PHOTO ESSAY | Celebrating 100 Years of Garfield High School

by Susan Fried

After a two-year delay and several years of planning, Garfield High School (GHS) celebrated its centennial on Saturday, Aug. 27. Hundreds of graduates from classes representing the 1940s to the 2020s showed up to show their Bulldog pride. At mini reunions, classmates who hadn't seen each other in years hugged, reminisced about their high school days, and talked about their lives since graduation. The joy and excitement people exuded from reconnecting with old friends was palpable.

Mini reunions for each graduating year were held in various areas around the school. There was a reception for current and past staff in the library, and a formal program featuring current Seattle Mayor and 1976 Garfield graduate Bruce Harrell as master of ceremonies in the gym.

The day included musical performances by the GHS Drumline, GHS Jazz Band, and a variety of other performances featuring Garfield graduates. Half a dozen food trucks from local vendors were in the parking lot nearby, fueling the festivities. Everywhere people were connecting with old friends and classmates, some of whom had traveled from out of state for the occasion. Alumni brought their children and grandchildren to proudly show them the high school where people like Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, and countless local legends had gone to school.

Featured Image: Graduates from 1968 greet each other on the stairs outside the school's front entrance during Garfield's Centennial Celebration. (Photo: Susan Fried)