CANOGA is the oldest high school in the west San Fernando Valley. It opened with 14 students and 2 teachers on October 4, 1914. Canoga was originally named Owensmouth High School.

In 1914, the High School was located on the second floor of Owensmouth Grammar School. This is the present-day site of Canoga Park Elementary. COHS photo

 
The first graduation on the campus of Owensmouth High School occurred in June 1916. The graduating class consisted of two students. They were Edith Haas and Solly H. Patrick.

The Owensmouth High School Baseball team of 1916 lost all their games but one. They had no coach! Track and Field was the only other sport offered to the boys that year.

The girl's basketball team of 1916 was undefeated. There were no other schools to play so Owensmouth split the team and competed against each other. They won every game! No other sports were available for the girls.

On September 11, 1916, Owensmouth High started the school year with a new building and a new location. This structure was located near the softball field on the present-day Canoga Park High School campus. COHS photo

This rear view of Owensmouth High shows the famous Greek arcade. The Greek arcade was an outdoor theatre built on the backside of the new building. It was used for plays, graduations and various school/community events.

The empty fields looking south from the Greek arcade (also known as the Greek Theatre) would one day be Canoga Park High School, the Topanga Mall, and Warner Center. COHS photo

Maurice Beckstead did not attend his graduation at Owensmouth High in 1917. As a member of the Naval Reserve, he was sent to serve in World War 1. After the war, he returned home and became a rancher.

With fifteen players and eleven helmets, Owensmouth High School Football first took to the gridiron in 1920. The new and inexperienced team had a record of 2-3, defeating Burbank and San Fernando.

The Owensmouth High School Marching Band started in 1925 with nine students. The following year they took this picture with their brand new uniforms. By this time, the band had grown to 23 members.

On June 12, 1929, a fire destroyed the upper floor of the school. The left and right wings remained in use, but bungalows were required until the completion of new buildings in early 1931. COHS photo

In January 1931, students returned from vacation to move into the new school buildings. As a part of the same construction project, the Greek Theatre was remodeled and the first floor of the original 1916 structure was rebuilt. The Greek Theatre, and what was left of the original building, would be demolished in 1953 to make room for the P.E. field. COHS photo