By JOE JAROSZ
Northeast News
April 30, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – There’s a centennial birthday celebration coming up soon in the Northeast.

And although there’s been some work done, it doesn’t look a year over 25.

On April 13, 1914, Northeast High School opened its doors to educate the youth of the area. The school was built for $630,000 and over 14,000 people attended the first open house. Although students attended classes at the old Central High School at 11th and Locust Streets, 55 seniors graduated on June 9, 1914, in the new high school auditorium.

The Northeast Alumni Association wants to celebrate the milestone. For the past eight months, the association has been planning events to take place for the remainder of the year. Karole Zinger, president of the alumni association, said it took a while for the association to decide how to celebrate the high school’s birthday. The festivities begin on Friday, May 16, from 4 – 8 p.m., with an informal alumni homecoming at the Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd.

“People from all over the United States have been RSVPing to the homecoming,” Zinger said.

Roberta Holt-Kipper, vice president of the alumni association, added the alumni homecoming will include a time for story telling from school historians and special guests.

“There are so many wonderful stories to share,” Holt-Kipper said.

From 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, the alumni association move the festivities to the high school grounds, 415 Van Brunt Blvd., for an alumni carnival. The event isn’t just for alumni, but for the community as well.

“We believe the high school is part of the community and the community part of the high school,” Holt-Kipper said.

The carnival includes games for adults and children, booths from area organizations and an area inside the school where different graduating classes could meet.

“People from different decades will be able to meet and enjoy the camaraderie they had while in school,” Zinger said.

Zinger also noted that in June, a dinner dance and a golf outing are scheduled to continue the centennial celebration.

“May and June are mostly when we’ll celebrate, but we’ll continue to do it throughout the year,” Zinger said.

Along with planing the events, Holt-Kipper is also the archivist for the high school. Both she and Zinger said they’re most looking forward to seeing old friends and reliving the glory days at Northeast High School.

“I’m looking forward to seeing classmates from long distances and their travels speak to how wonderful of a time they had at Northeast High School,” Zinger said.