Pioneer History 1964-1969Interview with Mr. McPhee, former teacher
Interview with Gary Riesen, former student
Sports and Clubs then and now
Outstanding Students awardFaculty, 1964-1969
Pioneer is a pretty old school, and everybody knows it. The school may not have all the modern trappings the newer schools have, yet Pioneer has something no other school in Wenatchee has, History. Sure the other schools have been around for a awhile but none as long as Pioneer. Pioneer Middle School started out as a junior high, and in the early 60's an additional wing was added to the building, then it was transformed into a Middle School in1984, 27 years after it was built in 1957. Some of the students have parents who went to Pioneer, so did some of the teachers! The first Principal at Pioneer was Mr. Dan W. Wile, who served until 1969, when the school dedicated their yearbook to him. The school may look a little out of the ordinary but it is a very special feeling to be part of such a historical school!
Everyone knows Pioneer school as that odd looking building off Miller street, there are blue people in the hallways, rolling ceilings, and what some people would call peculiar colors, but that's just some of the schools trademarks. The surrounding schools in the district aren't as distinct as Pioneer, Orchard's building looks typical enough, so does Foothills, they even have a elevator. What some people don't realize is that Pioneer wasn't as out of step back then as it is now.
The differences between the way the school was run, in terms of discipline, activities, classes, and the all out appearance are very large. First of all remember this is at least thirty years ago and a lot of things were different in society. People dressed differently, girls just didn't wear pants to school, and they only wore shorts in the gym. Looking through the old yearbooks highlights the huge difference in style, the hair styles were quite different back then, and the clothing quiet strange! Now days there are just as many sports for girls as there are for boys, The Yearbook of 97` has maybe three or four groups, clubs or organizations listed, the yearbook of 67 has about fifteen.
There are many teachers, and students of the early Pioneer Junior High who still live in Wenatchee. Mr. McPhee, who originally taught At Ellison,(where apartments are now located) was then transfered, along with Mr. Hayes the boys counseler, and many others. He was on the planning committee for the design of the building. When asked how the rules have changed in the past thirty five years, he answered "When I was coming into the building(Pioneer 98) I saw a sign that said "Gun Free Zone." In my day it would have said "Gum Free Zone." We didn't worry about gun's, knives, or drugsÉ" Mr. McPhee also commented on how the school in general has changed, he said, "Well, you know several things have happened as far as how things worked back then, I think it's as well run today, as it was back then. It looks much the same."
Mr. Gary Riesen who is now a prosecuting attorney in Wenatchee, was a graduate of Pioneer Jr. High in 1966, and he was willing to answer most of my questions. Due to the fact that at least half of Pioneer is of Hispanic origin it was interesting to find how different it was years ago. When he was asked what percentage of the student population was Hispanic he answered, "Um, hardly anybody, virtually none, except for an exchange student once in awhile, but it was pretty much all just white kids. We may have had a few black kids but the Hispanic population hadn't moved into the valley yetÉ"
Pioneer has produced many outstanding students over the years, some of their names were put on a plaque which now is on display in the library waiting for the names of 97-98, in the year 63, Nancy Henderson and Tim Moore were put on the plaque, in 69 Darlene Engst and Burelle Duvuachelle had the honors, and the list continues on, and on. Who will be the lucky ones this year?
Pioneer Middle School is the oldest school in the Wenatchee area, and the most unique. No one else has blue people on their walls, or the structure Pioneer has, three separate building's with ceilings portraying rolling hills. Even though Pioneer is a little old and worn out it is still holding up just fine, and it will hopefully continue to be that way for a very long time!
Bibliography
Mrs. Scates, Pioneer log. 1964.
Mrs. Scates, Pioneer log. 1965.
Mrs. Scates, Pioneer log. 1966.
Mrs. Scates, Pioneer log. 1967.
Outstanding Student Award Plaque 1964-1969.
Personal interview. McPhee, Bill. January 1998.
Personal interview. Riesen, Gary. January 1998.
Unknown advisor, Pioneer log. 1968.
Unkown advisor, Pioneer log. 1969.
Wenatchee School District Records 1960-1970.
Taught at Pioneer from 1957-78
What year did you start teaching at Pioneer?
"I came over from Ellison Jr. High, before the school was built. I was on the committee to design the building, and so I think about 1956, oh 1957 was the year I startedÉ"
Were you just a teacher at Pioneer, you taught 7th didn't you?
"Oh, I imagine for 20, 25 years I taught AlgebraÉ"
Have the rules changed since you last taught at Pioneer?
"For the children or for the teachers?"
Just for everything, over all?
"Oh, I don't know, you know I've been substituting a lot lately, our discipline was different, we had different kinds of problems. I was coming in the building and I saw that sign that said, "Gun Free Zone," in my day it would have said "Gum Free Zone." We didn't worry about gun's, knives, or drugsÉ"
We can't have gum in some of our classes, what were some of your rules about food?
"We didn't allow any kind of food or drink in the classrooms, and the only kind of a treat we sold, was packaged peanuts. I know because I ran the school store."
Wasn't there a Ice Cream Bar machine?
"We didn't allow candy back then, the main concern was health, now I find candy rappers all over the place."
So you taught Algebra and you were a core teacher, is that right?
"Never, you didn't have core. I did have a home room for several years. They did have something later on they called a block of time, which is similar to your core but we only had 2 classes."
How many years have you taught at Pioneer in all?
"Let's see, at Pioneer about 27 years."
Did you have somebody in your class, that in your opinion went on to change the world?
"Oh it's all surprising, but to change the world?"
Well, to become something super important, like a doctor?
"Many, also a lot of lawyers, the attorney that I have was one of my x- students. I see pictures in the paper and it's always surprising to see some of the kids that I thought, I don't know if that kid is going to make it, and then later I find out that their doing very wellÉ"
Since the last time you taught at Pioneer, how has the school in general changed?
"Well, you know several things have happened as far as how things worked back then. I think it's as well run today, as it was back then. It looks much the same."
While you were at Pioneer was there a second Language offered, if so which ones?
"Yeah, Spanish and.... I think French, but I didn't take either one of them."
Were you in the Chess club?
"You were checking up on me weren't you? Yeah, yeah I think I was."
Were you involved in any sports?
"I played football, in 8th grade, but I don't think I did in 9th grade. I also played tennis, but not until high school because there was no tennis team."
What did you enjoy most about Pioneer?
"I liked Band, I enjoyed that a lot."
What were the assemblies like?
"Oh let's see, just remember they were all in the gym. We pulled out bleachers? Do you still sit on those? The same ones?"
Yeah, except they were probably in a lot better shape back then........
"The Principal was Mr. Wile."
Was he very tall?
"No he was short."
Mr. DeJong our principal is like 20 feet tall. Our vice principal is tall too.
"Yeah, Mr. Wile was quit short. Mr. Hayes was the boys counseler."
Was he your teacher?
"No he was the boys counseler....."
Did you have Mr.McPhee for any of your classes, do you remember him?
"Yeah."
He's our sub. once in awhile, he's awsome!
"Oh, does he still come and sub?"
Yeah he tells stories.........
"Yes, Mr. McPhee was real nice, I had some good teachers at Pioneer."
Do you remember any of their names?
" I liked Mr.McPhee. Mr.Hedges, he's an English teacher. He was really nice. I liked Mr. Evens the Band teacher, Mr Baglau, he taught History or something. Mr.Travis was the Mechanical Art teacher, he was a funny little guy. Yeah I remember several of them."
What was your favorite subject, and who was your teacher?
" I liked Mr. Hedges, and Mr. Mcphee, they were probably my favorite teachers. That was English and Mr.Mcphee taught math. I wasn't very good at math."
Was there a reward system while you atttended Pioneer? Did you get something for being good? What happened when you got in trouble?
"No I don't think so, I don't remember. We just got in trouble, I don't think there were any incentives. All I remember is the honor role for good grades."
Did you have any parties, for holidays or anything?
"I don't remember, it was so long ago."
Mr. Hayes was talking about the segregated classes, all boys, all girls, were you in any of those?
"Uh yeah, because we had Wood shop, that was all boys. We had Mechanical drawing, that was all boys, and I think the girls had Home Ec or something."
Did you have all boy teachers, or did you have some girl teachers too?
"Yeah, I had some woman teachers."
Was there a girl P.E teacher, for the girls?
"Yeah...."
Was she allowed upstairs when she was dressed down? Because when our P.E teacher Miss. Hilscher taught back then she wasn't allowed to come into the school because she wasn't wearing a dress.
"Really, I don't remember, but I bet our Girl P.E teacher wasn't allowed up into the school either."
Did you like P.E?
"Yeah."
Were you athletic?
"Not, not very, too little....."
Did you graduate with anyone who changed or made an impact on the world?
"Like somebody in my class, someone famous?"
Yeah
"I don't think they were any super famous people."
Any more lawyers?
"Yeah, there were several lawyers in my highschool class, Steve Zimmerman, there was four maybe five lawyers in my high schoool class..."
What percentage of the student population was Hispanic?
" Hardly anybody, virtually none, except for an exchange student once in awhile, but it was pretty much all just white kids. We may have had a few Black kids but the Hispanic population hadn't moved into the valley yet..."
Were girls as involved in sports as guy's were?
"No, I don't think they had very many girls sports."
Basketball, did they have basketball?
"I don't remember, I'll betcha they didn't. I don't think the girls had any sports to speak of."
Well, when I looked through the year books, there were lot's of committees and groups I've never even heard of, and now there are a few things.
"Yeah, there were lots of organizations and things. Yeah, they had a "Drill Team" and all that kind of stuff, and committees and things, but no sports for girls I think, and of course they didn't even have as many boy sports as they have now."
And I think that's it,
"So you got what you wanted?"
|
Yeah, thank you very much, bye! "Good bye!"
|
|
|
Pioneers Sports and Clubs of 97 |
|
Outstanding |
Created by Bethany Clark, February, 1998
