Farewell to the old Laramie High School

Color photo showing an aerial view of the former Laramie High School looking east.

Color photo showing an aerial view looking east. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61. From Box 98, Folder 9C of the Allan H. Krafczik papers, American Heritage Center.

With an increasing student population in Laramie in the 1950s, the Albany County School District began efforts to construct a new high school to serve the growing needs of the community. In 1957, the architectural firm of Hitchcock & Hitchcock was hired to design a new high school. The site of 11th Street between Reynolds Street and Shield Street was selected, and Spiegelberg Lumber & Construction Company was hired to build the school. Construction began by 1959, and the school was completed in time for the 1960 school year. The first graduating class was the Class of 1961. As Laramie continued to grow, the school district once again had to consider a new facility. As construction of the new facility at the east end of the city neared completion, the final graduation occurred on May 29, 2016, marking the end of a total of 57 classes to graduate from the 11th Street School. The current facility was dedicated on August 11, 2016, with the first graduating class being the Class of 2017. At the same time, demolition commenced on the old school, and by August 2017, all that remained were piles of rubble.

The remaining rubble of the former Laramie High School on August 8, 2017. Photo shows piles of scrap metal in neat piles and a crushing machine behind a chain-link fence.

The remaining rubble of the former Laramie High School on August 8, 2017. Photo taken by Molly Marcusse

The photos below are from Box 98, Folder 9C of the Allan H. Krafczik Collection. Krafczik operated the Easel Studio, located at 5th and Grand, from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Black and white photo looking east towards the Laramie Mountains. Houses are visible on all sides of the former Laramie High School, except for east. East of the former high school is an empty field with the Laramie Mountains in the background.

View east looking towards the Laramie Mountains. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

Black and white photo looking southwest toward the downtown area and showing Deti Stadium, named in honor of Coach John Deti Sr. From this view there are houses and buildings visible in much of the shot, including West Laramie.

View looking southwest toward the downtown area and showing Deti Stadium, named in honor of Coach John Deti Sr. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

Black and white photo of Laramie High School and Deti Stadium looking northeast toward W Hill, there is a W visible on the hill. Houses are visible on the south and west sides of the former Laramie High School, while there are empty fields to the north and east sides.

View looking northeast toward W Hill (the W can be seen on the hillside). Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

A color photo of the entrance to the former Laramie High School. There is snow on the ground in front of the building.

Color photo of the former Laramie High School. Photo taken by Allan H. Krafczik around 1960-61.

– John Waggener, Reference Archivist

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5 Responses to Farewell to the old Laramie High School

  1. Linda Mogensen says:

    Thanks for posting these pictures. Brings back so many memories.

  2. Karin Law says:

    Thank you for this….Karin (Noon) Law LHS Class of 1985

  3. Rob Essley says:

    Beautiful – I loved that building even though I didn’t love going to school. Class o’ 96 here. Question: the rubble pic isn’t populating; any chance you can re-upload that one? Thanks for this site!

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