Omaha Technical High School
1923 - 1984
About Tech High School
Located at 3215 Cuming St Omaha NE, Technical High School opened in 1923. It was the largest school west of Chicago and was thought to be the best equipped. The school served the community for 61 years before closing in 1984.
The five-winged building and large athletic field occupied 3 city blocks between Burt and Cuming Streets, and from 30th to 33rd Streets.
The east wing housed 2 large gymnasiums and a swimming pool. The gyms were marked by round-topped windows. The pool was centrally located in the basement, with lockers and dressing rooms at each end. At the time, it was the only pool in any Omaha public school.
The entire top floor contained the home economics department. On the roof was a deck with a canopy. The south roof was fenced in, and was used as an exercise area.
The central wing, extending to the south behind the main entrance, had a large auditorium. There were classrooms on the top (5th) floor. Offices for the Principal, Registrar and clerical staff were on the 1st floor adjacent to the north entrance.
Shops and laboratories were housed in the west wing.
On the roof at the south end was a greenhouse.
The building had 124 rooms. As early as 1947, there were 2,700 students and 100 teachers.
Tech was not only unique in it's high academic standards and top-notch faculty, it was also a forerunner in vocational high schools, offering students (that would ultimately choose not to continue on to college), the opportunity to learn a 'trade.'
Tech's forerunner was Commerce High, opening in 1912. It was located at 17th & Leavenworth Streets. In the winter of 1920-21 Commerce High burned down.
Upon the closing of Tech High, a complete building renovation took place, with the exception of the auditorium and the original lobby.
Once housed in the Joslyn Castle, the Board of Education now occupies our old school building. It also serves as a home for the Career Center and Adult Education programs. It serves over 700 Omaha Public School students daily.
The main entrance to the building is now on the east side. Stone steps to a former second story entrance were removed and a new first floor entrance was built for easier access.
A three story atrium is featured inside the east entry. Architects used the high ceilings in the two original gymnasiums to create two floors of office space in this area.
This page was last modified on Wednesday, February 15, 2006; at 1:20:14 AM
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