Echos of Old Songs and Cheers

Hey what's the matter buddy ain't you heard of my school...it's number one in the state!  So be true to your school.  The Beach Boys - 1963

As June dawns...scores of high school seniors across the country are eagerly looking forward to their graduation commencements.  Anticipating the first step towards the rest of their lives.

Each time I drive past the corner of 500 East and 3300 South in Salt Lake County I vividly recall my own graduation as a member of the Granite High class of 1970. It's hard to believe 44 years have raced by since that long ago June day.  

Unfortunately my heart is also saddened each time I pass the old campus as the doors of the old girl were shuttered and the school bell tolled for the last time after the graduating class of 2009.
Opening in 1906 Granite High School counted among its Fighting Farmer alumna several LDS (Mormon) apostles, a U.S. Senator, two Academy Award winners, a super bowl champion and numerous civic leaders not to mention the seven King kids as well as two King grand-kids.

Even before the school was closed the city of South Salt Lake used, and continues to use, the football practice field for its annual 4th of July (ironically held on the 3rd of July) fireworks extravaganza.

Granite High School

Granite was unique in that it truly was a campus.  Unlike most high schools which are housed in a single building; Granite was made up of from 4 to 7 buildings depending on when you count during its 103 year history.  Walking from building to building in an effort to make class before the tardy bell rang gave it a truly collegiate feel.     

An attempt to save the school as a community center was voted down by the residents of South Salt Lake so the vacant halls of academia are now up for sell. 

Occasionally the old girl will show up as the backdrop for a movie or TV show being shot in the Salt Lake area. (See Touched by an Angel).  In fact there was a short lived effort to turn the campus into a movie studio, which in this old Farmer's mind would have been a very fitting end.   But those plans also failed.

Last week the "S" building, the largest building on the campus was temporarily turned into a gallery for local artists and artisans to display their work. 
 
Which raised another question in my mind.  Would the people coming to see these display's honor one of Granite's oldest and most sacrosanct traditions.  Located in the front foyer of the "S" building was the schools mosaic seal and You simply did not walk on the school seal!   Such a faux pas resulted in dire consequences.  You would be forced to count all the little square tiles which made up the seal ( I doubt any one really knew how many there were) or got to vigorously clean it using a toothbrush.

Courtesy Carleigh Jo (King) Naylor - GHS 2004

I didn't get to attend the art exhibits...my daughter Carleigh (GHS Class of 2004) shot the attached picture for me as proof the venerable seal has withstood the changes over the past few years.

 The numbers of Granite Farmers who have taken that first step of the rest of their lives is vast and they continue to stride around the world...if my Facebook friends are any indication.  Yet with the closure of the old school the words to the school song have never rung truer!


When sight and sounds of the campus
Fade in the long busy years
Yet will return in our memories
Echos of old songs and cheers...

...She will remember, you'll not forget her
Though you are far away
She is calling, calling to you ever
Honor the grand old "G"