Rainier #15: Rainier Union High School

604 E Street East

Rainier Union High School Building on September 5, 2005.

The Rainier Union High School district was approved by voters in October 1924, consolidating the school districts of Rainier, Hudson, Delena, Stehman, Fern Hill, Hackenberg, Apiary, Prescott, Neer City, Goble, Beaver Homes, and Shiloh Basin into a single high school district, to take in high-school age students from the small schools around Rainier as well as the students within the city limits. The Rainier Union High School District took over the existing Rainier High School, and initially operated out of the old building until a new school was built. The new Rainier Union High School building, designed by architect Lee A. Thomas and constructed at a cost of $125,000, was dedicated on March 12, 1926. It sits on over 12 acres of land.

The American Legion cannons from City Hall were moved to the Rainier Union High School in 1926. It is unclear what happened to them after that.

With the construction of Hudson Park Elementary and a new High School at the Briarcliff campus in 1978, the Rainier School District consolidated all students in the area, and the Union High School building became Rainier Middle School, housing 7th and 8th grade students. A district restructuring in 2001 added 6th grade students. In 2003 the district consolidated all students into Briarcliff, and the building was put up for sale. In 2004 it was purchased by the Church of Truth of Vancouver, Washington.

Rainier High School Cornerstone on June 6, 2008.

Pictured here are the cornerstone and dedication plaque for the new Rainier High School at the Briarcliff campus. They are not located at the old Union High School building in town, but I am including them here because I don't have anywhere else for them.

Rainier High School Dedication Plaque on June 6, 2008.

Excavation for the Briarcliff School Complex began in summer 1975. A public open house of Briarcliff was held October 9, 1977. The school cost $7 million with a capacity of up to 1500 students. The school was substantially complete by May 1978. It had a public open house on March 12, 1979.

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