The History of 

Zillah High School

 

On December 14, 1892 thirteen Zillah citizens signed a petition requesting the formation of a new school district in Yakima County.  Among the signers were Ruben Hatch, George Harvey, E. J. Jaeger, R. C. Walker, and  J. W. Lowell.  County Schools Superintendent J. G. Lawrence granted the petition request on January 11, 1893.  He designated the new district as Zillah School District #32.  The population in the Zillah area at this time was about 600 residents. 

 

Construction of the first Zillah school building was started in the fall of 1893.  The cost of the school was listed at $2,200.  The first teacher hired was Miss Edna Hanes who taught lessons to the twenty-eight children enrolled.  Records show that County Superintendent J. G. Lawrence visited the new school on May 3, 1894. 

 

As 1912 approached student enrollment had increased and the community felt that more room was needed for the pupils.  The existing school building was lifted, with the ground floor now becoming the second floor.  A basement and new first floor were constructed below the original structure.  Once a stairway to the second story was completed, the 9^th and 10^th grade students were schooled upstairs and the younger students attended classes downstairs.  Horses that were ridden to school by the students were tied up to the picket fence that surrounded the schoolyard, serving as an equestrian parking lot.

 

By 1913 a full high school covering grades 9-12 was in operation in Zillah.  In 1913 Arthur McKelvie is listed as the first student to graduate with a 12^th grade high school diploma from Zillah High School.  There were no more graduates from the 12^th grade for the next three years.

 

Mr. John Douglas Stout, Zillah superintendent, obtained accreditation for Zillah High School in 1916.  This certification of their academic program would help ZHS graduates to be more readily accepted into college. Mary E. Rhodes was the Principal of the high school in 1916 which commenced eight seniors: Pauline Anderson, John L. Gaiser, Keston Jaeger, Corwin R. Lanacaster, Sahra Lemhkuhl, Helen Elizabeth Reed, James H. Schooley, Irma Viola Sharpe and Vera Smith.

 

By 1917 the district teaching staff (1st-12th grades) had expanded to eight members including then Superintendent J. F. Hargraves, principal as Frank W. Robertson and six other educators.  Enrollment in grades 9-12 was thirty students.  There were two ZHS graduates in 1917, Karl Leinkemper and Herbert Rowland.  Family members reported that the two young men were a little upset because they had to receive their high school diplomas at the 8^th grade commencement ceremonies. 

 

With an ever-expanding student enrollment, the community wanted to add a separate high school building to the Zillah school system. Board members of the day were Mr. Bourgaise, Mr. Rowland, and Mr. Sutter.  The first high school building was a modern brick building constructed during the summer and fall of 1917 at a cost of $30,000.  Zillah High School Students attended the first classes in the building in December of 1917. Prior to construction of this brick high school, the basement of the Christian Church, (which was just East of the high school campus and is still located at intersection of the current 5^th Street and 2^nd Avenue), had been used for basketball practice.  This new high school building housed one of the best gymnasiums of its day to be found in all of Yakima County.

 

The “Grasshopper” was the first Zillah High School newspaper.  The school colors of “Orange & Black” were mentioned in the first edition of November 1917.  The mascot for Zillah High School was the “Bulldog.”  In a later edition of the Grasshopper the modern gymnasium was touted as one of the best in the valley.  The gym was experiencing a great demand for use as everyone wanted to play basketball in it.  A policy was established saying, “the use of the gymnasium would be for those students whose grades came up to standard.”  Perhaps this was a first attempt at an “eligibility” policy.  The Grasshopper also reported a time change for the morning train from Granger to Zillah.  Now the Granger area students who enrolled in ZHS were expected to be on time for their morning classes. 

 

In 1919 a “middle” girls basketball team nicknamed “the Bloomer Girls” were also demanding gym time.  The Grasshopper reported that in one game, “with some of the members of the team often losing shoes during the game, the Bloomer Girls beat the Yakima team and became district champions.”  Also in 1919 the first yearbook OWEGO (short for On We Go) was published.  Zola Muns was the first editor and Mr. Robertson was the advisor.  In this first OWEGO a “Roll of Honor” page was dedicated to 34 ZHS boys who were in military service, many seeing action in World War I.  Twelve seniors graduated that year, making it the largest graduating class until the class of 1922 commenced.

 

A Model  “T” Ford truck with hard rubber tires driven by John Pringle served as the first school bus for ZHS starting about 1920.  It was affectionately called “The Jitney.”  This bus would transport six students from the Orchardvale area to classes at the high school.  The Grasshopper noted that it was unusual for the bus to arrive on time.  The ZHS Principal Mr. Robertson moved up in the district to replace Mr. Douglas the retiring superintendent.  In 1927 a new three story elementary building was constructed near the high school building.

 

In 1931 by an overwhelming vote of the student body the Zillah Bulldog mascot was replaced by the now famous Zillah Leopard.  This was the first year a Zillah basketball team went to state tournament wearing Leopard sweatshirts.  It was reported that “the boys drew an 8:00 a.m.  game on the first day, which proved too early for the boys.”  They did manage to come home with a 5^th place trophy.

 

The depression hit the United States hard and the Zillah community was no exception.  The years of 1930-37 saw a great lack of funds, so no OWEGO’s were published during that time.  Teachers were paid with warrants, which were often discounted at the banks.  Some teachers were lucky enough to know a buyer for their warrants at face value allowing them to collect their full pay that was earned.

 

In 1936 the Zillah School District secured funding through the Worker Project Administration (WPA) program to construct a new high school gymnasium.  The new gym was constructed in the gap between the elementary and high school buildings.  Once again the district was able to furnish a first class gymnasium for student use.  On November 10, 1936 the first basketball was game played on this new floor.  It was reported that “the gym was filled to capacity with a large and loud crowd,” a scene that has been repeated at most ZHS home games from 1936 to present.  The new WPA gym was such an outstanding facility that it soon became the headquarters for district basketball tournaments.

 

On April 20, 1945 County School Superintendent C. M. Turner signed a consolidation agreement between Zillah School District #32 and Orchardvale School District #51.  Both District #32 and #51 were officially closed.  In their place the newly consolidation district became known as Zillah School District #205.

 

Agriculture Education and the Future Farmers of America program was first offered during the 1950-51 school year. The boys basketball team won the state B championship in 1956 bringing a championship banner to the WPA gym that was boasted as “pride of the valley” gym.  This new banner was highly prized by the team, student body, and community alike.

 

From 1945 until the late 1960’s Zillah High School students were housed in the brick building on West Second Avenue.  Although cared for tenderly by dedicated custodians and reverenced by the community, age and normal wear and tear took its toll on the building.  In the 1960’s proposals of forced consolidation with the Toppenish School District were heard from state education administrators.  While the state felt it was a logical step, the patrons did not.  The community began a campaign for the financing and construction of a new Zillah High School.  In the spring of 1968 the present campus site on East Second Avenue and Yakima Valley Highway (then State Highway 12) was purchased for $18,000.  The community defeated the November 5, 1968 consolidation issue by over 64% thus removing the threat of consolidation and preserving the sovereignty of the Zillah School District. 

 

Next on January 7, 1969, the community again demonstrated support for keeping home rule for their school district by passing a bond issue for a new high school building.  The board of directors felt the prudent way to approach this project was to split construction into two phases.  Construction on Phase One labeled the “Academic” building began in August 1969.  It was later discovered that some requested items were left out of the original bids and now additional funds would be needed to complete Phase One.  While the community was upset about the planning snafu, they once again rallied for their students passing a special levy in 1970.  Phase One could now be completed at cost of just under $500,000. 

 

The Zillah High School academic building at 1602 Second Avenue was premiered at an open house on November 24, 1970.  For the next few years the Junior High students, grades 7-8, continued to be housed at the “old building” in a wing to the west of the gym.  The agriculture, shop and music programs were housed in an annex building across the street from the old school.  The old 1936 gym and football field at this west Second avenue site continued to be the home venues for the Leopards.  The elementary school kitchen and multipurpose room on Fourth Avenue, two blocks north, served as the district K-12 cafeteria.  Bussing between campuses was required for students involved in agriculture, music, PE and for meals.  Eventually a system was worked out to bus the food up to those students at the new building.

 

Another bond was passed to allow for construction to begin on Phase Two of the new high school in 1977.  This phase brought a new auditorium/classroom called the classitorium, a music room, a new gym and locker rooms, a kitchen, and commons, and a new agriculture science and shop building.  The shop facility housing both a metal and wood shop program.  Students in the Agriculture/FFA program were also constructing a new greenhouse during the summer of 1977, bringing new options in horticulture education. Classrooms for grades 7-8 students were found below the classitorium building.  Scheduled to open to students in September of 1977, construction delays caused occupancy to be delayed until mid-way through the 1977-78 school year.  By February 1978 the new campus was complete.  The bussing of students between the old campus and the new campus finally came to an end as grades 7-12 were now housed on the ZHS campus.

 

In Fall of 1978 poles and lights were installed on the new football field allowing the Leopards to host their first home game on the new field.  It was noted that just hours before the first game that athletic booster club volunteers were still installing and checking the wiring for the lights.  In December of 1978 the Leopard boys and girls basketball teams played their first home games in the new gym. 

 

After only a couple of years of operation, the district felt both the need for additional high school space and a desire to move junior high students back to their own campus.  A bond was passed, the old high school building was demolished, and a new passive solar concrete slab middle school building was poured and erected at the site on West Second Avenue.  Zillah Middle School opened to student use in 1981.  The high school campus on East Second Avenue now was finally a true high school serving students in grades 9-12. 

 

The ZHS Leopards were always noted for their outstanding and competitive sports programs.  The move to the new facilities saw this tradition continued.  Now on display are the many league and district championships banners that have been won since play began in the new facilities.  The 1977 and 1978 girls volleyball team won the state A Championships in back-to-back performances.  In 1991 and 2000 the girls slow pitch softball teams won the state A championship.  1992 saw the Leopard football team in the Kingbowl championship game.  Leading through most of the game, the Leopards wound up losing the title in the last few minutes of the final quarter of play and settling for a second place trophy.  The boys basketball team brought home the gold ball as the champions of state A tournament in 1994.  The boys found themselves back in the championship game in 1996 bringing home a second place trophy.  The wrestling team won unprecedented back-to-back state championships in 1999 and 2000.

 

During the 1980’s the Zillah High FFA chapter earned numerous state level awards.  It seemed as if they were always on stage at the state conventions at WSU to receive “The Gold.”  For seven consecutive years the Zillah chapter was named in the “Top Five” chapters in Washington.  The ZHS FFA Chapter received its first National Chapter, Safety and Building Our American Communities awards at a ceremony at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, MO in November of 1881.  In 1984 the Zillah FFA Chapter sent its first delegation of President Ron Nash (later ZHS FFA advisor), Peter Schneider, and then Advisor John Griffin, to the National FFA Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.

 

In 1989 Advance Placement courses were approved by the College Board and Zillah School Board as part of the ZHS curriculum.  Running Start in cooperation with Yakima Valley Community College was begun in 1992 as another option to allow ZHS to earn college credit while enrolled in high school.

 

In recognition of student achievement within the Fine Arts Department, a Fine Arts awards night was initiated in 1994.  In 1994 the ZHS Associated Student Body voted to allow a Fine Arts “letter” award to be earned and displayed on school jackets.  At this same time an Academic Letter award was approved for students earning a 3.5 GPA for the each semester of each year.  Zillah High School jackets could now more completely represent the entire ZHS student body with letter awards available in athletic, academic, and fine arts.

 

In spring of 1995 ZHS was awarded approval by the US Air Force to begin teaching an Aerospace Science/AFJROTC program.  The first classes in aerospace began in August of 1995.  Granger High School also sent students to afternoon aerospace courses during the first year.  Following their levy failure, Granger dropped out of the program in June of 1996.  That act left Zillah as the smallest high school in the nation awarded and operating a ROTC program.  During the first year operation nearly 45% of the student body investigated the AFJROTC program as an elective course offering.

 

The Z Center Stage Theater Company was formed in 1996 as the official title of the already established thespian group at ZHS.  Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was the first production under their new name.

 

Restructuring from a traditional two semesters and seven 50-minute periods to a structure of three semesters and five 70-minute periods was established in 1997.  A senior cumulating project called “PEARLS” (Portfolio of Essential Academic and Required Life Skills) was also established in 1997.  Academic expectations were increased in 1997 as the ZHS graduation requirements were increased to 28 credits, which included raising both mathematics and science requirements from two credits to three credits each.  ZHS became a valley leader in the state-mandated restructuring and academic expectations.

 

1998 saw the agri-science department moving into the world of biotechnology studies including an animal reproduction class which trained students in techniques of livestock artificial insemination and embryo transplants.  In 1999 construction began on a second greenhouse to meet the increased demand of students pursing ornamental horticulture studies.

 

“College in the High School” utilizing the “Inside Track” program from City University was established in 1999.  Tech Prep articulation had been in effect between YVCC and ZHS since 1993, but few had taken advantage of this program until direct transcription options became effective in 1999.  In 2001 the college in the high school option was changed as ZHS became partners in the CWU Cornerstone program.  Now several options exist for students to earn dual credit (high school and college) for their advanced studies.

 

The music program has been well represented at regional and state solo/ensemble contests, regional honor performance groups, and All-State band and choir in the 1990’s.  Spring of 1999 saw the Leopard Band on a California cruise winning superior ratings in this national contest.  As the ZHS music fame continued to grow, an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall was received.  Music Director Mr. Dave Carlile had only a few short months to prepare the honors choir and raise the needed funding to make this trip possible.  In May 2000 the ZHS student touched down in New York City and had the once in a life time experience of performing in Carnegie Hall.

 

In May of 2000 the Zillah Chapter of FFA hosted its annual parent-member-community awards banquet.  This banquet celebrated the 50^th anniversary of FFA in Zillah High School.  Former Agriculture instructors/FFA advisors and former FFA Presidents were on hand to celebrate this historic event.

 

In the year 2000 the Zillah School Board has asked the community to support a bond for modernization and improvements to the ZHS facilities, some of which were over 30 years old.  Many in the community see the need for these improvements and would like to offer the best facilities for their students.  Being a small district suffering from poor economic conditions have caused the bond to fail falling short of the 60% super majority requirement twice.  The need for improved facilities still exists and each year of use puts more wear and obsolescence on the buildings.  The population of the high school is at a record high enrollment.  Facilities are in demand from extra-curricular and community programs.  The ZSD Board of Directors will continue to work with the community to try to find solutions for these facility needs.  

 

In the fall of 2003 the Zillah School district passed a comprehensive long term bond project.  This will allow for rebuilding of the Hilton elementary school renovations at the high school, and the building of a gym at the middle school.

 

In the spring of 2004 the Zillah school district launched its own website after years being hosted by the esd in Yakima.  Now friends and alumni all over the world can check on ZHS and see how things are going.   

 

In January 2007 the middle school gym project was completed and now that becomes the "home court" for the ZHS leopards.  The new gym opened to rave reviews by players, fans and visitors.  In February 2007 the SCAC Girls District Basketball Tournament was housed in the new gym.  With all the new facilities which are shared by all schools in the district, the schools decided to have all mascots in all schools from grades K-12 become "Leopards".

Zillah School District Dedicates New Gym to Alumni:  The Zillah School District Board of Directors has announced the official name of the new gymnasium as the Zillah Alumni Gym.  The gym built on the ZMS campus and opened in the winter of 2007 is now the main gym for athletics contests and community events.  The gym was build with the proceeds from the last bond that was passed by the community.  So many people over the years have been involved in making Zillah a great community and many of our graduates have gone on to success from lessons learned in the “old gyms” and that small town support of the teams forms a pivot point for social gatherings and pride, that it seemed a natural choice to acknowledge the Zillah Alumni by naming this beautiful new facility after them.  Thank you alumni for all your support.