by Scott Crump   (Third in a series) In this third article in the Bingham High School Fifty Years Ago series, I will the discuss some of the happenings at Bingham High in South Jordan during its first school year in 1975-1976.   OPENING THE NEW BINGHAM HIGH IN SOUTH JORDAN When the new Bingham High opened its doors on September 2, 1975, with 1,246 students, construction was far from complete. Carpet had to be laid; ceiling tile, the auditorium’s seats, and lights had to be installed; the heating and air conditioning equipment was far from being finished; and wiring, painting, and other inside work had to be completed. Regular school work was delayed a week so contractors could sufficiently clean up the building for students to attend classes. For the year’s first assembly, everybody (one class at a time) had to sit on the cafeteria floor. Principal Owen welcomed the students to Bingham High School. While he was talking to the seniors about the...

Happy Birthday Bingham High School!  September 9, 2024 marks Bingham High School’s 116th birthday. On September 9, 1908, Bingham High first opened its doors with 12 eager freshmen students in attendance.  As Bingham Miner Alumni, we can all celebrate the beginning of our alma mater in the narrow confines of Bingham Canyon in the upstairs rooms of the town’s community center known as Canyon Hall. Since that first year in the City of Bingham’s Canyon Hall, Bingham High has had five different locations: three in Bingham Canyon (1908-1931), one in Copperton (1931-1975) and the current location in South Jordan (1975-2024).  Although it may be difficult for some to believe, in 2025 Bingham High School’s South Jordan campus will be commemorating its 50th year as the home of Bingham High School.  Last year I published the happenings of Bingham High’s first school year of 1908-1909. This year I want to focus on academics and student activities at Bingham High...

Bingham High School Fifty Years Ago (Part II in a series) by Scott Crump   In our first article of “Bingham High School Fifty Years Ago,” we looked at the planning, construction and naming of the new Bingham High School in South Jordan.  This article will discuss the issues faced by Bingham Miners as they  transitioned from at the Copperton Bingham High to the South Jordan location.     TRANSITIONING TO A NEW BINGHAM HIGH           While construction on the new school proceeded, plans needed to be developed for the transition from the old school to the new school.  This transition would be led by Dr. Thomas Owen (1973-1977), who was appointed to replace Glen Beere as principal.  Dr. Owen immediately fell in love with Bingham High and its traditions and made it his goal to make the transition from the old Bingham High to the new one as smooth as possible.  He recalled his first...

Bingham High School Fifty Years Ago by Scott Crump  (First of a series) For those Bingham Miners who graduated from Bingham High School when it was located in Copperton, it is hard to believe that it has been almost 50 years ago since the school moved to South Jordan.  As amazing as it may seem, the “new” Bingham High School building in South Jordan will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025.   I thought it would be interesting, in a series of articles, to look at what was happening at Bingham High School a half century ago as the school was transitioning from its location in Copperton (1931-1975) to its new home in South Jordan. CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING IN SOUTH JORDAN           As a result of the population growth in the southwest part of the Salt Lake Valley in the 1960s, Bingham High's enrollment grew from 653 students in 1960 to 934 pupils in 1971. (224)  At this time, population projections...

  DENNY SIMKINS CARLISLE passed away on December 23, 2023 at the age of 89.  She was a member of the Bingham High School Class of 1952, was principal of Bingham High from 1986 to 1994, and was inducted into the Bingham High School Pay Dirt Club/Hall of Fame in 1998. She was an educator and school administrator, an art teacher at Hillcrest High, Twin Falls and Pocatello, Idaho and Brighton High School.  As an administrator she served in the Jordan School District as principal at Mt. View Elementary (1980-1985), and was the first woman principal of Bingham High (1986-1994). The following is Denny Carlisle's obituary: Denny Simkins Kastelic Carlisle passed away at her St George home on Saturday, December 23, 2023. She was 89. Denny was born to Earnest C. Simkins and Geneveive Blaney on September 26, 1934, at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake. She was a beautiful blonde with sparkly green eyes and a love of learning. She was the oldest of five...

Happy Birthday Bingham High School! September 9, 2023 marks the 115th birthday for Bingham High School. Bingham High first opened its doors on September 9, 1908. As Bingham Miner Alumni, we can all celebrate the beginning of our alma mater in the narrow confines of Bingham Canyon in the upstairs room of the town's community center known as Canyon Hall. Since that first year in the City of Bingham's Canyon Hall, Bingham High has had five different locations: three different buildings in Bingham Canyon (1908-1931), one in Copperton (1931-1975) and the current location in South Jordan (1975-2023). (see accompanying pictures)  Although it may be difficult for some to believe, as of 2020, Bingham High School's South Jordan campus surpassed the 44 years Bingham High was located in Copperton. The following is a summary of the first school year of 1908-1909 at Bingham High. We have certainly come a long way since then. For more information on Bingham High's history see Bingham High...

Dear Alumni Choir Members, This is a letter received from Logan Bingham (Mr. Bingham from Bingham) who was just appointed as the new choir director at Bingham: In an effort to honor and highlight the legacy of the Bingham High Choir program and connect with Alumni, we are hosting an alumni reunion night/concert at BHS on September 22, 2023. I’m calling it “We’ll Always Remember…” which is the first line of the Bingham High Hymn that is sung at almost every major event held at Bingham High! We have 3 of the previous choir teachers from Bingham High coming to attend the event: Jolene Dalton Gailey (who taught choir at Bingham from 1984-1991), LeAnna Willmore (who taught choir at Bingham from 1991-1999), and Kerrin Gates (who taught choir at Bingham from 2009-2014). We will have performances from the choirs, a Q/A session with the past teachers, an open house of the performing arts facilities (with the remodel, alumni want to see how everything has changed!) and more! I'm...

Bingham showed off Saturday afternoon at UVU why it’s again the premier drill team program in the state. The Minerettes dominated at Saturday’s 6A state championships, sweeping all three categories en route to a third straight state championship and the 10th in program history. “This season required a lot of perseverance, resiliency, mental toughness and determination for the Minerettes. After taking a second place at one of our invitational competitions, they had to decide if they were going to rise or fall. They did not waste any time deciding. The next day I got texts from some of my leadership ready to make a plan to move forward and at the very next practice the team decided they were going to do whatever it would take,” said Bingham coach Erika Cox. “The way they bounced back so fast and their trust in me as a coach gave me more momentum. From that moment on, I watched them give everything they had until the very end. The following weeks involved literal blood, sweat,...

We have lost one of Bingham High School’s great principals. Robert D. Day was the principal of Bingham High from 1980 to 1986 and will be remembered as an outstanding leader and an exceptional Bingham Miner.  He loved Bingham High and was responsible for beginning many Bingham traditions including pinning students for their outstanding achievements.  The Bingham Alumni Foundation extends its condolences to the Day family.  In 1994 Mr. Day received the Bingham Candlelight Service Award for his contributions to Bingham High School.  The following biography, given at that time, summarizes some of his accomplishments: 1994 Robert Day 1994 ROBERT D. DAY    Teacher, counselor and administrator in the Granite and Jordan School Districts (1965-1980) Principal of Bingham High School (1980-1986) He began the tradition of pinning students for their outstanding achievements He instituted the extended day teaching schedule at Bingham to deal with...

The Bingham High School Class of 1970 is set to hold its 50th + 1 reunion on September 18, 2021 at the Camp Williams Officers' Club.  Activities will begin at 5:30 pm.  The cost for the reunion, which includes a delicious dinner, is $25 per person or $50 a  couple.  The money can be payed by mailing a check by August 20 to Bingham 1970 Reunion  P.O. Box 684  American Fork, Utah 84003 or Venmo csbutt51 (Craig Butterfield).   If there are any of our classmates that need assistance paying for the reunion please contact Dave Gourley at [email protected] since there have been generous classmates who have offered to cover your meal.  If you have any other questions, please contact David Gourley at the above listed email address.  We hope to see you all there in September