Hellgate High School
Encyclopedia
Hellgate High School is located in Missoula, Montana
. It is the largest high school in the Missoula County Public School's District of Montana
in terms of student body population. Hellgate has approximately 1,200 students, and a faculty of approximately 100.
First established in 1908 as Missoula County High School, the school was later renamed Hellgate High, shortly after the foundation of the University of Montana. Hellgate is one of the oldest high schools buildings in the State of Montana. It is a three-story building blending several different forms of architecture, with a network of underground tunnels.
On September 24, 1952, the morning after giving his Checkers speech
, Republican vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon
spoke at the school. He denied that politics was a dirty game, and stated that if students thought it was, they should get involved and clean it up.
The name Hellgate High School was not used until well after the building now known as Sentinel High School
opened in 1956. Originally what is now known as Sentinel was to be the new Missoula County High School replacing what is now known as Hellgate. As Missoula grew, classes were slowly returned to the Hellgate building. First the Freshman class, then Sophomores. In the mid-1960s Hellgate and Sentinel were created as separate four year high schools, with all the old team names going to Sentinel, and the new team names (Pages, Squires, and Knights) were created with all new traditions. Before Sentinel opened, Missoula County High School was the only public high school in Missoula, with Frenchtown High School
the only other public high school in the County. Hellgate is named for Hellgate Canyon, a passage carved by the Clark Fork River
through the mountains where Blackfeet
warriors would lay in wait for the Salish. French trappers called the canyon Porte de l’Enfer, which means "gate of hell." Hell Gate Canyon remained a most dangerous site until 1855, when the Flatheads and Blackfeet signed a treaty. Missoula, incidentally derives its name from the Salish name for Hell Gate, the word having been simplified (corrupted) by Neo-Europeans to Missoula.
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
. It is the largest high school in the Missoula County Public School's District of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in terms of student body population. Hellgate has approximately 1,200 students, and a faculty of approximately 100.
History
On September 24, 1952, the morning after giving his Checkers speech
Checkers speech
The Checkers speech or Fund speech was an address made by Richard Nixon, the Republican vice presidential candidate and junior United States Senator from California, on television and radio on September 23, 1952. Senator Nixon had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his...
, Republican vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
spoke at the school. He denied that politics was a dirty game, and stated that if students thought it was, they should get involved and clean it up.
The name Hellgate High School was not used until well after the building now known as Sentinel High School
Sentinel High Schoool
Sentinel High School is located in Missoula, Montana. It is in the Missoula County Public School's District #1. Sentinel has approximately 1,200 students, and a faculty of approximately 100. -External links:**...
opened in 1956. Originally what is now known as Sentinel was to be the new Missoula County High School replacing what is now known as Hellgate. As Missoula grew, classes were slowly returned to the Hellgate building. First the Freshman class, then Sophomores. In the mid-1960s Hellgate and Sentinel were created as separate four year high schools, with all the old team names going to Sentinel, and the new team names (Pages, Squires, and Knights) were created with all new traditions. Before Sentinel opened, Missoula County High School was the only public high school in Missoula, with Frenchtown High School
Frenchtown High School
Frenchtown High School is located in Frenchtown, Missoula County, Montana, United States.As of 2008, a construction project is under way which will add on to the high school complex and provide a new junior high facility next door. The addition is scheduled to be complete in September 2009. The...
the only other public high school in the County. Hellgate is named for Hellgate Canyon, a passage carved by the Clark Fork River
Clark Fork (river)
The Clark Fork is a river in the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho, approximately long. The largest river by volume in Montana, it drains an extensive region of the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and northern Idaho in the watershed of the Columbia River, flowing northwest through a long...
through the mountains where Blackfeet
Blackfeet
The Piegan Blackfeet are a tribe of Native Americans of the Algonquian language family based in Montana, having lived in this area since around 6,500 BC. Many members of the tribe live as part of the Blackfeet Nation in northwestern Montana, with population centered in Browning...
warriors would lay in wait for the Salish. French trappers called the canyon Porte de l’Enfer, which means "gate of hell." Hell Gate Canyon remained a most dangerous site until 1855, when the Flatheads and Blackfeet signed a treaty. Missoula, incidentally derives its name from the Salish name for Hell Gate, the word having been simplified (corrupted) by Neo-Europeans to Missoula.
Academic
In 2007, the Hellgate Academic WorldQuest team received first place in the State competition, and later advanced onto the national competition in Washington D.C.. The WorldQuest team was able to take second place in the nation.Music
Hellgate High Schools successful music programs send many band, orchestra, choir, and jazz students to the All-Northwest and All-State programs each year.Choir
Choir Director Dean Peterson has taught for over 20 years at Hellgate. In 1997 Mr. Peterson received the Milken Family Foundation's National Educator Award.Missoula Youth Choir
Formed in 1987 by founders David Heidel and Dean Peterson, for the sole purpose of performing at the first International Choral Festival, the Missoula Youth Choir (MYC) has performed at every Festival since. MYC is composed of select high school students from Missoula's public high schools. MYC conductors are local Missoula high school directors who have collaborated on many school festival and concerts.Band
2010 - John Combs, former band director at Hellgate High School, who now serves as the fine arts supervisor for Missoula County Public Schools, was recently named outstanding music educator in both Montana and the Rocky Mountain West.Notable alumni
- Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, Musician - John EngenJohn EngenJohn Engen has been mayor of Missoula, Montana, USA since 2006. Missoula’s 50th mayor, Engen was born in Missoula in 1964, attended Willard Elementary School, Hellgate High School and The University of Montana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism....
, Mayor - John MorrisonJohn Morrison (Montana Politician)John Morrison is a Montana attorney, businessman, and political leader. He served as the elected Montana State Auditor, Insurance Commissioner and Securities Commissioner from 2001-2009. In 2006, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate...
, Politician - Allen VizzuttiAllen VizzuttiAllen Vizzutti is an American trumpeter, composer and music educator.Allen Vizzutti very recently recorded his first solo jazz album in some time. "Ritzville" which will be available November 1st, as announced by Vizzutti himself...
, Musician - Emily Peragine, Musician