James John High School

James John High School
Location
St. Johns, Oregon (1911–15) Portland, Oregon (1915–21) United States
Information
Type	high school
Opened	1911
Closed	1921

James John High School was a public high school in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It was opened in 1911 and the first graduating class had four students. It closed in 1921 and its replacement, Roosevelt High School, opened the next year. It was named for the founder of St. Johns, James John.

History

Built in 1910, James John High School was named for the founder of the settlement and cost US$40,000 (US$1,015,857 adjusted for inflation).^[1] In the school's first year, men's and women's basketball team were formed.^[2] There were four students in the first graduating class in 1911.^[3] A meeting of the Multnomah County Teachers Institute took place at James John High School in 1911.^[4] The St. Johns Commercial Club formed and agreed to hold their meeting at James John High School on November 13, 1911.^[5] In 1915, the James John High School athletic teams joined the Portland Interscholastic League.^[6] The school was temporarily closed in 1920 after it was condemned as unsafe.^[7] Students were sent to Jefferson High School during the school's rebuilding.^[8] The Portland City Council began searching for a new location for an updated James John High School, since the old school was not adequate.^[9] The new school was planned to be named James John High School, but following in the theme of other Portland high schools built in the era it was named Roosevelt High School and opened in 1922. James John High School was closed the year prior.^[10][11]

References

1. "High grade homes built in St. Johns". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 18 September 1910. p. 7.
2. "James John school winner". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 5 March 1911. p. 10.
3. "St. Johns graduates four". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 26 June 1911. p. 14.
4. "County teachers meet". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 28 November 1911. p. 13.
5. "St. Johns citizens form". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 14 November 1911. p. 12.
6. "Eight teams in league". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 8 December 1915. p. 14.
7. "James John High School building will be made safe by October 15". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 5 September 1920. p. 14.
8. "Teachers who quit suddenly, warned". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 27 August 1920. p. 10.
9. "44 teachers named to fill vacancies". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 2 September 1920. p. 6.
10. "James John site picked". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 11 February 1921. p. 4.
11. "James John honors memory of notables". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 8 November 1921. p. 6.

External links

• St. John Review written by James John High School students in 1914