Duluth Central High School, also referred to as Central High School, was a secondary school in Duluth, Minnesota. It educated students in grades ten through twelve and later added seventh and eighth grades after the closure of Washington Junior High School in 1992. The original building at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Second Street first opened in 1893. On October 19, 2004, the building was given the official name, Historic Old Central High School.[2]
| Duluth Central High School | |
|---|---|
 Central High School from the east | |
| Location | |
 | |
215 N. 1st Avenue E., Duluth, Minnesota , United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1893 |
| Closed | 1971 |
| Language | English |
| Color(s) | Red and White |
| Song | Hurrah - For the Red and White! |
| Mascot | Trojan |
| Team name | Trojans |
| Rivals | Duluth East High School and Denfeld High School |
| Yearbook | Central Zenith |
   | |
| Area | 2.754 acres (1.115 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Palmer, Hall, & Hunt; Traphagen & Fitzpatrick |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001488[1] |
| Added to NRHP | November 9, 1972 |
In 1971, a new Central High School building was erected near the Central Entrance and Pecan Avenue. At the end of the 2010-2011 school year, the new Duluth Central High School closed its doors.
History
editThis article needs to be updated. (May 2022) |
When originally built on the hillside in 1892, Duluth Central High School was famed not only for its grand clock tower, which could be seen for miles, but also for its wide halls, sweeping stairways with iron banisters, large chandeliers, and beautiful statuary.
Due to age and safety conditions, the Duluth School Board decided in 1970 that it would have to build a new school to replace the Historic Old Central High School. In 1971, the new Central High School building was built on top of the hill and the school moved there, leaving School District administrative offices in the old building.
In 2007, the Duluth School Board announced that they would support the long-range Red plan for the district which would close Duluth Central and keep a renovated Ordean Middle School (now Duluth East High School) and Duluth Denfeld High School as the only two high schools in Duluth.
2011 was the last graduating class of Duluth Central High School. The grounds and the buildings would remain empty until sold by the school district.
In November 2013 the Duluth City Council met to finalize plans to rezone the land from an R-1 (residential zone) to a commercial C zone paving the way for ISD 709 to sell Central High School to potential land developers for commercial purposes. In December 2014, the sale of the property was announced.[3] 46°47′21″N 92°06′00″W / 46.7891063°N 92.0999118°W[4]
It was announced on August 8, 2022, that Chester Creek View LLC purchased the majority of the property, including the school building.[5] Demolition of the building began on November 14, 2022.[6]
In February 2024, the Duluth City Council voted in support of a $500 million redevelopment plan. It would include 1,300 housing units and commercial space. The developer is Lazar Ostreicher.[7]
Athletics
editBig red was given to Duluth Central High School [teams] until 1930. In that year, students decided to change the name to the "Trojans". This was done through a contest in which all students could participate.[8][better source needed] The Trojan has been the symbol and name for Central [teams] ever since.[9]
Central claimed numerous Minnesota State High School League state championships, with most of them coming in basketball, skiing, and ski jumping. Central had many state championships in winter sports, including the individual downhill skiing champion 18 times between 1932 and 1962 and team champion six times. Central also had a dominant ski jumping program with eight state ski jumping champions between 1939 and 1968 and 19 team championships between 1933 and 1974.[10] Central won the state debate title in 1922. Central was state champion in boys basketball in 1950, 1961, 1971 (the first year of two classes, A and AA), and 1979. Central was state champion in boys cross country running six times between 1943 and 1957. Central won three consecutive boys golf titles from 1946 to 1948. Central was boys track and field state champion four times in 1923, 1930, 1935, and 1936.
Notable alumni
edit| Alumni | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Gary Doty | former Duluth mayor |
| Robert R. Gilruth | aerospace engineer and an aviation/space pioneer |
| Earl B. Gustafson | judge, lawyer, and politician |
| Richard H. Hanson | politician |
| Terry Kunze | professional basketball player |
| Don LaFontaine | voice actor who recorded more than 5,000 film trailers |
| Elmer McDevitt | football player and coach |
| Ted McKnight | football player |
| Lorenzo Music | actor, voice actor, writer, producer, and musician |
| Ethel Ray Nance | civil rights activist |
| Don Ness | former Duluth mayor |
| Jim Ojala | special effects and makeup artist, screenwriter, and film director |
| Winifred Sanford | writer |
| Jordan Schmidt | music producer, songwriter |
| Sam Solon | politician |
| Wellyn Totman | Hollywood screenwriter |
References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "History - Historic Old Central High School".
- ^ Hollingsworth, Jana. "Duluth Central High School site will be developed into housing". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Central High School
- ^ Buie, Alex (August 9, 2022). "Duluth's Old Central High School sells for $8M". WDIO.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ "Former Duluth Central High School Demolition to Make Way for Development". Fox21online.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ "Duluth council backs massive new hilltop housing development". mprnews.org. February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Dear Old Central". Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "About Us". Washington Studios Artist Cooperative. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Boys Alpine Skiing in Review 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2024.