This undated aerial photo, believed to be from the early 1990s or late 1980s, shows the Cypress College campus prior to construction of the Student Center and the Library/Learning Resource Center. The piazza runs through the middle of the campus (notice the brick area around the campanile) and the bookstore is in temporary buildings where the L/LRC stands today.
This 1980s photo shows the Fine Arts Division employees in a hot tub (we’re guessing it’s a home-made hot tub considering the handwriting on the unfinished wood) that was placed onto a flat-bed truck as part of the then-annual Walk/Jogathon. Apparently, the Fine Arts staff weren’t big exercise fans, electing for a relaxing ride instead.
The college first began holding “Duck Pond Races” in the 1970s as a way to exhibit school spirit. The annual races continued for more than two decades, into the early 2000s, before a new wave of construction brought an end to the streak.
This early view of the campus pond, believed to be in the 1970s, shows a new looking Cypress College Complex (then the Library/Administration Building), Lakeshore Drive running under the piazza, and a section of piazza that was removed to allow construction of the Student Center in the mid-1990s.
Here’s a full aerial view of the campus in the late 1970s or early 1980s. In this photograph, you can see the full piazza as it was originally designed (note the red brick pattern through the middle of campus), including a ramp that facilitated use of the piazza by delivery and work vehicles (look between the two gymnasiums). There are also outdoor racquetball and basketball courts (at the center top of photo). Temporary buildings that formed the original “instant campus” are visible adjacent to Lot 4.
The “light leak” at the left edges of the photo indicate that it’s from the 1970s. It shows gymnastics equipment in what is now the fitness lab, located in Gym I. In those days, Cypress College competed in Gymnastics as part of its renowned intercollegiate athletics program.
This 1980s photograph shows the Carnegie House — the common gathering area in the Business Building. At the college’s inception, each building had its own food-service area (note the “snacks” sign on the door at the middle left) and student government representing students in that discipline.
While the trees are more mature, the pond area, circa 2000, doesn’t look much different than it did in the 1980s and 1990s. Although the road was closed because seismic retrofitting of the piazza required supports that blocked the path, the roadway itself is still visible.
The college first began holding “Duck Pond Races” in the 1970s as a way to exhibit school spirit. The annual races continued for more than two decades, into the early 2000s, before a new wave of construction brought an end to the streak.
Opening day in September 1966 included a campus gathering in the quad area. This photograph shows the original campus — which consisted exclusively of portable buildings — adjacent to Lot 4. The college opened 74 days after the North Orange County Community College District closed escrow on the property.
It’s a snow day! Students (and it would appear some employees) engage in a snowball fight on the piazza outside the Fine Arts Building. The glory of 1970s apparel is on full display. Also of note are the cement railings that line the piazza. These railings were removed in the mid-2000s, when they were replaced by the blue, metal railings.
The college first began holding “Duck Pond Races” in the 1970s as a way to exhibit school spirit. The annual races continued for more than two decades, into the early 2000s, before a new wave of construction brought an end to the streak. This photograph shows a section of the piazza, known as “the pier,” running from the Complex building past SEM.
An original architectural drawing illustrates a prevailing mindset that “car culture” was taking hold in Southern California. The caption “the car must be reconciled to campus life” came to fruition with the piazza, but the drive-in lecture didn’t make it off the drawing board.
You wouldn’t know it today, but cars used to be able to drive through the middle of campus, as was the case in this 1980s photo. The road is no longer there — nor is the section of the piazza, known as the pier — that ran in front of the Science, Engineering, and Math Building. The original campus architects designed the college so that students in cars could travel on the ground level and pedestrians could use the upper level (though some are seen here).
Cypress College students are seen participating in a geology field trip in this undated photograph. These field trips remain a vibrant part of the college’s curriculum today.
This photograph of a student in a science lab was taken during the first academic year and processed at the photo lab in March 1967 (photographs used to include this detail back in the day).
A garden marks what was then the “edge” of campus circa 1970. Closer examination shows work on the Gym, where two pieces of heavy equipment are driving piles to support the future building, and framing for the pond (center). Partially obscured by the tree is the sign at KFC on Valley View, a big red chicken bucket, which stands to this day.
The ‘80s featured a unique clothing style — leg warmers, over-sized tops, and lots of tight leggings. Based on the shoes, this was taken either in a tap or jazz class.
This 1966 photograph shows the original campus — which consisted exclusively of portable buildings — adjacent to Lot 4. The college opened 74 days after the North Orange County Community College District closed escrow on the property.
Students participate in the 30th commencement in May 1996. The processional started on the piazza and continued down the ramp onto the east lawn, next to Gym II (the building seen in the background). The large jacaranda trees provided a beautiful purple accent to the field back when graduation was held in that area. The graduation ceremony was moved to Gateway Plaza in 2009, following completion of the Student Center and the Complex renovation.
An aerial view shows the original campus — which was entirely portable buildings and exterior athletic facilities. The photograph appeared on the cover of the “Royal Purple” (the original student publication) in January 1968. Prep work is seen underway on the Business and Tech Ed II buildings.
An architectural model provides a good overview of the piazza, pond, and campanile. Subsequent changes to building placement make this photo a little disorienting.
Shot during the summer of 1966, this photograph shows work to prepare Cypress College for its first opening day. The college opened with classes held in temporary buildings just 74 days after escrow closed on the property, which used to be (primarily) a dairy farm. “Newsweek” magazine called it “the instant campus.”
When Cypress College acquired the property to build a campus, a few bungalows resided on the northeast corner (across the street from the fire station on Holder Street). Administrative offices and the bookstore were housed in these former houses. In fact, most of the college’s original employees were interviewed in what had been living rooms.
Cypress College’s baseball team became a powerhouse in the 1980s with the arrival of Coach Scott Pickler. This undated photograph from the era shows one of the team’s pitchers in action.
Cypress College’s cheer squad, circa 1970, is seen in a newspaper photograph. Notice the “CJC” on the uniforms, taking us back to a time when “junior” was a common designation for what are now almost universally known as community colleges.
Cypress College’s first-ever opening day — September 12, 1966 — featured festivities that included the campus band and cheerleaders.
Cypress College’s first-ever opening day — September 12, 1966 — featured festivities that included the campus band and cheerleaders.
Cypress College cheerleaders form a pyramid on the campus track. Circa 1966.
Steve Cifelli, one of the student leaders in the 1970s, stages a protest in the campus pond. Things worked out as Cifelli maintained a long relationship with the college as an alumnus and donor.
In December 1966, the official map of the North Orange County Community College District was updated to include Cypress College. Note the map contains familiar city names — Cypress, Buena Park, Los Alamitos, La Habra, Fullerton, Brea, and Placentia — and a couple that have since disappeared: Dairyland and Olinda.
Students gather at the pond in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Gym I and the racquetball courts are visible in the background, as is Lakeshore Drive, which used to run through campus from Valley View to Holder.
Cypress College’s first president, Dan Walker, is seen walking with a gold sport coat draped over his shoulders. The campus colors back in the day were officially “old gold” and “royal purple” (note the pom-poms). This appears to be a pep rally at the Olive Tree Theater in 1966.
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Graduated in 1971. Trying to locate a former English teacher, Suzanne Boegeman. Want to acknowledge her in my novel.
Graduated in 1971. Trying to locate a former English teacher, Suzanne Boegeman. Want to acknowledge her in my novel.