Sequim Gazette staff

Thanks to Sequim High grads for their assistance figuring out the age of a photo featured in the Nov. 27 edition of the Sequim Gazette.

Vern Weed (SHS Class of 1966) spotted the photo with an incorrect date (1950) and let us know recently the photo was used in the inside front and back pages of the 1962 Sequim High School annual/yearbook. The photo, Weed reasons, was taken sometime between 1958 and early 1962.

Bob and Judy Stipe (SHS Class of 1962) agreed with Weed and provide more detail: “The photo shown was taken in 1961 by Harry Boersig for the Class of 1962 to use on the inside, front and back pages of their annual. Boersig was well known on the peninsula for his black and white photographs from his airplane,” the Stipes write.

Sequim High School’s “new gym” — now called the Rick Kaps gymnasium — was built in 1956 and the “old gym,” the large building with the dark roof nearby in the photo, was used for years to hold proms, class functions and sports practices until the leaking roof made it too dangerous to occupy, the Stipes write. “It then served as a district storage for records, old uniforms and furniture until it was condemned and torn down.”

The Stipes add, “The lights on the athletic field were installed August of 1959 in preparation for the upcoming football season. The Class of 1960 was the first to hold their Homecoming game under the new floodlights. Queen Peggy Coon and King Merle Holden were introduced to the fans and presented with white footballs autographed by the players and pep squad. In the past, games had to be played during the daylight.”