Robert H. Down

We moved from Forest Avenue up to 904 Fillmore Street, off David Avenue sometime around 1957. Sinex Avenue east turns into Fillmore Street at David Avenue. We were just on the other side of the city limits, which was an alley that ran north/south on the side of our home. My parents received permission for us to go to PG schools, since my Mom worked in Pacific Grove.

Robert H. Down Elementary School,formerly Pacific Grove Grammar School, named after Robert Hodge Down, who was principal from 1914-1945. There were four other elementary schools in Pacific Grove during the late 50’s, David Avenue, Lighthouse, Forest Grove (1959) and St Angela’s (Catholic School).

Memories of Robert H. Down Elementary School

I went to Robert Down from 1956-1961. Most of my friends in high school went there as well. I truly have fond memories of Robert Down. Three of my four children also went to Robert Down.

You can’t go to an elementary school in Pacific Grove without being a part of the annual Butterfly Parade. Started in 1939 and held on the first Saturday in October, the Butterfly Parade celebrates the return of the Monarch butterfly to Pacific Grove. Pacific Grove is the winter stop for these butterflies. Elementary schools of Pacific Grove gather at Robert Down School and marched through the downtown dressed in various costumes. Traditional costumes of butterflies, otters, Native American, pioneers and clowns. I marched in five of these parades, dressed as an Eskimo to a football player. I have no recollection of being a butterfly.

While at Robert Down, I was a crossing guard for several years. We would march down to Forest Avenue and utilize the swinging overhead stop sign to control traffic so that students could cross. Forest Avenue did not have a traffic control device for north/south traffic at the time.

Robert Down was self inclusive. All the rooms were inside and could be reached by walking around the hall ways. There was a center court with picnic tables and a cafeteria, to which I became very familiar with over those five years. The cafeteria cost 25 cents in those days.

I remember the auditorium and playing the Sting Bass with the orchestra, singing in the choir, and all those special programs put on by the school for the parents. Many of these programs I was privileged to see years later as a parent. I didn’t know it at the time I was in school but realized later in life what parents had to put up with during these programs. I wouldn’t have missed any of them for the world.

I remember the recesses and lining up with your class to go back to the classroom with your teacher. During 6th grade we voted on the Presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon and the school voted for Kennedy to win. It was an exciting time to be growing up. It was Pre- Vietnam, and we still had President Eisenhower in office.

I believe it was on May 1st or there about. We had a Maypole dance out on the playground. All the classes were there. I know we did the Mexican Hat dance and some kind of pole dance on the tether poles. We had to dance with girls, of which I didn’t mind at all.

I left Robert H. Down School in 1961 after my 6th grade graduation. I will always have fond memories of those years, of the life time friends that were nourished there and continued throughout the next 6 years.

Up next: Pacific Grove Junior High School