Thanks to everyone who came to our 50th Reunion bash! Photos/videos are ready!
About Us
Lakewood High School Class of 1974
As the "New Building" photo above implies, the Lakewood High School Class of 1974 was the First new freshman student class to attend the "New" high school. Those facilities built a half century prior would later see in 1970 its original buildings renovated; vastly expanded into a campus setting suited to house a student and staff population in the thousands. A small city inside a larger city.
Those high school days were the beginning of the 1970s decade; a decade rich in change, cultural and societal upheaval. Change and innovation were everywhere. Those elements were also on full display in public school instruction. Change was more than new school buildings. Change came in a new teaching philosophy and methodology; and emerging technology being used to assist teachers.
During all of it, the LHS Class of 1974 was there; living through all of it as it occurred daily inside and outside of our high school life. It was the best of times in many ways; especially for wild-eyed teens looking for thrills & adventure. Take a look below at some scenes from those days and before ...
Yesterdays
Early 20th century Lakewood
The original Lakewood High School
The original Lakewood High School
Looking south at the intersection of Bunts and Madison in Lakewood Ohio; circa 1919. At this time the city is mostly woods by the lake; so it is easy to determine the city name's origin. Not alot more here than muddy tire tracks, and the single concrete lane for the early roadsters to navigate north & south, east & west thru town.
- photo -
Courtesy Michael Schwartz Library, CSU
The original Lakewood High School
The original Lakewood High School
The original Lakewood High School
Lakewood High School circa 1920. Opened to students in 1919, the school facility was carved out of a large section of forest that at the time still dominated the city residential landscape. 50 years later, the school grew dramatically.
- photo -
Courtesy Michael Schwartz Library, CSU
LHS Facility Expansion
The original Lakewood High School
LHS Renovation Nearly Complete
Construction of new LHS school facilities; circa 1968. Notice the new classroom building is still under construction. Both the LRC and the new student cafeteria are already complete; while the new women's athletic and the vocational arts buildings were not yet built. The sports area and field were also yet to be renovated.
- photo -
Courtesy Michael Schwartz Library, CSU
LHS Renovation Nearly Complete
LHS Renovation Nearly Complete
LHS Renovation Nearly Complete
Early 1970, and construction of the entire new LHS facility is almost complete. Notice that the "Girl's Gymnasium" building on the far left, and the Vocational Arts building on the far upper right side of the photo are now completed.
- photo -
Courtesy Michael Schwartz Library, CSU
A High School Becomes A City
LHS Renovation Nearly Complete
A High School Becomes A City
The beginning of the new LHS school year in September 1970 brought the 9th grade classes from the city's three junior high schools to the newly expanded high school for the First time.
This action changed public school educational dynamics in the city forever. The Class Of 1974 has the distinction of being the First Freshman school class to attend the new school facility.
- photo -
Courtesy Michael Schwartz Library, CSU
The "New Building"
LHS Renovation Nearly Complete
A High School Becomes A City
It was this three-story building; along with the attached LRC (the Learning Resource Center) building, and the new student cafeteria on the ground floor of the LRC building; that students spent much of their classroom time in. Most of the students & faculty spent the first "new LHS school" year learning how to navigate the vast labyrinth of hallways that connected floors and buildings throughout the new school campus.
New Traffic In New Places
New Traffic In New Places
New Traffic In New Places
The winter of 1970 settles in as cars park along Franklin Boulevard. waiting to pick up students in front of the newly renovated LHS campus.
- photo -
Courtesy Michael Schwartz Library, CSU
At The Signpost Up Ahead
New Traffic In New Places
New Traffic In New Places
Also freshly renovated was the LHS bulletin board sitting at the SW corner of Bunts Road & Franklin Blvd at the school grounds perimeter.
Johnny Appleseed
New Traffic In New Places
Johnny Appleseed
The city's existing Lakewood Civic Theater was also to soon become the default meetup place and hangout destination for LHS students.
"Meet me at Johnny Appleseed" ^_^