Stadium Memories

Bonds for the Bowl - 1909

2009-08-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Generations

I come from a Stadium family, by which I mean 3 generations of Staatz children have attended.

My 76-year uncle (Karl Staatz Jr.) called me yesterday after reading "The Castle Courier". He asked me if I had read it yet and wanted to remind me that my Grandfather (his father) had graduated from "Tacoma High School" in 1909. He told me that Grandpa had sold bonds to help raise money for the building of the Stadium Bowl. I remember that Grandpa had said it was called "Old Woman's Gulch".

When I worked on the Tahoma staff, I found a picture of my grandfather (Karl Staatz Sr.) in the 1909 yearbook-- he was on the basketball team. My great uncle Stan Staatz also attended the Old Brown Castle.

Although my Dad did not attend Stadium, my Uncle Karl did and so did all 5 of us kids. In 1962, my brother Bill Staatz sold bonds for the rebuilding of the bowl and I remember my sister Gretchen Staatz helping with fund-raising, too. I remember them both being so excited when they went to the first game in the refurbished stadium!

I grew up on Brown's Point and it was sooooooo cool because we could see Stadium from our house across the bay.

Kathy Staatz Aberle
Class of '69

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

73 from 38

2006-09-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Best Regards

I am going to buy a tile and here is what I will have inscribed upon it:

IN MEMORY ROBERT HELM
MY STADIUM LIFE LONG PAL - 1939
ALLAN G. -BUDDY-EMMONS

Here is how it all started. My father was transferred to Tacoma from
Seattle. We moved to Tacoma the day before school started. I knew no
one here. Never saw Stadium before, didn't know how to get there from
our new home on North Lawrence Street.

I took the Sixth avenue street car to the Roxy Theatre then transferred
to the Pt Defiance Street car and finally found my way to Stadium High
School. First person I met there that took any interest in me, was Bob
Helm. He helped me around and introduced me to some of his friends.
After school I met him again and he invited me to walk home with him and
some of his friends. Eddie Blake, Steve Smith were a couple of them, who
became very good friends until I lost track of them during World war II.
But I always wrote and visited with Bob. After that first day We walked
back and forth to school together every day.

Bob died a year ago last April. He and I had lunch together in Spokane
just a couple weeks before his passing.

I had quite a life. Went to the U of W for one year. Migraine
headaches drove me crazy. Jobs were scarce . I knew enough about
railroad station work and telegraph to go into that field, but there
were no openings. I spent six months "breaking in" on my own time and no
pay. Finally was hired by the Northern Pacific Railroad part time extra
work at 67 cents an hour working seven days a week and no overtime..
That was union wages. .

Radio was my hobby and by this time was a pretty good Morse and
International code operator.

I enlisted in the army in 1943 and spent two years in Italy as Net
control radio operator handling fire missions for the 91st Infantry
Division Artillery. All front line duty. Our gun batteries were always
located a couple miles to our rear.

Went back to work for the NP Railway and BN, and made one heck of a good
living repairing the new invention, Television, but always kept my RR
job.

Have been retired now 27 years. Thanks to television and a good railroad
pension my wife and I have a very comfortable living.

And so it goes. Guess it all started at the Castle.

First we went to the 100th anniversary of Stadium High School Get
together. We couldn't believe the turn out. Thousands and Thousands.
We couldn't get parked closer than half mile away. Think the class of
1922 had one person there. Our class of 1938 there was about 15. I knew
three of them Getting in and out of the renovated, at a cost of 100
million bucks, school was not easy. The outside of the school was not
touched. The original 115 year old "Hotel" had every original brick that
the Northern Pacific put together.

A little history. In the late 1880s, Tacoma was thought to be the big
city in Puget Sound and the NP Railway bet their shirt on it. Being a land
grant railroad, they owned most of Tacoma down to McCarver Street, (Old
Tacoma) including all the tide lands and waterways. The NP was to make a
bundle selling this free land granted by the US government to the lumber
companies and others who would pay the price asked by the NP. Along comes
Jim Hill and his Great Northern Empire Builder and makes his terminal in
Seattle, Ha, says Jim Hill. You are going to see grass grow on your
Pacific Avenue, Mr. NP RY. Seattle is going to be THE City on Puget
Sound. and Seattle offered the tide lands free to the developers. The
rest is history and Here stands this beautiful hotel that the NP invested
in and going broke. So the NP, in 1904 or 5 , sold the hotel to the city
of Tacoma for a "song." Tacoma made a high school out of it and first
class was 1906. Many presidents visited Stadium, made speeches from the
stadium itself and many famous people graduated from Stadium, Bing Crosby
was one and I was another.

OK. We had a fun day at Stadium High School. It doesn't look anything
like the interior. used to look, and it now offers many classes in arts
and crafts. All we had there was wood shop, a metal shop, and I think a
print shop where we learned to set type.

The Puyallup Fair was fun. We had one of the famous hamburgers, and a
couple ice cream cones. Looked over the animals and walked a couple
miles around the place.

73 ( Best Regards... RR code talk)

Love,

Buddy & Frances Emmons
Class of 1938

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Stadium High School Bowl Engineer

2006-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

L. A. Nicholson

Grandchildren of L. A. Nicholson gathered Saturday morning, September 16, 2006, during the Stadium High School 100th weekend to view and celebrate the return of the "Tacoma School Stadium" Plaque. Their grandfather was the Engineer for the Stadium and is named on the plaque. Pictured from the left were: Natalie Nicholson Nelson, John Nicholson, Virginia Nicholson Wood, Janice Nicholson Stattin, and Margaret Nicholson Watts. Granddaughter Nancy Nicholson Records was traveling out of state and could not attend. Proud Stadium High graduates Natalie, Virginia, Janice and Margaret especially enjoyed the school renovation and tour, meeting many friends of past years.

Herbert Hunt’s "History of Tacoma" describes Lawson Nicholson as "quiet and unassuming in his life, yet a prominent figure in civic affairs with many sincere friends." The book continues in saying that he was connected with many of Tacoma’s most important engineering projects, has developed high professional skill through comprehensive study and broad experience and the value of his service has been demonstrated in the execution of many municipal projects in other cities of the northwest as well as in Tacoma. His birth occurred in Stockton, California, March 3, 1866, and he traces his ancestry back to one of the early New England Families. He became a resident of Tacoma in September 1886, arriving when a young man of twenty years. His father, Albert Scott Nicholson, was born in Pennsylvania, traveled west to California, Vancouver and Tacoma. Prominent in church affairs he built the first house of worship in Vancouver and then served as rector for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Old Town Tacoma. He also acted as superintendent for Tacoma General Hospital until retirement in 1888. During December of 1892 Lawson married Elizabeth Souder James, a daughter of a prominent real estate developer in Philadelphia.

Lawson pursued his education in private schools and under private tutors in Vancouver, Washington, until 1882, when he made his initial step in the business world by becoming an apprentice in a sash and door factory, in which he spent a year. In 1883 he embarked in the building material business and was active in that until 1886. In Tacoma in attended Washington College and at the same time taught school for a year. He afterward gave his attention to the improvement of the homestead his father had previously taken up at Cosgrove, Washington. After a year he returned to Tacoma and began his profession as a civil engineer. He remained continuously in Tacoma with the exception of two years spent in Everett as city engineer. He became a partner of A. H. Lindley under the firm name of Lindley & Nicholson. In 1895, after Lindley moved to the east coast, he continued his business alone and gave special attention to land surveys and litigation, land description, municipal work, water front, and water way engineering. He was often called upon as an expert in court proceedings.

A contemporary biographer has said: "During that time much important work has passed through his office. Most of the business blocks and public buildings in Tacoma have been located by him. Municipal work at Steilacoom, Ruston and Everett has received his attention. He provided engineering for the Tacoma Railway and Power Company doing much preliminary work for railroad and power projects. His most important work is the Stadium Bowl. The form and disposition of the entrance and the retaining walls being original with him. Another important project was the opening of the water front road through the property of the Tacoma Smelting Company by a concrete lined tunnel leading to Ruston and Northwest Tacoma and Point Defiance Park. Mr. Nicholson was also engaged in another important water front improvement, the opening of the Hylebos commercial waterway. With these and other public matters he has taken the greatest interest in and given much time and effort toward promoting Tacoma’s welfare and advancement."

Hunt’s book continues with additional: His development of the design of the impressive Tacoma Stadium would of itself be sufficient to carry down his name to future generations, but his activities have covered many and various lines. He gave much of his time for years toward bringing the undeveloped parts of Tacoma’s water front into use. He designed the Tacoma Automobile Speedway, and his idea of slope graduated into steepness to the varying speeds is similar to the practice since adopted in eastern speedways. He was City Engineer of Everett in 1893, City Engineer of Tacoma in 1904, of Steilacoom from 1906 to 1913, and of Ruston from 1905 until 1915. On May 3, 1916 Lawson received the appointment of City Engineer of Tacoma for a second time. He was also engineer for the state harbor line commission and surveyed the harbors of Snohomish, Sidney and Marysville. For a time he specialized in street railroad construction.

Later in his career he formed L. A. Nicholson and Sons. Children Harold and Charles joined with him in continuing to provide essential engineering services for Tacoma. Daughter Dorothy also worked with the firm from time to time. He belonged to many organizations and served in leadership positions.

Lawson Ambrose Nicholson passed away at his Tacoma home March 1, 1947. It was written that his connection with Tacoma stretched out more than six decades. He was widely known as the civil engineer who changed the face of nature to fit the needs of growing, expanding communities. He was deeply interested in northwest history and possessed a broad knowledge of it. "Personally Mr. Nicholson was a warm-hearted, genial and helpful man with many friends."

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Guilt by Association

2006-09-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Awful welcome

My introduction to Stadium was not all together a happy experience. I had been attending Jason Lee since February of 1950 having just arrived in Tacoma between blizzards in January.

All of the 9th graders who would be attending Stadium High the coming fall were invited to a function at Stadium. I believe it was to kind of introduce us to the Castle School. I believe it was an assembly perhaps with the performance of the "Student Prince".

In any case, all of the seats with a good view of the stage were taken. So I saw a bunch of kids sitting on the window sill and joined them over to the left of center stage. After a while some of the guys in the center window seats started to bang and vibrate the radiator under our feet. When suddenly, what I later learned turned out to be, the Vice Principle appeared.

All the kids on the window sill jumped off a ran away.

I did not. For one I did not know who the Vice Principle was, 2ndly I did not shake the radiator but just sat there. I did not do anything wrong so why would I run, 3rd I did not even know where to run to.

So I stayed put, and the principle grabbed me and hauled me to the office and gave me a lecture, something about being a young hooligan coming from Jason Lee and setting me straight for my future attendance there. He never asked me what I did, just assumed. I had just 4 or 5 months ago arrived from a DP camp in Germany, and my English wasn't all that great to give him any arguments.

It was not a very good introduction to my future three years at Stadium High.
My foster mother, wife of the Rev Arthur Bell (St Luke's Episcopal Church) had a little chat with the VP and got things straightened out, but I was always afraid of this stern looking Vice Principle and never again needed to appear in his office. I believe he later was Principle of Stadium High but can't remember his name at this time.

Doug Brandner
Class of 1953

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Inside the Tiger

2006-09-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

Hear the roar

One of the biggest honors I ever experienced was to be the Stadium Tiger. I was Tiger during my senior year at Stadium during the ‘72/’73 school year.

As an Air Force Brat I went to my first year of high school in Victorville California and was fascinated by the school mascot. Sure the cheerleaders were leading the cheers and everyone was yelling with them. (and I do mean YELLING… not the kind of yelling [rhythm loud talking] of today’s cheerleaders! The kind that sent you home after the ball game with no voice!) but that mascot WAS the symbol of the school teams! That was what I wanted to be!

When my father retired and we moved back to Tacoma I watched the Stadium Tiger (Julie) and decided I wanted to be the next Stadium Tiger! I asked Julie how I could become the Stadium Tiger for the next year and was told the Tiger was chosen by the PEP Squad teacher. At that time it was Mr. Quigley. I had a major problem to overcome. I didn’t know Mr. Quigley, and he didn’t have a clue who I was. We had never met. I had never been in one of his classes. So I wrote him a letter. I told him it didn’t seem fair that he just picked who he wanted to be the mascot, usually someone who didn’t make the cheerleading squad. I told him that I wanted to be the Tiger and that I had no chance because he didn’t know who I was. I said the student body should be allowed to choose their mascot at the same time as the cheerleaders were chosen and that anyone who wanted to be the Tiger could try out. Mr. Quigley apparently agreed with me and pulled me out of a typing class to thank me for the letter and told me that this year the Tiger would be chosen by the student body. I had my chance!!

I despaired at the thought of the Tiger tryouts being a popularity contest and was thrilled when the tryouts were totally anonymous. The contestants were dressed outside of the room and not allowed to enter or exit during the cheerleader tryouts. Each took their turn at cheering with the kids trying out for the cheerleading positions, and dancing to the music of the pep band. The Tiger head was on during the full tryout for each contestant so there was no way to know who was who. At the end the votes were tallied and I had won! I was thrilled!!

My senior year was full of school spirit and love for my Tigers!!! I attend all but a few of the basketball competitions. And the highlight of the year was a 31-30 football win over Wilson. I still often repeat the story of that game to others who would give up the game before the final bell, final buzzer, or fat lady singing. Or to those who think their team stinks and will never win because the other team ALWAYS wins!! NEVER say never!!!

Most people didn’t know I was the mascot, not even some of my best friends, because I never took off the head. at least not in front of the crowd. My feeling was I was the Tiger when I put on that Tiger suit, no longer myself, not looking for recognition just there to do all I could to cheer my team to victory. I was a symbol of my high school and the focus should be on the team, not who the mascot was. There is only one picture of me in the yearbook as the Tiger, thanks to the rifle team, and yes the head is on!

To future Tiger Mascots I would say this: Keep the head on… it isn’t about you it is about the team. Cheer for all you are worth no matter how talented or talent-less your team that year. Remember you represent your high school and those things you do reflect on your school, your classmates, your team… even though they may have don’t nothing wrong. And lastly… ENJOY THE RIDE!!! Remember, If you keep the head on you can be as goofy as you want and no-one will be the wiser!

Holly (Trout) Cooper
Class of 1973
Stadium High School Tiger
1972-1973 school year

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Arthur Batanides

2006-09-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

He was in Star Trek, for Kirk's sake!

I entered Stadium in January 1941 as one of those mid term people who no longer exist. As a 10th grader I was of course very impressed with everything that went on including the antics of some in the upper grades. One of those was a guy named Arthur Batanides, who as I recall was in some drama productions, and was a class cutup. I can't remember which class it was or the teacher but one day Art was doing his usual thing and the teacher spoke up in a loud voice. He said:

"Arthur---I am sure that someday you will amount to something-----I just can't tell you what"

Well Art Batanides must have graduated in 1941 or 1942. He went on to being a very busy character actor mainly in TV, some stage work and a few movies having appeared in hundreds of TV presentations mostly in dramatic and comedy supporting roles. He used his real name in his profession. He died in Los Angeles in 2000 at age 77.

I was a little disappointed when he was not listed on the notable list of Stadium grads.

Ed Cook, class of 1944

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Dihydrogen Monoxide

2006-09-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

Thirst slacker

I designed the football water wagon that the Hi-Y gave to Stadium in 1945.

It had six water fountains, and a streamlined body with a rounded front covered with a large and beautiful artist's rendition of a tiger. There is a great picture of it on page 106 of the 1945 Tahoma yearbook.

It was my first engineering project - and a prolog to a very satisfying and enjoyable engineering career.

I designed the wagon while working on the hot slab at the Todd's shipyard in the summer of 1944. I sketched its outline in chalk on the hot slab floor. Then I made a full scale layout on butcher paper and took it to a welding shop for a bid.

When school started in September, the Hi-Y gave me permission to proceed with construction. A plumbing outfit on Pacific Ave donated the fawcets and some of the plumbing. Some other business gave us a good price on the wheels.

I obtained a great picture of a Bengal tiger which the artist referred to as he painted the football water wagon. It turned out more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.

Robert Lessley, Class of 1945

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

An Icon

2006-09-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

50 Years

My three years at Stadium were the highlight of my school years. So many friendships were made and still carry on to this day. We don't seem to treasure them as much as you do when you get older.

Our terrific class of 1956 is celebrating our "Golden 50th Reunion" this Friday, Sept. 15th. We have met every 10 years and sometimes every 5 years and several times have had get-togethers during the summer, just so we can renew these great friendships and not lose touch with one-another.

We are all looking forward to the renewed Stadium and attend the kick-off to "The Castles" next 100 years. So many of our classmates are attending their first reunion and definitely are in for a treat, a week-end of memories and seeing old friends. I hope the Stadium students of today realize what an honor it is to attend a school that is such an Icon.

Judy (Ness) Hellstrom - Class of '56

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Carol Baby

2006-09-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

High School Confidential (secretary)

Stadium High School years were the best of the best. I attended from the Fall of 1961 to June 1964.

Being a sophomore was another major change in our lives. So many guys to choose from and they had cars. LOL
My favorite was the '57 Chevy. One of the upper classman gave some of us gals a ride home in his '57 Chevy and boy was that a thrill.

It was struggling with college prep courses, new friends, having crushes never spoken of, what to wear, passing notes in the hall and study hall, worrying about how your hair looked and changing your "D" grade to a "B" grade, since they were hand written so your parents wouldn't know you were not doing so well after all.

Who could forget calling everyone by their name and adding Baby to it. So everyone was Carol Baby, Chris Baby and so on. That was Chris Nelson by the way!

Walking around and around the hall before school started just to say hello to everyone or catch the eye of someone you had a crush on, and then getting on the other side of walking traffic to see who you missed. LOL

My heart throb was Palmer Reese aka Pee Wee Reese. Wouldn't you know, he finally married after we graduated to another "Carol" I will not die until I see him again. LOL..............I missed him at our 30th reunion as he came in from PA but had to leave before I could see him. I went to the picnic at Gary & Irene Jacob's house and he was not there. He had to leave right after the reunion night. If you read this Palmer e-mail me at duk@dpcpa.com. That goes for anyone looking for me. :)

We had the school spirit that is for sure. But then look who led us! They were cute, athletic and full of school spirit. The PEP rallies were awesome.

Finally got the hang of it by mid term junior year. Choir was a must as I was a singer and in special groups all my school years. That led to Madrigal try outs! Whew, stuffed up nose and horrible cold I tried out and my voice blended with the others. I got to wear the "Pam Burrel" red velvet dress from the former year. It fit perfect. I made the dress Barb Daly wore of green satin and dark green velvet. I sang my heart out the rest of my high school days.

Mr. Margelli, of course became one of my favorite teachers and I was his pet.... (peeve) LOL An inspiration to us all I believe. He was calming to us all when we were in his class the day the announcement came over the PA system that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

Madrigals became well known our senior year. We made the front page of the magazine section of the TNT in full color in front of the old Brown Castle. I still have that section preserved. We had many performances. Perhaps that is why I am such a ham today. LOL I loved our regal entrances.

I carried a wreath from the front entrance of Stadium out to the courtyard and down the front steps for our Memorial Day celebration in my senior year.
We wore all white dresses.

Also became a Tigeranna, one of the tallest in our group. Experienced marching in the Daffodil Parade, at football games, and at basketball games.
We were a sharp group in my opinion. I remember when we performed at half time at the football game at Lincoln bowl and I got a cat call from Jerry Freano, something about our short skirts and I turned around and slapped him in his face. That was the end of that. I walked away. LOL. The things we Remember.

Attending Stadium and graduating with flying colors in 1964 was a time of honor, integrity and just plain clean fun. Our class mates excelled in activities that represented our school. We had the spirit, determination to succeed and loyalty to each other. These memories I have not forgotten and are fun to tell the grandchildren all about them.

I hated swimming because we had to wear those ugly rubber swimming caps. It messed our hair up. Now days you don't have to wear them. Strange how dress codes have changed. Girls did not wear pants to school. No way! The boys certainly looked "Preppie." The flat top hair cuts and black horned rim glasses and white dress shirts mostly. The lettermen and their sweaters was a turn on. But what did we know about that until later in our years.
LOL What about the sock hops...................

RP Johnson a history/civics teacher was a well known name around the school. Who could keep awake during his lectures? I remember in my senior year just about everyone in the class cheated on a test because it had gotten passed around from earlier classes or someone who had it earlier gave it to someone. I for one did not do it. I was afraid of being caught. I think the only thing I did was write on the paper that I could not complete the test because I had not studied. Of course I failed the test. LOL

I adored Jack Hart, who I went to school with since grade school and none other than Jim Darland, everyone's heart throb since first grade. LOL...............

We were all pretty good kids back then, and those who did not seem like they would succeed did and many who had the potential to succeed in life, did not. Nonetheless, we made it to graduation.

I was proud to walk down the aisle at the filed house of the University of Puget Sound When I went to the stage to get my diploma Mr. Hayes our Principal said I had a job with the school district the next coming fall to work part time at good ole' Stadium High School. I had been an office assistant and they were impressed. Yahoo! I was so happy! I got to be around Stadium one more year and got paid for it, as, are you ready for this..........

"Confidential Secretary to the College Counselor" Miss Forbes!

Yes I was the one who figured out the grade point averages for the class of 1965, which my sister Barbara Fritz graduated from. See her memory write up! I even joined a gym class that was doing dance. Just to keep up the figure!

I remember singing in the senior talent show. I was scared to death and nervous, but I said a prayer. I made the black satin long sleeveless dress with a slit at the side that I made and wore long black gloves and rhinestone necklace and earrings. Ah back in the days! I sang "Black Black Black is the Color of My True Loves Hair" chosen by Mr. Margelli for me to sing. I had three verses and chorus to get through. I did it with style.
Does anyone remember that? When I think of it I would have sung something else like "You Give Me Fever"! by Peggy Lee. LOL but we had a code back in those days. LOL. Yes I could have been a torch singer. LOL.

I skipped school one day only in my entire school days. I was a sophomore.
Don't you just know it, I got caught my good ole' Mom. Yes, it was Chris Nelson and I. She instigated it and planned it. We went to school and caught the bus to downtown and then to Seattle of all places. Went to a five and dime and then to a movie with seedy characters with rain coats on.
I was scared. We made it home in time for school dismissal and boy was I glad to get home. LOL

My husband now, had the privilege of emptying and moving contents of our school to the site where Stadium was to be held until the completion of the renovation. He was in awe of our "Ole Brown Castle". He had never seen anything like it as he came from the smallest country in West Africa, called The Gambia. He has raved about it to his countryman!

Yes Stadium High School brings nothing but fond long lasting memories to my mind. See you at the 100th Celebration.

Carol Fritz (Dukuray)
Class of 1964

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Stadium Hundertjährig

2006-09-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Guten Tag

The highlight of my years at Stadium is when I met my future husband in Hella Lonson's German class in 1953.

Gertrude Rocklinger "Rocky" taught us our second year of German. I believe it was her first year of teaching and after our class I'm not sure if it wasn't her last.

My class of '56 was exceptional in that we still get together for a picnic almost every year and on Friday the 15th we will celebrate "The Big '50."

As a child it was a special family outing to go to the Stadium Bowl to watch the "Turkey Day Game" between Stadium and Lincoln. Now, THAT was a true rivalry. Both John and I have great pride that we graduated from Stadium and have so many great memories and lasting friendships.

Thelma (Kvernvik) Rademaker - Class of '56
John Rademaker - Class of '55

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Stadium '65

2006-09-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Movement, Meaningful, Madrigal

My three years at Stadium High School were some of the best years of my life. I feel such pride in that school and am really excited about being able to attend the 100th-year Anniversary Celebration.

One of the outstanding memories is of the earthquake that took place in my senior year. I was in study hall. When the earthquake started it sounded like students were in the balcony stomping their feet, causing a rumbling sound. Was only a few seconds later that I saw the huge pillars swaying and the floor rolling…….. Bet I was the first one to crawl under a desk, even before Mr. Snared (sp?) told all the students to take cover under their desks. My fear that day was that the school would roll down the cliff onto Schuster Parkway!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, that didn't happen!

I will never forget November 22, 1963. I was in Ms. Violet Davies' foods class when the announcement came over the PA system that our beloved President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas, and a short time later that he had died. I remember feeling depressed for months after that day.

Also, I will never forget all the fun I had in Paul Margelli's class. The most memorial time was when we performed "The Night Before Christmas" for our winter concert and got to wear pajamas on stage. Former choir members, do you remember that? I also remember how proud I was of Mr. Margelli's Madrigal Singers.

My sister, Carol Fritz, and my friend, Cindy Winters, were both a part of that group. I remember trying out for Madrigals', but that was a far as that ever went!!!!!!!!!!

I have fond memories of Audrey Karsh's English class and of Cloma Norton's English class, and. I have lost track of these teachers over the past years, but I shall never forget them. Of course, I cannot forget to mention another favorite, Mrs. Martindale.

I am so happy and proud to have shared a part of Stadium's history and look forward to experiencing the upcoming celebration.

Barbara (Fritz) Anderson
Class of 1965

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

I knew where I was going

2006-09-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

Good old Stadium..

I knew since I was a little girl that I was going to go to Stadium — didn't every 2nd grader know that?? My Grandma (Norma Lindley-Gipson) Graduated in 1933. She always talked of all the stairs she climbed and the beautiful bowl that used to have seats all the way around its horseshoe shape.(before the mud slides) wow that was a long time ago.

And then my Mom (Gayle Gipson-Chapman) who graduated in 1964 told me great stories of commuting to Stadium from Dash Point, in her bug in the 60's, which is how I learned how to be late for curfew when visiting my Dash or Brown’s Point friends (uhmm. there was a train or uhmm..the bridge was up??) even way back then they partied at the "Wells" and the "Hunts"! who knew our parents were once cool?

Then in the late 80's my brother (Matt Chapman) went there, he graduated in 1990. Jimmy Koolis and I used to wonder the halls while our families were doing track meet event stuff with our brothers, we would talk about how cool we were going to be when we went to the big brown castle. So in 1991 I finally became a Stadium tiger! yeah!!! Jimmy went for one year too. until he transferred to WILSON eww. they had a better football team, so he thought! that year we beat WILSON! I think it was the first time ever — what a great moment LOL.

Anyway I think I had some of the greatest, scariest, exciting, horrible, sad, most fun, moments of my young life at or because of Stadium High School, from finding new friends and painfully losing old ones. To wearing blue and gold with pride even if we always lost!

Being the boys baseball manager for 4 years..Wow that was a lot of brownies and jolly ranchers! Having to walk all the way to the girls side just to pee. Run around. THE STAIRS! Selling elevator passes to freshman — that never happened?? Watching people get Bayed. Going to Denny's after football games. Going to the South "K" games just to steal the A&W mugs. Winning the front row parking spot, then cramming 6 people into my VW everyday to and from school. what great memories.

So the other day I figured out what year my little one will Graduate from The Big Brown Castle..2021 (god willing) can you even believe that 2021.. ah.

So to everyone who has been touched by Stadium in anyway REMEMBER IT AND PASS ON THE STORIES.. they are such wonderful memories and we are all so lucky to have been touched by the Castle! Finally signing off.....

Melissa Volk AKA (Missy Chapman) CLASS OF 1994!!!

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Booked

2006-09-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

Library's over here, but the Librarian's a little odd...

One of my fondest memories of Stadium occurred during the spring of my senior year. I was hanging out in the library after school waiting for someone and chatting with the school librarian, Steve Wilson. I'd been friends with Mr. Wilson for years, so seeing us goofing off a bit was nothing new.

I can't remember exactly who started it, but one moment we were teasing each other mercilessly, the next rubber bands were flying! Back and forth, we shot rubber bands at each other, dodging behind bookcases, counters, desks, and the poor assistant librarian, Mrs. Rhonda Nelson, who didn't seem to know whether to laugh at us or scold us for making such a racket! In the end, the fight turned out to be a draw (the two of us were too breathless with laughter to figure out who won).

I don't think I had any other teacher, before or since, who was willing to toss dignity out the window and behave so incredibly silly with a student.

Mr. Wilson knew how to connect with his students to a degree that few others ever manage to emulate. He was an inspiration, not only to me, but too many others, to reach for what you want and not give up trying for it.

Thank you, Mr. Wilson; for all that you have done for me, and for all the fond memories of goofing off in the library.

Sincerely,

Melissa Nichols
Class of 1999

P.S. The title of this post is an inside joke in reference to directions Mr. Wilson would give to the incoming freshmen to help them remember which side of the school was which (Odd side or Even).

"That side has the stadium, EVEN though the football team doesn't win very much. The library's over here, but the librarian's a little ODD."

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

1963 Memory

2006-08-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

That Friday in November

Those of us in the Classes of 1964, 1965, and 1966 will always remember we were at Stadium.

Mr. T.R. Brown was not in the room when the bell rang. My third-period chemistry class had been warned to expect a quiz. We assumed Mr. Brown was still mimeographing the test. We were using the time to review our notes. Occasionally I looked out the window on a sunny and clear Fall day.

What followed is as etched in my mind today as it was almost 43 years ago. It has its own name – "flashbulb memory."

Mr. Brown walked into the room. Mr. Brown put his papers down on his desk and said there would not be a test today.

Mr. Brown said, "The President's been shot."

I remember feeling overwhelmed. Would the President be OK? My thoughts went back exactly eight weeks to another Friday - September 27, 1963. Another sunny day. I sat at Cheney Stadium. I heard the President speak words aimed directly at me and my classmates:

"I ask particularly that those of you who are now in school will prepare yourselves to bear the burden of leadership over the next 40 years .... That is a wonderful challenge for us as a people."

Then came the announcement we didn’t want to hear. The President hadn't just been shot; he had been killed. I remember a tear. We tried to comfort each other. We didn't know what to do.

I remember walking downstairs in front of the office. Mr. Mazzei (Vice Principal) was telling everyone that school was being dismissed. I slowly walked home, even though I was lost.

From time to time I still hear President Kennedy in my mind's eye. His words still inspire.

That day divided my years at Stadium. Before we were filled with ideals and optimism; after we were somehow older.

I have often told my children about Stadium High School and that Friday in November. I was in Mr. Brown's chemistry class, waiting to take a test, when I heard the news. I told my children how it was, and that, ever since, nothing has been quite the same.

Harold G. Friedman
Class of 1965

Kennedy's speech at Cheney Stadium

(photo from PLU - PLU Timeline 1960-1964)

(I was driving a civilian canteen truck on McChord Air Force Base)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Bricks in a "strange" land

2006-08-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

An early recycling

Thanks for all the wonderful info on the celebration of Stadium High School.

My parents and my aunt graduated from Stadium in 1936 and my two brothers and I also graduated from Stadium. I am looking forward to seeing the remodel and the Old Brown Castle after 46 years as I graduated in 1960.

I was in Wallace, Idaho on my way home from Montana several years ago and stopped to tour the old train depot there. When I drove up to it I thought there was something very familiar about it.

Inside the depot I found the answer. It was built from the same bricks as Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.

I don't remember all the details but your mentioning the building of railroad stations from the materials after the fire in the late 1800's tweaked my memory of that coincidence.

Thanks for all the great info.

Penny Lightfoot ‘60

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Mother was an accomplice

2006-08-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

A partner in crime

Jennifer Burklund (Youngman), Class of 1951 tells a funny story.

She and a friend planned to stay overnight in Stadium after an Opera rehearsal. They slipped into one of the bathrooms and hid till everyone left the school, and spent the night staying one or two steps ahead of the custodians.

About midnight one of their moms drove to the back of the school, the girls dropped a long rope, and the mother fastened a basket of food to it and they hauled it up.

In the morning they walked out of the school (no alarms then) and discovered it had snowed the night before. As they walked towards Ranko's Drugstore they passed a teacher on her way to the school. They were scared to death that she would get down there and seeing the footprints, discover what had happened.

To their relief, no one ever said a word.

From Chellis Smith Swenson '53.

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Stadium (1943-1947)

2006-08-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

A Couple of Remembrances of my years

World War II dominated my first two years at Stadium. We had gas rationing; only teachers had cars. We walked or rode the bus. Students seldom traveled to any away sporting events. Football games were held in the daytime to save electricity and Tacoma had night blackouts to confuse possible incoming bombers.

Tacoma was crowded with soldiers and sailors from Ft Lewis, Camp Murray and the Todd Ship building yards on Commencement Bay. The Stadium study hall and library windows allowed us to see small “Jeep” Aircraft Carriers being launched and checked out in the bay almost every day of 1943 to1945.

Many of us had parents or brothers working at Todd. The twin boom Army-Air Force P 38 fighters stationed at McCord Field and B 17 Flying Fortress Bomber aircraft built at Boeing Field in Seattle flew over head daily.

Every once in awhile one of our Junior and Senior classmates would disappear from school and later we would learn later that they had joined up. Patriotism was the call of the day and some of our boys just had to join up.

The Japanese surrender in August 1945 changed our Fall Stadium School life dramatically. Ships arrived at the piers in the Tacoma water front and train depots were filled with servicemen coming home from overseas.

Many servicemen returned to high school to finish their education. Stadium football team benefited with a couple of big ex-Marines that beefed up our line and helped give us a winning 1946 season. Stadium High won the Cross State Football Championship that year. Also it helped that we had a future NFL star on our team in Junior Sam Baker. He played fullback and line backer for Stadium and later starred at Oregon State. Professionally he played for the N.Y. Giants and later punted for the Washington Redskins. Sam Baker was number 50.

Bill Kowalski and Bill Greco were the “big” 200 pound tackles in the picture.

The whole athletic program at Stadium in those years was dominated by Coach Heinrick especially in the big sport of football. He had turned out some great teams in the past but the story was that 1946 was his best. Although according to the 1946 Lincoln /Stadium Turkey Day Program still in my possession his teams won the '37, '38, and 1939 Cross State Championships

With all the returning veterans the 1947 graduations was one the largest graduating class in the schools history and filled the National Guard Armory in Tacoma.

Bill Marr
Class of 1947

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Remember when

2006-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Bridges and Books

A page from the class of 1943's 60th anniversary booklet:

Do You Remember?

Your first day in the Old Brown Castle
Standing on the bus all the way to school
Trying to find the "up" elevator at school
Football games played in fog, rain, & mud
Our traditional Thanksgiving Day game
The words to our school yell "Fidata"
The post-game climb out of the bowl
Miss McMurphy's stern manner
Crises on the Virginia V
Cord pants, bobby sox, & saddle shoes
Riding in the rumble seat in a Model A Ford
Gasoline rationing "A" stamps
Plastic, paper, & aluminum tax tokens
Air raid drills at school
Study hall in the auditorium
Pencils/coins down the spiral fire escape
Sock dances in the gymnasium
That special person you admired from afar
Meetings with Mr. Leatherwood
The old swimming pool in the basement
Five cent candy bars
Coffee & doughnuts for only ten cents
The long climb upstairs between classes
Sunny noon-hours in the courtyard
Long lines at the Roxy Theater
Midnight "Hoot Owl" shows at the movies
Watching "the submarine" across the bay
Galloping Gertie and its fall
Mr. Cousin blinking at you in French
Ski trips on the train to Hyak
Watching basketball games from the balcony
Reading "Silas Marner" in English class
Memorial Day ceremonies in the courtyard
Graduation night at the Armory

Glenn Perry '43

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Books and Fala

2006-08-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

Words that last a lifetime

I have so many beautiful memories of my Stadium days, but those which I have recalled and related the most over the years involved teachers.

I remember the first day in 10th grade Biology when Mr. Prentice told us,

"Matter can neither be created nor destroyed."

That astounding law of the universe was new to me and has stayed with me all these years. I have used it occasionally to impress people, mainly my children, with my knowledge of science!

Then I learned so much about writing from Mr. Hoffman, Journalism teacher. He wrote the textbook we used, "See, Know, and Tell -- Well." It was used in high schools throughout the U.S.

And I'll never forget dear Miss D. Celia Burgess, Civics teacher, who loved her country and President Roosevelt with all her heart.

How fortunate we were to have these dedicated professional teachers who taught us well and shaped our lives more than we realized.

Janice Lindeman Perry
Class of 1942

Ural Nathaniel Hoffman was the author of:

See, know and tell—well
A complete textbook of the principles and practices of journalism for newswriters in the high school
(1934)
ASIN:B00088ZGYY

Student journalism
(1946)
ASIN: B0007FGJTE

Student newspaper advertising:
A practical manual of salesmanship and staff management
(1947)
ASIN: B0007FPTUY

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

An Explosive Education

2006-08-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

Phosphorous 1, Car 0

I remember the time I was in high school, Stadium High in Tacoma, where we had a good teacher, Miss Campbell, who taught chemistry. Of course all teachers seem ancient to their pupils. (I dug out my copy of our yearbook and she must have been all of 40.)

Miss Campbell had a very raspy voice caused, I suspect, by having to put up with the noxious fumes generated over the years in her classroom, which was really a laboratory.

Unlike most high school teachers of that era she had a master’s degree and had a somewhat arch accent, sort of like the ones movie stars had at that time. The degree, along with her raspy Hollywood voice, set her a bit apart from the rest of the faculty.

She encouraged experimentation, watched carefully as we mixed elixirs, potions and brews, at the ready to jump in if things got out of hand. We learned and had a lot of fun at the same time: a time-proven formula to inspire students. And she was the adviser to the science club of which I was a member. Wherein the tale.

One of us, I don’t recall exactly which but I suspect it was Harvey Wegner, decided that we could create a real good bang out of materials at hand. One afternoon we raided Miss Campbell’s cupboard and made a witch’s brew consisting of, among other things, a very volatile phosphorous, aluminum nitrate (and God knows what else).

We tried it in the teachers’ parking lot, putting the mixture, without the catalyst, on the hood of Miss Campbell’s car where, to our delight, it exploded. Unfortunately it blew out nearby windows and summoned the principal, who was not amused with the experiment.

In retrospect I wonder how we escaped unharmed. It was a hell of a bang.

Miss Campbell took full responsibility. And marveled how the explosion had not only dented her hood but had actually stretched the steel.

Oh yes, we all got A’s.

We graduated and after a year or so in the military went on to science-related careers.

Merle Legg became professor and head of the department of pathology at Harvard Medical School, Harvey, director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory. WOW! All of us at least partly inspired by Miss Campbell.

Who, had she been teaching today, would probably have lost her job…

Bob Winskill ‘43

(this was taken from an article written by Bob in the "Marin Scope" a newspaper in Marin county California...the article was entitled "An Explosive Education")

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Life's a Novel

2006-08-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

What page are we on?

From the rolling 30's and hip 60’s to the New Millennium what a ride it has been!

It is hard to consider that 2006 marks 100 years from the time Stadium High School first opened. That would be 59 years prior to MY class. We went on after graduating like those before us, to explore life on our own. Some of us "original baby boomers" went on to college, a few of us married our high school sweethearts and some had to learn to cook or -- eat out a lot.

Scores of us married later, had children or not or remained single. And some adopted. While a few traveled to exciting lands for their education, or employment some of us nailed down intriguing or boring jobs in the good old USA.

A great many before my class saw action in World War two, the Korean "conflict" (war) or Viet Nam in the 1960s and 70's or other lands thanks to Uncle Sam.

Every one of us is different today because of life experiences both enjoyable and regretful, however the bonds of our friendships made at the Castle are still intact and transcend all else.

Sad to say, a number of our classmates are no longer with us. And since we’re not getting any younger it would be a real pleasure to really enjoy the 100 year celebration of Stadium September 15-17, 2006. I know that I am looking forward to being there and I hope you will as well.

Please don’t pass up the "golden" opportunity to being there as we will not see another celebration of Stadium like this one being planned for 2006. Besides Stadium was more than a chapter in our life it was the beginning of a great novel of our being.

And it does not matter if you have gained weight, gone bald, gotten gray or have wrinkles or any other lame excuse not to join your classmates for an enjoyable time. So, jump into the time machine and journey back for an exciting reunion of reminiscing and renewing our friendships as the remodeled stadium begins a new millennium.

Sincerely,
Edward J. Hawkins
Class of 1965

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Greetings from Iraq

2006-07-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

Statute of Limitations

Thanks for the info. Sorrily gotta say that I am still in Baghdad...with any luck I will be having turkey dinner in the end of November at home with family. I can't wait!!!

When I went there in 85, it was sorta party central...just imagine rolling kegs literally thru the center of the bowl during the middle of the school day...it happened.

Imagine having a "hugs, not drugs" theme day that was seminar type day that hit all the major local news channels and having TV news crews there, and walking thru the courtyard with beer cups in your hands...during a day called hugs, not drugs...go figure....ahhh, where have all the good times gone...

Or from a few years later, when my brother and few friends broke the worlds longest football losing streak and put a small bend in the water side goalpost (look real close...yep, it's still there...)

Or when we had the rivalry back then with Wilson, and we burned a huge ( I mean huge!!!) "S" in their lawn. As Flounder said in animal house, "oh boy, this is gonna be great".

Or having a teacher openly (and I don't think that bright of a thing to do...) fire up a doobie in the classroom...I take the fifth (amendment, not fifth of booze) on that that one...

Sorry, got onto a roll.
I did do one (maybe more...not sure) good thing...after desert storm in 91, I did come back to talk to Mr. Ptolemy or Mr. Coar's class...

Sorry, just taking a "trip" down memory lane. Really though, Stadium was a great place to go to school, and all BS aside, I do have a lot of pride having gone there.

Take care, and my most sincere best regards,

Wayne Ashby Class of '85

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Thanks Dad!

2006-07-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

Embarrassing and priceless

Since I was a shy teenager, it was difficult at times to be the daughter of the Superintendent of Schools. The graduation exercises in June, 1953 were memorable for me.

This was the day I received my diploma directly from my own father,
Dr. Alden H. Blankenship.

It was wonderful to see the pride in his eyes as he handed it to me. I'm sure my face was bright red at that moment.

Jean Blankenship Class of '53

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Pitch from the Past

2006-07-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

Pacific Monthly magazine

This is out of a December 1906 Pacific Monthly magazine, sent to me some years ago by a gentleman in Chicago. He thought I would be interested in its age and some of the articles.

What a treasure when I discovered this ad. I thought you might find it very interesting, if you haven't already seen it.

I think it is exciting, because of the additional history of Tacoma that it gives.

Chellis Smith Swenson Jensen '53

(click the thumbnail to see the full size ad)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Three from '73

2006-07-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Memories

I have three memories to share of my time at Stadium.

The first is that of my best friend at the time, Ann Schadt. I would never have made it through without her warmth and kindness. I hope she knows how much I looked up to and admired her.

The second is of School Counselor John Vitullo. With compassion and understanding he helped me to get out of a horrendous home life.

And, lastly, I am thankful that I was able to spend one year of school with my sister. We enjoyed our very long walk to school (we lived further away than Jason Lee) when she taught me poetry.

We were in a few school plays. We had fun during and after the plays with Mike Johnson. But he had to ham it up and change the last line from Up The Down Staircase to "We are behind you 99.5%" instead of 100%. Thanks alot, Mike!

Coleen Murphy
Class of 1973

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

A Peppy March

2006-07-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Band Memories

Hi !
I have the fondest memories of my 3 years in the Stadium High School marching and pep bands. Those were great times with terrific classmates and a marvelous band leader (Mr. Delwin Jones)
I also had many great days as associate editor of the school paper.

I have lived in the east since my marriage in 1952 but my heart will always be in the Pacific Northwest.

Go Stadium Tigers !!

Doreen Weinstone Fishkin

Class of 1950

Also see:
Alumni Band

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Paul Margelli

2006-07-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

A different "Base" coat

I was blessed to have been a part of the Stadium High choir from 1971-73 under the direction of Mr. Paul Margelli whom we all affectionately called "Mar".
He was a talented and hard working choir teacher who expected the best from us and got it.

My senior year we were asked to sing at the State Capital workers’ Christmas Party because the Adelphian Choir from the University of Puget Sound (which was considered the best around) was unavailable.

When they were asked whom they recommended in their place the immediate response was the Stadium HS choir. It was a great honor and we owe all that we were to Mar.

The summer before my senior year my best friend Mary Diamond and I got it into our heads to paint Mar’s office as a surprise for him. It was painted an institutional shade of pink and we thought he needed something better.

We took ourselves off to the hardware store and chose a quart…that’s right a quart…of flat paint in a lovely shade of tangerine. To this day I am not sure how Mary talked the custodians into letting us into his office to paint. Well, we got about halfway done when we realized that not only were we out of paint but it was going to require at least two more coats and that we should have gotten semi-gloss as that was what was on the walls already.

On top of that we had not prepped the walls and you could easily scrape the new color, which appeared very blotchy, off…yikes! Defeated and out of money we slunk out of the school and looked towards the first day of school with dread. What was Mar going to do to us?

We never found out his reaction to the orange paint or his thoughts about what we had done. When we arrived on the first day of school we discovered he had repainted his office a chocolate brown using semi-gloss paint.

He never said a word to me but once in a while I would see him look over at the two of us and shake his head. He was a true gentleman and a class act.

Quincy Knowlen Cook
Class of 1973

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

My Dad, the Judge

2006-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Martin Luther Potter '30

The Judge Martin Potter mentioned in the 50 years ago in the News Tribune, this last May, is my father, and he graduated from Stadium around 1930.

I remember when he was a judge, as he knew every cop in the city, so I knew if I did anything he would know it before I got home.

He was an attorney in Tacoma for many years. He also worked as a prosecuter, Justice of the Peace, Police court Judge, and just before he died he was a Superior Court Commissioner.

Here is a picture from a slide taken by Ashel Curtis probably before 1920. Does any one what the event and date was.

I bought the slide sight un-seen, but the description said that it was a slide taken by Curtis, probably in the Seattle area with an event in a bowl, with a building that looks like a castle in the background. What else could it be but Stadium, and it was.

Also see Time Flies

John Potter Class of '61

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

A Lifetime of Memories

2006-06-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Al Hayes

From the time I was born, my dad, Albert Hayes was sure that my blood ran blue and gold.

He was an integral part of Stadium High School since 1954. He began as a teacher, progressed to a counselor, vice principal and principal where he retired in 1978.

Within a year of my birth back in 1958, Dad would bundle me up and take me in his massive arms and parade me through the halls as the proud father of a future Stadium Tiger.

Throughout the years, I would occasionally spend a Saturday mornings roaming the castle while Dad caught up on work in his office overlooking Commencement Bay. I eventually explored every inch of that building from the spires on the roof, to the depths of the basement.

My imagination ran wild as I walked the hallways. The only sound was my PF Flyers squeaking on the waxed floors. I skinny dipped in the girls pool, jumped in the trampoline, shot arrows across the gym at straw targets, and slid down the banisters near the front offices.

Times were good and this was MY school. I felt like a king. No other kid had the opportunities for exploration. Every door and every nook was an invitation to my curiousity. But it was not all fun and games.

My dad taught me to weld and fabricate in the metal shop. My personal instructions were from the top. I learned the to turn a perfect bowl on the wood lathe in the woodshop.

When I started my Sophmore year at Stadium, Dad was on top of the world.

In 1976, Dad had a heart attack that really put things in prospective.

He had put virtually his entire adult life into the advancement of education for the students at Stadium and it almost cost him his life.

He returned vowing to lower his stress levels but he couldn't stand by and just watch from the sidelines. He, along with Vice Principals, John Buffaloe, and Vern Wheeler, made a threesome any school district would envy.

In 1977, I was the last person to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. Imagine the inner satisfaction of giving your own son his high school diploma. It was like a lifelong journey had come to an end.

Dad stayed at Stadium one more year and then retired.

Thousands of students were touched by my father and his caring ways. I heard him explain to many people, while he was employed by the school district, he really worked for all the students of the old brown castle.

Jeff Hayes, Class of 1977

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Architect

2006-06-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

Bryant, Jason Lee, Castle

I remember my years attending Stadium High with great pride. I still remember certain classes when we discussed particular subjects. I remember my mother showing me a newspaper article that praised the United States for having the best educational process in the world and that the Puget Sound region in the North West had the best schools in the Country.

While attending Jason Lee Junior High, I had decided to become an architect. I had found a book about Frank Lloyd Wright that convinced me that this is the way I would spend my life.

I graduated with a "C" average from Stadium. I came from a poor family that could not send me to collage so I joined the Marine Corps in order to get the discipline I needed to get through collage. Believe me; they gave me all the mental tools I needed. I worked my way through the University of Washington with a wife and two kids and still graduated with a 3.7 average.

Our class, the class of 56, gets together every year since our 45 reunion. I love attending and seeing all my old class mates. They have made my wife, Toby, feel like she is one of us. I ask myself how could I be so lucky to attend such a great school and have such great friends. I was truly blessed.

I do not remember my football coach's name, but as a line backer he made me tackle every on the team, one at a time, and boy did that toughen me up. In those days if you were on the first team you played both offense and defense.

Gretchen Weller was a class mate from Bryant Grade School thru Stadium, I still consider her as a best friend.

I consider my career as an architect as a way to make it a better world thru good design, so I thank Jason Lee, Stadium High, my teachers, the US Marine Corps, and all my friends for giving me the ability to practice my profession.

Larry Craig
Class of 1956
Poulsbo, WA

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Snapshots under the Seats

2006-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

In a Darkroom

In 1955-56 I served as Assistant to John Green. John was theTAHOMA photographer. John graduated in 1956. My time as TAHOMA photographer came in 1956-57.

Under the balcony seats there was a photography darkroom. It was the center of action in '56 & '57 for the processing of photographs for the TAHOMA.

My photo activities in the 1956-57 time included working as a lab assistant at Bert Perler Photography. During the summers of '58 through'61 I worked as a clerk at The Camera Shop.

I graduated from Stadium in 1957. In the fall of ‘57 I enrolled at Central Washington College of Education. In 1960 I married Marlene Lindauer (from Mabton, WA). In 1961 I earned my BA in Education and Marlene and I moved to Tacoma.

I taught at Stanley Elementary in Tacoma from 1961 until mid-year 1964-1965.
In that mid-year time I had responsibilities at the Washington State Office of Public Instruction. These tasks also related to my MS Educ. studies at Central Washington University.

In the fall of 1965 I joined the Washington State University faculty. I served on the faculty until 1982 when I went into private business. While at WSU I earned my EdD.

In 1990 Marlene and I relocated to the Kittitas Valley. We live about 15 miles east of Ellensburg.

Now, semi-retired, I serve part time on the Walden University faculty. I do a number of fun projects focused on writing, exploring issues of the alternative futures, and criticizing systems for delivering quality in government.

For Christmas in 2005 Marlene gave me a digital camera. I’m returning to my roots and taking pictures of everything. Having fun.

Jerry Brong class of '57

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Gangsters

2006-05-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

Fifty years ago

While I was at Stadium from 1950 to 1953 I did a number of comedy acts for the assemblies, Football Night and other events and the graduation 1953 Tahoma has me listed as the
"Class Cut Up".

A story some may remember is this. During 1951 and 1952 while the band met on the top floor, after band practice, I would hang over the blue pipe railing a floor or two down, then go down the railing on the outside (a 2 or 3 story drop) hand over hand till I got to the first floor or basement floor. If it was crowded on the stairway, it was faster. But it got a rise out of the kids.

One day during band when we were up on the top floor, we had a fire drill and the whole student body was filing outside into the street. As the band was filing out down the old fire escape from the fourth floor near the street, before I went down the stairs, I hung over the railing with one hand and hollered like I was going to fall and gave the kids down on the street a show. I guess I must have been either fearless then or crazy.

I was always doing practical jokes. One of my tricks was that I had a fake phone under the hood of my car and I had installed a door bell inside under the dash board. It was a 1938 dodge that looked like an old gangster car. I would get my buddies to wear big overcoats with the collar turned up and 5 or 6 of us would cruise by the school at times of large events, or put on this skit in front of the Rialto just as people were leaving the theater.

We would pull up to a crowded corner and screech on the brakes as the "phone" doorbell was ringing. I would hop out of the driver's seat and open the hood and pick up the phone and at that point someone inside would stop the door bell sound. I would yell into the phone:

"We can't talk now, Joe, the cops are after us. We’re bringing the stuff and we’ll be there in 10 minutes. Bye"”.

Then we would tear out of there with people’s mouths open (and of course, a number of folks would know it was a joke and enjoy the laugh). Well, one day after doing that skit a few times around town, someone had reported my license number to the cops, so they came up to the school and took my phone and door bell out of my car so it would not happen again.

We also had a skit with that car and other car’s I had. As we drove up to a crowded street corner at night, I would have a guy in the font seat pounding quickly on the inside metal of the car that would sound like an engine rod knocking (bang, bang, bang….!!!). I would hop out of the car with the rod knocking sound still going on and lean over and hit the top of the hood real hard and the banging would stop; then we would drive off, usually with the crowd cheering or being befuddled.

Jay Grimstead
Class of 1953

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

A Tribute to Ray Fussell

2006-05-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Let the Band March on!

Dr. Richard Fussell, Class of 1951, has recently contributed a significant amount of money through the Stadium Centennial Foundation, to purchase a sousaphone for the band in memory of his father, Ray Fussell, who was Stadium’s band director from 1935 until 1948. A brief background of his contribution and his father in his own words:

“If I hadn’t received a copy of the recent Castle Courier, I would not have known there was a need. My first thought was, of course let's help because I spent all three years at Stadium with a sousaphone wrapped around my neck. That was with band director, Dr. Del Jones.

My next thought was that my dad, Raymond C. Fussell, was there longer than I was (he died in 1972), so I really would like to honor him with some type of contribution. He was band director at Renton High School for 7 years before coming to Stadium in 1935, where he taught band until 1948.

My dad taught band in an era when bands had to be flexible in changing from merely putting on concerts during the year to doing both concerts and marching on the field at football games. Seeing a need, he collaborated with his brother-in-law, the band director at the University of Minnesota, in developing and designing patterns and methods of band marching. While at Stadium, he wrote one of the first practice books for the whole band, called Ensemble Drill, which is still being used today 70 years later!

He was also at the forefront of starting the women’s marching group – the Tigerannas - in 1937.

An interesting note to those who never took band at Stadium: it was a long way and a whole lot of stairs from the band room on fourth floor to the bottom of the stadium for practices!. I was co-band manager with Bruce Fox. We got to load all the instruments in the trailer every time we went somewhere.

After graduating from WSU I spent the next 40 yrs. in private veterinary practice in San Jose, Ca. I am now doing part time wildlife rehabilitation in Lynnwood, WA. My family and I are looking forward with anticipation to the old brown castle’s 100th anniversary celebration.”

Dr. Dick Fussell '51

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Rebel Because

2006-04-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Personification of the 50's

I was a troublesome little brat at the Castle and was involved in most of the uncivil behavior there from '53 to '56 but did manage to plea bargain with Mr. Elder to get my diploma.

My activities ran from Tiger Hi-Y to metal shop rowdie. I blew town with Ron Conley for a week's joy ride down South in my junior year and then did it again in my senior year with Gary Larson, Chuck Fay, and Richard Taylor. How my dad ever talked Mr. Christie into allowing me back in, I'll never know.

I think I finally grew up about 1980 and realize how lucky I was to have attended Stadium in its prime.

Chuck Fay and Gary Larson are history but I wonder about Dick Taylor. He transferred in from Franklin Pierce and his dad managed the Lucky Stores in town.

I've only missed one reunion and look forward to this one.

Dave Allard - 1956 (BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

The Bowl and the Babe

2006-04-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Legends

My Dad, and all the other Haleys in the early 1900's were all Stadium graduates.

My father, Frank, told us about watching Babe Ruth on a tour taking batting practice in the bowl and hitting one out of the east end of the bowl.

(Babe Ruth visited Tacoma, October 24, 1924)

A tidbit of history about a circa 1928 Stadium High School Graduate

******

"Also completed, after years of planning, is the new Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library.

To move the books to the new library from Xavier Hall, the library closes at noon on 2 December (a Friday). Student shelvers spend the weekend rubber-banding bundles of books together and labeling them.

On Monday, morning classes are canceled. Despite the rain, students and faculty carry bundles of books across and put them on the correct shelves.

Head librarian Frank Haley provides candy for all."

PLU 1965-1969

Frank H. Haley Information Center

"The Frank H. Haley Information Center provides access to librarians' expertise and workspace for individual and collaborative research in an electronic environment. The center, located on the first floor of the Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library, reflects the foresight of Frank H. Haley, the library’s director from 1951-1976."

******

Also in the late 50's the kids my age played summer baseball for a group called the Blue Bombers (can't remember the reason for the name), however, a large group of the business people made contributions to this group and through this group of people a portion of the bowl was fenced off and we began to practice Little League baseball at the bowl.

This was somewhat of the beginning of the restoration of the bowl as we know it now. .

Have a great time. I'll be in Italy, but see you again in 5 years.

Best regards,
Jonathan Haley '61

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Sixty-five years of Blue and Gold

2006-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

'06 to '71

I am also a third generation graduate from Stadium.

My maternal grandmother, Ellen (Nell) Sophia Carr (later Beardsley) was in the first graduating class, 1906.

My Aunt, Barbara Beardsley graduated in 1934.

My mother, Emily Lue Beardsley graduated, in 1939,

Many years passed before my siblings and I also graduated from Stadium.

My sister, Barbara Jones graduated in 1964,
My brother, Jim Jones in 1966,
Myself, (Nancy Jones) in 1969,
My brother, John Jones in 1971

Jim, John, and I were all members of the Madrigal singers and Jim was Yell King.
Barb was one of the top 5 students in her class.

Both Jim and Barb married Stadium grads –
Barb married Dan Brady ('64)
Jim married Polly Richardson ('67).

To make our connection with Stadium even stronger, our father, Frank Phillips (Phil) Jones began his teaching career there in 1946. He left to join Wilson's staff when it opened.

We all still have a strong connection to the castle although our legacy ended with John's graduation. It will always be a special place.

Nancy (Jones) Foote, class of 69

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Style Shows

2006-04-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Major activity

"The Gibson Girl of 1900 will be compared to the Glamour Girl of 1950 at an elaborate fashion show to be presented at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Stadium High School Auditorium, under the sponsorship of the Tacoma Parent-Teacher Association."

(Anita (Roberts) Lagerberg - Glamour Girl - 1950,
Patricia A. (Poland-Bean) Cokeley Gibson Girl - 1900's)

This is one of my 1950 class memories.

Anita (Roberts) Lagerberg has been my friend-classmate since Mason Jr. High.
Close friends of the class of 1948 include:
Margaret (Hood) Olson, Marliss (McCann) Swayze, and Beverly (Hanson) Raines.
Also Wanda (Baldwin) Doran of the class of 1949

Patricia A. (Poland-Bean) Cokeley '50
Goleta, CA

******************
This was a major show. A one foot long column on page 13 of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer lists 144 of the people who put on the extravaganza.

See a list of the names at:
1950 Style Show

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

An Essex to Seattle

2006-04-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

Heed your parents

Hi, I'm Milt Thompson. I am the fourth in my family to graduate from Stadium. My mother, Lida Dale Pabst Thompson was in the very first graduating class in 1905 (that's when the "brown castle" was called Tacoma High School), both my sisters, Muriel and Lola Thompson graduated in 1930 and I, in 1939. Here is one memory I will never forget.

I was a member of the Stadium band for three years, as first chair clarinet; it meant that I was expected to play any solos written into the first chair's music. In those days, we didn't have any school buses, so when the band was asked to play for a function away from the school such as for a teacher's meeting in Seattle, our director, Mr. Fussell, had to determine whether there were enough private cars to carry everyone and their instruments to Seattle.

My father reluctantly agreed to let me take our 1929 Essex, cautioning:

"Don't push it too hard or it might throw a rod bearing."

We were 12 miles outside of Seattle when there was a loud clattering and the oil pressure gauge dropped to zero (of course, I wasn't pushing it too hard!).

To make a rather long story short, we were ultimately able to hail a passing bus. However, by the time we reached our destination, the first half of the program (the half in which I had several solos) was over.

My skiing buddy, who was second clarinet, still hasn't forgiven me for being late because he had to play two cadenza solos that he wasn't prepared for. I don't even need to describe what Mr. Fussell and my father had to say regarding that incident.

I'm happy and proud to be a member of the 100th Anniversary Celebration Committee and hope to see many of you at our exciting celebration in September.

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Stadium, Olympics, Hollywood

2006-04-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Herman Brix '24

Do either of these pictures look familiar?

AN INTERVIEW WITH HERMAN BRIX ('24) ON 2/13/04 as told to Marc Blau '69

I was born in Tacoma on May 19, 1906. I grew up at 646 South State Street in Tacoma and I have a dream to see my old home once again. My dad was kind of an entrepreneur and since there were five children in the family he built a house with five bedrooms, a furnace, hot water, and an indoor bathroom which was really considered a luxury. Our home was a real showpiece at the time.

The childhood environment that I grew up in always involved a group of kids playing games around the neighborhood and I started early playing softball and soccer in the vacant lots around the home. In high school I played in the midget program in football and basketball my first two years. I started out at under 125 pounds and then exploded to 145 pounds and finally to 180 pounds by my senior year. In college I hit 190 pounds and then 195-200.

Sports were natural for me. The interesting thing was that in high school I was always interested in the Glee Club and I got to play the lead in the Pirates of Penzance. We had an enterprising instructor and he talked me into playing the lead. Every year there seemed to be a contest between the music director and the coach of the sport that I was playing as to who would get me. So, I really got my start in performing in high school. Chief Carr was my football coach at Stadium and we ran up and down the stairs in the bowl just like they do today. He could not understand why I would opt to be on stage rather than playing football.

In college it was just athletics. What motivated me at the University of Washington was the fact that I had an older brother, Egbert, who was also on the football and track team and I was darn if he was going to be better than I was. My sophomore year he was a senior and that was one of the few times we got to play together. He only had sight in one eye so he had to play right guard in order to perform and therefore I played left tackle.

I'll never forget playing in the Rose Bowl my sophomore season in 1926 because that was my first big highlight in sports. We took the train down to Pasadena which took two or three days. Due to our failure to kick the extra point we lost 20-19 to Alabama. The next day we went over to the studios of Douglas Fairbanks and got a tour as well as had our picture taken with him.

I graduated from the University of Washington in 1928. I had been puting the shot put and had been undefeated in the U.S. for several years. I won the U.S. National Championships in the shot put that spring and then I won the Olympic Trials which qualified me for the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. John Kuck, two Stanford boys, and myself were the weightmen for the U.S. track team and the U.S. team went over by boat. Eleanor Holm was a 14 year-old diver on the U.S. team and she was so small she would curl up into a ball and the four of us would get our exercise by throwing her from one to the other to get our practice in. When the shot put event was held I broke the world record and Olympic record on my first throw with a distance of 51' 8 1/4". Kuck always threw well in practice but not always in competitions so I told him to lay down and relax and close his eyes and imagine that he was at home in Kansas throwing in front of his parents. Well, on his next turn he three the shot 52' 3/4" to break the records that I had just set. I only had one throw left and couldn't beat him and settled for the Silver medal.

Douglas Fairbanks was really the person who got me started in the motion picture business. After the Olympics I came down to southern California to compete for the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Fairbanks was a great patron of the youth movement in athletics and since the Junior Olympics were being held one weekend at one of the universities they asked me to come out and give a demonstration which I was happy to do. Well, Fairbanks had come out to watch and afterwards he invited me to come over and train at the United Artists Studios. That offer sounded pretty good to me so I joined him for regular workouts and we became good friends. We would golf together, sun bathe, work out and then he would always have a big table set for lunch with sandwiches and all sorts of good food. Later on he would leave for dinner but I would stick around and finish the food which was great. That was quite the life!

I was on top of the world in the shot put and there was a big meet going on up in Vancouver, British Columbia and I was invited to come up and participate. The AAU said that the outstanding athletes at the meet were going to be sent to Europe on tour and even though I was working for a telephone company at the time I told my boss that I was quitting because I figured I would be going to Europe. Well, I went up to Vancouver and won the shot put and set a record in the process but then the AAU changed their mind and decided to cancel the European tour. I had to rely on friends in Seattle to loan me enough money to get back to LA. I was without a job but because the LA Athletic Club had sponsored me in the past I had made a few friends who were well-known citizens. They were well acquainted with me and so the club put me up for a short while until I got a job.

Shortly thereafter I started my career in the motion picture business but it wasn't a fast start. I was a glorified extra at the beginning and would do anything that would pay a little extra. One day Sam Wood, a motion picture producer and director who was one of the directors for Gone with the Wind, called me over to ask why I was volunteering to do stunt roles. I just told him that I needed the money and needed to do what I could to work, even if it meant jumping off balconies into swimming pools which I had already done.

He asked me how much I needed to live on and then offered to pay me that amount as long as I agreed to let him guide my career. He was a big sports fan and even arranged for me to take dramatic lessons. Sam Wood supported me this way for about a year. I was at MGM when I got my first speaking line. I played a cashier and a woman came in, gave me some money for me to put in her account. I was so damn nervous I could hardly talk, but my career mushroomed from there.

I guess the one thing I really learned from participating in sports was to just never say "no", never stop trying, and to always believe that you can do better than the next fellow. I tried to follow this throughout my life, but I always tried to be respectful about it.

Herman Brix/Bruce Bennett

Please Don't Call Me Tarzan

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Sweet and Sad

2006-04-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday

I am Ruth (Wood) Cragun and I feel I 'must' put in my 2 cents regarding memories of my 1941-1944 years at 'The Brown Castle'. So much has changed, but the memories will linger on...memories such as. . .

The fire escape. The metal spiral escape we practiced fire drills on. It hung outside on the side of the 'castle'...maybe it still does! And memories of the boys who threw firecrackers down it during Study Hall...and scared the bejeebers out of EVERYONE?

Memories of running up and down the steps of the bowl?
(I don't run ANYWHERE any more. 'Walk' is good!)

The special memory of the 12 trees planted outside the 'court'. Each tree had been placed in honor 1 of the 12 former students killed during WWI.

On the day closest to Memorial Day, 24 girls from the graduating class were chosen by the teachers and staff, to walk in pairs. Each pair carried a white wreath to be placed at the base of one of the trees.

"Memorial Day in 1941 a ceremony to pay tribune to the eleven Stadium High alumni who lost their lives in World War I.
Jane (Welch) Junge '41, and Grace (Blangy) Kipp '41." TPL

It was a very special experience in my life, to have been chosen to be one of those carrying a wreath my graduating year. Janet (Watts) McLennan was my partner.

There were always 12 servicemen standing quietly at the event, and that year they were from the Navy. Other years there had been those from Army, Army Air Corps, Coast Guard or Marines.

They were dressed in full uniform and stood on the sidewalk at the end of the 'court'. There was complete SILENCE... as a drummer from the honor guard played a dirge for us to walk to.

A 12 gun salute was offered when all the wreaths had been placed.

"A squad of R.O.T.C. cadets from Bellarmine High School fired three volleys with their rifles at the Memorial Day service held in May of 1941" TPL

My father had drowned in Puget Sound (after having fallen overboard from his sailboat) 2 months before the event that year. His body was never recovered and as I marched in the memorial it was almost as if I was placing the only wreath I would ever be able to place...at my father's grave. My mother attended the event and, as we drove home we realized we'd BOTH had the same feelings.

My husband (Howard Cragun) and I will have been married 62 years this October. We now live about an hours drive North of Las Vegas, NV. (in Overton, NV), near The Valley of Fire and what is 'left' of Lake Meade.

I have continued to enjoy the friendships of 9 girls ('our group') which began with some of us in Lowell school and all of us through Jason Lee and Stadium.

'Gone but not forgotten' are:
Jane (Nelson) Kornegay, Betty (Larsen) Morrow, Janette (Johnson) Parrot, Diane (Johnson) Jones , and Sherley (Jackson) Ford.

And, loving every minute of life, the remainder of us: Gerrie (Farrar) Zeratsky, Dorothy (Peterson) Jarmon, Peggy (Erickson) Kunigk, and me...have remained in touch with one another through the years. Everyone but me has remained in the Tacoma area and when I'm in town 'we do lunch' together.

Howard has 'always' played the guitar and we've sung together ever since we began dating (when I was 15 and just starting Stadium). In recent years we've 'jammed' a lot and still play at dances ...at the Senior Center. WOW! that sounds OLD!

At age 68 I began playing a bass...go figure! I still haven't mastered it but we continue to have fun together...and with the other NUTZ who we get together with.

Having been voted the 'Wittiest Girl' in the Senior class (my 15 minutes of fame) I've kept myself laughing...and hopefully others around me. I just KNOW that laughter IS 'good for the soul'!
.
God bless each of you....have a WONDERFUL time...AND a WONDERFUL life!!!

Ruth (Wood) Cragun

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Royal Aspirations

2006-04-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Festival memories

Since I was a little girl I had always dreamed of being a princess. But, in 1962 when I was a senior at Stadium I lacked the self-confidence to try and fulfill that dream. I always regretted that decision.

Our princess that year was Robin Holmes and she represented Stadium very well.

Being in Tigerannas meant I could be in the parade but I wasn't on a float or the back of a Corvette.

I vowed someday to be affiliated in some way with the festival. Years went by, marriage and children. In 1994 I finally saw an open door and I entered it.

I was very fortunate to be a chaperone with the girls for three years and then in 1997 was so honored to be the festival's Queen Mother.

In those years, in my capacity of being involved with the festival, I was able to tell my story and encourage these lovely young ladies to never give up on a dream. I witnessed the dreams of many girls come true. I am so happy that Stadium has continued all these years to participate in the Daffodil Festival.

Good luck to Ali Ciarochi this year.

Charlene (Miller) Kosche 1962

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Daffodilia

2006-04-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

Queen #1

I graduated from Stadium in 1956 and was a classmate of Tacoma's first Daffodil Queen, Margaret Strachan.

I don't know who was more excited, Margaret or her classmates.

That was back in the days when our terrific band in full dress uniforms and the Tigerannas Drill Team were so excited to escort the Queen's float through the long parade which went from 15th and Broadway to 9th and down the hill to Pacific and then to 19th and Pacific. Then we proceeded on to Puyallup and Sumner.

We were a very proud school to have been able to have the first Queen from Tacoma and she represented us very well.

Judy (Ness) Hellstrom Class of 1956 (Celebrating our 50th Reunion on 9-15-06)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

April Showers Bring

2006-04-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

Daffodil Queens

It’s April. It’s Spring. We are getting a few of those glorious days where the Mountains and Sound and the daffodils are in their full glory. And it’s time for the Daffodil Festival!

The Daffodil Festival is entering its 73rd year.

The Grand Floral Parade tradition began in 1934 along with the selection of a Queen to rule over the events. Originally the Queen was selected from Puyallup or Sumner High School. It eventually grew to include more schools from Tacoma, the Valley and the Peninsula.

Stadium’s first queen was Margaret Strachen Williams in 1956. The second was Gretchen Brockhoff in 1958 and then we had a long drought till 1968 when Cheryl Lamka ruled over the event.

I was in school when Cheryl Lamka was Queen. It was exciting. Our high school band followed the Queen’s float in the parade. Lots of students and family lined the streets to glimpse Cheryl as well as our terrific band.

Cheryl was an officer in the Girl’s Club, heading one of the departments. At one meeting, she taught us the “daffodil wave”! That’s not standing up and down at an athletic event. It’s waving your hand in the official way! And of course, you wore gloves!

Our Daffodil Princess for 2006 is Ali Ciarochi. Ali has a 3.97 GPA. Her activities and include the Reign City All Stars cheer squad, Key Club, honor roll, student of the month, Metro Parks volunteer, assists with cheer and dance. Ali plans to attend PLU and major in law.

Congratulations, Ali!

The 2006 Floral Parade is April 22! Don’t miss it!

Kathleen Monahan

Daffodil Festival Home page

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

The Birth of Rock n' Roll?

2006-04-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

Hanging on

When we had that Big Earthquake, I was standing in Mr. Streeter's room. Mr. Streeter was the boys' counselor and I was his secretary for one period a day.

The hardwood floor began to ripple and it was difficult to keep one's feet on the floor.

Mr. Streeter was out of his office at this moment…Jack Day, however, was standing near me. We held on to one another for dear life.

How could I ever forget hanging on to that good-looking senior high school boy?

Memory from Mary Ann (Norton) Puterbaugh '51

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

That's My School

2006-03-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

No Way! Way!

While working in Wisconsin my wife and I visited the Tacoma area in the spring of 1998. Friends told us that a movie was being made at Stadium.

The following year, there were two women at work who went to dinner and a movie after work each Wednesday.

On Thursday morning they came in chattering about the supposed high school in the movie they had seen — 10 Things I Hate About You.

There is just no way that castle could be a high school!

I went home that evening after saying nothing and found a large post card of Stadium and the Bowl — taken in the 1970’s. I found a frame, took it to work and hung it on the wall in my office knowing that Sharon and Dorothy would notice it immediately — they did.

It was the only time in many years that these two were known to have been completely speechless as I explained to them that it was, indeed, a high school and that I, as well as my three sisters, had graduated from that school.

Larry Otto, Class of ‘61

10 Things I Hate About You

Everyone who was involved

The trailer for the movie

(See if you recognize the people who are now making a living in the business. Including the mathematician in "Num3ers" on CBS.)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Moments Remembered

2006-03-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, it's the small things.

#1: Practicing typing in Mr. Epstein's typing class while listening to the band rehearsing in the bowl.
#2: Taking an advanced English class in one of the little "turret" classrooms from a teacher who had served in the WAC's.

I'm doing my best to get my husband and myself there for the celebration so he can see the Castle and I can enjoy the improvements made over the years.

Since the bowl was "off limits" except for band and football practice, I'd LOVE to attend a concert or ANY event in the bowl!

Barb (Berg) Beil '60

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Sis(ters), Boom, Bah

2006-03-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

Cheer on

I am thrilled to celebrate Stadium’s Centennial!

My siblings (one brother and two sisters) and I all attended Stadium High and have fond memories of our time there.

As a matter of fact, all three Nicholson sisters were Stadium cheerleaders….at different times.

Leanore (Nicholson) Curran 1981
Therese (Nicholson) Kahn 1982
Siobhan (Nicholson) Huber 1988

Is there anything planned specifically for Stadium cheerleaders?

Leanore Curran '81
Renton, WA

Good question!
Anybody want to head up a Cheerleader reunion group?

Let Pati Lynn know at:
Plynn@CelebrateStadium.com

Does anyone else have a family tradition of football, science club, or a 4th generation hall monitors?

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Roof Top View

2006-03-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

My close call

As a 1957 grad, I was the stage manager. Not a big thing at all, but it did give me the run of the ''attic'' of the school.

I took advantage of that one nice spring day. I was exploring, and found the trap door to the roof at the very top of the main building. Such a view! The Bay behind and the court yard in front.

So I sat myself down to watch the court yard; legs dangling over the edge of the roof having myself a smoke, a big no-no. When all of a sudden, our vice-principal Mr. Ralph Christy came busting through the trap door yelling:

"DON'T JUMP! DON'T JUMP!''

Well don't you know it scared the peewadin' out of me!!

I didn't know if I should put out the smoke or get away from the edge. Jumping was not in my thoughts at all. I do not like high places and was testing myself and having a ''ciggy butt'' break.

It was all I could do to get away from the edge. HE scared me much worse than sitting on the edge.

It was said a lady in some apartment building somewhere across the way had reported me as a kid who was going to jump!! Good grief. No way!!

Best part is I didn't get punished!! Mr. Christy never said anything about the smoking. !! Whew! I lucked out.

Mike Devlin, Class of '57

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

The Floors Roll

2006-03-25T15:33:00.000-08:00

I still quake

I was a shy but "sophisticated" (in my own mind) sophomore in the Spring of 1965.

On April 29th at about 8:30 in the morning, I was hurrying to Mr. Harringstad's Biology class on the third floor of the Castle. Not my favorite subject, but I never wanted to be late.

I was out of breath. Three flights of stairs will do that.

I was about three doors away from the room when the concrete floor began to roll like the tides at Ocean Shores.

I grabbed a locker and held on. I don't remember any other sounds ,except for my screams. It was the longest 45 seconds of my life.

Goldfish survives bizarre earthquake

Earthquake rattles Western Washington

Carol (Klippert) Patrick ('67)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Earthquake of '49

2006-03-24T11:33:00.000-08:00

Stadium sways

Pudd (Johnson) Gingrich and I were having lunch in the courtyard when all of a sudden we heard and felt a rumbling.

We turned around and saw Stadium swaying back and forth as if it was a palm tree.

Puddy and I raced to the arches of the entrance to the building until it ended.

It was an unforgettable experience.

We heard later on that day that the kids on the 3rd and 4th floors were crawling along on the waving floors to get out.

This great event is called the 1949 Tacoma-Olympia earthquake. I think I remember it being a 7.0 quake.

Because of the "Quake" the bowl was condemned.

Margy (Clinton) Kemby
Class of 1950

Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources:
Where has Earthquake Damage Occurred in Washington State?

USGS:
Earthquake History of Washington

HistoryLink.org:
Earthquake hits Puget Sound area on April 13, 1949

April 13 is Marvin Alan Klegman Day the anniversary of the 1949 earthquake.

Marvin was an 11-year-old patrol boy who was killed at Lowell Elementary School during the earthquake when he protected 6-year-old student, Kelcy Allen, from falling bricks.

You can see the Larry Anderson sculpture at Lowell school.

Webucator Sept 12, 2003:
Marvin Alan Klegman memorial statue dedicated

RainerRedCross.org:
Marvin Alan Klegman Memorial Award

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Carl Gord

2006-03-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

SHS '26

1926 was also the year my dad graduated, Carl Gord.

He went on to WSU, BS Electrical Engineering in 1932. From 1940 to his retirement in 1973, he worked as an engineer for Tacoma City Light.

Born 1908, died 1992 in Tacoma.

Sally (Gord) Kapphahn

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

A Family History

2006-03-23T19:31:00.000-08:00

Bison rancher

My sister-in-law (class of '57) forwarded this to me as I am a graduate of Stadium's class of 1955.

There is a lot of Stadium history in our family. My step-mother's father is one of the names on the entry plaque of the Stadium students that were killed in WWI, she graduated in 1929, I graduated in 1955.

One of my step-brothers graduated in 1957 along with his wife and another step-brother graduated in 1959.

The folks still live in the Ansonia apartments. Their apartment. overlooks the bowl and the bay and my step-mother keeps me posted as to her "supervision" of the reconstruction. She will be ninety-five this November and still drives herself each day to some luncheon with one of her guilds, clubs, etc, so you can bet that few things go on in the restoration that she is not "involved" in.

I am now in N/W Montana by Glacier Park and have a guest and bison ranch so it is hard to get away to the old alma mater but I definitely intend to make this shindig. Thank you very much

Harold "Hal" Butler,

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Time Flies

2006-03-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

Stadium Clock

I acquired this clock in the spring of 1961. I was taking physics, and the teacher asked if anyone wanted this clock. I went home and asked if I could have a clock, and my parents said OK, not knowing how big it was. The next morning I went to the physics teacher before class and asked for the clock. He said that I could have it.

My understanding about the clock was that it was taken out of the school’s office in the 1950’s during a renovation and given to the physics department for pendulum experiments. The department finally got a pendulum to hang on the wall, so the clock was put into storage. In 1961 while cleaning out the storage the clock was found and I acquired it.

Work History:: When I got the clock it was missing the glass in the door, the hour hand, the pendulum weight, and the drive weight. I had it running off and on using makeshift weights; In the 1980’s I knew a clockmaker, and he worked on the clock. He replaced the hands, and found an early 1900’s drive weight, but he had to get a new pendulum weight. It ran for several years after that.; About 2000 I took it to another clockmaker and he took it a part and replaced most of the bushings, and got it running again. I have it running in my living room.

If there are any pictures of the clock in the office, I would like to see them, to verify that this is the clock from the office.

Description:: Height: 4' 7"; Width: 1' 4"; Depth: 5"; Pendulum length: 32", and has a wire running down the back of it. This is an important length as the swing of the pendulum is exactly 1 second, and therefore was be used as a regulator clock.; Face is 12" in diameter and has roman numerals on it.; It has a name on the face of "J. Stolting Co."

John Potter '61

(BTW, here is a picture of the office in 1909)

Here's John's clock with his self portrait.

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Laugh at the World

2006-03-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

Clowning around

Just for what it is worth....

My father Dan "Shorty" Miller (1939) used to say he always wanted to be known as "The Class Clown" but that distinction went to his life long best buddy, Buryl "Red" Hunter (1939).

My Dad, however, as a hobby, spent the 50's and early 60's (as often as he could) clowning with the Polack Brother's Circus. He passed away in 1993 taking with him a library of circus knowledge.

Buryl had his own band while at Stadium (Red Hunter's Band) and played a lot of the Stadium and Lincoln school dances. He later played the drums with Louis Grenier's Band at the Top of the Ocean restaurant in Tacoma for thirteen years.

He is still living in Tacoma and gives organ concerts periodically for his neighbors at he and his wife's retirement home.

Charlene (Miller) Kosche (1962)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Where I met my soulmate

2006-03-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

Persistence pays

Stadium has special meaning to me not only because the building is beautiful and it is so different than any other high school in the nation but like many who have gone there, it is where I met my husband.

It was our senior year in high school. I had him in 3 of my classes and noticed that he was very smart but very shy.

I was determined to bring him out of his shell and proceeded to ask him to "go out with me" everyday from December to March.

One time I told him that the group, "Chicago" was playing at Eagles auditorium in Seattle and did he want to go. Of course he said no, but he loaned me the $4.00 it cost to go to the concert (1970)

Finally, he agreed to help me with our Physics assignments. Thanks to Mr. Eastley, we were Physics partners and thanks to my husband, I passed the class!

I have many other stories about our courtship that my husband hates for me to relate so I will not share now, but I can tell you that my fondest memories are of the friends I made and the love I found.

Great teachers like Mrs. Randall, Mr. Jarvitz, Mr Eastley, Mr. Chopp and Mrs. Martindale will also remain close to my heart...

Pati Lynn
Stadium Centennial Co-Chair

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Stadium - Wilson

2006-03-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

The morning after:

45th Stadium/Wilson reunion in Tacoma August, 2005.

left to right:

Shari (Elrod) Morphew, Joan (Knightlinger) Cronk,
Anne (Smith) Hamlin, Penny (Wilson) Lightfoot,
Virginia "Gini" (Paine) Drummond

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

The Sight of Stadium

2006-03-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

A Father's memory

My dad, Carl Peterson, graduated from Stadium in 1949.

While he grew up in Tacoma we ended up in Kirkland where I grew up.

I remember my dad taking our family on a drive one day (probably in the 60’s or early 70’s) and he took us by Stadium so we could see where he went to high school.

When I first saw the school it took my breath away. Never before had I seen anything like it. The field on the bay, the majestic turrets, it was a fairy tale castle to me. Truly amazing! I’m so glad it is being restored and I wish you well on your celebration.

Tami Bettermann

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Castle by the Sound

2006-03-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

Administrative style

I have been to Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Mexico and countless other places. Castles I have entered, viewed from near and afar, but none have come close to the "Castle by the Sound."

Seven members of my family graduated from Stadium and I spent three wonderful years at Stadium with friends from Grant and Jason Lee.

My best story happened during my Junior year (1980). My twin Janell and I were walking down the hall near the main entrance one morning and standing in her usual place was the Assistant Principal, Mrs. Emma Walker.

She knew every student by name and would often call you over to make sure that you weren't straying off of the beaten academic path. Well she called the two of us over one day and she said,
"The SAT test will be coming soon, on a Saturday morning, and I expect both of you to be here."

I looked at Janell and she looked at me and then we both just looked at Mrs. Walker.

She then said,
"If you're not here come testing day; I will be by your home to visit your parents."

A statement definitely known to be true, because she didn't hesitate to come to your house.

To avoid her visiting our mother and father we awoke early on a Saturday morning walked to Stadium and we took our place among the group of testers. Waiting by the door was Mrs. Walker with a smile on her face.

We weren't too happy about the idea but we went ahead and took the test.

The fact that an Assistant Principal would even take the time to even care about your education was rare, but later well received. She was the best Assistant Principal I have ever had and I don't ever remember any other AP who knew my name or cared about my academics. As a result, we both graduated from WWU and continued to further our education.

The irony - we both became teachers and later I became an Assistant Principal.

My administrative style? You got it - I learned from the best at Stadium High and my students all 500 were expected to excel!

Mrs. Walker you were the best and thanks for making my experience at Stadium an AWESOME one!!

I hope this story helps :-)

Janice Richison
Senior Coordinator
Instructional Technology
Hampton, VA

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Continuity

2006-03-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

Third generation Tiger

My name is Lori Lyman-Losee and I am from the Class of 1997.

I am the third generation at Stadium with my great-grandmother part of the first graduating class.

My paternal grandparents met and graduated from Stadium

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

We're all Connected

2006-03-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

More memories

My Great Grandfather must have purchased Buetel's Business College from Mary's father, because he owned it under Barger's Consolidated Colleges along with several other business colleges from Tacoma to Walla Walla and one in Idaho,

I'm not sure what year, but, it's interesting to know about Mary.

I have a 1933 Stadium yearbook from my Great Uncle.

Not only did I graduate from Stadium in 1989, but my Father's parents did as well in 1927 and 1931.

While attending Stadium, my Grandfather drew up the blueprints to build their house located on North 7th and Proctor. They have both, unfortunately passed away.

Jodie Heffron '89

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

First Grade on ...

2006-03-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

Class of '49

Thanks for the information on Mary Rothwell, 98 years young!

We are having a luncheon for the class of 1949 Sept.14.

I am married to Jim Wolfe who is also a graduate of the class of 1949.

Our claim to fame is that we started first grade together at Franklin Grade school on 12th St.

We went to Jason Lee Jr. Hi, and on to Stadium.

He played football for Stadium and participated in all sports offered. We both still play golf at Highland Hill Golf Club, here in Tacoma.

We have lived in the same house for 45+ years and raised our family here. Rather boring, but we love the Puget Sound Area.

Molly (Coy) Wolfe, 1949

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

CelebrateStadium.com

Memories of the Bowl

2006-03-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

What do I remember about Stadium?

Wow, this might take awhile.

I remember walking down the stairs from classes and seeing the beauty of the bay, and wondering what Stadium would have been like as a private home;

I remember hearing my footsteps in the corridor, late in the evening, as I rushed to pick-up my choir dress that I had forgotten, and needed for a concert--that was a frightening experience to say the least;

I remember coming back my senior year and not seeing my, nor my twin's, senior picture in my senior yearbook, that was devastating, to say the least--and no one seemed to have cared enough to do anything about it, as we were camp counselors that year;

I remember not wanting to take Biology, how much I disliked the idea of dissecting anything. Luckily my identical twin agreed to allow me to sit in her Biology class for three days, (only the students knew), while she sat in my literacy class. I loved the Biology class, and she, in the process of trying to help me, flunked a very important exam of mine in my literacy class.

As I sit here in New Jersey, I can, honestly, say that I still have fond memories of Stadium High School, so many that it would take me awhile to jot them all down. But I leave you with my fondest memory of the stadium:

On a crisp spring morning, around 6:30 a.m., I would leash up my dog, and we would walk down to the football field. Sometimes I would hear racial slurs, yelled from windows, as I neared the stadium--and sometimes I would face loose Cujo looking dogs that owners would, deliberately, let out of their homes to harass me and my dog. But once I reached the stadium, it was heaven. I would sit down on one of the concrete stairs and I'd stretch, look up at all the stairs behind me, take a deep breath, and then I'd run the stairs, without stopping.

To this day, I have not had such an opportunity to run and enjoy such a view as that of the bay and the school--that view, back in 1980, prior to leaving for college, was short of awesome.

In the past 25 years, since I left Stadium, I have had the unique opportunity of traveling to Sweden, Denmark, London, Switzerland, Africa, and Mexico. And I have yet to see, or visit, a castle as great as Stadium's.

In closing, I thank you for allowing me to reflect on the importance of the castle and our home town.
Sincerely,

Mrs. Janell Richison-Lemma