William J. Palmer 1836-1907Known best as a builder of railroads, but also as a successful businessman, military man and philanthropist. William J. Palmer was a Union Cavalry General during the Civil War, and later founded the town of Colorado Springs and subsequently founded the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company in Pueblo, Colorado. Palmer was instrumental in bringing the Denver and the Kansas Pacific railroad lines to Denver. Palmer is perhaps best known as the builder of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad which was the first narrow gauge railroad in the United States. The Denver - Colorado Springs line started service in 1871. |
Important Dates in the History |
Information courtesy of the Alumni Association |
1875 First classes in Old Stone School, Cascade and Bijou 1879 First graduating class, five students 1879 2800 pound bell cast; hung in bell tower of 1893 building 1890 Building burned January 13; classes held in the Old Congregational Church 1892 Brown (Mountains) and White (Snow) chosen as school colors 1893 First CSHS building at present site opened January 9 1894 "Terrors" adopted as school name 1894 First Alumni Association organized 1898 Graduating class of 32; 23 women, 9 men. 19 went on to college. 1901 Cadets receive new Springfield rifles for drill 1901 Graduating class of 35 1902 Baseball team organized; Orin Randolph first captain 1902 Original school site lot (Cascade at Bijou) sold for $27,500, purchased by the Elks Club 1907 Freshman Annex opened at SW corner of Wahsatch and Pikes Peak 1908 First Annual (The Brown and White) published 1909 Annual's name changed to The Lever 1913 Manual arts building constructed 1917 First of four consecutive state championships in basketball 1917 First band formed by Mr. Fred Fink 1917 First drama club formed 1919 Bulldog adopted as mascot; named Elmer and remained until 1930's 1920 "C" Club organized 1920 First orchestra formed by Mr. Fred Fink 1920 Honor Society formed 1920 Lincoln School Annex opened at SW corner of Vermijo and Cascade 1922 Masque and Sandal organized 1922 Terror Tribe organized 1922 National Honor Society Chapter chartered 1923 First "Kid Day" (A tradition until the 1960's) 1923 National Champions in football (Point a minute team) 1923 "Terror Fight Song" written by Fred Fink 1924 Annual's name changed to "The Roundup" 1924 Domestic arts added to curriculum 1926 GAA (Girls' Athletic Club) formed; gymnastics and dance 1926 First "Brown and White Day" 1927 Howard Club for black girls formed 1928 "Terror Legend" written by art teacher, Pansy Dawes 1928 First Homecoming 1929 Home economics annex opened at Nevada and Boulder 1930 Annual's name changed to Terror Trail 1932 State basketball champions 1935 State basketball champions 1938 First year brown and white caps and gowns were worn for graduation 1939 Romanesque building torn down 1939 Tower Bell moved to concrete pedestal in courtyard 1940 Oldest part of current building to accomodate 1500 students opened; architecturally outstanding 1940's Indian mascot 1942 Government sponsored "war training" programs in Voc Ed 1945 Eagle Beak became school mascot 1946 South Central League baseball champions 1948 First of five consecutive state golf championships 1948 State football championship 1949 Band won first place at High School Band Day 1950 State swimming championship; set ten pool and meet records 1951 State tennis championship 1952 National Thespians Troupe chartered 1953 State wrestling championship 1954 Four new classrooms added to Nevada wing 1955 Third floor remodeled for additional classrooms 1956 New Industrial Arts Building completed at Boulder and Weber 1958 Erps Gymnasium and pool opened at West end of Erps Field 1959 Last class graduated from Colorado Springs High School 1959 Renamed Palmer High School when Wasson HS opened 1959 Band won first place at High School Band Day 1960 "Alma Mater" written by Ann Litton and Robin Funnell 1960 First class graduated from Palmer High School 1970 Auxiliary Gym built at NE corner of Nevada and Boulder; tunnel opened 1970 Old gym building torn down; replaced by berm 1970 Girls' tennis team formed 1973 C Club membership opened to girls 1973 Name of the yearbook changed to Retrospect 1975 Defeated Wasson in football for the first time 1979 Centennial of first graduating class celebrated 1984 Present Alumni Association organized 1985 Hall of Fame originated 1986 Alumni Historical Room opened 1988 Eagle Beak became a bird instead of an Indian 1988 Courtyard bell tower constructed by Alumni Association; bell hung 1991 Renaissance program started 1991 Commons opened 1992 Third floor cafeteria replaced by classrooms 1993 Science classrooms built onto the Industrial Arts Building 1999 Addition to the Library started; berm removed 1999 Basement of Science Building and tunnel flooded 1999 Mr. Jay Engeln named National Principal of the Year for 1999-2000 2000 New Library Wing opened 2000 Heating, ventilation, plumbing and electrical systems updated 2000 Science Building and tunnel repaired 2001 Mrs. Jackie Provenzano appointed principal 2001 Commons renovated into student lounge |