The heartfelt history of the History Building
By Rachel Levin, Staff Writer
The History Building is the oldest structure on Samo’s campus, and it is set to be torn down in a few months. While the school board has solid safety and educational reasons to go along with this plan, protests from organizations such as the Santa Monica Conservatory have arisen in the hopes of saving the building. Regardless of whether or not it should be demolished, the History Building means a lot to the people that have worked, taught or learned at Samo.
When Samo was first founded in 1912, the History Building was the entirety of the campus. The building that stands today was built in 1933 on the frame of its predecessor, which was destroyed by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Despite its late start, the building still holds sentimental value for the community. It even holds a little fame—anyone who attends knows both “Rebel Without a Cause” and “17 Again” were filmed there.
The History Building is not a staple in American history. It didn’t win a war or foster a movement, but it did nurture almost every teenager that goes through the Santa Monica school system, and that is just as worthy of remembering. Teachers who have taught in the building for years and students who spent their high school careers in its halls will sorely miss it. Below are a few testimonies from teachers and students on the importance of the building in their lives.
Teacher Testimonies:
Seventeen years I've been in this building. I have seen stunning ocean views and breath-taking blood orange sky sunsets in the dusk whilst waiting for a play or musical or orchestral performance to start. I have taught over 2,500 students in this classroom over the years. I have seen college kids open their letters of acceptance in this very room. I've tutored kids, I've planned lessons, I even found out that my mom had hours to live in this room. One of my best friends and colleagues, Mr. Rupprecht, and I wore out the tile pathway between our two rooms collaborating over lessons these last 16 years. We were in lockdown here when the Starbucks across the street was robbed and we didn't know where the perpetrators went. It was in this room that students snuck in after I left and decorated my room with balloons and streamers (nearly every cubic inch) for my birthday. I’m going to miss it.
— Kelly John Okla, H210
I have fond memories of the History Building. I had great teachers there—Ms. Grant for 11th grade English and Mr. Jimenez for Economics. While I never went, I know there were black out dances on the first floor at some point. It is also where I first met my husband. (We didn't start dating until years later). It is where countless years of graduating seniors congregate before walking down into the Greek Auditorium. The Roberts Art Gallery is where so many students have showcased their art. I had multiple classrooms in the building. I started in H106, moved to H213 and then finally to H210, (at least I think those were the numbers), and made so many good memories. Most importantly to me, I had lunch in the History Building with other history teachers for over 20 years. There was so much laughter in those lunches, but also tears and the occasional word of anger or frustration. We became a family in that building. I will definitely miss that building and our lunches there.
— Amy Bisson, L100
It was a run down building when I went to school in the 80s. It was a run down building when I taught there in the 90s and 00s. What made it special were the people in the building with me. There was a great sense of community back then.
— Matt Flanders, L102
On the nostalgic side, as a student, I had my favorite teacher and mentor, Mr. Jimenez as a senior, and I was also his TA. I had a number of classes there as a high school student, and it was weird when I returned to teach there 20 years ago after—so many memories there as a student that came flooding back, both good and bad alike. But Mr. Flanders is correct, it is a run-down old building built for another time, for a mid-19th-century world where all you needed was a high school diploma or a trade to excel. As I mentioned, I've been teaching in that building for 20 years, and it's not been great as a physical space. The rooms are small, cramped and dusty with poor technology, and built for a bygone era. The heat in the classroom can soar over 100 degrees during a heatwave and down to the 50s in the dead of winter. I will have fond memories of my students and my colleagues—the lunches every day for years with friends and colleagues that allowed for a lifting of spirits even at times of low morale for example, but I cannot say I will miss teaching in the less than ideal conditions the History Building provided. I look forward to a new chapter in the Discovery Building.
— Nathaniel Munoz Acker, H204
Student opinions:
As sad as it is to see such an old building fall, it wasn’t a great learning environment and definitely had asbestos.
— Dora Foster (’22)
My friend once chucked his phone out the History Building window.
— Sarah Tarsky (’22)
I only had one class in the History Building but I’m still pretty sad it’s being demolished because it’s such a nice building from the outside and I feel like it has a lot of history, but I’m also excited to see what will take its place.
— Talia Daghigian (’22)
“As far as negative…I remember trying to get around those hallways and it always being practically impossible. But for the good memories, I had lots of great classes and I got to walk by Mr Lee's Shakespeare class constantly last year and wave to my friends. I had many amazing conversations with my friends and it’s sad to see such a historic building go, but I love seeing all that’s new that’s being created in Samo.”
— Emily Barrett (’21)
“It's a shame it's getting demolished, but i'm sure whatever they replace it with will be worth it.”
— Shreeya Rubin (’23)
“I haven't even seen the building or know where it is or what it looks like. I sort of don’t care because I am not very connected to the building, but it is still sad to see an old part of history being torn down.”
— Ava Waterstone (’24)
