A century after Mason Middle School first opened its doors, the school celebrated the generations of students, educators and families who helped shape its legacy.  

“Tonight is more than just a birthday celebration for a school,” said Assistant Principal Michael Elford. “It is a celebration of people, of history, of resilience, of opportunity, and of the lasting impact that education has on a community.”

Organized by a Centennial Committee of students, families, staff, businesses and volunteers, the celebration highlighted both the school’s history and the students shaping its future. Mason student, Lucas M., created a centennial logo printed on programs and tees.  The Mason band and orchestra each performed pieces with ties to Tacoma’s past. And student speakers helped draw a connection to the past by sharing jokes, poems and essays written by former students.

Thanks to assistance from the Washington State Historical Society, a timeline complete with news articles and photos allowed guests to learn and explore Mason’s history.  In the library guests were invited to look at memorabilia including past athletic uniforms and volumes of yearbooks going back decades.

The celebration also featured a student showcase highlighting the learning and creativity happening throughout Mason today. The band, orchestra and drama programs performed throughout the evening, while student work from art, world language, science and CTE classes gave guests opportunities to explore and interact with current classroom projects.

Originally opened on February 1, 1926, as Mason Intermediate, the school was one of six new intermediate schools built after Tacoma voters approved a $2.4 million bond in 1923. While the original building was replaced in 2003, architectural pieces from the original school were incorporated into the current campus and can still be seen throughout the building today.

Mason was named after Allen C. Mason, a Tacoma Pioneer. Mason was a lawyer, former school principal, real estate dealer, railroad builder and author of a math text and guide for teachers. His personal collection of 6,000 books served as Tacoma’s first library.

Elford shared that Allen C. Mason is his great-great-grandfather, and that growing up he heard many stories about his life.  “I believe he would be most proud of the people in this community. He would be proud of the thousands of students who discovered who they are within these walls. He would be proud of the educators who have given their hearts to this profession.”