1976 Last Class to Vist the Tower

Good-bye to Hoover

Poem by Virginia Gebhardt

There she stood for over forty years, aiding to the yearning minds of young, eager students.

Willing and able to supply the strength needed for a sturdy school.

Until one day when somebody decided she wasn't safe enough for their demands. They planned it all out and action began.

The two-ton ball went crashing against her walls and you could hear the echoing thud sounding throughout that old school, ringing its last tolls through the deserted auditorium.

The demolition continued, until at last came the time for the tower to die. They tugged and pulled and suddenly she came crashing to the ground, crumbling into a thousand pieces.

And now, good ole' Hoover High with her traditional tower is nothing but dust, and the only thing that remains is the memory in our hearts, which will last forever . . .

The Tower Bites the Dust!

by Laura Lou Jorgenson (Sherman) '43

The tower stood forty-four years before it was torn down. The five-story tower was demolished so a new school could be reconstructed to meet the State earthquake safety standards. The Irony of this story is that it took a 3,000 lbs.-wrecking ball. l7 mighty swings and 23 Minutes to pull down the tower, plus three days , before the main columns were mortally wounded by a team of demolition workers. With the wrecking ball hitting at its weakened pillars time and time again while two 400 horsepower earthmovers tugged on taut, l-inch steel cables near the towers top finally it gave way and fell to the ground. The ground trembled and shook and like an atomic explosion. a huge mushroom of dust billowed high over the rubble. It was a very sad moment for all who had enjoyed the splendor and beautiful craftsmanship put in to the school. Some cheered and some cried but most just watched in silence. The principle of the school, Mr. Yates, just said "It's sad, its sad.."

Three months after the tower was tom down construction of the new earthquake safe school started. The Hoover High project awarded three and a half million dollars to the Tucker, Sadler & Associates contractors and the Olson Construction Company to rebuild its new school. New properties were bought in order to expand the school along the streets of Highland and Monroe therefore several houses bad to be cleared away. It took many hard working crew workers to complete the job and numerous inspections to make sure the school was safe for the future student body. In spring. 1976 the final inspection was made and the new Herbert Hoover High was opened to the 1800 new students. A Ribbon cutting ceremony was held in order to honor the new school. Dr. Goodman, Superintend of Schools and Mr. Yates, Hoover’s principal, gave their acceptance and the community and the P. T .A. extended their Thanks. A spectacular Open House was held so the community could see the new Herbert Hoover High School. Improvements are still being made this year in beauti?n8 the grounds with plants, trees, flowers and other greens. For the rainy sea- sons an awning was built above the outside lunch lines so the students could stay dry.

Our Gym has been the on going project. So much attention was given to the school grounds that our Gym was left bare. S0 in 1979 the Big Gym got a new beautiful floor. In 1980 four huge Sports Murals were hung. Two on both the North and South sides or the gym. Most recently came the Red and White banners hung on the west wall declaring an the different sports which have to CIF or were League Champs. The up coming plan is to put a black top on the students’ parking lot which will hopefully be finished by the end of the summer for the 1982 class.