San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ESCALON UNION HIGH SCHOOL
San
Joaquin County owes much of its progress, especially the rapid increase of its
population, to the excellent institutions of learning, for where there are good
educational facilities there the home seeker will settle. Among the more recent institutions of
learning is the Escalon Union High School, which was completed and opened for
the second semester of the school year on March 15, 1922. Realizing the importance of having a high
school in Escalon, a number of the prominent and progressive citizens started
the movement for one in 1917. Two
elections were held, at which it was voted down by the citizens of that
section; however, a special election was called in the district and a board of
trustees were selected as follows: W. L.
Combs, as president of the board; H. H. McKinney; H. Louis Morgenson,
clerk; Otto Peterson and G. R. Smith.
Five districts were represented in the general election, namely: Van Allen, Burwood,
Enterprise, Lone Tree, and Four Tree, and in May, 1919, the high school was
founded and the original officers comprising the board of trustees are still
serving. On July 16, 1919, the board
held their first meeting at Escalon and the following September high school was
opened in the Jones residence, offering a two-year course in charge of two
teachers, F. W. Denny serving as principal for two years. The other teacher during the first year was
Miss Anna von Glahn, who resigned during that year
and was succeeded by Miss Mildred Orr.
During its second year the school had five teachers. Prof. Oliver Irons is now principal
over six teachers. On May 5, 1921, an
election was held to vote bonds for the erection of a suitable building and the
bonds carried for $85,000. Bids were
opened on August 2, 1921, and on August 30, 1921, the contract was let to John Madsen of Ripon who used every effort to hasten
the completion of the building and the work progressed so well that on March
15, 1922, the services of dedication were held with F. W. Wurster
of Stockton in charge of the program, the principal speaker of the occasion
being Dr. Tully C. Knoles, president of the College
of the Pacific. The standard four year
high school course is maintained with a corps of eight teachers and at the
present time there are 100 students and as the Escalon section expands the
building will still be adequate to care for the students from the districts
adjacent to Escalon. The board of
trustees hold bi-monthly meetings and have the full confidence and cooperation
of the entire public and Escalon is to be congratulated on the substantial and
handsome high school building and for the students that traverse its halls and
for the progressive and far-seeing citizens and friends that made possible such
an institution.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1468. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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