Home Introduction On Campus Rocket Man Off campus History We found you Karen Grassle Missing In memory of ... Karen Ewing Class reunions 40 years later 41 years later 45 years later Brown Bag reunions 2002 2003 2004 2006 Ventura High School Alumni Foundation Useful links Newsletters  Be sure to vist the Blog, too

July 29, 2006 This year's event returned, finally, to the tree-shaded area near the administration building. Those attending had fun browsing copies of some stories from old issues of the Ventura County Star-Free Press, including a story about the 1949 snowfall. Again, only a few members of the Class of 1959 showed up. (There is no report on the 2005 reunion; I was in the hospital with a gallbladder problem when it occurred.) Before we get to the pictures, here is a copy of a sheet distributed at the event. I'm not sure who wrote it:   YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM VENTURA HIGH SCHOOL IF you know the real name of the city is San Buenaventura, but you can't bear to put "Buena" in front of "Ventura." you know the original name of the school is not VHS, but VSH, "Ventura Senior High." you've eaten at Denny's at 2 a.m. you know what The Avenue, Pierpont, Saticoy, and Montalvo are. you've never seen a white Christmas. you know where the south jetty is. you know the Santa Clara river is there; it's just always dried up. you know the names of explorers only because they're the names of the middle schools. you know the next middle school needs to start with "E." your favorite places to eat are Top Hat and Johnny's. you know to look for Kevin Costner at the Buena-Ventura game. you avoid the 101 on Sundays because of all the traffic heading into L.A. you're very proud of the landmarks we have, including Two Trees, the cross, and the mission. you know that Two Trees used to be Five Trees. you complain it's sooo hot when it reaches above 75. you complain it's sooo cold when it drops below 50. you really understand the meaning of cross-town rivalry. you know the back way to the cross. you love corn burritos from Foster's Freeze. you miss the 101 Drive In Theater, but you don't mind shopping at Kohl's. when people ask where you're from, you say "south of Santa Barbara" and don't mention L.A. your hometown is in the news only if there is a fire, earthquake, flood, or mudslide. you know to avoid Foothill and Day on Easter Sunday. you've walked on the pier and know it used to be longer. you may get Telephone and Telegraph mixed up, but know they are completely different roads. you love ice-blocking at Arroyo Verde. you know the nearest Wal-Mart is in the Nard. you know what "the Nard" is. you know a song that starts with the word "Stalwart." you think a thrill is free-wheeling down Palm Street. you know someone who has put bubbles in the Figueroa Street fountains. you think that there is nothing to do in Ventura (see previous two items). you know the newer bowling alley's name, but refuse to say it. you know that Buena Lanes and the only mini golf course and skating rink in town are all within a block of each other. you refer to miniature golf as "Golf 'N' Stuff" no matter where you go. you can't tell when the seasons change. you've had school cancelled because of "rain days." you know the beaches are only good for bonfires because the ocean stays the same 50 degrees all year long. you know that Wisconsin's fight song is really "On, Ventura." you know that every year Mr. Perry's desk ended up somewhere strange. you know who Coach Tuttle was and why they named a gym after him. you're proud to have gone to the first high school in town. you know that cats really can beat dogs, and often do. you know Atoms for Peace is a statue, not some subversive political group. you know where the El Jardin Lot is. you know where Surfers Point, Solimar, Faria, and Seacliff are. you know the "Island of the Blue Dolphins" is off our coast.   You're, shall we say, "mature" alumni if you remember the following: when Cabrillo was the high school, and the VHS campus was the college. when Foster's Freeze was across the street from the high school. when the 101 Drive-In had one screen. when Community Memorial Hospital was Foster Hospital (And you know Bard Hospital had nothing to do with Shakespeare.) when Ventura Bowling Center was Poinsettia Bowl. when the fair was in October, and Fair Day was the best day to go to Disneyland. when the only things between Ventura and L.A. were Jungleland and DuPar's. when "traffic" was something that happened in L.A. when Cemetery Park was a cemetery when the biggest discipline problems in the classroom were talking, gum, and spitwads. going to Sears at Borchard and Main to see the sparkling sidewalk. when the Poinsettia Pavilion was the Women's Center. Ventura Department Store, The Great Eastern, and Jack Rose. when there was no freeway through Ventura and sometimes the waves would get your car wet on the way to Santa Barbara. typing class without need of electricity. Ventura Beach before the parking structure and promenade. Latin classes (the language, not the dance style). when the new Buenaventura Mall (now Pacific View) was on the eastern edge of town. when you could drive on Figueroa between Santa Clara and Main. when the high school put on first-class, Broadway-type musicals directed by Mrs. Bercaw. when Keith Wilkes played for Ventura High before he became Jamaal.   VHS Alma Mater Stalwart by the Golden sands 'Neath the time-worn hills she stands. Loyal rooters, shout and cheer. Ventura, we hail and revere. Time can't change the memories Or the marks left by our deeds. Let us fly our banner bold. All hail to the Black and Gold!     The reunion had a car show this year. Here are some of the entries. This is part of the crowd. The gym is named after Bob Tuttle.   This is the new classroom building. This is an old classroom building. Outgoing Principal Larry Emrich, left, and incoming Principal Val Wyatt talk at the car show.