Josh started Mesa High this year and I thought it would be fun to take a good look at MHS and look back at my alma mater JHS
MESA HIGH
The first high school classes in Mesa began in September, 1899 on the second floor of a red brick north elementary school which was later rebuilt and know as Irving School. The first Mesa Union High School district was organized on Dec. 26, 1907. Construction for the building known as "Old Main" began and the graduating class from 1909 graduated from the original 12 room building. The school had a main floor auditorium with a swimming pool in the basement. Ten years later, 8 more rooms were added plus a small auditorium-gymnasium. In 1936, there were funds to build a New Building just west of the Main Building with an arcade in between. A new gymnasium was also built south of the Main building, where are the dances and basketball games were played. There was also an agriculture and auto shop. On Oct. 1, 1967, a disastrous fire completely destroyed the sixty-year-old "Old Main" Classes continued to graduate from the old high school until 1972 when the new Mesa High was built.
Carry On
"CARRY ON Mesa High
CARRY ON ye sons and daughters true
Let this anthem reach the sky
Build ye glorious vision new.
We'll fight forever for the right
Carry on with hearts aflame.
Tradition great and mighty deeds
Add honor to thy name.
Carry on, carry on."
The public heard for MHS theme song for the first time during the dedicatory half-time ceremonies in Oct. 1933 when the lights at half time were turned out and the spotlights on the facade of "Old Main" came on and illuminated as a beacon, the words "CARRY ON". When the song ended and the field lights came back on, the crowd was silent with tears streaming down their faces. An anthem was born!! Three events became interlocked and formed the structure of a legend - the untimely death of a love and respected athlete, a joint community/school football field lightening project, and a memorable song, an anthem of courage and hope.
JORDAN HIGH
The first classes at Jordan High started in 1907 when 7 students began meeting in the basement of a church in Midvale. Enrollment increased and the students moved in a real school building in 1911. This building was initially know as the The People College but later became Jordan High. In 1913, construction began on a new Jordan High School which had graduating classes from 1914 - 1996. This building was on the National Register of Historic Places. In the mid 1970's the school district realized that the school was to small for a modern high school and that the building was starting to show it's age. In 1975, the board decided to build a new high school and close the Jordan High building. The exploding student population in the school district made it impossible to eliminate a school at that time. The proposed new school became Alta and Jordan continued in the same location. In the 1990's, the new Jordan High was built. I graduated from the building that was built in 1914.
Beetdiggers
Jordan High Students are know as the "Beetdiggers". The mascot dates from the school's early days when students were dismissed from school each fall to help farmers harvest the sugar beets. Although the sugar beet industry is now gone, the school proudly continues the "Beetdigger" spirit and traditions. Each year at the opening assembly student officers top sugar beets and take a bite.
