Throughout the years of Bingham High School, there have been many rumors about what could possibly be underneath the school. From secret tunnels, to a pool, we have finally found out what is underneath Bingham High School.

The current building where Bingham High School is located was built in 1975, and not much is available today about the building, and as high school students tend to do, rumors about what could be in the basement if there even is one. The Prospector (the Student Newspaper of Bingham High School) interviewed vice principal Art Erikson on this topic.

There are tunnels underneath the school, they are used for maintenance. Vice Principal Art Erikson told us that “They are access maintenance tunnels.” And that he would “Dispel a myth as some grand romanticized, large access piece.” And that the tunnels contain a lot of pipes, such as sewage and drain pipes, and that the tunnels are quite dirty, and in fact not glamorous.

Many students at Bingham High School have heard the rumor that there is a swimming pool underneath the school, specifically the library. And Vice Principal Erikson told us that “[The tunnels do] not lead to a swimming pool.” When asked why then the library was raised above the rest of the school, if there is not a swimming pool underneath, he said “It was just the grading of the ground….” We can also confirm that it is now officially called “The Secret Math Hall” by administrators.

Most students also think that there is a bomb shelter underneath the gymnasium or football field. Many misdate the construction of the school or the time of the Missile Crisis to happening at the same time. When asked if there was a bomb shelter underneath the school, Vice Principal Erikson responded saying “Not to my knowledge.” There is most likely not a bomb shelter underneath the school.

Some may be left wondering if the tunnels can still be accessed today? Vice Principal Erikson told us that they can in fact still be accessed today. He told us that “We don’t encourage students to [go inside the tunnels]. He told us that in order to access them, you need to have a purpose and that it is under “…locked key access….” and that students aren’t able to access it. He told us “It’s folklore about wanting to be able to get down in there and do things and just explore, just to see [the tunnels].”

Students and teachers may be left to wonder if the tunnels cause danger to the school. Vice Principal Erikson told us “The foundation of the school is not contingent on the tunnel. [If there were] a fire in [the tunnels], I think the fire suppression system that we have throughout the building is it meets code, [and that] there’s no concern that a fire would consume the school or [that] the school is unsafe because of the tunnels.” There is no need for anyone to worry about them, they pose no risk to the students or staff at Bingham High School.

Now we can lay these Bingham High School folklore to rest. For many, it is a shock to find out that these myths that so many Bingham students held as fact are in fact, not true. There is nothing underneath the school but maintenance tunnels, pipes and dirt.