PTHS graduation locations through the years

Compiled by Jan Boutilier
Posted 6/28/24

 

 

1891-1898 – Not verified.

 

1899 – Odd Fellows Hall on Lawrence Street (built in 1897) - It has been the Uptown Theatre since 1947.

 

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PTHS graduation locations through the years

Posted

 

 

1891-1898 – Not verified.

 

1899 – Odd Fellows Hall on Lawrence Street (built in 1897) - It has been the Uptown Theatre since 1947.

 

1922 – Central High School - Through a combined community/student effort, a project to add a gymnasium/auditorium to the Central High School was begun in 1921 and completed in June 1922, in time to host that year’s graduation ceremony. (The old Central School became Central High School after the Lincoln Building was completed in 1890 and the elementary students moved there.)

 

1935-1990 – After the completion of the Port Townsend High School main building in 1935, graduations were held in the auditorium. They later moved graduations to the Bruce Blevins Gymnasium.

 

1991 – As classes got bigger, a new venue was needed. Graduations started at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden in 1991.

 

2020 – In the COVID pandemic lockdown, an outdoor graduation was held at the Wheel-In Motor Movie Theatre. The seniors and their families each arrived by car after cruising as a parade through town. Townspeople lined the streets with signs and cheer. The local radio station, KPTZ, broadcast the parade and graduation event. Students were not allowed to mingle. The graduates stood outside their cars for the diploma presentation. Board members walked to each car to present the diplomas.

 

2021 – With the COVID pandemic still going on, graduation was held outdoors at Memorial Field. Principal Carrie Ehrhardt had the seniors tested for COVID just ahead of graduation, with the permission and direction of Dr. Locke, the Jefferson County Public Health. Due to that, the seniors were allowed to walk in side-by-side with their partner and sit without the required 6-foot social distancing that was in place at that time. This was the first time of togetherness for the senior class since the COVID lockdown of 2019. Their only wish was to be together.

 

2022-Present – Graduation is back at McCurdy Pavilion.