Yuma High School's rich history at Territorial Prison

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — Yuma High School kicked off the new school year.

The campus has grown over the years, with more than 2,000 students attending.

However, 114 years ago, their campus looked a lot different and was unconventional.

That’s because, in 1910, they held classes at the Yuma Territorial Prison.

Legend has it that their building caught fire.

At that time, the Yuma prison had already been shut down due to overcrowding.

The prison had working electricity and empty buildings, like its hospital, where classes and assemblies were once held.

“It was an ideal place. We had plenty of buildings that could be used for classrooms. A nice big hospital that could be used for assemblies. Some people think, ‘Oh how could you have classes in those cells?’ But classes weren’t in those cells,” said Michael Erfert, Yuma Territorial Prison tour guide.

The prison’s museum displays old pictures dating back to that time.

It also has vintage Yuma high gear displaying the school’s mascot, the Yuma Criminals, inspired by the school’s unique history.

“They got a reputation when they were traveling in those early days that started as teasing. ‘Oh those are those criminals.’ After a while it became a point of pride. It’s been embraced by the community, embraced by the kids,” Erfert., and it is proud of its

Yuma High School is one of seven high schools in the Yuma School District, and it is proud of its mascot.

The criminals have been named one of the best high school mascots in Arizona.

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