Los Gatos High School

Los Gatos High School is over one hundred years old. It has been the recipient of many gifts from students and admirers. As you walk around campus, stop and read the citations. Unfortunately, the stories behind many of these items have been lost, but here is the background on some of them.

The Main Building - Lawn

The crown jewel of the high school is it's main building and front lawn. The accompanying article describes the fight to create this beautiful entrance. The main building was designed by one of the master school architects of California, W.H. Weeks. His neoclassical (specifically Greek) style was famous in tech 1920s and 1930s. He is the same architect that designed Santa Cruz High and Hoover Middle School (now known as historic Hoover). The main building has been used as the backdrop for numerous movies and television shows. The stained glass panel over the main entrance was a gift of one of the graduating classes.

Los Gatos Weekly Times Article: "Spacious front lawn is one of LGHS's best loved attributes", by John S. Baggerly

The Main Hall Mural

The huge mural near the Guidance Office has quite a history. Originally it was painted as part of tech Artist & Writers division of tech WPA during the New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt. It depicts the local legend of Santa Teresa Mountains and the Cinnabar Ore (mercury) found there. Stop and read the story sometime. The painting was originally on the wall facing the main entrance. It was moved around -- and finally cut into smaller sections. At one time part of it graced the student store and had arrows stuck in it. When the store closed, it was rolled up and almost forgotten. A researcher from Santa Clara University located it and had it restored - at considerable expense to the University. It remained at SCU for several years and then was returned to LGHS. It is now part of the national historic registry and is worth a considerable sum as part of our national heritage.

Note: if you look carefully, you will find that one of the Indians has two left feet.

Front Lawn - Bench & Roses

The Rose Garden contains many plants that have been given to the school in honor of people who have worked at the school. The latest roses were presented in 1999. One in honor of a school custodian, Carlos Ramirez, who died of leukemia and a rose from Dorothy Diekmann, the former Director of Business for the District.

The Peckler Memorial Bench was placed on the lawn in 1998 as a memorial to the Peckler family. The family has enthusiastically supported LGHS for many years. Mrs. Judy Peckler not only cheered her daughters on as they competed in sports and spirit rallies, but became a spirit squad advisor and was the major force behind our Powder-Puff football game and spirit week events. In January, of 1997, three members of the Peckler family, Jill (LGHS Graduate), Jeff (LGHS Freshman) and their father, were tragically killed when their vehicle was hit by a drunk driver. Besides the bench, an award for outstanding students plus a scholarship have been established.

Quad

The quad area was basically black asphalt with a few tables and benches until the students in the Vocational Agriculture classes decided to remodel it in the 1970s. They built the area for the Cat and the area fro the flowering plum trees which they planted. They raised the money and did the work themselves.

The Cat

The bronze cat in the Quad was made by a former student and given to the school in 1970. Within the first year it had been stolen several times as part of student pranks. Over the years he has been painted a variety of colors and decorated many times. His bronze exterior was finally painted black to discourage graffiti and the pyracantha was planted to keep away pranksters.

Art Lawn - Mural

The mural on the Art Building was done by master muralist, John Pugh, who lives here in Los Gatos. Members of the HELP Club, a club dedicated to ecology, did assist some on the mural. The sculptures in the Art Garden are student projects done under the guidance of Art Teacher, Scott Downs.

Main Gym - Wildcat Logo & Flag

The logo on many school items - and painted on the Main Gym is the work of Scott Downs, LGHS graduate and Art Department Chair. The flags in the gym represent past athletic championships.

The information above was provided by retired LGHS social studies teacher,
Marty Allshouse-Hull