POINT LOMA – It was a time of rapid growth in San Diego. The little seaside community was home to 74,683 people in 1920, and that total would double to 147,897 by the end of the decade.
The city was already home to a pair of high schools. Russ School, later named San Diego High School, opened in 1892, and La Jolla High School opened to the north in 1922.
At the end of Point Loma High School’s first year, these seven seniors were the first graduating class of the school. They celebrated their accomplishment in Balboa Park. (Photo courtesy of PLHS Archives)
HASTINGS’ FOLLY
Edgar F. Hastings, a member of the Board of Education, believed that a new high school was needed in a slowly developing community situated between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Fellow board members strongly disagreed with Hastings, saying the proposed location was too far from town.
But Hastings persisted, even after his fellow board members termed the proposed new school “Hastings’ Folly.”
And, on Sept. 8, 1925, Point Loma Junior-Senior High School opened.
Pete Ross was named as the school’s first principal, and the school’s stadium bears his name today.
Ross oversaw a staff of 30 teachers who drove their Model Ts to the campus that had no homes around it. They parked their cars in a staff parking lot along Zola Street before walking onto the new campus built in Spanish Revival architecture with three-story buildings featuring curved archways and wrought iron.
Those teachers were expected to deliver a rich and challenging curriculum to each of the 386 students in grades 7 through 12 who arrived on the first day of school. After all, those teachers were making $90 per month, according to federal records.
There was one problem Hastings and the school’s architects did not consider – the entire campus was constructed on a total of 17 acres, and after a gymnasium was opened, houses were built in the new Loma Portal neighborhood right up against the school’s campus.
By current state law, a high school constructed today for 1,600 students would require 51 acres, exactly three times the size of the campus.
After its opening, Point Loma High School had landscaping, and it was a beautiful addition to the community. On the left is the staff parking lot along Zola Street. The current campus covers this area and the remainder of Zola Street between Clove Street and Chatsworth Boulevard.(Photo courtesy of PLHS Archives)
Point Loma High School
After several decades, the school was renamed Point Loma High School with the opening of Richard Henry Dana Junior High School. Yearbooks from the era suggest Dana opened in 1941 for seventh-graders only, adding eighth graders from 1942-1945, and became a full 7-9 grade junior high in 1945.
During this era, the school’s marching band found practice space by marching up and down nearby streets.
When the state of California decreed that all state school buildings be earthquake-proof, an order was given to demolish several buildings, including the huge auditorium with its wooden seats, the administration building, and other campus buildings of Point Loma High School.
Ironically, when crews attempted to demolish these old buildings, they encountered huge challenges when the structures strongly resisted the wrecking ball.
Eventually, Zola Street between Clove Street and Chatsworth Boulevard was acquired and made part of the campus. The teachers’ parking lot also vanished during this era. Parking moved to Clove Street, but now with limited space.
This group of 22 students was the first ever to enter Point Loma High School as sophomores in 1925 and graduate in 1928. (Photo courtesy of PLHS Archives)
Rebuilding Point Loma High School in its original Spanish Revival style would be very expensive, and the replacement buildings were nowhere near as beautiful as the originals. Point Loma residents and school alumni have bemoaned this fact ever since. But if they saw the cost of reconstructing those Spanish Revival buildings, they would likely be in shock.
The structures that replaced those beloved buildings were largely of the “box with windows” style, built with the limited budgets of modern school districts. But even some of them have already been replaced.
Modernization projects
The unique round classroom building in the center of campus, known as the 800 Building, was deemed lacking when district architects evaluated the campus as part of a recent whole-site modernization project, the first phase of which has now been completed.
The first floor of the building was a media center, with the second floor being classrooms. These classrooms were oddly shaped, since they radiated out from the center of the building to the perimeter.
Also, there was no ADA access to the building and no restrooms. In the basement, all of the school’s computer and communication hardware was located, and every rainstorm resulted in flooding of this basement.
Also added was a fully equipped weight room for use by all students. Built with the benefit of a grant from famed race car driver Jimmy Johnson, it features electronics to analyze form, viewing monitors, and a sprint track.
The first phase of this project also resulted in the construction of a new classroom building on the southwest corner of campus. Known as the 1000 Building, the two-story structure includes social science and history classrooms.
One room in the building is dedicated to the school’s athletic trainers. It is equipped with a whirlpool bath, exam tables, exercise equipment plus wheelchairs, crutches for student use, and trainer supplies.
It should be noted that all high schools now have a certified athletic trainer on staff. While not able to be present at all events, the trainers attend to injured athletes, keep detailed records, and also offer rehabilitation exercise programs designed to allow athletes to return to competition as soon as possible. These trainers are master’s degree level educated and usually are graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University. A special opportunity for students interested in athletic training is provided when trainers teach entry-level skills to interested Pointers.
The 200 and 300 buildings were renovated, making every classroom at the school equipped with the latest technology and internet access.
Curbside drop off on Chatsworth Boulevard was added, and security fencing now limits campus access during school hours to a single entrance from the Clove Street parking lot. Administration building upgrades included a new fire alarm system and a new telephone system. Video cameras now cover every area of campus.
The former auto shop facility was demolished, and a parking space was created. Energy panels, recently completed, now cover much of the parking lot to supply the campus with electricity.
Replacing the auto shop is a new music center with individual practice rooms and other specialized areas for the school’s now-robust music program. This much-used facility bears the name of Dr. Dean Nelson of PLNU, who was a significant factor in having the project built.
Pete Ross was named as the first principal of the new school. He welcomed 30 teachers and 386 students in grades 7-12. He served in this position until 1932. (Photo courtesy of PLHS Archives)
Also, a video production facility with courses for students has been completed with full editing boards, green screen, lighting, and video creation facilities.
One of the biggest changes – stadium lighting – was added after a lengthy round of battles with neighbors who predicted nighttime violence and problems would become the norm. The first lighted event was a Pointer football game on Aug. 25, 2017.
As part of the stadium lighting issue, regular meetings are held between the school and all neighbors to share any issues that have arisen on the limited number of nights (18 per year) where events with large crowds are permitted. Nightly practices have a curfew “lights out” time, and the school district has not rented the field for night events as residents alleged would happen.
Also in the stadium, visitor seating for 500 people has been added on the north side along with a snack bar and restrooms, and the turf field has been replaced. A press box is to be built above the new visitor seating.
The massive wall on the east end of the stadium began to crumble about 10 years ago and was supported by metal beam braces until the entire wall was strengthened and replaced. It has now been painted in large letters to say “HOME OF THE POINTERS” along with the school’s new logo.
A new media center/classroom building was constructed along Chatsworth Boulevard. This three-story building houses the media center on the first floor and new state-of-the-art classrooms on the upper two floors. The media center is much more than a library and includes a computer center, meeting rooms, study areas, and more. In addition, all of the school’s telephone and media wiring is now located safely in the basement of the new building and no longer in danger of flooding.
With the completion of this building, students now have a larger and more open quad area.
More renovations
Further campus improvements will include the demolition of other outdated buildings. Also, the current big gym will be razed. In its place will be a new gym and boys locker room built above a parking structure with space for 145 cars.
Remember, the school only has 17 acres with which to work.
Some alumni and area residents bemoan the changes and find the new facilities unsightly but the real issue remains: Will the staff and facilities of Point Loma High School continue to contribute to outstanding, creative and resourceful young adults walking across the stage at the annual commencement and continuing to enter careers, live rich and productive lives, become good citizens, enrich society and set the bar high as alumni of the school?
Undoubtedly!
