Alan Finger said he'll always be proud of the history associated with San Jacinto High School.

That's one of the reasons the 1954 San Jacinto graduate has been so excited to see Houston Community College launch a $60 million renovation and restoration project at the former school, now part of HCC's Central Campus at 1300 Holman.

HCC's efforts to transform the site into a community destination will allow the former high school building to play an important role in Houston's future, said Finger, chairman of the San Jacinto High School Alumni Association.

"When that area gets finished, it's certainly gong to help the campus bring in new students, but it also will really invigorate the area," Finger said.

Community resource

The alumni association is now attempting to raise the $1.5 million needed to add a section of green space, the San Jacinto Memorial Green, to the renovation area.

The green space will reflect the setting that existed when the high school facility, now known as the San Jacinto Memorial building, was constructed in 1914.

"It's more or less a tribute to the years gone by," Finger said. "Not only did we attend the school, but many of our parents and grandparents went to the school."

When HCC's project is complete, the San Jacinto building will become an academic center for Central College. It will house core curriculum courses along with college administration.

The new interior will reflect the building's history, HCC representatives say, and original elements that include the gym and auditorium will be preserved.

The Memorial Green will feature a walkway from Holman Street to a scale replica of the San Jacinto Monument, placed by the alumni association in 1995, and then to the front door. The area will display timeline markers that outline the history of the school.

This park-like area will face commuters approaching from the Main Street light rail line and other points to the north and west, Finger said.

On Austin Street, to the east of the building between Holman and Alabama, will be a shaded pedestrian boulevard.

The corridor will display a statute of Curtis Rose, a popular San Jacinto High School coach.

Also supporting the HCC project is the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which will be investing $10 million to $14 million in neighborhood enhancements including wider sidewalks, new trees and a grand entrance to HCC campus.

"We want to create a synergy between the community and the San Jacinto building," said William Harmon, president of HCC Central College.

"We see it becoming a destination with community members walking on campus and using it for meetings and political gatherings. It will become a major resource in the community."

Rich legacy

Late last year, the San Jacinto Memorial Building was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places. It also is the site of a Texas Historical Marker.

The building, which features neoclassic and Art Deco designs, got its start as South End Junior High School.

After becoming San Jacinto High School in the mid 1920s, the building gained two new wings. The first, completed in the late 1920s, was designed by Hedrick & Gottlieb.

Architect Joseph Finger designed a second wing that was completed in 1936.

The building has housed a number of educational institutions over the years, several operating in tandem with the high school.

In 1927 the building became home to Houston Junior College, which established its own campus as University of Houston in 1934.

The San Jacinto building continued to host night classes for UH until 1939.

The San Jacinto building also was the site of a technical education program, later named Houston Technical Institute, from 1962 until 1981.

The newly formed High School for the Performing and Visual Arts moved into the building in 1971 and remained for 10 years.

Houston Community College was new, too, when it started offering vocational training courses in the San Jacinto building in 1971.

HCC went on to purchase the school grounds in 1981.

San Jacinto High School graduated its final class in 1970. The school's graduates over the years included CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite, billionaire Howard Hughes, and Houston heart surgeon Denton Cooley.

Additional alumni include Houston Chronicle publisher, president and chairman Richard J.V. Johnson; Houston Chronicle columnist Maxine Mesinger; Houston Mayor Kathy Whitmire; author David Westheimer; and HCC board member and former state lawmaker Yolanda Navarro Flores.

"As I learn more about the school and the people who graduated from it, that to me is incredible," Finger said. "It's a who's who of Houston."

Finger's favorite memories of San Jacinto High School involve the people he knew there, beginning with the teachers.

"We dearly loved and respected our teachers, and they looked after us," the Memorial-area resident said.

Reviewing the school's history has been fascinating, Finger said.

He recently learned that the class of 1927 held its graduation party on the roof of the old Rice Hotel.

"The party started at midnight and went to 6 a.m.," Finger said.

"I love the history of all of this."

Looking ahead

The renovations to the San Jacinto building are expected to be completed in fall 2014.

"That would represent 100 years for the building," Harmon said. "The facility was completed in 1914.

"We expect to have a major celebration after the completion of the renovation."

For information on supporting the San Jacinto High School Alumni Association's fund- raising efforts, visit sanjacgreen.wordpress.com