Andrew Saunders is pictured with members of the Citrus Heights Rotary Club. The Rotary sponsored the two Lincoln Highway signs placed at San Juan High School and others along the historic route through Citrus Heights.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - With a broad smile reflective of his “Spartan Spirit,” San Juan High School Principal David Levis climbed up a pedestal in front of the school on Greenback Lane and proudly tore off the covering of a new historic Lincoln Highway placard.

The new sign is mounted on a metal frame, which hangs from a lamp post in front of the high school’s main office.

The unveiling followed an Aug. 13 afternoon ceremony in the San Juan High School’s theater and honored San Juan High School built in 1915 and the 1928 alignment of the Lincoln Highway route through the rural community of Sylvan along Greenback Lane. It was just a dusty unpaved road back then. 

Speakers included David Levis, principal of San Juan High School; Dick Cowan, a member of the Citrus Heights Historical Society; and Gayle Gaylord, curator and manager of the San Juan High School Legacy Room.

San Juan High School Principal David Levis climbed up a pedestal in front of the school on Greenback Lane to tear off the covering of a new historic Lincoln Highway placard. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

Al Fox, a member of the Citrus Heights Rotary Club, spoke on behalf of the club’s sponsorship of the Lincoln Highway signs now placed in the city.

The new Lincoln Highway placard’s development and its placement at San Juan High was made possible through partnerships between the Lincoln Highway Association California Chapter, the San Juan Unified School District facilities team and the City of Citrus Heights General Services Department, among others.

Additional speakers included Gigi Rayford, executive director of the Citrus Heights Art Commission and CH40 Arts District, and Sherri Merrick, executive director of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce.

A staff representative for California State Assemblyman Josh Hoover presented a proclamation to David Levis, principal of San Juan High School, to mark the special sign dedication.

Two new commemorative Lincoln Highway signs which recognize the route of the historic Lincoln Highway past San Juan High were purchased, said Andrew Saunders, a Lincoln Highway Association representative.

The second sign, donated by Saunders, will be on public display in the San Juan High School Legacy room located in the school cafeteria.

The legacy exhibit in the San Juan High School cafeteria re-opened on Aug. 19 with the start of the new school year and will continue to be open from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on all Tuesdays when school is in session.

San Juan High graduates and the general public are welcome to browse through the 100-year history of San Juan High School

“We’re Spartan strong and Spartan proud,” Levis told guests at the dedication ceremony.

San Juan High welcomed its Class of 2029 with the start of the new school year that will write its next chapter of achievement, Levis said.

“We’re excited for what lies ahead as we remember, honor and celebrate our proud past,” Levis said.

Andrew Saunders, a Lincoln Highway Association representative, stands beside one of two new commemorative Lincoln Highway signs that recognize the route of the historic Lincoln Highway past San Juan High on Greenback Lane. The second sign, donated by Saunders, will be on public display in the San Juan High School Legacy Room located in the school cafeteria. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

Levis was referring to the San Juan Unified School District’s long-awaited modernization project. The project will add two new tennis courts and a ticket booth, concession area and restroom building. The modernization project is being funded by the previous Measure P, which was passed by the community in 2016, according to the district. The district has also partnered with Studio W Architects to modernize San Juan High’s science wing into a forward-thinking educational environment that supports contemporary science programs and support services. 

Saunders’ vision to bring continued awareness to the legacy and history of the Lincoln Highway reaches beyond Citrus Heights.

The 1928 revised historic route traveled through Greenback Lane and Madison Avenue before crossing the American River via a 1915 bridge in Folsom.

His effort, Saunders said, is part of a larger goal to have the Sacramento–Sierra Historic Lincoln Highway Corridor officially recognized by the California Tourism Board as a historically significant landmark. 

Additional Lincoln Highway signage is planned in multiple locations in Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks and Orangevale in advance of the 2028 National Lincoln Highway Tour that will come through on its way to San Francisco, according to Saunders.