The Lost High School of West Orange, New Jersey, Finally Gets a Voice

WEST ORANGE, N.J. - Feb. 1, 2022 - PRLog -- In 1960, because of overcrowding in West Orange High School, a second high school was built. Twenty-four years later, in 1984, that second high school was eradicated and its name never spoken again. The original West Orange High School building was sold and students were moved to the newer 1960 building which was then re-christened West Orange High but the school colors and emblems of both previous schools were changed. The sports banners and sports trophies of both schools were discarded. It was as though the town wanted to make sure that no previous school legacies remained. Well before the current craze of tearing down statues to fictitiously make over the nation's history, West Orange was ahead of that curve.

John Dandola is an author, biographer, and  historian with a reputation for impeccable research. He is not only a West Orange town historian, he is the historian of both the West Orange Fire Department and the West Orange Police Department. His memoir about the town's municipal pool (he was the youngest and longest-tenured lifeguard then assistant manager) also details the history of the West Orange Recreation Department. With those credentials, several of his former high school classmates approached Dandola and asked if he would be interested in possibly writing a brochure to hand out at their reunion. Instead, thoroughness compelled Dandola to come up with a book entitled Up the Hill, Down the Hill.

"This is history. History is not always pretty," Dandola explains "Mountain High created a need for busing and that resulted in the derogatory 'up-the-hill, down-the-hill' discrimination which still grips the town. It's the West Orange version of 'the haves and the have-nots'."

Dandola's penchant for truthfulness and accuracy is why he has never been appointed the "official" town historian. He simply will not slant or fabricate facts for the convenience or advantage of politicians who place no value on proper research or professional writing skills.

"Nothing in the resulting book was skewed," Dandola cautions. "Nothing was left out to prove one point over another. Everything was scrutinized in its entirety. Everything is presented accurately. This is one of those cases in which the story can only be interpreted one way and that is how I have presented it. As I said, it isn't pretty but it's a part of West Orange's local history which should always be remembered."

Up the Hill, Down the Hill is 142 pages. It generously includes photos, maps, and a listing of all West Orange public schools dating back to the 18th century. It will be available first and foremost to Dandola's graduating class and then get general release later when those orders are fulfilled..

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