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Washburn High School
Washburn High School was named for a pioneer in the Minneapolis flour milling industry, Mr. Cadwallader C. Washburn. C.C. Washburn and his partners founded a mill company of the west bank of the Mississippi River utilizing the water power generated by St. Anthony Falls. In addition to investing in a variety of business ventures, Mr. Washburn served as a major general in the Civil Wat, as a senator in the U.S. Congress and as a governor of Wisconsin. Because his permanent residence was in Wisconsin rather than Minnesota, he convinced his brother William to manage the mill operation.
In 1880 the flour milled at the Washburn mill won the gold medal (best in the world) at the Cincinnati Miller's Exhibition; thius, the mill's flour became known as Gold Medal Flour and was sold in its characteristic blue and orange bags.
In the milling industry, C. C. Washburn was know for utilizing innovative techniques. Through milling and other ventures, he amassed a sizeable fortune. The milling company he formed with partner John Crosby later became General Mills and was also the parent company of radio station WCCO with the call letters formed from the first letters of Washburn Crosby Company.
When he died, Cadwallader Washburn left $375,000 in his will to found an orphanage in memory of his mother. The orphanage was built on 50th and Nicollet within Washburn Park, a new housing development area which ran from Minnehaha Creek to 48th Street and 4th Avenue to Lyndale.
A portion of Washburn Park which was not being used by the orphanage was sold to the Minneapolis Board of Education in 1924 for the building of a badly needed junior and senior high school in this expanding part of the city.
When the name for the proposed school was presented to the School Board, the official name presented was William D. Washburn. It is thought that this was an error and that the intent was to name it for Cadwallader C. Washburn; at any rate, Washburn is thought to be the namesake of C.C. Washburn.
The new Washburn opened on September 8, 1925, with 1,031 students in grades 7-10 with the 11th and 12th grades added as the students advanced. The official opening ceremonies were held May 21, 1926.
The first graduating class was 1928. Until 1929 Washburn served both senior and junior high school students.
The first principal was A.E. MacQuarrie. He wanted Washburn to be a "pioneer school," to do things that other schools would be doing in ten years. In many ways, the first principal, A.E. MacQuarrie, was more "Mr. Washburn" than C.C.Washburn. He set the highest standards for the students. He was also legendary in his effort to have a well-run school and was very careful with school finances.
The Washburn Orphanage was torn down in 1929 and a school was built on the site. At first the School Board intended to make the new school a senior high named Washburn and use the building which already existed as the junior high. The students at Washburn lobbied the School Board. The Board reversed their decision and the original Washburn remained the senior high; the name Washburn was also retained as the name of the high school. The new school was named Ramsey Junior High School.
During the 1960's there was serious overcrowding: 2,300 students in a school meant for 1,500. There were 5 lunch periods and 2 shifts of students with the seniors attending 0-6th hours and underclassmen attending 2-8th hours. The big gym, band/choir, industrial arts, and business rooms were added in 1967.
In the fall of 1996, a new science and tech prep wing opened. Computer networking was added during the summer of 1997; the media center was totally remodeled during the summer of 1998.
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School Song
Cheer for the orange and blue, waving forever,
Pride of old Washburn High, may she falter never.
We’ll sing a song for the flag today, cheer for the team at play.
On we’ll go, will fight all the way
For WASHBURN HIGH!
W-A-S-H-B-U-R-N
Cheer for the team at play.
On we’ll go, we’ll fight all the way,
For WASHBURN HIGH!
The original 1926 version...
All hail to thee, Washburn,
the school we love best,
So noble with honor bright,
Oh heirs to the High School whose colors we wear,
That wave from dawn till night.
Come rise up a song for Washburn,
Each son and daughter so true,
Till all the walls with our song shall ring,
“Hurrah for Orange and Blue!”
The orange is seen in the meadows and fields,
The blue in the sky o’erhead,
That looks down upon us as everyone sings,
“To thee, Oh Washburn, we tread!”
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The Rocks
During the excavation for the new gym in 1967, several houses on Pleasant Avenue were torn down. The 1968 cheerleaders arranged to have two large rocks placed on the corner of 50th and Pleasant. These rocks were then painted orange and blue. Over the years, as a result of the rivalry with Southwest, these rocks have been repainted orange/blue, then purple/white alternately.
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Orange and Blue
In the fall of 1925 the studen body chose orange and blue for the school colors. Twelve choices had been presented as possibilities. Students campaigned with skits, posters and speaches to promote various favorites. Purple and White, the colors of yet-to-be-established Southwest, Washburn's greatest rival, came in second; mulberry and silver came in third. (Note that blue and orange are also the colors of Gold Medal flour.)
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Grist
The Grist became the school newspaper from the opening year as the picture of the first Grist staff from the 1926 Memory Book shows. The name came from the huge stone wheel used to grind wheat into flour during the milling process. The Grist has presented world events from a student perspective, student issues and activities, humor, technical expertise, and careful writing and editing. A healthy competitive spirit exists between the staff of the Grist and the staff of the Wahian.
During the late 60s and 70s, an underground newspaper, Wheatrust, was published. Dave Herridge was our Grist editor in 1981.
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Wahian
The Wahian is the Washburn Yearbook. The name, which is proposed by a student named Virginia Miller, is a combination of the letters in "WAshburn HIgh ANnual."
A small memory book was published the first year of the school's existance. The first actual Wahian was published in 1928 with the first graduating class. It has been published every year since. Early editions show much original artwork. Later editions exhibit technical proficiency by staff members.
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Cake Eaters
Washburn students, particularly in the 50s and 60s were called "cake eaters." The nickname came from an old anecdote in which Marie Antionette (at the time of the French Revolution) supposedly was told, "The people have no bread to eat." She is reported to have replied, "Well, then, let them eat cake!" Student from other schools meant it as a comment on Washburn's "elite" status, but Washburn students were proud of the nickname.
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Poplars
The creative arts magazine was formerly known as Poplars after the poplar trees which edged the west side of MacQuarrie Field. The Tower became the name of the creative arts publication in 1989. The actual tower, which stands a block to the southwest of Washburn has been a congregating place for many students.
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The Tower
The first tower was built to provide water for the Washburn Orphanage since there was no city water line out to this area. In 1931 the old tower was torn down and a new tower was constructed as a water reservoir. The tower is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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