66°F
weather icon Cloudy

Shared Memories

In a society that traditionally shuns change, Boulder City High School is embracing it. On Friday, Boulder City High School hosted a celebration of the legacy surrounding the campus as it prepares for demolition and the construction of new classrooms.

Decades of graduates from the school came to pay their respects and share memories of the high school. Walls on two-thirds of the 200 building, as well as the 300 building were adorned with blue and gold handprints, names and messages left by alumni.

“I wanted to have a night where we could put our memories down about the building because Boulder City High School has meant a lot to a lot of people,” Principal Amy Wagner said. “There are many memories attached to Boulder City High School, and so it’s really hard to let go of something like this.”

The first demolition phase of the school’s 65-year-old campus is scheduled to begin July 6, beginning a $16.4 million renovation project that will include new classrooms. Two additional phases are expected to begin once the classroom construction is complete, probably in June 2016.

A scrapbook room was made available, with baskets of pictures sorted by graduating years. Alumni were encouraged to “make a memory”: a scrapbook page full of pictures and memories that will be put on display in the front office for all visitors to view. Pictures also were taken of the memories written on the walls, and they will be included in the scrapbook.

Wagner said she wants to decorate the new school with pictures and memories of the old school, to keep the legacy of Boulder City High School alive and thriving.

“The legacy of Boulder City High School is what is so great about this place,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you graduated this year or 70 years ago, you’re part of that legacy and that history, and it’s so rich. And it’s kind of cool to have all that here.”

Those attending also could take a part of the school home with them as Eagles gear from the school and its sports team was available for purchase.

As recent graduates roamed the halls of their alma mater, they left their mark on the school they once called home. Sam Doane, president of the 2015 graduating class, transferred to Boulder City from Bonanza High School after his sophomore year. Doane said he was blessed to have experienced the school and the people in that short amount of time.

“I only went to this school for two years and this school has really left an impact on me, and the way I think, the way I feel about the people; it’s really changed because of how this school has treated me,” he said.

On a wall, was written: “Love BCHS. Great Memories.” The phrase was written by John Barlow Sr., who graduated from Boulder City High in 1955.

He, along with his children and six grandchildren attended Boulder City High School. His son was principal for a couple of years during the ’80s, and his daughter will teach English there starting in the fall. His seventh and final grandchild will be a freshman in the fall, and will be the only one not to experience the high school like her relatives before her.

Barlow didn’t have much to say concerning the building of the new school, but does have mixed emotions.

“It’s sad in a way, but I — it’s not for me to be sad,” he said. “I’m not that way. I take it like it is, so I’m OK with it.”

Another section of the wall was dedicated to alumni who died at a young age. Names and years were written down under the words “In Loving Memory,” to ensure they, too, could leave their mark on the high school.

“I thinks it’s a great thing for people to be able to come through and write their memories down and that kind of stuff,” Wagner said.

Wagner, who experienced a similar celebration when her church was rebuilt, said she believes when people have knowledge and time to plan for something, change is easier to accept.

That is what the celebration of Boulder City High School was meant to accomplish. Prepare the community for a change, and show them that the legacy of Boulder City High School will always live on.

Contact Rochelle Richards at BCRsports@gmail.com.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Community pride on full display

A mixture of lime, paint and water was used to touch up the city landmark, which saw the B first painted in 1985 and two years later the C by BCHS students. It had been 10 years since the last time it was touched up. Event organizer Bret Runion said he was pleased with the turnout and hopes to see even more assist in future years.

It’s official: STRs banned in BC

For an issue that has caused so much local uproar for more than a year, the question of whether Boulder City should formalize the informal-but-still-binding ban on short-term rentals (STR) within city limits ended with more of a whimper than a bang Tuesday as the City Council voted 4-1 to adopt text changes to city code clarifying that the practice is illegal and establishing a system of civil fines for STR owners who continue to operate.

A busy Saturday in Boulder City

Saturday proved to be a very busy day in Boulder City as events included repainting of the BC on Radar Mountain (see page 2 for photos), as well as the city’s Easter Egg Hunt at Wilbur Square, Flowfest and the popular goat yoga class at Bicentennial Park and the Injured Police Officers Fund car show at Veterans’ Memorial Park.

To chip or not to chip?

In its second time at the plate, as it were, the proposal by Boulder City Councilmember Cokie Booth to require that pets within BC be microchipped ended up with a lot of people talking about maybe taking a swing at the ball but no one actually doing so.

Council candidate slate set

A total of seven candidates for city council and three candidates for justice of the peace of Boulder Township will face off in the primary election scheduled for June 11.

Ultrarunner to push himself to the limit

It’s not uncommon for friends or even family members to try and best one another whether that be athletics, academics or relationships.

Vets home hit with 18 citations

In a recent unannounced inspection, the Southern Nevada State Veterans’ Home was cited 18 times for issues ranging from verbal abuse of a patient to failing to provide meals at an appropriate temperature, to employees not having keys to locked gates, which would be needed in the case of an emergency evacuation.

BDCU looks back on past year at annual meeting

For more than eight decades, the Boulder Dam Credit Union has been the most popular place for Boulder City residents to do their banking, not to mention see friends and neighbors.

Top o’ the evening to ya

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

BC repaint: Countdown is on

It’s almost time to don that old pair of jeans, the ratty tennis shoes in the back of your closet and a shirt you’re not worried about ruining.