Chaffey High School and the Community
A resource for history, news, and events surrounding the Chaffey Community.

Chronology of Buildings
on the Campus of  Chaffey High School

In 1882 the Chaffey brothers, originally from Ontario, Canada, owned 6,000 acres in California known as the Ontario Model Colony lands. Part of this land was to be used for their educational dream, the Chaffey College of Agriculture.

On October 15, 1885 this school opened on what is now the Chaffey High School campus. It remained open until 1901 when the Ontario School District was formed. The building was then used as a high school (called Ontario High School) until 1911.

The Chaffey Union High School District was created on July 1, l911 by a vote of the communities of Ontario and Upland. Ontario High School was renamed Chaffey High School and during the first year of operation, the Chaffey brothers donated additional land and buildings to the school district.

Over the years, many buildings have served the Chaffey District and High School. The following is a chronology of those buildings, some still standing, others gone. The chronology covers the periods 1882 to 1997. The cornerstone of the old Chaffey College building was laid in 1883, the old building was condemned July 17, 1934 and the present North Hall replaced the old college building.

1883-March 17 Cornerstone laid.

1909 – Original central portion built with north and south wings of one story.

1912 – Around 1912, a one-story and a basement auditorium addition was built on the west side. Later subdivided into classrooms.

1920 – Extensive interior changes were made and second story classrooms were built over the north and south wings and over the front arcade.

1934 – Condemned on July 17. Present North Hall replaced this building.

1935 – May 27. Excavation begun for construction of a new classroom building under SERA, but program discontinued in August 1935. It as then transferred to WPA and work resumed October 15.

1937 – Completed and occupied during spring vacation of 1937.

1973 – First floor remodeled for administration and counseling offices.

1987 – Remodeling and addition of air conditioning in classrooms.

1911-1912 – Constructed out of 1911 Bond money.

1913 – Partly destroyed by fire.

1914 – Reconstructed. The portions not harmed by fire were left for the most part as originally constructed. The destroyed portions were rebuilt with the same general exterior wall portions as before, but with considerable changing of the location of windows and rearrangement of rooms and interior structural supporting elements.

1937 – Razed to make way for new building, the present South Hall. November 2: New building was begun on site of the old Science Building. It was divided into two construction units in order that the WPA would accept the project. The first project was for the north end of the building and contained about 14 classrooms. This portion was completed and first occupied at the beginning of the school year, 1938.

1939 – Around October 1. Second unit of building begun.

1940 – About March 17. Second unit completed. It was occupied at the beginning of the 1940-1941 term.

1912 – Old central gym built.

1931 – Additions made of boys’ locker and shower section, bleacher section with team locker and shower space under, and a 20-foot addition to the main gym floor.

1935 – Women’s gymnasium completed in September, dedicated September 19.

1936 – Boys’ gymnasium (three units: music building, gymnasium, and athletic headquarters) work started February 4.

1937 – Old gym razed in fall.

1937 – New gym used during basketball season of 1937, though not completed. Completed during the summer of 1937 and occupied during the school year 1937-1938.

1912 – Basement auditorium addition built at west side of Liberal Arts building.

1920 – Pipe organ purchased and change made in music rooms.

1935 – Old auditorium closed December 10.

1937 – Old auditorium razed. Work was begun on October 6.

1938 – Ground broken February 1 for the new Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium.

1939 – New Auditorium dedicated March 17.

1985 – Restoration begun. Handicapped ramp added on north side. Restrooms added on first floor for handicapped. Exterior repainted. Light standards installed in quad foreground area.

1912 – First erected. East wing built. Boiler room enlarged.

1922 – Additions made. West wing built.

1947 – Burned January 12. Contained Student Store and Snack Bar, Boiler room only remained.

1916 – First plunge built.

1935 – Work was begun on excavation for new plunge May 27, under SERA. Work held up by ending of SERA on August 20, 1935, but resumed October 15, under WPA.

1937 – Pool opened for use May 26.

1922 – Constructed by day labor out of 1920 Bond money.

1935 – The cafeteria housed in this building was discontinued and the main floor partitioned for classrooms to make room for the students who were forced to vacate the old Liberal Arts Building.

1950 – Dedication of new Home Economics building and new student union/cafeteria was main event at "Open House" November 8 and 9.

1951 – Opened to classes in fall 1951.

(Chaffey Junior College of Agriculture was originally organized in 1919. In its earliest days, the junior college had no physical identity. Its students were scattered in the buildings erected for the high school, and instructors who gave part of their time to the high school curriculum taught its classes.)

1930 – Construction started about October 20.

1931 – First unit completed in March, dedicated May 22.

1932 – Second unit completed about February.

1960 – Junior College moved to new campus in Alta Loma. The high school took over the building for classrooms. It became known as Tower Hall.

1976 – Completed remodeling into district administration offices, and named the Allan G. Smith Educational Services Center.

1931-1932 – Completed. Charles Booth donated the palm trees, then only three feet tall. Mrs. R. J. Mounsey gave the flowers to the school as a living memorial to her son, Robert Mortrud, who died in 1941 while in the U.S. Army. He attended Chaffey College before enlisting in the army. 

1934 – Work began on November 28.

1935 – Dedicated on September 19. Completed October 15. Previously, the library was housed in the Administration Building – also known as the Liberal Arts Building – which housed the auditorium and library.

1985 – Tables and Chairs refinished.

1986 – Library boiler system replaced with heating/air conditioning system.

1934 – Completed September 13.

1940 – Facilites doubled.

1942 – Second half finished. In March, Chaffey acquired building at Ontario International Airport to house classes in aircraft mechanics.

1961 – Remodeled for use as district offices, print shop, and warehouse.

1976 – Remodeled for Business Education Department and Adult Education Office. Opened in August.

1928 – Named in honor of C.C. Graber, member of the Chaffey Board of Trustees from 1911-1932. 

1936 – Construction started in May. Dedicated October 30. Chaffey Union High School built the south bleacher. On November 1, the Junior College began work on a like bleacher to be placed on the north side of the athletic field.

1937 – North bleacher completed.

1936 – Construction started February as one unit of the Boys’ Gym.

1937 – Completed. Occupied at beginning of school year 1937-1938.

1940 – Work was begun on this structure March 6. Completed during the summer of 1940.

1941 – Completed.
 

1947 – Constructed as additional classrooms.

1956 – Portable building set up. The Art Department used these until new quarters were constructed in the basement of South Hall in 1977.

1949 – Completed.

1949 – Construction started in summer.

1950 – Building accepted in May. First student function was the spring formal, "Flower Fantasy," held on May 20. Building dedicated at "Open House" on November 8 and 9. The Junior College "Kampus Kitchen" was on the second floor.

1950 – House was moved from 202 West Fifth Street to 557 West Fifth Street on the west edge of the campus.

1977 Torn down to complete Dominga High School
 

1951 – Former residence of Alexander Minton, across from the college at 126 West Fifth Street, was purchased and remodeled for a nurse’s cottage (Junior College building).

1966 – Torn down when the property was purchased by the First Baptist Church.

1973 – Constructed.

1975 – Dedicated April 28.
 

1975 – Dedicated April 28.

1981 – Lockers removed.

1978 – First occupied during the summer. Built on the northwest corner of Chaffey campus. Originally called the Chaffey Training Center.
 

History of Chaffey High School - Index