6/19/2019, 12:01 p.m.
A historic photo shows the former and short lived John Adams High School near Northeast 42nd and Killingsworth. A two-event all-class reunion for all alumni, former faculty and staff will take place this summer.
The 50th anniversary of the opening of Portland’s most controversial — and shortest-lived — public high school is this year. To celebrate, alumni and former faculty and staff are invited to a two-event all-class reunion.
John Adams High School opened in 1969 in northeast Portland. It was an “experimental” school that was the brainchild of a team of Harvard PhD students. The school closed in 1981 due to low enrollment.
“Many former students are still deeply connected to the experience they had at Adams,” said Rosemary Hardin, reunion committee chair and a member of the class of 1976, “so we’re honoring that experience and we’re going to party like it’s 1969.”
The celebration will include a no-host cocktail social and dance Aug. 2 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Tickets are available at adamshs-pdx.com. They will not be sold at the door. The deadline to buy tickets is July 1.
On Aug. 3, the reunion celebration moves to Columbia Park for a free potluck picnic at 11 a.m. at Picnic Area D. Alumni and former faculty and staff can just show up with a dish to share; no sign-up required. Columbia Park is located at North Lombard Street and Woolsey Avenue.