Tuolumne County High School
By Patricia Perry, Sonora City Historian
Tuolumne County is one of the original twenty-seven counties in California, which included portions of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. By 1872, its current boundaries had been established. Many small communities were established in Tuolumne County during the Gold Rush, with the largest being Columbia, Sonora, and Jamestown. By the mid-1850s, almost all of these towns had established some type of grammar school, usually a one-room schoolhouse.
During the second half of the nineteenth century, most children in the county were able to attend a grammar school fairly close to their home, but no high school was available. Some advanced classes were available at the Sonora Grammar school, for those wishing to become grammar school teachers. However, any student wishing to attend high school had to leave the county.
By the late 1890s, several people were interested in establishing a high school; but how many school districts it would embrace, or whether it should be a county high school including all districts was being debated. There were at least twenty-six districts, most having only one school.
Dr. Robert Innis Bromley was one of the most vocal proponents of a high school. He was a graduate of the University of California and had come to Tuolumne County in the 1890s. He married Fannie Mansfield, a native of Columbia, in 1895. They had four children, Innis, Fannie, Mae and Jacqueline. As President of the Board of Trustees of the Sonora school district, and acting on behalf of the entire board, he called a meeting for September 14, 1901, to discuss a high school.
The Union Democrat reported on August 31, 1901, that it was in favor of forming a single district, in which case the advantages and privileges of a high school would be open to all. A union high school made up of a few districts would be expensive for children entering from districts outside the limits, as tuition would have to be charged. If a county high school was established there would be no tuition charges and pupils from all portions of the county would be entitled to attend.
The meeting on September 14th went very well, with eighteen districts represented. Dr. Bromley chaired the meeting. George P. Morgan, Superintendent of County Schools addressed the attendees, stating that he was in favor of a high school and that it was needed and needed badly. Apparently, at this time only thirteen counties in the State of California did not have a high school, including Calaveras and Amador counties. Sonora Attorney Frank W. Street spoke about the cost of a high school. He calculated that the cost would be $1.50 for a citizen assessed at $3,000. He also felt that there was no need to have a high school building, that rented accommodations would suffice for the time being. Not surprising, his projections proved to be inaccurate. The following districts were represented: Sonora, Jamestown, Columbia, Summersville, Blanket Creek, Confidence, Campbells Flat, Montezuma, Stent, Quartz, Jacksonville, Bellview, Phoenix, Carters, Browns Flat, Arastraville, and Shaws Flat. Ultimately, all those districts represented recommended that a petition be presented to the County Board of Supervisors, requesting a countywide vote of the proposal for a county high school.1
At their October 9, 1901 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors denied the petitioner’s request to have a special election. Their reasoning was that a special election would cost the county $3,000 or more; and that the proposal could be included in the November 1902 general election. Also, there had been no provision in the recent levy of taxes for the Fiscal Year 1901-1902 for a special election.2
Voters at the November 1902 general election overwhelmingly supported the proposal for a county high school. The vote was 1,331 for, and 442 against, passing with a 75% majority. Only two of the districts voted against having a high school, Algerine with a vote of one in favor, and nineteen opposed. The other district was Cloudman with a closer vote of nine in favor and twelve opposed.3
The County Board of Education met the week of July 13, 1903, for two days to make provisions for establishing the new county high school. In the absence of a high school building, it was unanimously recommended that the office of the County Superintendent of Schools in the courthouse be utilized for the first year, and that the Supervisors permit the use of another room in the basement of the same building for an ante-room. A budget was also created, although the board didn’t know how many students would be attending the new school. They concluded it would be wiser to anticipate a large attendance and budgeted accordingly. The total budget was $3,610, with $2,250 for two teachers, one of whom would be the principal. The remaining budget was: forty desks, $200; blackboards, $50; clock, $10; reference books and apparatus, $1,000, and incidentals, $100. Two courses of study were authorized, one leading to entrance to the State University, and the other a commercial course, for those not able or inclined to pursue studies beyond high school. School was to open on September 21st, 1903.4
By the end of August, Professor Thomas J. Penfield had been hired as the principal, although the assistant teacher had not been formally engaged. Requirements for admission were established. Any pupil holding a diploma of graduation from a grammar school and anyone holding a teacher’s certificate were to be admitted without examination. All others desiring admission would be required to pass an entrance examination. Any non-resident student was to be charged $5 per month. There were two courses available to the students. The Literary or college preparatory course, and the Commercial for those not planning to go further with their education. The classes for the literary and commercial courses were established. Students in the literary course would have classes in English, algebra, ancient history, Latin or German, science, botany, plane geometry, medieval and modern English history, chemistry, solid geometry, trigonometry, American history, civics and physics. The commercial course included classes in bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic, composition, penmanship, spelling, commercial law, civics, shorthand, higher accounting and auditing, commercial geography, elements of economics, business practice and banking, shorthand and typewriting.5
Professor Penfield was a graduate of the Wittenberg College of Springfield, Ohio, had studied at Boston University, and at the University of California. The County Board of Education had been most favorably impressed by his credentials and background. He was born in 1865, in Ohio and had extensive experience in education. Miss Frances Murray, a graduate of the San Jose Normal school was hired to be his assistant. The school opened as planned on September 21st with twenty-nine students, eight were from Sonora, eleven from Columbia, the rest from other parts of the county, except for one student who came from Murphys in Calaveras County.6
In addition to Professor Penfield receiving $150 a month, and Miss Murray receiving $100 a month, a janitor was hired for $30 a month.7
During this first school year, the Board of Education continued to meet, making additional purchases and adjusting the school curriculum. The Board approved Professor Penfield’s request for the purchase of a piano, as he thought that music would be a valuable addition to the school. Penfield also wanted to add athletics as he thought they would foster a better high school spirit. He was authorized to select a suitable place for a tennis court and to provide it with the necessary equipment. A clock was purchased that had electric bells for announcing recitation periods. By May, Penfield was recommending an additional classroom and an office for the principal, but no action was taken.8
A lot in the rear of St. James Episcopal church was found for the tennis court, at a cost of $10 per year. A netting twelve feet high was constructed around the court.9 In addition to tennis, baseball was also included in the athletic program. Based on newspaper accounts, in the beginning, the high school only played against the Sonora Grammar school. Not surprising, the high school won, however the grammar school made a respectable showing. The first game was twelve to seven, with the second game eleven to eight. The Union Democrat of May 13, 1905, reported that both teams played a snappy game and the high school players looked natty in their new uniforms. The baseball games were held on property leased by the Sonora Athletic Association, which later became part of the Pitts-McCormick property purchased for the high school.
Although Frank Street thought sufficient quarters could be rented for the new high school, it became clear that the basement in the county courthouse could not provide sufficient space. When the first term ended in June 1904, the closing exercises were not public, because the school rooms were too small. However, they were large enough for the teachers and pupils to spend a delightful evening together.10
In June 1904, sixty-seven students applied for diplomas from the Grammar School. Thirty-one of those students entered Tuolumne County High School for the 1904-1905 school year.11 This number proved the need for a county high school, with its own buildings.
Until other provisions were made, for the school year 1904-1905, the Supervisor’s chambers were to be used in addition to the two rooms in the basement of the courthouse.12
The Board of Education met during the summer of 1904 to evaluate the prior year and prepare for the 1904-1905 year. It was determined that an additional teacher was needed and Miss Minnie Minsky was hired at a salary of $80 a month. (This was raised to $90 a month when Miss Minsky was offered a position in San Francisco.) Penfield and Murray would continue at their current salaries. With the increase in students, an additional twenty desks were ordered. Blackboards were ordered for the commercial room and two Smith Premier typewriters were acquired. The Sheriff was asked if he would relinquish his office in the courthouse for additional classroom space, but he declined. Penfield wasn’t happy with the janitor, and Mr. J. M. Ortega replaced F. F Ball.13
It is not surprising that with the establishment of a new high school there was bound to be some contention between the Board and Professor Penfield. In addition to a high school building, Penfield often came before the Board asking for more equipment, supplies and staffing. While the Board was generally supportive, they were obviously more concerned with the budget than the Professor. Based on the Board of Supervisors’ minutes, it seems that most of the conflict involved staffing. At the June 17, 1905, meeting Penfield requested extra teachers for the ensuing year. The question was taken under advisement. At the June 24, 1905, meeting Penfield requested an assistant for Miss Murray whose duty it would be to act as a reader and mark the work of the stenography class. The matter was discussed at length, but with only eight pupils in the stenography class, it was unanimously agreed that such an expense was uncalled for and unnecessary. Penfield also asked for an additional teacher for the ensuing year, but the Board unanimously agreed to defer the matter until school opened.
At the same meeting Penfield stated that under conditions that had been placed by the Board it would be obligatory for him and Miss Murray to sever their conversation with the school, and that Miss Murray would not take charge of the Commercial Department. Penfield was then given two days to reconsider his position. No record has been found as to Miss Murray’s opinion on the situation.
It is not clear exactly what happened in the next few weeks, except that Penfield went to Oakland, California for vacation.
At the July 6, 1905, Board meeting the Secretary was instructed to send Penfield the following telegram. “Will you accept Principalship, Minsky retained, Board engages Commercial teacher. Answer immediately.” On July 9, Penfield responded. “Will accept Principalship, conditions offered. Answer delayed through misunderstanding telegram.” For whatever reason, the Board did not accept his reply and on July 10, 1905, sent Penfield the following. “Dear Sir: Your delay in answering the telegram to which an immediate answer was requested was taken as evidence that you did not wish the position and the Secretary was instructed to look elsewhere for a principal.” Apparently, Penfield did not respond and the matter was settled.
At the July 15, 1905, Board meeting a communication from Miss Murray was read and on motion, the Secretary was instructed to answer informing her that her communication was received too late for favorable consideration.
Penfield next became the principal of the Vallejo High School and Frances Murray returned to Oakland where she had previously lived and taught there for many years.
In July 1905, the Board of Education elected Irvin E. Outcalt, a graduate of Stanford University, as the new principal. He had taught for five years at Merced High School and the previous year was the principal at Santa Rosa High School. His assistants were Emma J. Patterson and Minnie M. Minsky. The commercial department which included bookkeeping, stenography, typewriting, English, penmanship and commercial arithmetic, geography and law, was to be conducted by J. E. Coover, also a graduate of Stanford.14
The Union Democrat of January 21, 1905 wrote that they supported the need for a high school building, however “while the necessity of immediate action in the matter seems urgent in order to escape another year in the present inconvenient and inadequate quarters, it is far better to make haste slowly and avoid any error that would prove determinantal to the school.”
There was consensus for the high school to have its own building, but a location and type of structure became the question. Some citizens thought it should be located in the south part of town, and others in the north. There were three sites proposed. The County property, which had been purchased in 1887 for the County Hospital. The thirty-nine acres was much larger than needed for the hospital and many felt much of the remaining property would be the best choice for the high school. The Bradford site was in the center of town, but a much smaller parcel, with little room for growth. The third site was known as the Pitts-McCormick property, which was ultimately chosen. The Board of Supervisors voted to purchase the property at their December 4, 1905 meeting. The price of the five acres was $7,000, with $1,500 paid by popular subscription.
The Pitts-McCormick property included the established baseball field that the high school had being using. At one time, baseball was extremely popular, with local communities having their own teams. In 1901 the Sonora Athletic Association signed a lease with the property owners for $225 per year. A grandstand and benches were to be the responsibility of the Association. The first baseball game held at the field was on April 14, 1901, witnessed by approximately 500 people. Sonora triumphed over Carters by a score of 28 to 14.15
Opponents felt that the Pitts-McCormick location was too far for students to walk to. One paper responded that, “the claim that it is ‘too far out,’ when analyzed, resolves itself into considerable of a trouble more imaginary than real. Little children walk miles in all sorts of weather to attend the public schools, and it seem strange that a lot of young men and young ladies, almost all professed lovers of athletic life, can’t – the furthest away – take a mile spin on level sidewalks without being prostrated by fatigue.”16
The Banner published a very long editorial in opposition to the site. The benefits of the Bradford site was that streets, sewers, sidewalks and street lighting were already at the site, and that it was in the center of the city, and that bedrock was near the surface to make good foundations. While they didn’t comment on the county site, they were opposed to the chosen location. With no basis of fact they stated that “Everyone professing to be acquainted with the place affirm that it is what is recognized as made ground and each is positive in the unqualified assertion that no proper foundation for a building can be obtained in a less number than twenty-five feet of excavating. Some declare that forty feet will be required…In our opinion the Supervisors are going counter to the public mind as well as to the public good, for the isolated, low, boggy and damp place is not worth half of the money asked for it.”17
In January 1906, Supervisors Nicholls, McKenzie, McGovern and Rushing with School Superintendent Morgan made a six-day tour of inspection of several high school buildings in various cities, including Chico, San Jose, Oakland and Stockton. The tour proved very beneficial, as they were able to evaluate more modern facilities. Sonora was to have an automotive heating system that was expected to save fifty per cent in fuel, and would allow temperature to be maintained at any desired point. The new high school would not have any drinking cups, instead water for drinking purposes would be ejected through fountains, drinking being done directly from the spouting streams.18
On February 5, 1906, the Board of Supervisors ordered that bidders submit plans and specifications for a county high school building by March 7, 1906. Estimates were to be submitted for a brick and stone structure. It was to contain 1 study room, 3 standard recitation rooms, commercial room, typewriting room, drawing room, chemical laboratory, physical laboratory, physical geography room, botanical laboratory, lecture room, library, principal’s office, teachers’ room, and all necessary adjuncts for a modern high school, with the cost not to exceed $35,000. It was to be designed to accommodate from 150 to 200 pupils, with a modern system of heating and ventilating with automatic regulators. The architect’s commission was fixed at 5 per cent of the cost of the building.19
There were three competitive plans for the new high school. The firm of Stone and Smith were accepted by a vote of three to two. Stone and Smith had made a specialty of school buildings. They currently had two under construction and when Sonora was finished there would be seventy-two designed by them in California. The building was to have a basement, which would be practically a full story. The basement, or first story was to be of Tuolumne County marble, if the cost fit within the $35,000 limit. The upper story was to be faced with cream-colored pressed brick, topped by a great dome. Bids for constructing the building were to be received by April 9, 1906.20
While the building of the high school was moving forward, on February 17, 1906, Irving Outcalt resigned as principal. His wife had been ill for some time with consumption. She was living with her parents in Merced, but as her health worsened he felt that he had to be with her. He realized that it might be some months before he could return and felt it best to resign. Mrs. Outcalt died in San Diego on June 13, 1906.
Outcalt was immediately replaced by John Edgar Coover, who had been the teacher of the commercial department. Coover had experience as a principal as well as a teacher. He had a Master’s in Education. “His Master’s Thesis embodied psychological research which made a contribution of pedagogical knowledge and which affects the new theory of education at present gaining ground.” Carl Carlson, a graduate of the University of California replaced Coover to teach English and history and assist in the commercial room.21 In May 1906, Coover was elected to membership in the Sigma Xi Honor Society, which is an international scientific research honor society and one of the oldest and most prestigious honor societies in the world.22
The first students to graduate from Tuolumne County High School were the commercial class of 1906. The eleven students were Carrie Nash, Amy Jones, Ruby Hanshaw, Cora Hartvig, Mary Oneto, Bessie Bendorf, Mary Scanavino, Rita Moorshead, Marguerite Bauman, Argentine Gardella and Joseph Garaventa. On June 28, 1906, four hundred people attended the graduation at the Turn Verein hall. The invocation was by Methodist Minister Martin Judy and the opening address was by Superintendent of Schools, G. P. Morgan. Four of the graduates gave presentations. Carrie Nash’s essay was titled, The Stenographer. Cora Hartvig’s was titled The Bookkeeper. Ruby Hanshaw’s was titled The Typist, and Marguerite Bausman spoke on the Value of a General Education. At the close of the event Principal Coover presented the diplomas.23
The Supervisors met on April 9, 1906, to award the bid for the construction of the new high school. Two bids were submitted, one by A. H. Kleinecke for $35,763 and the other by Hugh Braunton for $39,838. In order to bring the contract price within the $35,000 limit, sandstone brick was substituted for the pressed brick called for in the plans; and the tinting and burlaping of the rooms and the erection of the lecture table were omitted. With these changes, and Mr. Kleinecke reducing his bid by $2063, the contract was awarded to him for $34,100. Marble on the basement walls was deleted as it would have increased the cost by $10,000 to $12,000. The contract for heating ventilating appliances was awarded to W. Morgan & Company of San Francisco, for $3,650 plus $70 for each automatic regulator. Work was to commence as soon as possible with completion by October 1, 1906.24 Albert Kleinecke was the uncle of D.H. Steinmetz who was the manager of the Standard Lumber Company in Sonora.
There was a bit of a hiccup when it was discovered that the working details for the high school together with drawings, etc., were destroyed in the San Francisco office of Stone and Smith, during the April 18, 1906, earthquake. Fortunately, it caused only a slight delay as duplicates of all the papers destroyed were on file in the County Clerk’s office in Sonora.25
Construction of the new high school was moving forward. John Rother, a local carpenter, was appointed to oversee the project at a salary of $4 per day. Brick was being made locally. However, the first site selected to make the bricks was abandoned “because the slum and other deposits would not assimilate to the consistency required for building purposes.” They moved near the Busie place which had a kiln.26 By July 1906, 40,000 of the bricks had been molded. The capacity of the brick yard was 1,200 bricks a day, and they needed 400,000 for the project.27 If these numbers are correct, it would be very difficult to complete the school by the October 1, 1906, deadline. The August 31, 1906, Banner reported that bricklaying became a problem when the foreman and a bricklayer had a difference of opinion and the bricklayer quit. This act caused three other men to walk out, leaving only the boss and his two sons left to place the bricks. The resolution was not reported.
The contract for the high school building did not include grading and improving the grounds around the school. Specifications were adopted in December 1906, providing for the grading and filling the property, concrete sidewalks ten feet wide along the street, and pavement leading to and around the building. The work was to be completed by August 10, 1907.28 There were two bids, one from Robert Scudamore and one from Kleinecke. Kleinecke was given the contract with a low bid of $6,975. Scudamore and D. H. Steinmetz were sureties for Kleinecke.
In June 1907, the first students of the academic class graduated. They were Mary Alves, Grace Dufrane, Frank Guerena, Marguerite Lawrence, Minnie Marshall, Edith Morgan, Will Napoleon and Will Solari. With the high school still not completed, commencement exercises were again held at the Turn Verein Hall. All planned to go on to college. Alves, DuFrane, Lawrence, Marshall to San Jose State Normal college; Guerena, Morgan, and Solari to Stanford; and Napoleon to UC Berkeley.29
At the end of the school year, J. E. Coover resigned as principal at the high school to become the principal of the high school in Dixon, California. He later returned to his alma mater, Stanford University, where he had an illustrious career. He received his doctorate in 1912 and retired from Stanford in 1937 as Professor Emeritus.
The County Board of Education appointed William Inch as the new principal of the high school. For the prior three years he had been the principal at the high school in Ione, California. Although not mentioned in the papers at the time, William had ties to Sonora as his uncle, Richard Inch, was the Recorder for Tuolumne County, and his first cousin was Carrie Inch Segerstrom.
On August 12, 1907, the Board of Supervisors accepted the new high school building. While the original completion date was October 1, 1906, Kleinecke was given an extension to February 1, 1907. It seems obvious, based on plans and specifications of the building, that neither of these deadlines was realistic. Although the work was completed, the Union Democrat of August 17, 1907, reported that “owing to a shortage of money, by reason of a heavy delinquency in the payment of the second installment of taxes, a change was made in the dates for payment to Kleinecke for improving the high school grounds. The first payment, due June 1st was paid on August 12th, and Mr. Kleinecke agreed to defer the final payment to September 3rd.
Sadly, Albert Kleinecke died on August 26, 1907. On July 31, 1907, he was involved in a buggy accident. He was pulling out of Pat Kelly’s stable on south Washington Street, when Homer Wilson joined him in the buggy. The horse started out of the stable at lightning speed. Kleinecke hung onto the reins but was unable to stop the horse. The buggy collided with a derrick, throwing Kleinecke out. At first it was thought neither man was seriously injured. However, Kleinecke received a puncture wound which resulted in blood poising. Shortly before his death he was taken to St. Luke’s hospital in San Francisco where he died.30 According to his granddaughter, Ella Lively, the family was Christian Science and refused treatment until it was too late to save him. The balance due Kleinecke for his work at the high school was paid to his estate.
The Union Democrat of September 14, 1907, lauded the new high school reporting: “the building is of brick and concrete hard finished throughout, equipped with a Morgan heating and ventilating plant; and all classrooms, in size, arrangement and furnishing are as perfect as the judicious expenditure of money could make them. The structure is erected on the most inviting spot that could have possibly been chosen by the Supervisors, affording pleasing surrounding and recreation grounds more extensive than could have been secured in any other portion of the city”
The school year began with a faculty of five, four instructors and the principal William Inch who taught Latin and History. All had University degrees except for Miss Northrup who taught the Commercial studies, with a degree from Heald’s Business College. Based on their dates of graduation, they were all at the beginning of their teaching careers.
With the new school building there was also the addition of athletic facilities that allowed for more sport activities. While baseball and tennis were popular from the beginning, basketball was instituted late in 1907. They only played two games that year, one against Ione Union High School and the other against Lodi High School. As reported in the Green and Gold of 1908, the basketball courts were situated behind the High School building. As soon as school opened the boys began working to improve the grounds.
The grounds were very rough and it was difficult to put them into shape. They were greatly aided by Mr. Steinmetz of the Standard Lumber Company, who presented the school with four goal posts. Before the outdoor court had been completed, he had allowed the students to play in the Bradford Pavilion roller skating rink. The first game was scheduled to be played at the outdoor court, but due to stormy weather the contest was played at the Bradford Pavilion. It was estimated that over 300 people attended the game, which must have made for a very crowded venue. Competition basketball games continued to be played at the Bradford Pavilion, probably due to the condition of the outdoor court and lack of seating.
The Sonora Baseball Club continued to be responsible for the baseball field and the bleachers. The original grandstand constructed by the club was blown down during a heavy windstorm on February 2, 1909. By April 1909, the Sonora citizens had subscribed to $317 for construction of a new grandstand.31
The Banner of April 30, 1909, reported that: “Work on the new grandstand at the high school grounds was begun last Monday. The building is to be modern, convenient and comfortable. It will be ‘L’ shaped and capable of seating 500 persons; well protected and have plenty of room beneath the spectators’ benches for several dressing rooms, toilet and two large rooms equipped with showers for the convenience of the baseball teams.” They hoped to have it completed by May 9th. Unfortunately, due to a scarcity of lumber construction on the grandstand was postponed. However, the tennis courts were almost finished and the basketball courts were taking shape.32 The grandstand was finally completed in August 1909.33
In November 1909, Tuolumne County deeded the property of the high school to the County Board of Education, as required by law.34
In July 1910, William Inch resigned as principal of the high school. Although re-elected to be principal for the coming school year, he resigned to become principal of the Lodi High School.
It seems that the high school’s first principals used the position as a steppingstone to further their careers. In the first eleven years of the school’s existence, they had six principals. All came with good credentials and many went on to have illustrious careers in education.
The next principal to come to the high school was William P. Campbell. He was born in Mississippi in 1855. By the time he came to Sonora he had taught for many years. Of the first six principals in Sonora, Campbell served the longest, four years, from 1910 to 1914. He finished his teaching career as the principal of Bret Harte High School in Calaveras County. He attended Vanderbilt University in 1892, where one of his classmates was John Nance Garner, a former vice-president of the United States. In 1901, he received his degree from Stanford University. At the time of his death, he had served sixty years as an educator.35
On April 22,1911, there was an article in the Union Democrat extolling the virtues of the manual training department at the high school. The students had constructed a building 24 x 48 feet as a workshop. It was well-built and contained much of the necessary equipment for the students. Equipment consisted of a bandsaw, jointer, trimmer and a full complement of hand tools. The students made many articles for the main school building. The pupils were allowed to take home items that were not intended for school use.
By 1911, families in the Tuolumne City area were anxious to have a high school of their own. Traveling wasn’t easy between Sonora and Tuolumne City, and no public transportation was available. This necessitated students choosing three methods of transportation. They go by horse, or a horse-drawn vehicle, which was very slow; and, what was to be done with the horse at the end of the journey? Private automobiles were available, but not always dependable. The third way was to take the train that took students to the station on South Washington Street. No matter the choice, the students had a very long day. It was especially difficult for those students wanting to participate in after school activities.
On Saturday, April 29, 1911, the voters approved the formation of the Summerville Union School District which was comprised of Tuolumne (Summerville), Confidence, Cherokee and Nashton. The vote was 281 in favor and 30 against.36 For the first school year, a two-story building was leased in downtown Tuolumne.37
West Side Lumber Company donated a block and a half of property in Tuolumne, at the corner of Pine Street and Tuolumne Road, for the new school. It was estimated the cost of the new building would be $15,000.38 Plans for the building were drawn by Prof. Reuter, principal of the new high school. The building was to be 76 x 105 feet, one story with a high basement that would contain a laboratory, manual training room, gymnasium, and mechanicals. The main floor would be divided into four classrooms, an emergency room, large assembly hall, library and principal’s office.39 On January 9, 1912, by an almost unanimous vote, a $20,000 bond issue was approved. Follett Bros. of Tuolumne was awarded the contract to build the new high school. They submitted the lowest bid of $14,821.40 The building was ready for the beginning of the new school in September 1912.
When Summerville Union High School built their new campus further west on Tuolumne Road, Mother Lode Christian School was able to buy the property. In 1969, they purchased the property for $2,400. Mother Lode Christian originally offered classes in grades K-12. As of this writing, 2025, they offer Preschool to 8th grade. Mother Lode Christian School is known for its excellent academic programs, spiritual discipleship, and enthusiasm for sports.
In 1912, Green and Gold sweaters, and block T’s, were given to fourteen students for those competing with another school in any school activity. It was hoped this would be a custom that would induce them to participate in school affairs. At the same time the school wanted to express its gratitude for services rendered. The students were: Ben Wetmore, Goodwin Wetmore, Clarence Van Harlingen, Will King, Lyman Tibbits, Stephen Ball, Elmer Eaglin, Lloyd Otis, Neill Johnson, Hazel Houck, Beths Otis, Nellie Stickles and Edna Shine.41
By 1913, the county was paying for the transportation of students to and from the high school from outlying districts. There were two automobiles coming from Jamestown and vicinity. The Board of Education allowed $6 per month for each student to meet the cost. The total cost was estimated at $3,300 for the school years. Therefore 18 cents was added to the county high school tax.42
In 1913, the school was able to purchase an additional three acres from the Sonora Meat Company. The land was a necessary addition to the athletic grounds.43
In June 1914, William P. Campbell resigned as principal of the high school. On June 13, 1914, the County Board of Education elected Frank Schofied as principal. Born in 1865 in Missouri, he attended the University of Ohio where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He came to California in 1902. Schofield resigned as Sonora’s principal in June 1917, as he had accepted the principalship of the high school in Lakeport, California. At the time of his death in 1935, he was teaching Latin and English at the San Francisco Polytechnic High School.
In July 1914, Louise Foster, teacher in science and mathematics, tendered her resignation. The position was immediately filled by the appointment of Vernon Dunlavy, of South Dakota. In 1917, Dunlavy would succeed Schofield as principal of the Sonora Union High School, successor to the Tuolumne County High School.
Sports were an important element at Tuolumne County High School, especially after the school building was constructed. Improvements to the baseball field, including the purchase of additional land and the construction of tennis courts made sports more available to the students. The local newspapers also highlighted track events at the school. Until 1922, when the first gymnasium was built, competing basketball was played offsite, usually at the Bradford Pavillion on Bradford Avenue. Both boys and girls participated in these sports. No record of football was reported during the time of the Tuolumne County High School.
The school often played Bret Harte High School in Angles Camp, in Calaveras County. In those early days of automobile travel it could be quite an adventure. The teams would sometimes stay overnight. In March 1914, there was a well-planned weekend of sports and adventure. Charles Goelz, early automobile enthusiast and later Mayor of Sonora, took the Sonora players in one of his big Federal trucks. Another truck load was made of some of the “rooters” to keep spirits up44 The Sonora Banner of March 20, 1914, reported in detail on the weekend. After the game, the girls served food in the basement rooms of the building in which the games were played. Ice cream and cake were there in abundance. The school orchestra was there, leading off with a lively number. Then, two girls gave recitations and readings. Two other girls gave pleasure with their sweet voices, and another played the piano. Two couples gave a comic sketch. After that everybody danced. Apparently, there wasn’t much sleep that night. At 5:30 the next morning twenty-five of the students piled themselves into Goeltz’s big truck for a trip to Calaveras Big Trees. Within four miles of Big Trees the truck was abandoned because of the mud. Not to be stopped, the boys carried many of the girls that couldn’t walk through the snow. They returned to Murphys, having lunch enroute to Mercer cave. They arrived back in Sonora at midnight, still full of vim and vinegar, shouting out class yells.
Rickety-racketty rus
We’re not allowed to cus
But, nevertheless, you must confess
There’s nothing the matter with us
T-u-o-l-u-m-n-e – Tuolumne
Once or twice a year they would have class picnics at Phoenix Lake. There was food and boating on the lake. By late afternoon, tired and well fed, and with many sunburns, the students and faculty returned to Sonora.
The students also put on at least one play a year, either at the Bradford Pavillion or the Turn Verein Hall. The school orchestra provided the music.
By 1915, Tuolumne County High School had a full curriculum, quality teachers and a full sports program. Student enrollment had grown significantly since it’s first years at the Courthouse.
In May 1915, the state legislature passed legislation requiring that: “Whenever one or more city, district or union high school districts have been organized in any county containing one or more county high schools all common school districts not included in any city, district, union or joint union high school district shall constitute a union high school district” Each union high school district was to have an elected school board, comprised of five members. Tuolumne was one of eleven counties in the state effected by the new law.
G.P. Morgan, County Superintendent of Schools, gave notice that an election for the five trustees of the Sonora Union High School District would be held on Saturday, August 21, 1915. Of the five trustees one would hold office until May 1, 1916, two to hold office until May 1, 1917, and two to hold office until May 1, 1918. The full term of office was to be three years.
The first board consisted of Dr. D. E. Stratton, of Chinese Camp; J. H. West, of Soulsbyville; C. H. Segerstrom, J. B. Curtin , H.O. Ball, of Sonora. The trustees of a union high school would serve without pay. Apparently, there was very interest as only 15 ballots were cast in Sonora.
The Tuolumne County High School was now the Sonora Union High School. In time, the school would add three more major buildings to the campus; the gymnasium in 1922; and the Science Building and Auditorium in 1939. Prior to 1939, the school had added some ancillary buildings for classrooms. However, with more students enrolling each year it became evident that a building dedicated to science was a necessity.
In 1939, the school was awarded a $91,000 Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant, with the requirement that the school provide an additional $110,000 in funding. This was to cover the cost of the Science building and the Auditorium, as well as some other improvements to the campus. On Saturday, October 15, 1938, voters of the Sonora Union High School District voted 5 to 1 for the bond issue of $110,000. C. A. Hillberg of Turlock was awarded the contract for the Science building and Auditorium. 45 Both buildings were occupied by December 1939.
An Open House and dedication of the buildings was held on May 3, 1940. The
Union Democrat of that date gave a detailed description of the two buildings.
“The new buildings offer ample room for all of the high school pupils. This is particularly true in the science laboratories, where adequate and modern equipment is available for the use of pupils in the chemistry, physics, biology and general science departments, as well as in the home economics sections. The physics departments are now large enough to accommodate forty pupils each hour, instead of the limited sixteen in past years. The former room is wired with an elaborate system which provides each student desk and either direct or alternate currents ranging from 4 to 220 volts.
“All rooms in the science building are provided with indirect lighting, and the ceiling of each room is constructed of an acoustical plaster, which reduces all sounds to a minimum. Classrooms are equipped with the latest tablet army desks and desk chairs. Light-proof shades are in the northern rooms, and venetian blinds in the rooms on the south side of the building. All outside doors are equipped with panic bolts.
“Over five hundred steel lockers have been recessed in the walls, of the hallways, and space has been provided for two hundred more. These lockers furnish each pupil with a locker for books, lunches and accessories. Other new lockers in the gymnasium annex assure every pupil of having two lockers for his property.
“The foods laboratory…has thirteen electric ranges and features the seven-pupil unit system of instruction. An electric towel dryer, complete dinette tables and chairs are included in the equipment. The sewing section provides nearly twenty electric sewing machines, the latest type tables for cutting, and modern stools.”
The article continued describing the auditorium. “‘The auditorium has been announced as one of the best in Central California. Its perfect acoustical qualities have resulted in an increased interest in music and dramatics in the school and county. The ceilings and walls of the theatre portion are made of wood shavings impregnated with tar; the music room is lined throughout with acoustical Celotex. The auditorium is provided with a 16-millimeter motion picture sound projector, completed with sound screen and horns; special curtains make possible the showing of pictures on the brightest days. Special settings, drops, curtains, and switch board are provided on the stage for the most elaborate productions.
“Each of the new buildings has its individual heating system. The science building is heated throughout by hot water. The auditorium is properly heated by a boiler which generates steam for hot air blown into the auditorium; the system may be used in summer as a cooling unit. The band room has its individual hot water heating system.”
The original gymnasium was torn down in 1958 and replaced with a new one, which was later dedicated to longtime coach and English teacher, Bud Castle.
To the disgust and frustration of many, the original Tuolumne County High School building was torn down in the summer of 1976.
In October 1982, the name of the school was officially changed from Sonora Union High School to Sonora High School.46 The district name did not change; it is still Sonora Union High School District. Sonora High School, Dario Cassina High School, and Theodore Bird High School all come under the District.
The school has continued to be an asset to the community. From its somewhat shaky start as the Tuolumne County High Scholl, Sonora High is an institution of learning that all in the county can be proud of.
- ”Almost Unanimous,” Union Democrat, September 21, 1901,
- Minutes, Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, October 9, 1901, book 8, page 283; Must Wait, Union Democrat, October 12, 1901, p3c2.
- ”Table of Election Results,” Union Democrat, November 8, 1902,
- ”County High School, Court House for School-Room,” Union Democrat, July 18, 1903,
- ”Tuolumne County High School, Requirements of Admission and Course of Studies,” Union Democrat, August 29, 1903, p2c2.
- ”First Term Will Start Under Most Auspicious Circumstances,” Union Democrat, September 19, 1903, p3c3.
- Minutes, Tuolumne County Board of Education, September 10, 1903, p119-
- Minutes, Tuolumne County Board of Education, October 24, 1903 – May 23, 1904, pp120-128.
- Banner, March 1904
- Union Democrat, July 2, 1904 p3c1.
- “Knowledge Seekers,” Sonora Banner, June 24,1904.
- Union Democrat, September 10, 1904, p3c1.
- Minutes, Tuolumne County Board of Education, July 23, 1904 – September 24, 1904, pp 132-138. Minutes, December 3, 1904, p141. Miss Minsky was offered a teaching position in SanFrancisco. She agreed to stay with an increased salary of $90 a month.
- “High School Opens Monday,” Union Democrat, September 9, 1905, p3c4.
- Banner, December 8, 1905, p4c1
- Union Democrat, December 9, 1905, p2c1.
- Banner, December 15, 1905.
- “They Only did Their Duty,” Union Democrat, February 10, 1906, p1c6.
- “High School Building,” Union Democrat, February 10, 1906, p3c6.
- “Plans for High School,” Union Democrat, March 10, 1906, p1c3.
- “New Principal of High School Chosen,” Union Democrat, February 17, 1906, p3.
- “Sonora Educator Honored,” Union Democrat, May 12, 1906, p1c4.
- Banner, June 29, 1906.
- Union Democrat, April 14, 1906, p1c2.
- Union Democrat, May 5, 1906, p1c4.
- Mother Lode Banner, May 25, 1906, p3c4.
- Banner, July 9, 1906.
- Banner, December 7, 1906.
- “The Tuolumne County High School Closed,” Union Democrat, June 22, 1907, p3c2.
- “A Close Call,” Tuolumne Independent, August 3, 1907.
- “Sonora Baseball Club Assured,” Tuolumne Independent, April 3, 1909.
- Banner, June 4, 1909.
- Note: I was told several years ago by Elvin Fowler, companion of George Post, that in the late 1920s or 1930s, this grandstand was torn down. He said that much of the lumber was used for an artist’s colony on Shaws Flat Road. George’s aunt, Ann Frost, lived there and Post visited her often, becoming very familiar with Tuolumne County. Pat Perry, City Historian.
- Banner, November 5, 1909; Union Democrat, November 20, 1909, p3c1.
- “The Early Years of Bret Harte High School,” Las Calaveras, Volume XXIX, April 1981, Number 3, Calaveras County Historical Society, p25.
- “High School is Voted in Four Belt Districts”, Tuolumne Independent, May 2, 1911, p1c5.
- Banner, June 30, 1911.
- Banner, December 8, 1911.
- “School Bond Election”, Union Democrat, December 9, 1911, p4c2.
- Tuolumne Independent, April 30, 1912.
- “County High School Notes”, Union Democrat, May 25, 1912, p1c2-3.
- Transportation For High School Pupils, Union Democrat, September 13, 1913, p1c7.
- “Tuolumne County High School Buys Land”, Union Democrat, October 11, 1913, p3c4.
- Union Democrat, March 14, 1914, p1c3.
- “C. A. Hillberg of Turlock Wins High School Contract,” Union Democrat, December 1, 1938, p1c3-4.
- “It’s Now Just Sonora High”, Union Democrat, October 25, 1982, p8.