorium is still used hosting performers such as Duke Ellington and Bing Crosby. The brick and concrete Neo-Classical design includes Ionic columns and a tympanum featuring an image of Plato. cite web |url=http://www.nwrel.org/nwedu/summer01/bricks_mortar.html |title=Northwest Magazine: Bricks & Mortar, Heart & Soul |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ] Sixty years later, this architecture will include Boise High School into the National Register of Historic Places.cite web |url=http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Boise_High_School_Campus |title=Boise High School Campus |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ]

151 students graduated in 1920 and ten years later, this number grew to 223.cite web |url=http://www.boiseschools.org/administration/dist1st.html |title=History of the Boise School District |accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ] A rapidly growing student body this same decade would soon be able to claim an Idaho first. Bringing radio to the city and to the state of Idaho for the first time ever was a transmitter on the roof of Boise High School. Starting in 1922, the station KFAU broadcasted from the physics department in the basement.cite web |url=http://www.idahohistory.net/Reference%20Series/0673.pdf |title=Idaho State Historical Society|accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ] Later purchased and moved in 1928, commercial radio began with the station being renamed as KIDO.cite web |url=http://gov.idaho.gov/fyi/history/history_1920-39.html |title=Chronological History of Idaho|accessdate= 2008-01-22 |format= |work= ]

Notable alumni

[http://www.boiseschools.org/schools/boise/newitems/halloffame/index.html BHS Hall of Fame]
* Frank Church – (1942); U.S. Senator - 1957-81
* Frank Shrontz – (1949); former CEO of Boeing - 1986-96
* Wayne Walker – (1954); All-Pro NFL linebacker, Detroit Lions - 1958-72
* Doug Martsch – Lead singer of Built to Spill
* Patty Miller – Local Basque Community Leader
* Howard W. Hunter – Former President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Skip Oppenheimer – International Business Founder
* Dan Williams – U.S. Congressional Candidate
* Larry Jackson – MLB pitcher; St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies
* Lisa Kosglow – U.S. Olympic Snowboarder

External links

* [http://www.boiseschools.org/schools/boise/ Boise High School] - Official Website
* [http://www.boisebraves.org Brave Parents] Boise High School's Brave Parents Association
* [http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Location.html?Location=158017 Boise Weekly] - Boise High Auditorium Calendar of Events
* [http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/PDS/Historic/index.aspx/ City of Boise] -Historic Preservation
* [http://www.idbsu.edu/history/cityhistorian/art_reference_series/boisehi_tumblers2.jpgBoise City Office of the Historian] - Historic Boise Tumblers Photo
* [http://www.boisebraves.org/ Boisebraves.org] - Boise Braves Boosters

References