As the new school year begins this Monday, it is important to start with some historical context. Years ago, Dr. John Dahlem worked tirelessly to preserve the true history of Loara High School. While teaching and coaching at Loara, he began documenting facts and figures for his California History classes. Upon his return as principal, he expanded this information, and now in retirement, he is dedicated to solidifying the origins of the school’s name. Below are some facts and background details about the school’s origins, provided by Dr. Dahlem, a 2007 inductee into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame.

FACTS

• Location: 1765 W. Cerritos Ave, Anaheim, California 92804Opened: 1962
• Mascot: Saxon
• Colors: Cardinal Red, Gold, and White
• District: Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD)

Note:  There is a discrepancy between “A History of AUHSD – One to Twenty-Eight” by Louise Booth and the 1962 Student Handbook, presented by Anthony Mastroangelo (class of ’65), regarding the school’s colors. For historical purposes, we are using Cardinal Red, Gold, and White, as the Handbook predates Booth’s history. Knowing Orville “Tommy” Thomason, he would not have made such a mistake in his first handbook.

BACKGROUND

The history of Loara High School began in September 1962 on the campus of Magnolia High School, where Loara students attended double sessions with the Sentinels until Christmas vacation. At that time, they moved to their permanent home at 1765 West Cerritos Avenue. The campus, bordered on the east by Euclid Avenue, was once the Snyder family ranch, which had 34 acres of fruit trees and sugar beets. The Snyders moved to Anaheim in 1889, choosing land with an ocean view. Their daughter, Dora, was a member of the first graduating class of Anaheim High School in 1901.

In its first year, Loara High School taught only tenth grade with 28 teachers. The eleventh grade was added in the second year, along with 34 teachers. By the third year (1964-65), a full staff of 84 teachers and 14 classified employees managed three grades. The first graduating class was in June 1965.

The administration was led by Principal Orville “Tommy” Thomason, with Kenneth Spencer and Elizabeth Arnold as assistant principals.

Loara High School was built on a modified version of the Azusa Plan, a concept of a school within a school, similar to Magnolia and Savanna. Each grade had its own section of the campus with a multipurpose room and office. Initially, these rooms could double as cafeterias, but soon food was dispensed from a central building, and students ate at picnic tables. The offices attached to the multipurpose rooms became working spaces for teachers.

The unit system for each grade level was discontinued in the fall of 1978. The old senior courtroom became the band office, practice, and classroom. The junior court was refurbished into the ASB headquarters, and the sophomore court served as the detention hall until 1996 when it was transformed into a Career Guidance Center and AVID (Advancement via Independent Determination) classroom. Food is now dispensed cafeteria-style from “speed lines.”

Due to the closure of schools like Trident and Fremont, enrollment at certain high schools increased. During the 1980-81 school year, freshmen were added to all high school campuses. Loara felt the pressure for the first time and added portables to the campus. With the increased need for security, mobile homes for live-on security personnel were added. Consequently, the campus became officially a closed campus during the 1985-86 school year, when fencing was built around the school.

By John Dahlem
California History Teacher (at the time or writing)