Colton High “Fact of the Day” – Mar. 10
The Victory Bell made its first appearance in 1959 after being salvaged from the old Grant Elementary site.
Colton High School opened in 1895. It is one of the oldest high schools in the Inland Empire. In this daily feature, we celebrate Colton High’s rich history.
“Bong! Bong! Bong!”
In 1959, Colton High acquired a “Victory Bell.” This bell was a big bell with wheels, and for the Yellowjacket fans, it was a sign of victory for them. Repurposed from the abandoned Grant Elementary School site, it was mounted on a steel chassis. This ushered in a new tradition, in which students and community chanted “The Bell! The Bell!” enthusiastically as Colton’s teams neared victory.
According to Mr. Victor Schiro, former CHS Assistant Principal and CHS historian, the Victory Bell was retired after CIF rules began prohibiting noisemakers at events. The Victory Bell is currently located at the Carnegie Library atop a poll in front of the building here in Colton.
The CHS Publications department is dedicated to covering all things Colton High. Like all of our organizations, we have needs, from site maintenance ($500 annually) to equipment (cameras, microphones, video cameras) to spirit gear (t-shirts, press passes). Please consider donating. Every little bit helps support good journalism in Colton.
Emmanuel Ramos is a freshman at Colton High School. He currently writes for the Pepper Bough.