Since we began the first museum in 2007, we have had countless museum moments, too many to name.  

Here are a few of them over the past year:

Students pay a visit

All Foothillers are visiting the museum this school year with their English classes.  

First semester, the seniors and juniors visited; currently, the sophomores are visiting followed by the freshmen. The purpose of their visits is to celebrate our amazing heritage and for them to realize that Foothillers today have much in common with Foothillers in 1920. The details of their school lives might have changed, but the values, experiences, and traditions remain. 

Also, the history of East County and of the United States is revealed in our displays, using photographs, newspapers, and artifacts of their lives. For example, we have a 1930s stencil machine that shows the labor intensive task of creating signs. Also, on display is a 1970s flight simulator used to teach instrument training to fly a small plane; it was used in classes taught by Lloyd La Plant. 

We also have a telephone switchboard used in the high school office and then the district office along with several telephones: a 1902 wall phone and a 1915 candlestick phone that would have required a switchboard operator to complete a call. We also have a 1970s rotary telephone. The students are fascinated by them.

Yvonne Baer Vellone, Class of 1975, recalls, “In 1972, I attended summer school and divided the morning between my P.E. class for two hours and answering the school phone for the other two hours. I answered, “Grossmont High School student speaking.” Then the caller would make a request to speak with administrative staff or department offices. Teachers didn’t have phones in their room in those days. The hardest part was finding the proper numbered  plug and making the connection. I was always afraid I would get a shock, but I managed to survive. It was a challenge for sure!”

1970 Golden Football Helmet

We are fascinated by the journey that some objects take before they come to us.

In 2023 Rick Hall, vice president of the El Cajon Historical Society, contacted us to share that “A unique plaque was left on the back porch of the Knox House with a few articles of clothing. It is difficult to make out the full name on the plate on the plaque; however, what we can see is that it was awarded to someone named Vernon in 1970. What we are wondering is if you folks would like it.”

Of course, we did. But the story continues. 

Rick dropped it off at the GUHSD Superintendent’s office, where Denise Broadfoot works.  The plaque is inscribed “The Big Hit” 1970 Grossmont High School. Denise Broadfoot’s husband is Bruce Broadfoot, Class of 1972, whose best friend was Vernon Lindvedt, the football player honored with the trophy. Vernon wanted the museum to have it. 

We had it “spruced up” by Awards by Navajo in Fletcher Hills. Today it is displayed on the wall beside the 1970s showcase. After we reopened in June 2024, Bruce visited the museum to see it. It’s an amazing journey, which wouldn’t have happened without Rick and ECVHS making the extra effort to “find its home”.

Instrumental music room

In an alcove adjacent to the museum, our amazing volunteer Jerry Botts, Class of 1970 and four-year member of the Blue and Gold Marching Band, has created a wonderful space, filled with items that celebrate GHS’s instrumental history. 

On display are band uniforms and hats from 1960-2017 and auxiliary corps uniforms from even earlier.  In the 1950s and 1960s, the girls were in the PomPon corps (not misspelled) who had handmade royal blue (nearly purple) and gold uniforms in alternating rows on the field.  Later, the auxiliary corps were named Caperettes, which consisted of the hand corp and the flag corp.  We have several of their uniforms from the 1950s-1970s.

Inside the cases, precious items document a history that created a national presence with three Rose Parade appearances, Charger halftime performances in Jack Murphy Stadium, and performances at the Florida “Orange Bowl” hosting the Playoff Bowl ( NFL sports playoff game), to name a few.

On the walls are Western Band Review plaques from 1948-1962 that celebrate the bands’ prestigious achievements over the years, led by Directors Harold Lutz and Jim Nichols.  

Also, on the wall are enlarged photographs of several of the bands. When the Class of 1967 visited the museum as part of their reunion in the summer, Candice Hevalow Stutts was excited to see herself as Drum Major in the 1966-67 photo. Needless to say, the current band members love immersing themselves in in these displays of past achievements.

Every day at the museum, special “Museum Moments” are created by everyone who visits. If you haven’t visited us yet, we hope to see you soon at the museum, a museum that documents the history of Foothillers as well as the history of East County.

Visit the GHS Museum in 2025

10-1: Saturday, March 15 

or

Fridays by prior appintment when school is in sessio.

Contacts: [email protected]  and (619) 668-6140.

Website: foothillermuseum.com

Top photo: Sophomore Landon McGlynn holding his cell phone and the 1915 Candlestick phone with special ed aide Michele Barker looking at the flight simulator.