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Phoenix Union High School Established in 1895.
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The the
first student body numbered 90 students. The school was held
in the old Central School building on the second floor,
which later became approximately the San Carlos Hotel
property..
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After two years the District was authorized by the voters to
purchase the old Churchill residence at 5th Street and Van
Buren for PUHS at a cost of $15, 000. In 1898 the first
classes were held at that site. Classes grew rapidly,
another $10,000 was allocated for remodeling to the North.
The building stood until 1949, when demolished for a
cafeteria.
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In 1910 Phoenix's population had reached 11,134 and there
were 300 students enrolled at PUHS.
Temporary buildings were
build in 1909 to accommodate the increase. A bond issue was
rejected in 1919 to remodel the failing buildings.
Additional buildings were build in 1929. Now the City of
Phoenix population numbered 29,053 and the students at PUHS
was 1000.
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Phoenix Union High School
Auditorium Photo 1955 |
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It was the only secondary education school in the Phoenix
area until 1939 with the creation of North Phoenix High
School. Many cultural events were held on the campus,
especially at "Montgomery" stadium, such as the "The Masque
of the Yellow Moon".
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Carver High School was combined with PUHS in the Fall of
1954. The last year for Phoenix Technical school was 1955,
which also became part of Phoenix Union High School. Then in
the Fall of 1956, the Class of 1960 started as freshman. At
that time Phoenix Unions was the largest high school west of
the Mississippi. That freshman class had more students than
the entire Phoenix Union student body of 1929. Relief and
sadness of many of our freshman went on to continue at the
newly build Carl Hayden and Central High Schools in 1957.
This was the year (1957-58) that Earl McCullar was appointed
principal of Phoenix Union.
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The Phoenix Union High School's last class was in 1982.
Thanks to the Alumni and the City of Phoenix,
three of the original buildings remain. Including
the Auditorium, where the PUHS Alumni Historic Center is
located.
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Visit
Ron Heberlee's Acmeron Website for
some great PUHS historical photographs. Including a
series taken in 1917 by Carol Perkin's mom.
Photos > > >
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Thomas J. Pappas
PUHS Class of 1958 |
The following
was composed by Harriet (Cunnngham) Zeaman, Class of
'55, in the Phoenix Union High School Alumni
Directory during 2002. The first paragraph contains
information on the origins of the PUHS Alumni
Association. |
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It was Tommy who was
determined to begin an Alumni Association when he invited a
dozen or so graduates who were active in their class
reunions to meet with him. Then, he told us we were to bring
our mailing rosters to the meeting where we began to
organize.
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The second meeting
brought over a hundred alums to the Matador Restaurant's
meeting room where we voted on officers and this was the
real beginning of the P.U.H.S. Alumni Association. At
present, nearly 5,000 Coyote Journals are sent per issue,
and is published four times a year.
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At the height of the
festive evening of November 24, 1989, he was doing what he
loved, dancing. He suffered a fatal heart attack at the
Annual Alumni Association's Dinner Dance. Knowing it is what
he would want, we continue the dances, encouraging alums to
get together on a regular basis. He was known to have made
the statement that “when my time comes, I want to be
dancing".
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His vision was to keep
the focus on unity of the alumni, to keep the name Phoenix
Union in the foreground, preserve the memorabilia and he
would have fought to keep the buildings on the National
Register of Historic Sites. His dreams continue to be the
greater vision of the Association.
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Tommy, thank you and
we'll never forget to "Fight On" for the causes you strove
to attain. I will always remember the honor of being the
Secretary to the First President.
Harriet (Cunningham)
Zeaman
Class of 1955
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