Old Missoula

Missoula Suffers One of Great Fire Losses In 1931 as New High School Burns

One of Missoula’s greatest fire losses occurred on Sept 15, 1931, when the newly expanded Missoula County High School building on South Higgins avenue was destroyed by fire.

At least three persons were injured in the blaze. Ted Garlington, a sophomore, the most seriously when he was struck in the head by a piece of falling cornice. J. D. Russ, a fireman, was struck in the leg by a falling steel girder and in the head by a piece of falling brick, while Milton E. Thomas, a volunteer assistant, ran a nail into his right foot. All recovered.

Crowd Gathers

Hundreds of persons gathered at the scene early that morning as the news of the spectacular blaze spread quickly over the city. Many of the more than 1,000 students who had spent only one day in their new classrooms learned of the fire as they were getting ready to go to school.

The blaze, discovered at 2:45 a.m., continued long into the afternoon. Fire Chief James T. Cranney added 24 extra men to his 13-man force to check the blaze and to protect the bystanders and workmen. Some of the firemen worked continuously for 18 hours.

Starts in Attic

The fire apparently had started in the attic in the north end of the building, then spread to the old central part and finally into the new south wing. Insurance of $301,542 had been taken out on the building in 61 policies with about 50 different companies.

The central unit of the building, constructed in 1907, was the result of a $75,000 bond issue. The north wing was built in 1920 and 1921 under a bond issue of $150,000. The annex, north across Eddy avenue, was constructed in 1921 for $75,000. This contained the gymnasium, agricultural and manual training classrooms. The annex was undamaged by the fire.

The new south wing was built from a $200,000 bond issue voted by the taxpayers in 1930. This had been in use only one day. The new auditorium in the south wing, one of the most complete in the Northwest at the time, had not even been seen by the girl students.

Great Losses

Lost were the 7,000-volume library representing an accumulation of 25 years, 36 typewriters, a grand piano, stage fittings for which the student organizations had contributed $750, Konah files, Paxson paintings, in addition to the usual school equipment.

It was the first time in the high school’s history that full teachers’ equipment in the chemistry department had been secured. Laboratory outlines and tests, new demonstration desks and science tables were all destroyed.

Students Re-Enroll

Ninety-four per cent of the 1,100 students re-enrolled in the gymnasium Sept. 18. A few of the students transferred to other high schools in the city and at other points.

Regular classes resumed Oc. 5. Montana State University facilities were used for continued laboratory science work. The high school library was located in the periodical room on the second floor of the Missoula County Public Library building. The high school office was located in the Roosevelt grade school building.

Freshmen met at the Willard grade school and sophomores met at the Roosevelt grade school. President C. H. Clapp of the University made lecture rooms available to juniors and seniors from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.

Manual training and agriculture classes were continued in the annex. A year later the high school was rebuilt and ready for students on the opening day of school.