The Old Box Elder High School
- Ken Bott
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
“In June of 1908, the Board of Education acquired the land which was to be the home of Box Elder High School. This site, commonly known as Academy Square, included major portions of two blocks located between 4th and 5th East Streets and between 1st North and 1st South. The school buildings were located on the block south of Forest and the athletic field and future gymnasium building on the block north of Forest Street.
The first building on the campus was constructed of red pressed brick in Gothic style and was completed in 1909. It consisted of the central entrance to the stately building with inside steps leading to the second and third floors consisting of ten classrooms. It was erected for a cost of $27,099. This amount was based on the bid accepted by the board but does not include furnishings, subsequent auditorium seating, architect fees, etc. The three-story building with the nearby mountains as a background was described as ‘magnificent’ and when completed will be one of the best structures of its kind in the West.” Box Elder County School Board Minutes, August 15, 1908.”
“Increasing enrollment and enriched curriculum necessitated more space; therefore, on May, 1912, the contract was let for a new addition costing $38,540. This addition doubled the capacity of the school and provided the classrooms in the northwest section, the auditorium, a 50 by 90 foot gymnasium, principal’s office, and a small dressing room with cold showers. Box Elder School Board Minutes, May 15, 1912.”
“On August 5, 1921, bids were accepted for the construction of a new Farm Mechanics Building at a cost of $12,827. This structure was located on the southeast side of the original building. The building which was used as a band room was originally the seminary building but was purchased by the Board of Education in 1929.Box Elder School Board Minutes, August 5, 1918. The Church built a new seminary building, which opened in 1930.”
“The big gymnasium, one of the largest and finest buildings of its kind in the inter-mountain west, with its sprung floor, was built in 1934 at a cost of $114,537, the labor being paid for through the Federal Civil Works Administration (CWA), one of the emergency administration agencies set up for coping with the depression. Three Score, 223, and School Board Minutes, October 25, 1934 and September 13, 1935. The inclusion of a swimming pool and small gym in addition to the large gymnasium were great benefits to the students and public.”
“In May, 1938, the school district applied to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for a grant of 45% of the cost to construct a science building… It was added onto the south side of the main building. This included several classrooms and a large cafeteria which was completed in 1939 at a total cost of $118, 182, plus an additional $5,000 for furnishings."
Photos have been used for educational, nonprofit, and noncommercial purposes only. Scott Jensen donated hours of work to restore some of the photographs. Compton photographs are part of the Compton Collection housed at the USU Merrill-Cazier Library.
