Community members from Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta, Eagle Rock, Ivanhoe, Tropico, and West Glendale formed Glendale Union High School in 1901. While all the young students were enrolled in Los Angeles High School, they desired a school that was closer and more convenient for them.
The Glendale Unified School District office is currently located near the intersection of Isabel and Jackson Street. The first GHS classes were held in September 1901 in the dining room of the Glendale Hotel. Mr. Levwellyn Evans was the school’s first principal; at the time, there were just two teachers and twenty-nine kids enrolled.
The school required additional help from instructors and staff, since it was so overcrowded, even though it was only the beginning of a fresh start. In the end, the organization submitted a vote to construct additional structures at the intersection of Broadway and Brand Boulevard, where you can currently shop at Marshalls.
After these buildings were constructed, George U. Moyse became the school’s new principal. Mr. Moyse served as our school’s principal for thirty-five years, and later our football field, Moyse Stadium, was named in his honor,
Due to the physical limitations of our first school site, as enrollment began to exceed capacity, the District decided to expand our campus to accommodate additional instructors and students.
The trustees had to take the required action to provide the school with $75,000 for that modification to take place. The city was able to accommodate the approximately 800 students who were enrolled, as a result of the expansion at the new location.
About 1,050 students were enrolled in temporary bungalows on the west side of the school, while other buildings were being constructed. The Harvard Street School continued to operate classes up till 1937. Meanwhile, back at Broadway and Verdugo, the first high school classes met in 1924.
Over the years, new clubs and activities were added at GHS, including the German and Spanish Clubs, debate teams, a weekly newspaper, a yearbook, and Homecoming. Our annual Oratorical began two years after these new buildings were constructed in 1910, and this event has been an ongoing tradition for GHS for more than 114 years.
A beautiful bell tower, a hallmark of Glendale High School, stood in the center of campus for decades. Sadly, the administration building suffered significant damage when a fire broke out during spring break in 1964.
The incident was caused by a student who was distressed by his grades and initially thought to destroy them. The fire spread throughout the administration buildings and the buildings next to it.
The Bell Tower’s unique tiles and colors were present until the fire broke out. From 1964 to 1969, during reconstruction, the bell tower had to be demolished because of the extent of the damage.
Sadly, without special marks like the bell tower, our campus now appears simpler and more modern. Most of the principal structures have been built since the 1990s and remain standing today. In 1995, the 4000 Building was opened on our campus to accommodate the incoming freshman class, and before that year, GHS was only composed of seniors, juniors and sophomores.
If you are fascinated by the history of Glendale High School, more information can be found HERE. Keep making history, Nitros!
