08/22/2022
A bit of history as our Reunion Weekend approaches!
Today in 1961... the site for Tremper High School chosen.
In 1960, Bradford High School was the only public high school in the city. Built for 1800 students, it was host to almost 2400 with a projected 3250 by 1964. But the city was unsure what to do about it.
What we mean is, there wasn't a single agreed-upon solution. Essentially everyone involved accepted the need for at least one new high school, if not two. But the number and locations were undecided.
It was mildly controversial when the site of Tremper was chosen due to the location. It was over a mile south of the city limits, and not near significant residential development (the Evening News quoted Alderman Wallace Burkee was saying he'd never heard of a high school next to a gravel pit). But it was well located in anticipation of future growth, which was the point.
The plan was to have the new school open for 1963. And it would be named for George Nelson Tremper.
George Tremper had served as the Principal of Bradford High School for 34 years (1910-1944), and passed away in 1958.
The name was chosen as the result of a contest among students. Bill Schmelling, a Junior at Bradford, submitted the winning entry. He won $25. His brother, John, a Ninth-grader at Lincoln, submitted the winning entry for the name for Lance School (built at the same time). Ain't that a thing?
Last year, when the 60th anniversary came up, it was noted that Tremper isn't precisely on 39th... The location in the article refers to a large chunk of land owned by the Greater Kenosha Land Company which was known at the time as the Isetts Plot or Isetts Land. It ran roughly from 22nd Ave to 39th Ave and included the land on which Tremper would be built. Basically Jane Vernon, Anderson Park, Tremper, and the subdivision west of Tremper.