Waukesha South High School Classes of 1987 and 1988
South History
Thanks to everyone who helped make Reunion 2018 a success!

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

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