WHS Legacy Society
Waterloo High School History
In the 1800s, classes met originally at Bickelhaupt Hall on Park Street in Pautler Park, the corner of the present day Route 3 and Park Street.
In 1868 school officials started building the first Waterloo High School on East Fourth Street. It opened for classes in 1871. The first class of high school graduates was 1879 and consisted of three, L. Adelsberger (who became a medical doctor), George R. Dean (who was a professor at the Rolla, Missouri School of Mines) and H. C. Voris (editor and publisher of the Waterloo Republican newspaper for many years and also later served as President of the Board of Education). Then there were several years without high school graduates. There were some in 1893. Lulu Moore received the first diploma in 1895. Since 1895 there have been graduates every year, although sometimes it was only one person. Regular graduation ceremonies began in the year 1897. The school on East Fourth Street was remodeled in 1921 and again in 1935-36. The Wahisco newspaper was born in 1935, supervised by Miss Mathilda Zimmer. The name Wahischo was formed by using the first two letters of “Waterloo” and “High” and then the first four letters of the word “school”.
Between 1934-1938 a new high school was built on Bellefontaine Drive, to house both grade and high schools. It was finished in December of 1938.
1958 was the year another new high school was dedicated next to the school on Bellefontaine Drive. The elementary students were then taught in the old 1938 school.
In 2007, ground was broke on what is now the new Waterloo High School campus located at 505 East Bulldog Boulevard.
Waterloo High School continues to change as our community develops and grows. The Legacy Society is honored to document and witness the growth of our school, community and our alumni achievements.
In 1868 school officials started building the first Waterloo High School on East Fourth Street. It opened for classes in 1871. The first class of high school graduates was 1879 and consisted of three, L. Adelsberger (who became a medical doctor), George R. Dean (who was a professor at the Rolla, Missouri School of Mines) and H. C. Voris (editor and publisher of the Waterloo Republican newspaper for many years and also later served as President of the Board of Education). Then there were several years without high school graduates. There were some in 1893. Lulu Moore received the first diploma in 1895. Since 1895 there have been graduates every year, although sometimes it was only one person. Regular graduation ceremonies began in the year 1897. The school on East Fourth Street was remodeled in 1921 and again in 1935-36. The Wahisco newspaper was born in 1935, supervised by Miss Mathilda Zimmer. The name Wahischo was formed by using the first two letters of “Waterloo” and “High” and then the first four letters of the word “school”.
Between 1934-1938 a new high school was built on Bellefontaine Drive, to house both grade and high schools. It was finished in December of 1938.
1958 was the year another new high school was dedicated next to the school on Bellefontaine Drive. The elementary students were then taught in the old 1938 school.
In 2007, ground was broke on what is now the new Waterloo High School campus located at 505 East Bulldog Boulevard.
Waterloo High School continues to change as our community develops and grows. The Legacy Society is honored to document and witness the growth of our school, community and our alumni achievements.