A great pleasure in life is doing what others say you can't!
The History of Lynden PUBLIC Schools
Forward
The history of the Lynden Public Schools in 1964 was scattered in many areas. This booklet is an attempt to gather much of it into one place. Of course, the material had to be condensed and edited; otherwise, several volumes would have been necessary to give a complete picture. No doubt many interesting items have been left out because they were not discovered by us in our research.
It was fitting that this compilation would be done by Fred Rockey, Lynden teacher for 45 years, who gave so much of himself to the boys and girls of this area. Thanks are also extended to the Lynden Tribune and to the late editor, Sol Lewis, for their coverage of school affairs and keeping the materials in a safe place over so many years.
The Board of Directors of the Lynden School District hope that this history will be of some value now and in the coming years.
Elbert R. Isom, Superintendent
Lynden Public School - 1964
Board of Directors:
Charles Haan, President
David Crabtree, Vice President
Alfred Brandt
Wayne Munkers
Alvin Vinup, Clerk
A HISTORY OF THE LYNDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INTRODUCTION
Like Abe Lincoln, the Lynden Public Schools had their beginning in a log cabin. This was in 1876 when H. A. Judson opened the door of his austere log cabin to the first class of children who came from six white families and a number of Indian families in the area. Mrs. James O'Neil had the distinction of being the first teacher. Classes were taught for three months a year in private homes until 1883 when the first school house was built between Fishtrap Creek and West Main Street. The location was about a block behind the present elementary school.
Since no sawed lumber was available, logs were used to build the sides of the school. The building had a puncheon floor and split shakes were used to cover the roof. Desks and benches were hand made in Lynden. Construction was completed in 1884. Mrs. John Bussard, armed with a peruit to teach from Mrs. T. W. Coupe, county superintendent of schools, began classes on December 8 or the same year at a salary of $30 a month. The school term was for three months. School directors were August Klocke, Sr. and William Lauchart, Sr. Use of the building was not confined to classes, it served the community as a church and a public meeting hall as well.
In 1888, the Phoebe Judson family donated land for a second school building and the following year a two-story building was erected on the same site of the present grade school. Several additions were tacked onto it in succeeding years, one of them a two-room project finished in 1903.
High school classes were started in 1906 and the first class consisted of three students, Vera Robinson, Bessie Taylor and Clarence Vander Griend. The high school and grade school classes were held in the same building and it was soon necessary to enlarge the school building again. Completed in 1907, the four-room addition cost an astounding $3,142.15. With its completion, the building furnished room for the high school classes, and a separate room was available for each of the eight grades. Costs of the addition were these:
Contract with Mulder and Boerhave for addition $ 2,285.00
Contract with John Worst for siding and papering the old part 234.50
R. E. Hawley, excavating and foundation 140.00
C. H. Wheeler, painting 115.00
J. N. Selby, seats and blackboards 246.00
Student chairs 81.25
Stove and miscellaneous 40.40
$3,142.15
And it didn't even include sales tax.
In the fall of 1910, Mr. Kreager of Washington State College talked to patrons of the Lynden School District about the advantages of manual train-1ng. He apparently was convincing as a small shop building was constructed within a short time and C.O. Mulder was hired as a teacher. The building was enlarged in 1911-12 and a considerable amount of new equipment was added.
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL
The combination grade and high school building quickly became overcrowded, a problem hardly unknown by educators today. When classes began in the fall of 1911, there were 346 students in all grades and interest in a new and separate high increased during the next couple of years. It reached 1ts peak with the passage of a $25,000 bond issue election for construction of a new school by a vote of 233 to 81.
Architect M. H. Gerlack was hired to draw up plans for the new building. He designed a two-story concrete structure with a basement. The building contained 12 classrooms, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300, and a gymnasium. The gymnasium was to be 40 feet wide by 60 feet long with a ceiling 20 feet above the floor. A balcony five and a half feet wide ran around the perimeter of the gym. Gerlack's plan was accepted by school directors Frank Knapp, Ed Edson and H. E. Stuart. The building was finished in 1914 and opened for use in 1915.
NEW MODERN GRADE SCHOOL
The high school wasn't the only educational operation having its troubles with too many students and too little space. The Lynden Grade School, started in 1889 and the recipient of several additions ran out of room for the more than 300 students enrolled in the early 1920's. The directors of the school district had recognized this for some time and had been saving money for the construction of a new building. A two-mill levy for the construction of a new grade school was passed on December 4, 1924 by the overwhelming vote of 325 to 44 and the money from this levy was added to the fund started years before by the school directors. By 1925 some $31,000 had been accumulated for the new grade school. On December 25, 1925 voters went to the polls to pass a $22,000 bond issue by a vote of 169 to 9 and this was added to the fund being accumulated for a new grade school. This election also authorized the directors to begin construction of a new school at a cost of $54,000.?
H, F. Allen of Seattle was awarded the general contract for $39,000 on March 11, 1926 to build a 12-room grade school. The heating and lighting contract went to A, J. Blythe of Bellingham at 98,848g Mr. Wallis was hired as the architect. The building was constructed of reinforced concrete except for the rear wall which was constructed of wood to permit the addition of extra units as needed.
The building was finished in October, 1926, and was formally accepted by the school directors, R. B. LeCocq, Henry Shagren, and L. S. Piercy. It was dedicated on November 11, 1926. The old building was sold to R. E. Hawley for $100.
Grade school enrollment continued to climb and two new classrooms were added to the east side of the building. During the years through 1951, more classrooms, a cafeteria, a playroom, music rooms and restrooms were added. A few years later, still more modern classrooms were added to the grade school build and today this school along with a new William A. Fisher School (see page 5) provides needed space for a continually increasing number of grade school pupils.
HIGH SCHOOL GYM AND AUDITORIUM
The Lynden High School gymnasium, built in 1914, was only 40 feet wide and 60 feet long. Part of the crowd had to be seated around the playing floor. This limited the size of the playing floor and only a small number of people could see the games. For several years there had been discussion about building a larger gymnasium. A meeting was held on March 26, 1924, and it was decided to build a new gymnasium by popular subscription. A ticket was to be given for each $25 pledge for construction of the new gym. Each ticket holder was to be given a reserved seat at the high school basketball games for the next five years. At the first meeting $1,000 was pledged. By May 1, 1924, $4,600 had been raised and it was decided to build the gymnasium and raise the rest of the money later.
Blueprints and specifications of the new gym were made by local people. On July 2, 1924, a contract was let for the construction of the gymnasium. Lambert Zoet of Lynden was the low bidder at $6,500. The playing floor was 50 feet by 82 feet and a ceiling clearance of 22 feet. Bleachers were constructed on each side of the gym and at one end there was a stage 18 feet deep. Dressing rooms were built under the stage and bleachers. Chairs could be placed on the playing floor when the building was used as an audi-torium. The gym accommodated about 1500 people. The playing floor was considered excellent. Many events were held in this building including several district and county basketball tournaments.
The new auditorium and gymnasium was dedicated October 30, 1924, with a jamboree. About $750 was cleared to help pay off the debt on the building. The first basketball game was played November 12, 1924, by the Lynden and Bellingham town teams. Jamborees, plays and other community activities were held to pay off the debt on the building.
The last jamboree was held November 2, 1926 and cleared enough money to finish paying the debt on the building. A more modern gymnasium was built in 1939 and the 1924 building is now used as a farmshop and a music room.
AUDITORIUM
The need for a separate auditorium became apparent during the 1930's. Ways and means of raising the money for such a building had been discussed for some time. In 1935 the school board began raising money and in July, 1935, the voters approved a local bond issue of 915,000. A federal grant of $30,000 and a state grant of 910,400 were also obtained.
Plans were quickly approved by the school board. The auditorium could seat 756 people on the main floor and 268 in the balcony: Across the front of the building were three large classrooms, which were used by the music department, agriculture, and domestic science. There were also restrooms and an office in the front part of the building. A large room under the stage was built for & manual training shop. The building was dedicated on December 2, 1936, and cost a little over $70,000.
New Gymnasium
Architect Leonard W. Benson was hired to draw plans for a new high school gymnasium in 1938. Mr. Headrick and Mr. Johnson were the successful bidders and construction soon got under way. The building was completed at a cost of $50,000. It was dedicated on December 8, 1939.
Eight Whatcom County basketball teams paired off and played a shortened basketball game as part of the dedication. A number of well-known basketball coaches, including Hec Edmundson of the University of Washington, took part in the dedication. At the time the gymnasium was built, it was one of the most modern in the state. Many exciting and important games have been played in this gym and it is one of the best gymnasiums in the northwest.
The baskets are 80 feet apart and the floor is 46 feet wide. The gym will seat about 1,500 spectators. School board members who authorized construction were Arthur Crabtree, L. S. Piercy, Peter J. Elenbaas, Gerrit Noteboom and Tom Young.
After the new gymnasium was built, the older gym was redesigned and used as a music room and a farm shop. It is still being used for these purposes.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Construction of the new high school began in 1962 and was completed March 26, 1963. This project was difficult, at least in one respect. The old high school had to be torn down before the new one could be completed. Part of the new building was scheduled to be built on the site of the old high school. The older building was torn down as soon as school was out in the spring. Ten classrooms had to be completed before. school could start in September.
The new building consisted of 15 classrooms, offices, guidance area, nurse's room, cafetorium, restrooms, and storage rooms. The construction was mainly of wooden timbers with some brick veneer. The roof and floor construction was primarily of beams. All classroom lighting is of the finest fluorescence, giving a high level of illumination without glare.
The science area has the finest equipment available. Micro equipment is used in teaching chemistry. Physics uses the PSSC approach. There 1s an individual projection room with a display case opening directly to the hallway•.
The building cost $517,177 or $14 per square foot. The equipment in the new building cost $40,000. The members of the school board were Alfred Brandt, Alvin Vinup, Charles Haan, David Crabtree and Wayne Munkers. Elbert R. Isom was superintendent of the Lynden schools and William Arvid Johnson was the architect.
FORMATION OF THE LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Maps of the lynden school district
ADMINISTRATION
Lynden High School opened its door for the first time on September 3, 1906 with C. Henry Bowman as its principal. He was the principal of the high school and the grade school from 1906 to 1908. A. N. French succeeded him in the fall of 1908 and was principal until 1910 when he decided to return to the University and finish his education.
In 1910 P. A. Wright was elected to head the Lynden Schools, as the district's first superintendent.
Mr. Wright had been a teacher and a coach in the Lynden schools for a year before he was elected superintendent. Lynden High School was accredited during 1910 giving graduates the privilege of entering the state colleges and many other universities without examination.
In 1917 Mr. Wright decided to go to Prosser, Washington, as superintendent of the Prosser schools. He left Prosser in 1923 to become superintendent of the Snohomish schools, a position he held for 24 years. In 1948 he moved to Richland and was superintendent of the Richland schools during their expansion. He retired in 1953 but served as consultant in the organization of the Columbia Basin College for six years. He died February 12, 1961.
Mr. William A. Fisher came to Lynden as a teacher and coach in the fall of 1911. He was elected superintendent of the Sumas schools in 1915. In 1917 he returned to Lynden where he was superintendent from 1917 to 1954. Mr. Fisher worked hard at improving the academic curricula of the schools. As a result of his program, Edwin Iwitmeyer, Stäte High School Inspector, recommended that the high school be admitted to the Northwest Association of High Schools in 1925. Schools were admitted to the Association by invitation only. Lynden High School was accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and High Schools in 1939. It has been accredited each year since then which makes it easier for graduates to enter universi-ties, especially those in the eastern part of the country.
Mr. Fisher also was interested in athletics. As an educator he was able to achieve that fine balance between athletics and education to the detriment of neither. He worked to improve the athletic program of all schools. Mr. Fisher was a member of the Board of Control of the State High School Athletic Association for 30 years, and he served as its president for 15 years.
The Helms Foundation, which annually seeks out and honors men throughout the nation for outstanding contributions in the field of athletics, gave William Fisher Its service award at Los Angeles in 1949. He was also on the National Federation Board for many years.
Mr. Fisher served a term in the Washington State Legislature after he retired from school work. He died December 12, 1960.
Mr. Elbert Isom came to Lynden in 1930 as coach and high school teacher. He coached basketball and track from 1930 to 1946. His basketball teams won seven Whatcom County Championships and placed first three times in the Northwest Washington District Tournament. Four of his basketball teams played in the state Basketball Tournament. The team placed fourth in 1942, seventh in
1931 and third in 1935 in that tournament.
Mr. Isom was elected principal in 1940 and superintendent of the Lynden Schools in 1954. He was educated at the University of Illinois and holds the Master of Science degree.
Under his supervision and guidance the school has made rapid gains. Two new school buildings were erected in 1963 and the school has modern classrooms available for all ite students. The curriculum has been enlarged and modern methods of instruction emphasized. The athletic field has been enlarged and the playing field improved. This summer a new covered grandstand was built. Each year since 1939 Lynden High School has been accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools and is one of the two high schools in Whatcom County to be accredited by this association, The school is rated one of the best in the Northwest.
Lynden School District with three superintendents in 54 years is noted for its administrative stability and educational leadership.
TRANSPORTATION
Few functions of the schools have shown more improvement than the method of transportation. Today's students who live on good roads along which a school bus runs each day, can hardly realize the difficulties that early students had to get to school. Transportation was one of the major problems of the early students. Bad roads or merely trails coupled with poor means of transportation made it difficult to reach the school house. One result of this was one or two-room grade schools located near the students’ homes. The pupils usually walked to these schools.
By the time the high school was formed, the roads had been somewhat im-proved. High school students who lived in the country often had several miles to travel each day to and from school. Some high school students rode bicycles or motorcycles to school in the fall and spring when the roads were in good condition. In the winter the students often drove a horse and buggy or rode a horse to school. There were several barns located near the school in which students could rent stalls for their horses.
On June 5, 1915 the Fairview School District, which was situated a half mile west of the Guide Meridian on Birch Bay Road, was consolidated with the Lynden School District. The students of the Fairview School District were to be transported to the Lynden School. In the fall of 1915, the Lynden School District hired its first "school buses." These were horse drawn wagons on which wooden frames were constructed to protect the students from the weather. Fred and Frank Hatley drove one bus which started at the Nooksack River on the Guide Meridian and picked up students along the Guide and eastern part of the Birch Bay Road. Mr. George Rathbone started his route from near his farm on the Rathbone Road and drove north to the West Main Street Road and on to the school.
Horse Drawn transportation did not work very well and Mr. Rathbone agreed with the Lynden School Board to furnigh two motor-driven buses. One of the first motor driven school buses was a Kelly truck and the other a Studebaker. The Kelly had solid rubber tires and the Studebaker pneumatic tires. Pictures of these buses are on the following page.
Mr. Rathbone operated the buses until the fall of 1919 when he sold them to Fred and Frank Hatley. In 1919 the Hatleys were paid $300 per month by the school district for operating the two buses.
These buses were used to transport the students from what had been the Fairview District to the Lynden Schools.
The Lynden School District decided in 1933 to operate its own buses and cover more of the district. In 1936, 1938 and 1941 the Lynden School District consolidated with 12 other districts and greatly enlarged the rural part of the district. This increased the number of school buses necessary to cover the district.
Today the Lynden School District owns 1l modern school buses. It operates 10 buses each day and the bus route covers the entire district. The buses travel 490 miles and haul 620 pupils daily. They have the Latest safety features and are driven by capable, well-trained drivers. They differ greatly from the first two school buses. The safety record of the school buses has been excellent as injuries have been almost non-existent. The 1964-65 budget for transportation is $38,667.
THE GRADE SCHOOL LIBRARY
One of the problems of the new school district was to start a school library. Since only a limited amount of money was available for the purchase of books, the library grew slowly even though the students purchased their own textbooks.
At the start of the 1908-09 school year, there were only 165 books in the school library. Thirty-five books were bought that fall and 63 more were borrowed from the town library for school use. By the end of the year there were about 300 books in the library and additional books and reference materials were added each year.
Books used by the high school students were moved to the new high school in 1915.
With the seven district consolidation in 1941, a large number of books were brought to the Lynden Grade School. Miss Clara O'Neil, the high school librarian, cataloged the books and set up a central library at the grade school which has continued since.
The number of books and other reference materials have increased each year and the library quarters have been enlarged and improved. Today with large, roomy quarters, modern equipment and over 6,000 books, the grade school library compares favorably with other elementary school libraries in the state. It is staffed by a trained librarian.
The William A. Fisher Elementary School was completed in 1963. Its library occupies an unused classroom. There are about 2,000 books in this library and library services are rendered by the grade school librarian.
THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
In 1915 when the high school students moved into their new building, the library and study hall occupied a large room on the second floor, which was also used as the high school auditorium. Over a period of years the number of books and reference materials increased and the library needed more room. After the new auditorium was built in 1936, half of the old auditorium and study hall was converted to library use. It housed the high school library until the building was torn down.
The new library contains about 4,500 books and the librarian subscribes to five newspapers and 45 magazines. Files of the magazines are kept for five years and the Abridged Readers Guide Is maintained for maximum use of the magazines.
An important addition to the library is the use of audio-visual materials. Funds, from the P.T.A, smorgasbord the last few years have provided many of these materials. At present the library has two movie projectors, two film strip projectors, one overhead projector, an opaque projector, three screens, and a controlled reader. To be installed for exclusive use in the library next fall are two filmstrip viewers, and a phonograph turntable to be used with headphones. This will enable students to listen to Shakespearian plays or famous speeches without disturbing others.
The high school library is staffed by a trained librarian and a number of student librarians.
CURRICULUM
Lynden High School opened its doors for the first time on September 3, 1906 with an enrollment of three students. Vera Robinson enrolled in the Classical Course, Bessie Taylor and Clarence Vander Griend in the Scientific Course. The subjects offered to the student during the first four years were algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, ancient history, medieval history, U. S. history, English history, physical geography, physics, botany, agri-culture, two years of Latin, two years of German, and four years of English. The subjects taught were those recommended by the State Course of Study.
The number of students in the high school increased rapidly. There were 42 students by 1909. The first graduation class which was in 1910 consisted of two students, but the second graduating class consisted of ten. The number of subjects in the curriculum also increased. In 1910 home economics, manual training, typing and bookkeeping were added to the curriculum. The number of teachers on the faculty of the high school increased and by 1913 there were eight high school instructors.
Lynden High School opened its doors for the first time on September 3, 1906 with an enrollment of three students. Vera Robinson enrolled in the Classical Course, Bessie Taylor and Clarence Vander Griend in the Scientific Course. The subjects offered to the student during the first four years were algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, ancient history, medieval history, U. S. history, English history, physical geography, physics, botany, agri-culture, two years of Latin, two years of German, and four years of English. The subjects taught were those recommended by the State Course of Study.
MATHEMATICS
The first students who graduated from Lynden High School completed courses in algebra, plane geometry, and advanced algebra. A few years later solid geometry was added to the curriculum.
Since then trigonometry and mathematical analysis have been offered to the student. During the last few years the method of teaching mathematics to the student has changed. The "why" has eclipsed "how. Once numbers were studied as a group of symbols that obeyed certain rules. Today students deal with kinds of numbers and their possibilities in an effort to understand the "why."
Lynden schools have experienced most of these changes. It is their hope to prepare students for the new world of mathematics and to show them how the new mathematics can be a more useful instrument in the hands of the user.
SCIENCE
The first science students were offered classes in physical geo-graphy, botany and physics. In 1908 laboratory equipment was bought for each of these classes and additional equipment was added yearly. Chemistry took Its place in the curriculum in 1918. The study of physical geography has been changed to instruction in general science and the botany course has been enlarged and changed to biology.
The high school building built in 1914 had two rooms that were used as laboratories and classrooms for the science classes. In 1935 a new and modern science laboratory was built over the small gymnasium. It was a modern classroom and laboratory for use by physics, chemistry and biology classes.
In the new high school building completed in 1963 a large part of one wing of the building is for science instruction. Three separate classrooms and laboratories were constructed for use by classes in general science, biology, physics and chemistry. New and modern equipment was secured for these laboratories.
The amount of scientific information in chemistry and physics has increased to such an extent that it is impossible to cover it thoroughly in one year. Today the student is encouraged to study in the area in which he is the most interested. Some of his laboratory work consists of problems. He studies the principles and facts involved in his experiments and tries to solve the problem. Through the years the Lynden School System has tried to Improve the classrooms, laboratories, and to keep abreast of the developments in the field of science.
HOME ECONOMICS
In the fall of 1910 a class In domestic science was added to the curriculum of the Lynden High School. Enrollment grew rapidly and more equipment was bought for use by the students. By 1913 the cooking section had eight cabinets, a range, and five oll stoves and individual equipment for 16 students.
The high school building erected in 1915 had two rooms for use by classes 1n home economics, One was a classroom, containing sewing equipment and also a laboratory with equipment for teaching cooking. The addition to the high school built in 1935 provided two large rooms for the home economics depart-ment. They are still being used by the department today. New and modern equipment has been added through the years, making it one of the most modern home economics departments in the Northwest.
The school district received federal funds for the home economics department under the George Reed Law which provides financial assistance to schools which can meet specific requirements.
The Future Homemakers of America is a national organization of girls who are enrolled in home economics. Lynden has an F.H.A. chapter which has engaged in many worthwhile activities.
AGRICULTURE
Lynden is located in a farming area and it is not surprising that agriculture was one of the subjects studied by its first graduates and included in the curriculum since then. In 1919 the State Vocational Agricultural Department, a division of the State Department of Education, selected Lynden High School as one of the schools qualified to teach agriculture under the provisions of the federal Smith-Hughes Law. This law outlined the way high schools should teach vocational agriculture to quality for federal aid. One of the provisions of the law is that every student of agriculture must have a home project under the supervision of the agriculture teacher and it must be correlated with his school work. A large number of Lynden students have had worthwhile projects. In 1962 Ron Slagle was selected as having the best dairy project in the 12 western states.
The Future Farmers of America is an integral part of the program of agricultural education. It is an organization of boys enrolled in agriculture and its purpose is to develop agricultural leadership, cooperation and good citizenship. Members of the F.F.A. also take part in contests between high schools. Parliamentary procedure contests help to develop leadership. Judging contests in dairying, animal husbandry, and crops help develop judgment in agriculture. Lynden students have entered many of these contests and have been fortunate in winning many of them. Stx boys from Lynden High School have won places on the dairy judging team that represents the state in the National F.F.A. Dairy Judging Contest.
The Lynden boys first tried out for the Washington State Dairy Judging Team in 1935 and Ralph Francisco was selected for the Washington State Team that year. In 1938 Gerrit Meenderink was selected to the state team. In 1939 Jack Willets was selected to the Washington State Dairy Judging Team that placed third in the National Contest. After the 1939 National Contest, Washington State did not send a team to the National Contest until 1959 when Dan Van Dyke and Ron Slagle were selected. In 1962 Ron Rietnan was selected for the Washington State Team. Jack Willets, Dan Van Dyke and Ron Rietman made the highest score of any boy in the state the years they judged.
MUSIC
Interest in music showed up early in the history of the Lynden Schools. Music was first taught in the grades by the regular classroom teacher, but now a trained music instructor teaches these classes to students in the different grades.
In the high school there was interest in orchestra and chorus. In 1926 there were 11 members in the high school orchestra. A girls' glee club of 36 members and a boys glee club of 23 members were formed the same year. In 1931 the music department In the high school was enlarged and a band was started, Mr. Phil Redford was the director of the first band. The same year a mixed chorus was formed. The auditorium and three new classrooms were built in 1935 and the music department was moved to the top floor of the new addition. After the new gymnasium was built in 1939, part of the old gymnasium was rebuilt for the music department. The music room was remodeled and brought up to date again in 1961.
The band uniforms are green and gold which are the school colors. The band plays at the basketball and football games and many other public func-tions. The Instruction in music and the opportunity for the students to practice and perform have been of great value to the students.
Athletics
FOOTBALL
Lynden High School's first football team was organized in 1908 and several games were played that year. Teams were also organized and games were played in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913. Charlie Roper, a Blaine football player, broke his leg during the Lynden-Blaine game of 1913. The break was serious enough to prevent Roper from returning home with the team. He stayed in the Palace Hotel for about a month before his leg was well enough for him to return home. Students and teachers of Lynden High visited him and helped him with his school work while he was in Lynden. Because of this accident, football was discontinued at Lynden High School. It was not until 1946 that another football team was organized with Elmer J. Clarkson as coach.
The first high school football teams had difficulty in finding a field on which to play. Today Lynden High School has a modern grass-covered playing field. Lights were added to the field in 1950 with funds coming from the student association. Now most of the games are played at night. Bleachers are located on both sides of the field. This year a covered grandstand seating about 300 spectators was built.
Since 1946 Lynden High School has had a football team each year, The team has usually finished in the upper half of the league standings. times they have finished second. In 1960 the team won the championship and had its first undefeated season. The team was rated third that year in the Class A Football Poll. In 1964 the football team again won the championship of the county. This team won all of its league games and was one of the best teams in the Northwest.
Track
TRACK: Following is a list of the Whatcom County Track Meet winners:
1912 - Lynden had no team
1913 - Lynden
1914 - Blaine
1915 - Lynden
1916 - Lynden
1922 - Lynden
1917 - Lynden
1918 - Lynden
1919 - Lynden 63. pts. Whatcom 40
1920 - Blaine
1921 - Lynden
1922 - Lynden
1923 - Lynden, also 3rd in Washington State AA track meet
1924 - Lynden, 1st In N.W. Dist. Meet, 2nd Wash. State AÀ meet
1925 - Lynden, 2nd N. W. Dist. Meet, 3rd in Washington State AA track meet
1926 - Whatcom
1927 - Whatcom
1928 - Whatcom
1929 - Lynden, 2nd in N. W. Dist.
1940 - Whatcom, Lynden won the Sedro-Woolley Relay Carnival
1941 - No record
1942 - Lynden
Outstanding records made by some of Lynden High School's track men:
1913 - Joht Bay made highest number of points in county meet:
1916 - Cale Edson made the highest number of points (30z) In county meet.
1919 - Doug Slade made the highest number of points (26%) In county meet.
Doug Slade set a new record of 10 flat in the 100-yard dash and Tloyd Rathbone set a new record in the 440 of 54 2/10 seconds In the county meet. Everett placed first and Lynden second in the district meet.
1923- Clarence Sprague set a county record of 2.08 in the 880. Lynden won 3rd In the Washington State Track Meet. Lacy won the broad jump, second in 220 hurdles and placed in the 100-yard dash at the state meet. Dale Henry was second in the 120 hurdles, and Cornie Lindhout third in the pole vault at the state meet.
1924 - Lynden was first in the county meet with 71 points. Whatcom was second with 41. Clarence Lacy broke the broad jump record with a jump of 21 ft. 3 Inches. This record stood for 32 years. He tied the county record of 10 flat in the 100. Cliff Arling broke the county record in the discus, and Dale Henry the record in the high hurdles. Lynden won the Northwest Washington District Meet with 48 points: Whatcom was second with 23. Lynden was second in the Washington State Track Meet. Clarence Lacy set a new record in the state meet of 25.5 In the low hurdles. Lacy made 343 points in the county meet, 22 in the district and 15, in the state meet.
1925 - Lynden won first in the county meet, and second in the district meet and third in the state, Jay Boerhave set a new county record of 48 feet 52 inches in the shot and 120 feet 4 inches in the discus. Dale Henry set a new county record and a new district record of 16 3/5 seconds in the high hurdles. Boerhave set a new district record of 46 feet 10 inches in the shot. In the state meet Boerhave won first in the shot, second in the discus. Russel Bayes won first in the pole vault. Dale Henry won third in the 120 hurdles.
1926 - Alvin Vinup of Lynden and Chase of Whatcom set a new county record of 10 feet 11 inches in the pole vault.
1927 - Glen Axling set a new county record of 15.8 seconds in 120 high hurdles, and 26.5 in the low hurdles. He was the high point man in the county meet with 20% points. Glen broke the district record 1n the 220 hurdles and broad jump. He won first in the high hurdles in the state meet in 16.6 seconds.
1928 - Curtis Bay set a new county record of 11 feet 2 1⁄2 inches in the pole vault.
1929 - Marshal Bayes set a new county record of 4 - 44.3 and a new district Record of 4 - 40.2 seconds in the mile. Lynden won the county meet with 49% points. Whatcom was second with 42 points. Lynden won second in the district.
1930 - Marshal Bayes set a new county record in the mile and a new district record of 4 m- 39.2 seconds.
1934 - William Vander Mey set a new county record in the high jump of 6 feet 1 5/8 Inches, a new district record of 6 feet 2 5/8, and a new state record of 6 feet 4 3/4 at Pullman. The state record stood for 23 years. Bill Later attended the University. Of Washington and broke the Pacific Coast Conference record in the high jump.
1940 - Pete Zuidmeer set a new county record of 52.9 seconds in 440. Lynden won the Sedro-Woolley Relay Carnival, Zuldneer, Vanderberg, Bejema and Brockmeyer set a record of 1 minute 39.8 seconde in the sprint medley relay.
1942 - Jim Houg set a county record of 52 feet 2 inches, a district record of 50 feet 8 inches, and placed 5th at the state meet in the shot put.
1958 - Jim Johnson won first In the county meet with a jump of 6 feet 1 ⅜ inches, won first in the district with a jump of 6 feet 1 7/8 Inches and second in the state meet with a jump of 6 f3 inches in the high jump.
1962 - Jerry Bajema set a county record of 2 minutes 7 3/10 seconds in the 880. Several changes have been made in track. The 220-yard hurdles have been shortened to 180 yards. The hurdles in the 120 yard have been shortened from 3 feet ½ rule change to 34 feet high. jumping easier in the high jump. Since 1963 Lynden has competed in Class A which is composed of schools with an enrollment of under 600 students.
BaseBall
Lynden High School did not have a baseball field at the school until in the early thirties. Before this teams played at Hawley's park or the fairgrounds if a playing field was available. Lynden High School won the championship in 1910. Often the baseball team only played a few games each year, and finally baseball was dropped in 1915. It was 1921 before another team was formed.
Following is a list of the years that Lynden won the baseball championship.
Whatcom County champions
1921- Lynden's first baseball team since 1915
1922- Lynden won all games and the championship
1924- Lynden did not have a baseball team in 1924
1925- Lynden
1927 to 1931 Lynden did
not have a baseball team
1932- Lynden. First baseball team since 1926.
1933- Lynden
1934- Lynden
1935- Lynden. Lynden won 4th consecutive championship
1940- Lynden
1942- Lynden
1943- Records not available
1946- Lynden
Whatcom County Champions
1947- Lynden
1953- Lynden
1947- Lynden
1954- Lynden co-champions
1948- Lynden
1955- Lynden co-champions
1950- Lynden
1951- Lynden
1960- Lynden co-champions
1951- Lynden
1966- Lynden - co-champions
Roland Shagren pitched a no-hit game against Whatcom in 1925 and a no-hit no-run game against Ferndale in 1926. Adrian Jorissen pitched a no-hit no-run game against Blaine on May 3, 1943. Henry Dierick pitched a no-hit no-run against Mt. Baker in May, 1940. Pete Van Dyke pitched for four years, 1945-48, and was on three championship teams. Les Knudsen pitched for three years, 1950-52, and was on two championship teams.
BASKETBALL
Whatcom County Champions
1913-14- Lynden
1914-15- ***
1915-16- Lynden, Also won Whatcom County Tournament
1916-17- Lynden, Also won Whatcom County Tournament
1917-18- Lynden
1918-19- Records not available
1919-20- Lynden
1920-21- Lynden
1921-22- Lynden
1922-23- Lynden, Also champions of Skagit County
1923-24- Lynden placed 2nd Washington State AA Tournament
1924-25- Whatcom
1925-26- Lynden co-champions Second N.W.W District Tournament
1926-27- Lynden co-champions
1927-28- Blaine
1928-29- Blaine
1928-30- Fairhaven
1930-31- Whatcom Lynden won N.W. District Tournament, 7th in Washington State AA Tournament
1931-32- Mt. Baker
1932-33- Lynden, Second Northwest Washington District Tournament
1933-34- Lynden. First Northwest Washington District Tournament
1934-35- Whatcom. Lynden 1st Finalist 3rd Washington State AA Tournament
1935-36- Lynden
1936-37- ***
1937-38- ***
1938-39- Blaine
1939-40- ***
1940-41- Lynden
1941-42- Lynden
1942-43- Bellingham
1943-44- ***
1944-45- Nooksack
1945-46- Lynden
1946-47- Lynden
1947-48- Mt. Baker
1948-49- Nooksack Valley
1949-50- Bellingham
1950-51- Lynden
1951-52- Blaine and Mt. Baker
1952-53- Lynden co-champions
1953-54- ***
1954-55- Lynden co-champions
1955-56- ***
1956-57- Lynden co-champions
*** indicates some of the years Lynden was not champion
The following paragraph is taken from the 1964 program of the Washington State High School AA Tournament which gives a history of the tournaments. "Following is a list of Class A schools that competed in the State AA Tournament through 1957, but under the new classification in effect now participate in the State A Tournament. Eleven entries: Lynden; seven entries: Mt. Si; six entries: Blaine, Cle Elum, Prosser, White River; five entries: Pullman; four entries: Cashmere, Castle Rock, Cheney, Eatonville; three entries: Foster, Raymond; two entries: Elma, Colfax, Dayton, Highland, North Kitsap, Naches, Selah; one entry: Camas, Chehalis, Chelan, Fife, Margette of Yakima, Montesano, Nooksack Valley, Yelm.
Class A schools are high schools having an enrollment of 200 to 600 students. Lynden has been a Class A school since 1958.
1957-58- *** 5th Washington State Class A Tournament
1958-59- Lynden Northwest District Tournament champions, fifth State A Tournament Champions
1959-60- Lynden Northwest District Tournament champions, fourth State A Tournament Champions
1960-61- Lynden Northwest District Tournament champions, State A Tournament Champions
1961-62- Lynden Northwest District Tournament champions, Washington State A Tournament Champions
1962-63- Lynden
1963-64- Lynden co-champions Whatcom County
ALL STATE SELECTIONS
Clift Axling all-state guard 1924
Bill Fisher all-state guard 1935
Louis Zylstra all-state forward and high point man in 1942
Bill Bremner all-state center 1960
Howard Heppner all-state center 1961 and 1962
Bob Kildall all state forward 1962
Lynden High School has won more Whatcom County basketball championships than any other high school. Lynden's basketball teams have competed in more Washington State High School Tournaments and placed higher in these tournaments than any other high school its size in the state,
CONCLUSION
The foregoing history, records and statistics apply to our school district. Information concerning other schools in the area is another story. Many years have passed since the beginning of school activities in the Lynden area and many accomplishments have been made.
Residents and former scholars of the Lynden School District can be justly proud of the high standards attained and maintained. Yet in the midst of these records and attainments we must admit we have been blessed by exceptional leadership by superintendents and principals and understanding and cooperative teachers.
Time never stands still. History is what happened yesterday. Records are being broken that were set last year. We can look toward a glowing and promising future because the Lynden Schools have established a good foundation on which to build.