Old School Photo Gallery by JeremyGood at pbase.com

Old School

This is the school at the El Toro Marine base which has been closed for about 10 years. The school is not in use, but seems to still be in pretty good shape and it's not fenced off like the rest of the housing around the base.

I did not attend this school, but someone who did has set up a Yahoo Group for El Toro Base Kids. If you attended El Toro Marine School, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ElToroBaseKids/ and follow the instructions to join.

Update: That Yahoo group appears to be closed. That is unfortunate seeing as how people still find this gallery and comment on it.

El Toro Marine School	Hall	Fire Extinguisher
Crack	Court	Desks
Hopscotch	Do Not Touch	Water
Backstop	Doors	Fence
Chair	Cart	Broken
Boarded	Bike Racks	Bent
CRW_9661.jpg	CRW_9663.jpg	CRW_9669.jpg
CRW_9677.jpg	CRW_9683.jpg	CRW_9684.jpg
CRW_9686.jpg	CRW_9690.jpg	CRW_9691.jpg
CRW_9698.jpg	CRW_9701.jpg	CRW_9702.jpg

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Michelle		28-Feb-2018 02:39
Went there for 6th gr., Mr. Ferrazi and Mr. Toomey for P.E. about 1972. Then Rancho for 7th and 8th gr. Many fond memories, thank you for the photos!

shawn		24-May-2014 01:48
went there mid eighties remember bernard kelly budda lol glenn so many and our micheal jackson talent show dance. We had those shirts and gloves we made. I was the blonde kid shawn

Linda Enss		26-Aug-2013 19:59
My son attended El Toro Marine School 1985-86 school year. Thank you to his Kindergarten teacher-I don't remember her name, that she recognized ADD in my son. Her observations were so helpful as he got older. Mother of Danny Eads 1980-2008.

Ryan		24-Apr-2013 16:05
Ryan Wagenbach Hey old school friends i went to El toro Marine school from 82 to 87 and was on the base till 88 I'm sure I was there with a lot of people out here. It was the best time of my life would love to see or talk any old friends. I remember playing on the baseball team, golf soccer and basketball, so many trophies from every sport. I thought the trophies I had would be the only memory of me growing up. It is good to know everyone is out here, would love to talk . Will keep looking here for other comments. I heard about the demolition and was a little shocked when I started to look into why, but all in all I have great memories of this place. I hope everyone is doing well.

william bentley		28-Feb-2013 01:19
I would like to think everybody fbentleyor the good time I had here. I went to school here from 1982 to 1986. William bentley.

janet (harvey) berlin		30-Dec-2012 19:46
I just read of the base demolition and made me think of the time I went to El Toro Marine School. I started kindergarten there in 1954 and left in the middle of my fourth grade year to move into Tustin. I felt secure there with lots of friends. Kathleen Kelly was my best friend and Rick Smith was my boyfriend. School was never the same after that move to town. I wish I had thought to take another look before it was gone.

amber lothyan		18-Sep-2010 18:22
I went to El Toro i can;t remember the year however I remember I was one of the last kids to leave. I still have my red el toro shirt that they were giving away before the based closed and I still have all the signatures. Mrs.Pelayo was my third grade teacher and she was my favorite teacher of all time. The news came once and did a segment with mrs.pelayo i believe when she was retiring. I made my best friend at el toro danielle miles and I am happy to say i still keep in touch with her and she is still my best friend. I helped mr.white the principal back then helped with the gotcha drawings. i vividly remember the swing leassons as well as roberts mom being the candy lady on the base. I remember ricky who was my swing partner and i hope he sees this because ive been trying to get ahold of him. Thanks to el toro for wedsday for being big stick days i still enjoy those popsicles and when i do i always think of el toro. El toro was my happiest childhood memories and i still remember all the faces i called my friends. I have pictures of the last day i went there and the picture i took with mrs.pelayo.im sorry this is so terribly long i just remember all the great times i had.

Mary (Thomas) Moreno		06-Jul-2010 23:06
Thank you so much for posting these pics. Memories just flood back. Living on base and attending this school were some of the best times as an adolescent. I attended each yr. except 3rd grade. 1969, Mrs Lange, 1st grade, Mrs Evers, 2nd, Mrs Oppenheimer, 4th, Mr Inzer, 5th and the unforgettable Mr. Kersting for 6th. I even visited him yrs later when I was in my early 20s. He looked @ me and knew instantly who I was!!! Again, I wish to thank you, Mr Good.

JoAnn Murry- Smith		02-Sep-2009 21:04
These photos are great!!! I remember Mrs. Lloyd, my favorite teacher in the whole world... anxious for break to get the peanut butter cookies from the snack window ... and I remember Brian (do not recalllast name) was jumping from the bridge to the monkey bars, missed his target and broke his arm ... These photos fill a missing part of my being, and at the same time makes me so sad ... We are all connected by ETMB and I will never forget that!

Robert Thurman		30-Mar-2009 06:13
this is really cool...I lived on the base as it was closing down and I was one of the last children to leave the school in 1999. It was probably the sadest moments of my life because I would see the coyotes start to outnumber the students who actually went there..thanks for taking these. they bring back great memories.

Virginia Scott		12-Apr-2008 10:31
Wow. The 'calm and tranquil' feeling that rushes over my body just seeing this stuff, it is unreal. I loved it in California, my father says he wishes he had never left there. Thanks, Bill Clinton and the Clinton Administration, for closing all those bases, you morons. We lived there in 1965 through 1967. What a shame.

Bob		08-Apr-2007 23:51
Great Photo's! Thanx. Attended El Toro Marine E. from 1957 thru 1962. Would love to hear from others of that era!

Cindy (Volz) Tyler		03-Apr-2007 05:21
I was so excited to find these pictures -- but so sad too. I attended El Toro Marine School from December 1966 (the middle of 4th grade) until June, 1969 (end of 6th grade). The teachers I remember are Ms. Doetsch, Mrs. Goewey, Mr. Kirsting, and Mrs. Anderson. I loved jump rope, tether ball, and having Bobby Sox practice on the school field. It's heartbreaking to see the school deserted. ETMS lives on in all of us.

Shawna Hughes		29-Jan-2007 21:26
Hi Jeremy, Thanks again for allowing us to link into these pictures from our website. I set the site up a little over a year ago and now we have over 200 members and we all enjoy looking at your photograpy of our memories. Thanks Again, Shawna Hughes (ETBK Group Owner) Greg Le Noue (Moderator) Mercy Lopez (Moderator) Artchie Gomez (Moderator)

Tim		12-Jun-2006 04:03
Attended '67='69 - Mr. Henry was principal, Mrs. Bryant for 3rd Grade and Mr. Inzer for 4th. What a great set of memories.

Paul Barbee		03-Apr-2006 02:30
great Forum, are these Gregs pics? I am very grateful to all who have contributed to these forums, for getting everyone connected, pictures, the base trip etc. I have great memories of El Toro and my childhood on the base. May God Bless all of you from here out, Thanks Again!

Lisa C		21-Mar-2006 03:55
These pictures sure do bring back memories. Two of the reasons I went into teaching are Mr. Prince and Mrs. McGowan. Marci, Paul, DJ, Marianna, Debbie, Carl, Mercy, Anna, Leslie, Ricky, Kim, Scott, Brad, Lisa, Chad: Do you remember Mary Poppins, led by Mrs. R- we never could pronounce her full name- or how about Square Dancing (I actually asked my -then future- husband to dance for the first time in the cafeteria)? Pizza Day and Earth Ball. Kickball, Mrs. McGowan's class versus Mr. Kersting. Or how about making doughnuts for Open House in the little room behind Mr. Prince's classroom? So sad to see it this way...

Ted		20-Mar-2006 21:30
Thanks for the photos. Sad to see it go. I went to ETMS from 78-81. My older brother, three younger sisters and younger brother all went to the school. My stepmother, Mrs. Francisco began assitant teaching for Mr. Kursting when I was in sixth. She became a full-time teacher and continued there until it closed. Mrs. Pelayo was my third grade teacher, became close with my stepmom and happy to say went to my wedding. We still live in the area and find it tough to think about the base in it's current form. Thanks for the memories.

Bethany		20-Mar-2006 01:01
My entire childhood was spent here at ETMS. It's a shame that it's not going to be around much longer...but seeing these pictures has awakened a flood of memories. THANK YOU!

Bernard		19-Mar-2006 14:23
I attended El Toro Marine School from 1982-85. The pictures bring back wonderful memories of my childhood. I remember playing hopscotch for the first time in my life and foursquare, which you can barely see on the top left side of the picture. That back stop was the scene were Turtle Rock elementary school , a school in Irvine, beat us in softball(1984). Being the Marine Brats we were; we proceded to chase them and the coaches all the way off our school grounds. FUNNY! THANK YOU!

Lana		05-Mar-2006 02:16
I attended ETMS from '89-'92, I think. From third to sixth grade. It was the place I'd lived the longest in my dad's military career. Thank you for a walk down memory lane.

Juliet		21-Feb-2006 19:50
There is a memory in every shot. It's amazing how a photograph can capture so many emotions. Your photos show the vibrant past, but also reflect a sad dying to what was a fabulous life. Thank you for keeping the memory strong, as all photographers do. I attended ETMS from 1980-1986 - K-6th. Mrs. Shoemaker, Mrs. Tomlin, Mrs. Elliot (who was rumored to have broken her back)/ Ms. Thompson (who passed away from a brain tumor), Mrs. Pelayo, Mrs. Pettingale, Mr. Prince and Mrs. McGowan.

Michael		16-Feb-2006 23:09
Myself, brother and sister attend El Toro Marine School from 1969-1972. Mr. Henry was principal, my 2nd grade teacher was Mrs Alridge (? spelling), 3rd was Mrs. Miller (outstanding teacher) and 4th was Miss Marshall. Mr. Tumee and Mr. Smith were our giant PE teachers. Classmates that I remember; Kim Foster, Ray White, Nicky Baldarama, the twins, Anthony and Tony, Andre McCollugh, Alice Lindsey, Bill Oleary, looking at the pictures flashed memories and all these names that I haven't thought of until now. Thank you for posting these pictures!

Lace		18-Jan-2006 17:00
For some reason last night, El Toro Marine School was in my dreams. I attended this school sometime in 1978 or 79. I was in third grade. Of course being in the military, we moved around a lot, but out of all the schools I attended, this was my favorite one. I too remember the pledge of allegiance outside every morning. I forgot what my teacher's name was, but she was Mexican and we would have pinata parties all the time. I remember those days as if it was yesterday...just bad at remembering names. It's hard not to get emotional when looking at these pictures. Thanks so much for sharing.

Guest		02-Jan-2006 09:49
I attended school there from 1986-91. Mr. Graham was my principal at the time...one of the most sweetest and caring people I have met yet. We used to call him Mr. Graham Cracker. But he loved it. I remember a girl being killed in an accident one morning. The school planted a tree in her name on campus in a beautiful ceremony. I also remember the school gathering for the Pledge of Allegiance outside every morning. I'm 23 and about to graduate college. I'm studying writing, and I always write stories about my beloved school and the "trouble" my friends and I made. I will always love that school and the base. I have pictures of me and classmates after awards ceremonies. And I even have the only video tape of the last party my parents hosted on base. I'm sad that it's all gone now. But, I will never forget.

GMS3rd		20-Sep-2005 23:52
Wow! I think CRW_9669.jpg is a shot of my fourth grade classroom w/ Miss Deutsch, 1964-1965. I remember hearing about JFK's assination while at lunch in the cafeteria and running the flags up and down the flagpole at the front of the school. God Bless Mr. Henry, my principal, wherever you are! And thanks for all your help and patience, Mrs. Bryant!

paul villaral jr		08-Sep-2005 01:48
the feeling & memories of growing up in that yard rushed back when i seen this photos. thank you

Chris Sofopoulos		31-Aug-2005 08:01
A good idea Jeremy. It's good because brings memories to some people. Bravo.

Gary Winters		27-Aug-2005 21:21
Good gallery. This school seems to share the same boring architecture of most California schools. They all bear a strong resemblence to prisons, in my 'umble opinion!

Antonis Sarantos		27-Aug-2005 18:32
Wonderful gallery, excellent b&w/colour selections!!! Voted.

Ren�		27-Aug-2005 13:41
great gallerie ....

Barbara J. Ursini		06-Aug-2005 19:53
I am a 41 year old female that attended El Toro Marine Elementary School from about 1974 to 1977ish. I have a lot of fond memories of this school. Mostly I remember my long walks through the hillside and through agriculture lands past the horse stables to get to school and back. After school, I lingered at the fence of the horse corrals and fed my leftover lunch to them and claimed one horse as my own fictatiously whom was named "Freddy." Eager to find photos of the housing and base as it stands today. Also, eager to get in touch with old friends: Yvonne Zapata and Romana Q. Lewis. Blessings to all. My email address: Beearrry@aol.com

Autumn		28-May-2005 04:38
I attended this school for five years before my father left the Marines. I attended grades 2-6 and left a few months before the school closed. I am 21 years old now and this school holds some of the best memories of my life. I now live in Salt Lake City Utah and have not been back to California since I left in 1995. I can't tell you how hard it is to see these photos.

Guest		30-Apr-2005 20:38
like your style here Jeremy... love all those b&w conversions. VERY well done ciao Andrea

Guest		29-Apr-2005 15:00
Great documentary series. Makes you wonder where the children who went here over the years have ended up in their lives.

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