Hamilton High School
The doors ofHamilton High School opened in 1962 to freshman and sophomores assigned to thisnew union high school. They had previously attended Pewaukee, Arrowhead,Germantown, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Waukesha high schools.Each consecutive year, a class was added until the first senior class graduatedin the spring of 1965.
Its name is in honor of Alexander Hamilton, a signer of theConstitution who fought for freedom, one of the rights being the freedom ofeducation. The name was chosen in a “Name the School Contest” held in1959 submitted by Butler resident Linda Wicklund.
Glacier, Badger State, Liberty, Kettle Moraine, North Star, Eaglehead, Oak View, Woodland, Springdale, Northeastern Union, Silver Spring, and Little Fox. Other 1959 contest names Hamilton High School could have been called.
“Hamilton Hamsters” one mascot name considered. Since the new incoming 1962 students had no allegiance to the new high school, a variety of outlandish names considered. Principal Lowell A. Paffenroth may have decided on the Chargers name.
Thursday, June 10, 1965 1st Hamilton High School Senior class of 145 graduates (73 girls and 72 boys). Bonnie Pomeranski, was Senior class President. Graduation theme “On the Threshold of an Affluent Society” Still can’t determine reason for name “Chargers”, yearbook “The Lance”, or school newspaper, “The Troubadour”. Need to find 1st vols. of Troubadour for 1962.