About North Salem High School

1890

East School, 12th and Center (now a Safeway store) added grade 9.

1904

Bond issue for a high school, voted 279 to 205. Cost $70,000.

1906

January 1, new building dedicated, High and Marion Streets, (present site of Meier and Frank Co.)

1906

June, first class graduated (20). Additions were made during the next few years. A wing on the east side was added, with a new gymnasium on the second floor.

1937

New high school built at 14th and “D” Street. A “P.W.A.” project, approximate cost of one million dollars. Enrollment – 1,618. The class of 1937 used the new auditorium for the graduation exercises. For some years prior to this time, the exercises were held at the Elsinore Theatre. The building was opened and dedicated in the fall of 1937. The original auditorium plans called for music and special rooms at the north and south sides, with folding doors to open them to add seating in the auditorium. Due to lack of funds, these were deleted in the final plans, as well as a separate boiler room. Thus the boilers were placed under the stage. This late change accounts for the peculiar location of the few seats at each side on the main floor of the auditorium.

1948

Two outside gyms and a heating plant were built for $243,000. These gyms have no spectator areas as the plans had to pass wartime restrictions. They had to be classified as classroom space, not gymnasiums. Vocal music started in Room 217. When boilers were moved out, vocal music conducted in the area known as the lower cafeteria. Band was housed in the basement room of the gym, same level as dressing room, team dressing room area.

1954

South Salem High School opened. Approximate enrollments: South 1,100, and North – 1,200. For two or three years, Parrish Middle School used the north wing, first floor, for 7th grade block classes.

1957

Music and Little Theatre building in 1957 – cost $100,000.

1963

North High went on a double shift for two years. Enrollment was 2,350 the first year and 2,500 the second year. Juniors and seniors attended a.m., and sophomores p.m. Graduation exercises begin being held at the Salem Armory.

1965

McNary High opened. Enrollment at North High was 1,675.

1972

Sprague High opened. North High relieved by shift of Four Corners to South High. West Salem moved from McNary to South High.

1976

Foods room is remodeled.

1977

Auditorium balcony is remodeled.

1978

A $1.7 million Federal Grant is used to expand the gym including new shower plumbing, gym divider, bleachers and lobby.

1979

McKay High opens.

1980

We revamped three science classrooms and the adjoining corridor for $130,000.

1983

Electronics and Japanese programs added.

1984

New football complex is dedicated. Tennis courts added. City of Salem helped with funding. Barrick renovated.

1985

Remove post from gym, completed in January,1986.

1986

North’s cafeteria and music areas are re-designed and a “commons” is built to tie the two areas to the building plan.

1988

Football concession, restroom facility dedication.

1992

Auditorium renovated, weight room facility.

1993

Offices remodeled, science rooms remodeled and two new labs added, locker room renovated, press box completed, 400 building, child care (old auto shop) added, English rooms (old boardroom), auditorium painted, restrooms.

1996

Football grandstand covered/crows nest added.

2001

New West Wing is opened in September

2002

Library remodeled, Wrestling room, activities, and multi-purpose rooms added (This was the old music facility).

2004

August, Environmental Learning Center completed. September, grand opening.

2010

Artificial turf field for football field, fall grand opening. Funds are raised by North Salem Viking Alumni and Friends Association.

2018

In 2018, voters approved a $619.7 million bond measure to fund improvements for Salem-Keizer schools.

2019

In the spring of 2019, North Salem entered a large construction project adding 20 new general classrooms, one new science lab, two new career technical education program area spaces, new main and auxiliary gyms, replacement P.E. spaces, and new spaces to support Special Education.