The Second Helena High School
1935 to 1955

Damaged by the 1935 Earthquakes • Later Helena Junior High and Helena Middle School


The Art Deco 1935 Helena High School, 1025 N. Rodney



COURTESY OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON




The school was built 1934-35 with Federal money under the auspices of the Public Works Admnistration (PWA), part of the Roosevelt administration's "New Deal". Labor/union squabbles repeatedly delayed work on the project. To build the school, portions of five streets were permanently closed: Davis, Hoback, Billings, Livingston and 16th.

Dedicated on September 21 1935, the new building was heavily damaged by the October 1935 earthquakes. According to post-quake estimates by U. S. Army engineers, it was about 75% destroyed.

It took nearly two years to repair the structure, during which time classes were held in railroad passenger coaches, set up on specially-laid rails on Lyndale Ave. See the feature "High School on Wheels" on this site.

In 1955, the present High School on Montana Avenue opened, and this school became Helena Junior High School. It is now Helena Middle School.





Earthquake damage to the new High School, Oct. 1935




Damage to the New High School Auditorium



Interior quake damage to the HHS auditorium. The scale of the damage shown here may not be apparent until one notices the rows of seats at the bottom of the photo.

 


North Wing of the New High School

The north end was the most seriously damaged part of the building.

 

 

Principal's Office in the New High School

Some bad pupils might crack a smile at this photo, but not me, no sir.



Why Did the New Building Fail so Dramatically in the Earthquakes?
From the Helena Daily Independent...

 

 

Helena High School Glee Club Patch, 1930s


COURTESY OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON

 

Helena High School Bengal Band ~ 1955
Concert in the Auditorium


COURTESY OF RAY LINDSEY

Many thanks to Ray Lindsey for this wonderful 1955 HHS Band photo. The auditorium interior will be familiar to so many. Click on the photo for a closer look at the band, in a new window!



Helena Middle School , 1997
Hallways, Gym and Exterior - Including Vigilante Stadium
PHOTOS BY MARC SWANSON • COURTESY OF JACK WOMACK
Many thanks to Jack for sharing these photos!




 

 

 



Gymnasium When New...


COURTESY OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON

 

Gymnasium, 1997...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Exterior

 

 

 

 

Vigilante Stadium