Whitaker Middle School (Portland, Oregon)

USA / Oregon / Portland / Portland, Oregon
 school, historical layer / disappeared object
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This school was closed then torn down because it had been infested with toxic mold and radon that would be prohibitively expensive to remove. It now sits as a vacant grass lot.

Formerly John Adams High School, a sort of experiment in alternative education (some aspects of which have been adopted by modern schools).

Gus van Zant used this building to film "Elephant", an exploration of a Dylan Klebold/Eric Harris type incident.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   45°33'53"N   122°37'18"W

Comments

  • The school was finally demolished. Last I looked, it was a huge grass field appended to the park.
  • As noted this was originally John Adams High School, built in the late 60's. The original Whitaker Middle School still stands, located at NE 51st and NE Columbia Blvd. The original Whitaker Middle School is now the Native American Youth and Family Center.
  • Thanks, I attended Whitaker Elementary School in 1956-1966, second grade. I always wondered what happened.
  • I also attended Whitaker in 1956 - 1st grade. But, I was pulled out in November 1956 when my father was tasked with starting Hyster Company in Glasgow, Scotland. I lived with my Grandmother on her dairy farm for a short period while at Whitaker - Boulevard Dairy, also on Columbia Boulevard. It is gone now, and I understand a Caterpillar Dealership is on a major part of the ground.
This article was last modified 11 years ago