Denfeld High School

History

The home of the Hunters, Denfeld High School was known as Irving High School when it opened for classes on 11 September 1905. It was later called Duluth Industrial High School. When the school moved into today's MacArthur West school building at 725 North Central Avenue in 1915, its name was changed to honor Robert E. Denfeld, superintendent of Duluth schools from 1885 to 1916. During his tenure, the number of schools in Duluth increased from seven to 34. Denfeld was instrumental in the creation of a two-year program to train teachers that eventually grew to become the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The current building was constructed in red brick and limestone for $1,250,000 and opened in September 1926. Duluth architects Abraham Holstead and W. J. Sullivan designed the H-shaped English Gothic style building, which features medieval carvings by Duluth master stone carver George Thrana. Thrana came to Duluth in 1889 from Norway, where he was trained as a stone sculptor. He carved for 40 years in sandstone, granite, marble and limestone, and his work is featured on many Duluth buildings, including the Lyceum Theater, Old Central High School, Glensheen, the Board of Trade Building, St. Louis County Courthouse, and the St. Louis County Jail.

The school has a 120-foot clock tower with eight buttresses. Its face was designed by Carl Shroer, a teacher at Central High School, and was completed by Denfeld students who welded together four sections cast in aluminum by the Duluth Brassworks Company. The numbers on the face were painted silver and the clock hands were gold painted wood. The face was later painted black to make it more visible from Grand Avenue.

Denfeld High School's auditorium was built for $25,000 and is another of its most prominent features. It can accommodate nearly 2,000 audience members and 200 people on stage, and includes an orchestra pit. Public figures who have visited the auditorium include Richard Nixon and Johnny Cash. The auditorium was renovated for $1,200,000 and reopened in 2006 after being closed for nearly a year. It is the annual venue for Denfeld's traditional Maroon and Gold Day assembly during homecoming week, when the auditorium is adorned with maroon and gold decorations.

Future of the school

In the spring of 2007, restructuring of Duluth's elementary, middle and high schools was discussed. Three options were proposed:

The Red Plan: Central and East would no longer function as high schools, leaving Denfeld as the only original high school in Duluth. Ordean Middle School would be turned into a high school with both buildings being remodeled and expanded to accommodate 1500 students.

The White Plan: Denfeld and East would become middle schools capable of holding 1100 students. Central would not be used, as Ordean and a new western high school would be created to accommodate 3000 total students.

The Blue Plan: East and Denfeld would be transformed into middle schools. Central would be used as the lone high school after being expanded to accommodate 3000 students.

The Duluth School District ultimately chose a modified version of the Red Plan, leaving Denfeld open and adding approximately half of the Central population. To accommodate the increased student population, two new additions to the school were built. Additionally, the school underwent major reconstruction in order to conform to state standards. Construction began in 2009 and continued until 2011. To accommodate the new addition, Denfeld's signature brick chimney had to be removed. The chimney was an original feature of the building, but had not been used in many years. Construction crews carefully removed the bricks, and the school planned to preserve some bricks for historical purposes. As a result of the construction, Denfeld and Central students both attended Central during the 2010–11 school year. In 2011, Central closed, leaving Denfeld and East as the only public high schools in Duluth.

Principals

Tom Tusken (2020 to present)

Tonya M. Sconiers (2012 to 2019)

Ed Crawford (2005 to 2012)

William Westholm (1995 to 2005)

George F. Holliday, Jr. (1991 to 1995)

Dr. Stephen Seyfer (1984 to 1991)

Dr. Wayne Samskar (1970 to 1984)

Robert Van Kleek (1963 to 1970)

G. Dell Daedo (1948 to 1963)

Dr. Chester Wood (1945 to 1948)

James Taylor (1918 to 1945)

T. H. Shutte (1916 to 1918)

Scott Foster (1905 to 1916)

Athletic/Activities Achievements

1917 Football unofficial state champions

1922 Football state runner-up

1924 Football district champions

1926 Football Head of the Lakes champions

1927 Football unofficial state champions

1933 Football city champions

1935 Football unofficial state champions

1941 Football city champions

1942 Football unofficial state champions

1945 Football city champions

1946 Football city champions

1947 Basketball state champions

1947 Ski jumping state champions

1948 Football state champions

1950 Baseball state champions

1951 Ski jumping state champions

1953 Ski jumping state champions

1954 Baseball goes to State

1964 Football city champions

1974 Football "Super Bowl" champions

1986 Hockey state 3rd place

Notable alumni

Greg Anderson, NHRA driver, class of 1979

Dorothy Arnold (Olson), actress and first wife of Joe DiMaggio, class of 1935

Mike Colalillo, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient (left school at age 16)

Roger Grimsby, television news anchor, class of 1946

C. J. Ham, football player

Lenny Lane, professional wrestler, class of 1989

Russ Method, football player

Richard F. Palmer, newspaper editor and Minnesota state senator

Barbara Rotvig, baseball player

Robb Stauber, ice hockey goaltender, class of 1986

Pete Stauber, Politician, MN 8th District, US House of Representatives

Blake Eaton, 2026 Winter Paralympian. Downhill Skiing: Sitting: Alpine and Super G. Class of 2022