Back in time: AUSD students celebrate 110th anniversary of Auburn Grammar School

The Auburn Union School District celebrated the 110th anniversary of Auburn Grammar School. Coordinated by City of Auburn Historian Carol Cramer, monthly events were held leading up to the culminating event on the anniversary date of Jan. 10, which included AUSD Superintendent Brittaney D. Meyer collaborating with Cramer to incorporate present-day Auburn Union into the celebration. Students in the Auburn Elementary, EV Cain and Skyridge service clubs participated in the reenactment and led tours of the building and exhibits. Cramer presented historical details for the opening event – a reenactment of the Auburn Grammar dedication done 110 years ago. Auburn students reenacted the role of Auburn Grammar students from 1916. Brad Weisberg played the role of JJ Berry (Auburn Grammar Principal), and Superintendent Meyer played the role of Irene Burns (Placer County Superintendent of Schools). There was an exhibit of Auburn Grammar teachers and artifacts, and the historic classroom in Room 5 was open for visitation. Set up in the Rose Room was a "Present Day Auburn Union School District" exhibit with student art, yearbooks, photographs and information on AUSD. Past Auburn Grammar students attended the event, including some who traveled from hours away. Auburn Grammar was built by William Henry Weeks and was the first modernized school in Northern California. The school featured classrooms for each grade level (for the first time), an auditorium, dining facilities, oil heat, air ventilators, electric wiring, indoor plumbing and bathroom and drinking fountains inside. The cost to build was $50,000. Students attended classes until its closing in 1964.