50 years ago! It’s been 50 years and a few days since our Junior High building was lost to fire in April of 1975. Jane Beard, physical education instructor, discovered that a portion of the gym was in flames around 12:45.
After safety evacuating 370 students and staff from the structure built in 1936, firefighters tried to extinguish the blaze. By 5pm the former high school turned Junior High was gone.
This was the fire department’s last time fighting the fire with the 50 year old Ahrens Fox pumper truck. It is now retired in the Clear Lake Fire Museum.
The city got creative and formed an interim plan to continue the student’s education. Junior high students used the high school building from 12-5 following the high school students being taught there from 7-12.
The new junior high, middle school, was dedicated in January of 1978.
These photos are from the History Room collection at the Clear Lake Library.
One shows the stage where the play “Kind Lady” was performed in 1942.
These photos graduating class of 1942 gathered for a photo on the lawn of the high school.
The fire was unstoppable.
