Metal Shop History by Mr. Gehring
From the early 20th Century (1920 or before) until 1959, the Auto, Metal and Wood Shops were located in a building which stood where the parking lot is now. In the words of Harold-Bud-Nelson, who taught in it from 1950-1959, it was kind of a junky building. Metal and Wood Shops had pine floors and the whole thing was run down by the time it was replaced in 1959. Bud continued as the Wood Shop teacher until 1964, when Mal Bakke arrived.
Jim David taught Metal Shop in the old and new building from 1952-1969. There were 3 different teachers in that Shop from 1969-1972, when Rollin Gehring arrived to teach 4 Metal and 2 Auto Shops. There was time to teach 6 sections, since until 1974, shops taught 6 because they “didn’t need a prep period!” Yes – everyone else taught just 5 sections. In 1974, we took on 9th graders and became a 4 year school.
The Auto Shop was staffed by Roy Vass from the 40’s (before?) until Art-AJ-Flynn ended his Army career and took over at PHS in 1965. AJ stayed until 1976, when Fred Brunton, a PHS grad, assumed the shop, and stayed until 2015.
The building we now use was originally located on English St. at Fair and was turned 90 degrees from its current position. It was originally the kitchen (Metal Shop) and cafeteria (Wood Shop). Dick Dunbar (PHS ’45) reports that the cafeteria was referred to as “the teachers lunchroom” and no self-respecting student ate there. The beautiful trimmed beam structure still exists in the Wood Shop, though it has been painted whiteish.
Until 1974, we had 7 Auto, 4 Metal, and 5 Wood Shop classes. We also had 6 drafting and 4 electronics sections, giving a total of 26 Industrial Arts classes.
Jim David taught Metal Shop in the old and new building from 1952-1969. There were 3 different teachers in that Shop from 1969-1972, when Rollin Gehring arrived to teach 4 Metal and 2 Auto Shops. There was time to teach 6 sections, since until 1974, shops taught 6 because they “didn’t need a prep period!” Yes – everyone else taught just 5 sections. In 1974, we took on 9th graders and became a 4 year school.
The Auto Shop was staffed by Roy Vass from the 40’s (before?) until Art-AJ-Flynn ended his Army career and took over at PHS in 1965. AJ stayed until 1976, when Fred Brunton, a PHS grad, assumed the shop, and stayed until 2015.
The building we now use was originally located on English St. at Fair and was turned 90 degrees from its current position. It was originally the kitchen (Metal Shop) and cafeteria (Wood Shop). Dick Dunbar (PHS ’45) reports that the cafeteria was referred to as “the teachers lunchroom” and no self-respecting student ate there. The beautiful trimmed beam structure still exists in the Wood Shop, though it has been painted whiteish.
Until 1974, we had 7 Auto, 4 Metal, and 5 Wood Shop classes. We also had 6 drafting and 4 electronics sections, giving a total of 26 Industrial Arts classes.