http://www.southalumni.org  or http://south.dpsk12.org 

 In 1992 South High School was designated as a State Historic Landmark. 

 

South High School has always been admired by its students and faculty as well as the general public, and it is surprising to note how little many of these people know about South's history. South High School originally existed in the old Grant building which is now the rebuilt Grant Middle School on Washington Street at Mexico Avenue. In 1893, high school classes were established in two rooms of the Grant school. By 1907, an addition had to be added because of overcrowding. In January of 1925, there were 800 students in the senior high school section and more space was desperately needed. A bond issue was voted into effect in October of 1925, and funds for a new school were raised. A cornerstone (to the left of the main entrance) for the new building had been laid on October 31 of the preceding year. In the dedication ceremony of 1924, items were placed in the cornerstone such as a Bible, an American flag, a copy of the Constitution, a book of South High, signatures of the first students and teachers, and a charter of the City and County of Denver. When it was sealed, corn, wine and oil were scattered over the representing nourishment, refreshment and joy.

 

South was designed by the architectural firm of Fisher & Fisher in accordance with a vogue of Romanesque buildings, which was a nationwide trend in the 1920's. The trend was initiated by H. H Richardson, "The Father of American Architecture." The cost of construction was $1,252,000 and the building was intended to last a century. Arthur A Fisher was instrumental in developing the use of painting and sculpture in public and semi-public buildings in Denver. His influence generated the use of statues and terra cotta figures as adornment for South. Many of the interior and exterior designs were copied from well known Italian structures - South's versions were created by artist Robert Garrison. On top of the roof, over the main west entrance, is a 3 foot tall gargoyle; the symbolic protector of South.

 

The inspiration for the gargoyle was from one of the Spoleto Cathedral in Italy. Saint Ambroggio, in Milan, Italy, served as the model for the five arched loggia beneath the gargoyle. Topping the striped poles on either side of the front entrance are figures of faculty members holding up creatures which represent final exams. The creatures are about to devour the students whose heads are lying on piles of books. Two friezes above the main west door are entitled "Faculty Row" and "Animal Spirits." The first, on the exterior of the building, shows the principal in the center of a line of the entire faculty. On his right, is the assistant principal, the now nonexistent dean of girls, is on his left. The second frieze, directly above the doors, depicts creatures that represent various types of unscholarly behavior, such as rubber band shooting and gum chewing.

 

T he northwest entrance to the school has an ornate door frame that has been compared to that of the Santa Maria Cosmedin and Verona Cathedral in Italy. The frieze over the door shows students going to school, some eagerly and the potters by the use of force. North Court, which once held the ebibyble racks, is "guarded" by four winged lions, or griffins, which have since been over grown by vines and are barely visible.

 

A reflecting pool had been included in the original plans for the South Court, which was designed to resemble an enclosed Italian courtyard. Senior Hall was at one time open to South Court which was more beautifully landscaped and cared for than it is today. The auditorium had windows looking out into Senior Hall, but they have since been bricked and plastered over.

 

Although there are some differences, South's Clock Tower is thought to be a replica of the Santa Maria Cosmedin. Our clock is more ornate, having the signs of the zodiac around the dial beginning with Aries at one o'clock and running counterclockwise. For many years, the clock did not function due to the lack of trained technicians in the Rocky Mountain region.  However, in the 1990's, the alumni organization summoned a clock expert from the New England area and the clock has been running fairly regular ever since. 

 

There are many examples of Romanesque art in the building, but the most prominent ones may be found in the auditorium and library. On each side of the proscenium arch in the auditorium is a frieze called "Protection of the Tree of Knowledge." It depicts teachers guarding the tree from serpents of ignorance so that the children may eat the fruit off the tree, The cornices on both sides of the auditorium have three types of figures on them; angels, representing the good students; Grecian lamps, symbolizing the studious; the fantastic creatures, representing fools. In the library birds represent various types of students: owls stand for wisdom, cocks for punctuality, penguins for good behavior, and parrots for rote learning or mindless recitation.

 

Different pieces of statuary had once adorned the building, but have perished in the hands of careless students.  Murals in the long main entrance hall were painted in 1935 by Allen True. Painted in egg tempera, they show South students engaged in school related activities. South has gone through many changes since its construction in 1925. Many of these include reorganization of space. The front of the fourth floor was originally designated to be a teacher’s lunchroom, but lack of funds made this impossible. For several years it served as a study hall. As more classroom space was needed, the study hall room was divided into three classrooms. Space had also been allotted for an athlete study hall and girl's lounge. They have since been changed to the second floor faculty lounge and the Community Room, respectively. The Boy's Gym, or North Gym, had a balcony allowing for spectator basketball games. This was removed in the late fifties and early sixties with the addition of the Auxiliary gym, the Girl's Locker rooms and the new ROTC offices. In 1964 the southwest wing was added, providing much needed math, science and English classrooms. In 1989 a new gymnasium was added to South High School.