The Beginning
Bay View High School’s long and illustrious history began in September 1914, when 150 students and 7 teachers entered the first day at Bay View High School, a one-building barracks with no central heating. With German teacher Gustav Fritsche as principal, the barracks grew first to a bungalow, and in 1922 construction finished on a new four-story brick building, which we still use today.
A New Space
The new building was a vast improvement over the wooden barracks. Later renovations included the modernization of rooms and lighting, the separation of the East and West Study Halls into one-story units later converted to classrooms, a library, and a little theatre/conference center. In 1976 there was a new addition to the building which includes a 1200-seat spectator gym.
Between 1914 and the present, many activities and traditions were advanced. In 1917, the ORACLE, then a booklet of 48 half-pages, began publication as a yearbook. In 1927, the ORACLE NEWSPAPER, first issued in 1915, took first place in the nation.
Extra-Curriculars
With new facilities, athletics became an important extra-curricular activity. Sports at Bay View included football, track, basketball, swimming, and cross country. Early clubs included Girl’s Club (1914), Stage Crew (1924), Art Club (1932) and X Club (1938). The Student Government Association (S.G.A.) had its beginning at Bay View High School during World War II and In 1998 celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The Redcat Mascot was adopted in the early 1950’s.
Culture & Changes
Bay View was always a four-year high school except from 1963-1977, when freshmen attended Fritsche Junior High School. For a time, Bay View served as the MPS specialty school for the Visual and Performing Arts. Then it focused on Law and Protective Services, Naval Junior ROTC, Mathematics/Science, and Construction. The School’s current highlights include it’s STEAM classes and the Culinary Arts program. In 2011, Fritsche Middle School combined with Bay View High School. The combined school was called Bay View Middle & High School. The last Bay View Middle & High School grads left us in 2018 at which time the middle school program ended. The School is now simply called Bay View High School.
The Principals of Bay View High School
Mr. Fritsche served a legendary 25 years as principal. Then Dr. Bernhard Korn, a history teacher since the barracks days, served as principal from September 1940 to June 1960. Succeeding the helm…
- Mr. Arthur Showers until 1973
- Mr. Walter Olen until 1976
- Mrs. Sarah Scott until 1979
- Mr. Frank Harper until 1983
- Mr. Walter Klaeser until 1985
- Mr. Thomas Balistreri until 1991
- Mr. Robert Kraiss until 2001
- Mr. Ezell Conner until 2002
- Mr. Robert Plath until 2004
- Ms. Barbara Goss until 2008
- Ms. Kitzrow until 2011
- Mr. Mazur until 2016
- Ms. Peterson until 2019
The Current Esteemed Principal of Bay View High School is Mr. Jeffery Gaddis.
