History at Thunder Bay involves more than what
is taught in social studies classes. The building in the photo above was
occupied by students for the last time during the 1998-1999 school year.
This site on the city block of Second and Dunbar Streets has a vast
history of its own. |
|
The Union School District was established in
1867 and the following year Union School was built at the current location
of Thunder Bay Jr. High to give students a nine-year education. As the
community grew, school trustees determined that the Union School was not
adequate for the larger student population. In 1889 they began to build a
new school. Union School was demolished so that the site could be used for
the new Central High School. |
|
|
|
|
The brick building held elementary classes on
the first floor and high school classes on the second. The building had
various changes and additions throughout the years. It was a source of
great pride for the community which made its demise quite devastating when
it was destroyed by fire in 1940. |
|
|
|
|
Alpena High School was later built on the same
site and opened in September, 1942. This three story building also had
various later additions such as the science wing, cafeteria and music
building. Rising student populations resulted in more changes and planning
began for a new Alpena High School. In 1963 a pilot junior high program
began at Besser School for some of the district's middle grades students.
By 1967, Alpena High School was opened and Central High became Thunder Bay
Junior High. |
|
|
|
|
T.B.J.H. has undergone various grade changes
from its first years as a 7-9 building. At one point all seventh graders
were moved to Besser leaving just eighth and ninth grades at Thunder Bay.
The closure of Thunder Bay in favor of the newer Besser Junior High
building was at issue for a time when economics forced a lot of changes
within the Alpena Public School District. However, public involvement
resulted in the reversal of that decision. |
|
|
|
|
In 1984 the ninth grade was shifted to the high
school. Besser Junior High closed and eventually was reopened as an
elementary building. Thunder Bay has remained a 7-8 school since that
time. In June of 1996, voters passed a bond issue which included money to
build a new junior high school. The new school was constructed at Third
and Bagley where a much larger campus area is available. About 130 years
of educational tradition will come to a close at the historic Second and
Dunbar site. Students walked through the halls there for the last time in
1999. Memories of that location, whether it be as a high school or a
junior high, will linger in the minds of thousands of Alpena residents who
were educated there. |
|
|
|
|
Most of the information for this page was
taken from the research of Tim Pollard, one of the teachers of Thunder Bay
Junior High. |