Rumors have persisted through the years of the underground tunnels or catacombs that lace and weave under the gym.  The truth of the matter is, that the floor in built on stilt like risers, so when you go under the floor, you can actually get there by going through the north side men's locker room. Then you pass through the laundry room, open the door at the south end and, using a flashlight, check it out.  1939 NIT (when the National Invitational Tournament was bigger than the NCAA Championships) MVP was Chaffey's own Bob Doll, and All American Basketball player for the University of Colorado.  The old wrestling room, which was located upstairs, gave way to P.E. coaches offices and classrooms in 1984. 

As of 1917, "ample provisions had been made for all forms of athletic training.  A large field has been carefully prepared for football and baseball.  It is surrounded by a quarter mile track. (Yes, they practiced baseball on the football field).  Two cement tennis courts (the original site was on the north field where they are located today) also make their bid for favor."  

In 1928, the football field/track was named "Graber Field" in honor of C.C. Graber who was a member of the Chaffey Board of Trustees from 1911-32.  He also donated time and money into the facility. Some historical trivia: The 1956 Olympic Track Team staged a meet at Chaffey while preparing for the 1956 Olympiad in Melbourne, Australia.  Truck Lindsey, then Athletic Director spearheaded the event and it was a community delight.  Rafer Johnson, Bob Semon, Al Oerter and Bob Richards were a few of the athletes who performed that day.  The Chaffey Relays was the premier event in southern California for high school track stars.  It gave way to technology and synthetic tracks in the late 1970's.   

The bleachers on both sides of the field have a unique history.  The original bleachers, like most in the early 1900's, were constructed of wood.  They usually rotted or were destroyed by fire.  As the Chaffey Campus was both a high school and junior college facility, provisions were made for both.   

Decorative metal gates surround the current South Quad lunch area.  The original intent was to put the iron fencing and gates in front of the school on Euclid Avenue, facing east to help keep the "elements" that don't belong on the campus out.  The neighbors across the street from the high school rose such a fuss that they decided to place the iron fencing around the South Quad lunch area.  The neighbors said the fencing was not aesthetically pleasing to the eye.   

The WPA started modern day construction in 1936 and on October 30, 1936, the south side bleachers (also known as the high school side) were completed.  Not to be outdone, the junior college began work on a like bleacher to be placed on the north side of the athletic field.  In 1937, the North bleachers were completed.  To get an idea of what it was like to be a student on a campus that housed both a high school and a junior college, the campus was divided into north and south sections.  To make it easy, basically everything north of the auditorium and cafeteria was the junior college, with most of the classes being held in Tower Hall.  (It was known as the Chaffey Junior College of Agriculture and only became known as Tower Hall when the college moved to its present site in Alta Loma, in 1960).  In 1976 it was remodeled into district administration offices and named the Allan G. Smith Educational Services Center, and everything south was the high school.   

The clock, which is on the East outdoor wall of the gym, wasn't always there.  If you have ever watched a lower division football game in the afternoon, it is virtually impossible to see the score, what down it is or the distance to go. Then why is it there, you ask?  During a severe windstorm in the 60's, the clock, which was located on the west end of the field, toppled over.  Ray Stark, who is responsible for the TIGER on the gym wall, had it relocated on the gym wall so it wouldn't topple over again.   

Last stadium trivia fact: Upon arriving at Chaffey in 1985, Glenn Killingsworth noticed that the home side for football was in the north bleachers.  The rules in football state that the "chain gang" is always to be located opposite of the press box.  Instead of fighting with players tripping over the chains and more humanity in the team box, he simply switched the "HOME" side to the south side, where it has remained ever since.  The north side of the football field is about 18 inches higher than the south side, so when it rains, we have Lake Chaffey on the south side of the track.  

As you look at the construction of the bleachers, the gym, the auditorium and some of the older buildings (1935-1941) check out how they were constructed.  Most of the structures were made of cement.  The only catch here is that they didn't have cement pumpers.  They set wooden forms and "wheelbarrowed" the cement into the forms.  That's a whole lot of wheelbarrows in constructing the bleachers not to mention the auditorium.  You can actually see the grain of the wood etched into the concrete on the walls. 

The baseball field, now known officially since 1997 as Payne Field, was dedicated to Ernie Payne.  Ernie was a Chaffey grad, an All American High Hurdles Champion in 1919, while attending USC, ex-Chaffey principal and generally an all around great guy.  Long before there was a Payne Field the baseball team practiced on the infield of the track.  Then they got to move to the spacious and luxurious area where the busses in the transportation department are now parked.  A check swing could rifle a ball onto the track or football field.  Most of the home baseball games were played at Galvin Park.  The Chaffey Joint Union District then purchased the land that is west of Vine Street. It used to be citrus orchards as far as one could see.   

In 1960, led by Jim Semon, the new baseball facility was dedicated.  Sometimes it is known affectionately as Leo Petsky Park, because of his tireless work as the main groundsman on the fields.  Other improvements followed as Jim Reno had outfield fencing, protective netting, batting cages and lights put in to facilitate night games.  The lights also facilitate Pop Warner Football practice in the fall.   

People don't realize this but Chaffey covers over 64 acres.  That averages out to be about 16 acres per proctor and 16 acres per groundsman.  In the 60's and 70's we had as many as 18 full time groundsmen on campus.  We also have some of the most beautiful azaleas and other flowering plants, which do not bloom properly because of lack of fertilization.  We are the largest land mass high school in California. 

The original tennis courts were built on the north side of North Field in 1911-12.  They have been resurfaced and added onto throughout the years.  The WPA built the other tennis courts in 1937.  Ron Montoya played as a student and later coached the Tigers on these same courts.  On any given weekend you can see the newest and latest sports trend, roller balding or roller hockey being played on them. 

As a general rule of thumb, the Federal Government helped finance the construction of the pool, Grabber Field, South Gym, North and South Halls and Gardiner Spring Auditorium.  During the 1950's Chaffey served students within a vast area, from Montclair to Rialto and from Mt. Baldy to Chino. 

Over the years Chaffey has continued to grow from 88 students to over 3,000 per year.  As we continue our progress in the last part of this century, it is worthwhile to look back at out long and proud tradition.  Most notable individuals are numerous among our graduates.  Some of those are Anthony Munoz, 11 times All Pro and elected into the NFL Hall of Fame 1998; Robert Lyn Nelson, painter; Joseph Wambaugh, author; Bonnie Warner, Winter Olympic Luger; Nick Leyva, professional baseball; Hal Reniff, professional baseball; Ernie Payne, ex-USC track star and ex-Chaffey High School Principal; current Chaffey Joint Unified School Board Members Clyde Francisco and Jerry DuBois; Dana Demuth, major league baseball umpire; Jim Brulte, Assemblyman; Gary Ovitt, Mayor Pro Tem of the city of Ontario and teacher at Chaffey High School; Hobie Alter, owner and originator of Hobie Cat Surfboards and catamarans; and Howard Tipton, advisor to the President of the United States of America. 

This grand old lady has a proud past and tradition.  The current faculty and administration are working with today's youth to uphold and preserve this rich tradition.  This is evident by the many academic scholarships that are awarded to Chaffey graduates every year.  As we enter into the year 2,000 to end this millenium on December 31, and prepare for the beginning of the next century on January 1, 2001, look for Chaffey Tigers to excel in both the classroom and in the athletic arenas. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF CHAFFEY HIGH SCHOOL
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