The photos on this page were gathered by the Wilson Alumni Association.

Wilson was constructed in 1934-35 at the cost of $1,250,000 in the middle of the Great Depression. On September 23, 1935 the school welcomed 750 sophomores and juniors, mostly from overcrowded Western High School, which had been operating in double shifts. The grounds around the school were not landscaped and the fields were filled with rabbits. In March 1936, Edith Galt Wilson, the widow of the president for whom the school was named, was guest of honor at the official dedication ceremony.

The tiger was chosen as the school mascot and green and white were chosen as the school’s colors. The first Tiger seal was designed by student John Guthrie (’39) and words for the original school song “Sons of Wilson” were written by Barbara Ann Gehres (’38) and set to the melody of a Welsh marching song, “Men of Harlech”. The name for the school paper, The Beacon, was also chosen by students, and was first published in November 1935. Students paid $1 in fees to cover the cost of the paper, their lockers, the handbook and sports attendance. Given that this was during the depression, this could be paid in installments.