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 11^th 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 11^th 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 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 5^th and Grand, from the 1950s through the 1980s.

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

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.

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

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

– John Waggener, Reference Archivist