1960s

1960

JANUARY 28, 1960

Caption: Expecting New Building – The 120 pupils of Lowell Elementary School who now go to school in the old residences on No. 13^th Street will be among the last to attend classes in the makeshift quarters provided voters approve School Proposition B Feb. 9 because construction of a new primary unit on this site is included among 15 building projects in the bond program. Photo shows, left to right, the classes of Mrs. Agnes C. Ayres, Gary Larson and Mrs. Reltha Downs.

AUGUST 31, 1960

SEPTEMBER 11, 1960

Caption: Proposed Lowell Primary School – This is architect E. L. Mills’ proposal for a new primary school to be built at North 13th and Yakima Ave. The six-room unit will be for kindergarten and lower primary grades, and will be operated in conjunction with the present Lowell Elementary School. The design calls for three two-room units and a covered playroom. Although the design is now awaiting approval of the state department, three old houses on the site, formerly used as classrooms, must be removed before construction can begin, which will probably be about Jan. 1.

1961

FEBRUARY 10, 1961

Plans for the new primary building are finalized and approved, and it is hoped it will be ready by September.

AUGUST 31, 1961

NOVEMBER 7, 1961

Caption: Lowell Primary School – The Lowell Primary School, opened in September, will be dedicated on Nov. 14, officials have announced. The building includes six classrooms and a multipurpose room. The Lowell Primary relieves a crowded situation at the nearby Lowell Elementary. Another much needed school is the new McCarver Primary scheduled to be completed early next year.

NOVEMBER 12, 1961

A dedication ceremony and program for the new primary building is set. It will be combined with the annual open house.

1962

JANUARY 16, 1962

Tacoma school officials requested the city vacate N. 13th st and close it off to vehicle traffic in order to make it safer for the children moving between the main Lowell building and the primary wing. However, city officials postponed action on this matter and indications were that the school board’s reasons were not good enough.

MARCH 20, 1962

The City Planning Commission approves the vacation of N. 13th st.

Additionally, school Superintendent Angelo Giaudrone submits plans to expand the playground out to where 13th street would be vacated.

JUNE 15, 1962

AUGUST 30, 1962

SEPTEMBER 9, 1962

The extension of the Lowell playground into the recently-vacated N. 13th street is permitted.

SEPTEMBER 10, 1962

Caption: Drive On Through – The School District has torn up N. 13th St north of I Street to turn it into a playground area linking the old and new Lowell Schools. City and school officials discovered last week, however, that the street hasn’t yet been formally vacated, so technically, it’s still open for traffic. The City Council will hear first reading of the formal vacation ordinance at its meeting Wednesday afternoon. – News Tribune staff photo.

The school district begins to tear up the section of N. 13th street between N. I and the alley, only to find that although the City Planning Commission approved it, the street still has not yet been formally vacated.

SEPTEMBER 13, 1962

The city hears both sides of the N. 13th street vacation issue.

A vote is scheduled for the following Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 23, 1962

Caption: Chaos Among the Cobblestones – This portion of N. 13th Street is liable to get a complex before city and school officials decide what to do with it. The City Planning Commission agreed with school officials last year and agreed to vacate the street’s half-block length between the old and new Lowell School units. The City Council went along in a preliminary vote and the schools, thinking the street vacated, had a contractor tear it up. But last week, when the formal vacation ordinance reached the council, the council changed its mind and voted it down. The last word may not yet have been heard, however, since Mrs. Ellen Price has announced she will move for reconsideration at this week’s council meeting. – News Tribune staff photo.