Homecoming

The idea of a “coming home” celebration shares its roots with the earlier days of football here in the United States. The origin of the first Homecoming celebration remains a fierce debate, contested by Illinois and Indiana having their first “Coming Home” celebrations in 1910. Wisconsin and Missouri followed in 1911 and in 1914, Arizona became the fifth school to host such an event.

The celebration was typically a week long event. However, during World War II, the length of the celebration was reduced and around 1946 events such as pep rallies, parades, dances, football games and crowning the queen were combined into a weekend. One of the most important components of this highly anticipated celebration was the return of the alumni.

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Not only does the Downingtown Area High School Alumni Association pride itself on being the Oldest Continuously Meeting Public High School Alumni Association in the United States, it is also the first alumni association in Chester County to sponsor a high school homecoming event. (click here to view list of past Homecoming Day Honorees)
     With ideas gathered from college origins, the first Downingtown High School Homecoming celebration took place in 1963. After the crowning of Downingtown High School’s first queen, members of the alumni association took her to lunch and provided an outfit which was worn to the football game and eventually to the dance that same evening. Accompanied by members of the alumni association, the queen and her escort were also invited to dine at the beautiful Whitford Country Club.
     Presently, due to growth in the school district, there are two high schools and two separate Homecoming celebrations. The new queen and her court are announced during half-time intermission at the Homecoming football game and she is crowned by the reigning queen.
     The Downingtown Area High School Alumni Association continues its proud sponsorship providing, gifts, flowers, boutonnieres and various other accoutrements as well as the endless support for this rich American tradition. (click here to view list of homecoming queens)

 

Downingtown Area High School Alumni Association
540 Trestle Place
Downingtown, PA  19335

610.269.8460 ext. 11130
downingtownalumni@gmail.com

Established in 1884, Downingtown Area High School Alumni Association is one of the Oldest Active Public High School Alumni Associations in the country!