Denfeld High School

Last updated
Duluth Denfeld High School
Clocktower3.JPG
Address
Denfeld High School
401 N 44th Ave W

,
Minnesota 55807

United States
Information
Type Public
MottoHOME OF THE HUNTERS
Established1905
Faculty49.87 (FTE) [1]
Number of students891 (2018-19) [1]
Student to teacher ratio17.87 [1]
Color(s)Maroon and gold    [2]
MascotHunters [2]
Website https://www.isd709.org/denfeld

Duluth Denfeld High School, also known as Denfeld High School, is one of two high schools in Duluth, Minnesota along with Duluth East as of 2011 after the closure of Duluth Central and the previous closing of Morgan Park HS in 1982. Serving over 1000 students from grades nine to twelve, Denfeld High School has become a West Duluth landmark. The school is known for its architecture, including a historic auditorium and a 120-foot clock tower visible from Grand Avenue.

Contents

History

Robert E. Denfeld Robertdenfeld.jpg
Robert E. Denfeld

The home of the Hunters, Denfeld High School was known as Irving High School when it opened for classes on 11 September 1905. It was later called Duluth Industrial High School. When the school moved into today's MacArthur West school building at 725 North Central Avenue in 1915, its name was changed to honor Robert E. Denfeld, superintendent of Duluth schools from 1885 to 1916. During his tenure, the number of schools in Duluth increased from seven to 34. Denfeld was instrumental in the creation of a two-year program to train teachers which eventually grew to become the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The current building was constructed in red brick and limestone at a cost of $1,250,000 and opened in September 1926. Duluth architects Abraham Holstead and W.J. Sullivan designed the H-shaped English Gothic style building which features medieval carvings by Duluth master stone carver George Thrana. Thrana came to Duluth in 1889 from Norway where he was trained as a stone sculptor. He carved for 40 years in sandstone, granite, marble and limestone and his work is featured on many Duluth buildings including the Lyceum Theater, Old Central High School, Glensheen, the Board of Trade Building, St. Louis County Courthouse and the St. Louis County Jail.

The school has a 120-ft clock tower which features eight buttresses. Its face was designed by Carl Shroer, a teacher at Central High School, and was completed by Denfeld students who welded together four sections cast in aluminum by the Duluth Brassworks Company. The numbers on the face were painted silver and the clock hands were gold painted wood. The face was later painted black, in order to make it more easily visible from Grand Avenue.

Denfeld High School's auditorium was built at a cost of $25,000 and is another of its most prominent features. It can accommodate nearly 2000 people in the audience, 200 on stage and includes an orchestra pit. Public figures who've visited in the auditorium include Richard Nixon and Johnny Cash. The auditorium was renovated for $1,200,000 and reopened in late 2006 after being closed for nearly a year. The auditorium is the annual venue for Denfeld's traditional Maroon and Gold Day assembly during the week of homecoming when the auditorium is adorned with maroon and gold decorations.

Future of the school

Additions under construction in July 2011 Denfeldjuly2011.jpg
Additions under construction in July 2011

In the spring of 2007, restructuring of Duluth's elementary, middle and high schools was discussed. Three options were proposed:

The Duluth School District ultimately chose a modified version of the Red Plan, leaving Denfeld open and adding approximately half of the Central population. To accommodate the increased student population, two new additions to the school were built. Additionally, the school underwent major reconstruction in order to conform to state standards. Construction began in 2009 and continued until 2011. To accommodate the new addition, Denfeld's signature brick chimney had to be removed. The chimney was an original feature of the building, but had not been used in many years. Construction crews cafefully removed the bricks, and the school planned to preserve some bricks for historical purposes. As a result of the construction, Denfeld and Central students both attended Central during the 2010–11 school year. In 2011, Central closed, leaving Denfeld and East as the only public high schools in Duluth.

Principals

Athletic achievements

Denfeldd.jpg

Notable alumni

46°44′55″N92°09′31″W / 46.7485520°N 92.1585243°W / 46.7485520; -92.1585243 [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "DENFIELD HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Denfeld High School". Minnesota State High School League. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  3. "Letter Details District's Reasons for Firing Former Duluth Denfeld Principal". 12 September 2019.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Denfield High School
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Denfield High School