Griswold Union High School

Helix was the first district to organize a Union High School in Umatilla County. The law authorizing organization of Union High Schools went into effect in 1921, and in the same year, a petition was presented for the formation of this high school. The following elementary school districts were embraced in Union High School District Number 1: Numbers 69, 54, 58, 70, 91, 105, 24, 38, 15, and 86. Organization and consolidations were completed on January 4, 1922, forming Helix School District #1.

The board of directors, by resolution, named the school, built in 1922-1923, "Griswold Union High School No. 1," being named in honor of Dr. John Griswold, who was a practicing physician and surgeon in Helix for a period of over 40 years. The building was bonded for $30,000 and would be built on the site of a baseball field where the city team, the Helix Red Devils, played their games.

During the term of his long residence in Helix, Dr. Griswold endeared himself to the entire community. Many times when the roads were impassable for vehicle travel, he made the trips on foot to minister to the sick within a radius of 40-50 miles. He knew that when he made such trips and endured the hardships, that he would receive little or nothing for his services.

Dr. Griswold was very interested in the young people of the community and was foremost at all times in prompting the interest of better schools

During the year 1958-1959, a new gymnasium and grade school was built for the sum of $316,000. The main brick building was most recently updated in 2015 and is still in use today as Griswold High School.