San Pedro High School – San Pedro CA

Description

San Pedro High School, which opened in 1909, was renovated with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. Designed by architect Gordon B. Kaufmann, the new Streamline Moderne buildings were constructed of poured-in-place concrete. The Administration and Language Arts Buildings are both now protected landmarks.

In January 1934, the PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District for the rehabilitation of schools damaged in the severe 1933 Long Beach earthquake.  One hundred and thirty schools would benefit from the system-wide loan and grant, with 2,500 men to be employed in rehabilitation work over 21 months.

Upon receiving news of the PWA allocation, Board of Education member Arthur Eckman told the Los Angeles Times, “I am sure that every member of the board agrees with me in expressing our appreciation of the loan and grant. It was made necessary in that we have been unable to sell our school bonds and the government was our only home.”

The school-rebuilding program was widely praised, with a February 1934 column in the Los Angeles Times arguing, “Of all the Southern California suggestions for the Public Works allocations, the school-rebuilding program is most nearly ideal. Here is centrally located work that needs to be done; work which will furnish a large volume of employment for a considerable period and for which taxpayers will pay without too much grumbling, since they understand the necessity of it.”

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made general improvements to San Pedro High School’s grounds for another $20,190.