Blackshirts - Where'd the Name Come From?
Waukesha South Blackshirts (Waukesha, WI) -- The team was once known as the Cardinals. During the Great Depression, the school needed to purchase new football uniforms. Unfortunately, the cost of jerseys made with red dye was too expensive for the school's budget. Therefore, they decided to go with less expensive black jerseys. At the time black was apparently a rare color for football uniforms, so the opposing teams and their fans made fun of the Waukesha athletes and called them the "Black Shirts." Rather than be embarrassed, the school decided to show pride in the name, and therefore re-named themselves the Blackshirts. They also decided to keep the cardinal as their mascot, renaming him "Blackie Blackshirt."
Source: Facebook Group: Waukesha South High School - Home of the Mighty Mighty Blackshirts
The History of South High
TIMELINE:
- 1957-1958 school year was the opening of South Campus
- November 27, 1957 (Wednesday) - Moving Day
- Juniors and Seniors move up to the South Campus - they took additional books and materials with them on school buses to facilitate the move.
- Much of the building was still unfinished. The auditorium, cafeteria, library, recreational areas and some classrooms were incomplete.
- Agriculture was taught in the current graphics and auto classrooms 24 & 25.
- December 2, 1957 - Classes Begin at
South
Campus
School Designations:
- South Campus - Mr. Clyde Shields, Principal - Juniors
- Central Campus - Mr. Charles Horwitz, Principal
-
Worthington
Building - Sophomores
-
Edison
Building - Freshmen
-
Lincoln
Building - Ms Estelle Wolf, Principal - 7th & 8th grade
- February 14, 1958 - First Event
held in the newly completed field house (seats 3,000) boys basketball game with
Whitefish
Bay .
- March 1, 1958 - First Performance
given in the newly completed auditorium musical - "Naughty Marietta"
- March 28, 1958 - Cornerstone & Flag Raising
- March 29, 1958 - Formal Dedication
- March 30, 1958 - Open House
- June 13, 1958 - First Graduation
First class graduates from
South
Campus
High School - Commencement held at
Horeb
Park .
- February 9, 1959 - Principal Dies
South Campus Principal, Mr. Clyde Shields Dies of a heart attack while attending a national convention where he was preparing to give a presentation.
- Fall 1959 - Spring 1975 - New Principal
Mr. Cliff Goerke is the new principal of South Campus
- Winter 1975 -
Waukesha
North
North
High School opens as a 9th through 12th grade campus easing South's overcrowding.
- Fall 1974 - Spring of 1979
Bob Duckette Principal of South and Central Campus.
- Fall 1979 - Spring of 1988
Mr. Dick Arnold was the principal of South Campus.
- Fall of 1979 - Building Additions
Driver's Education Classroom, Science Wing (rooms 10A through 10E) and the Auto Shop (room 26) opened. This was also the year that the Sophomores were added to South.
- Fall of 1983 - Library Expansion opened.
- Fall 0f 1988 - Spring of 2000
Mr. Bob Gruell principal of
Waukesha
South
High School .
- Fall of 1993 -
West
High School Opens
Freshmen come to South.
- Fall of 2000 - Hansen Principal of South
Thanks to Mr. Shoemaker, a former Assistant Principal at South, for being nice enough to share with us this information that he has researched in his spare time.
Source: Waukesha South High School Website
