Portland High School has at least two legendary graduates from the Class of 1873: Polar explorer Admiral Robert E. Peary and noted architect John Calvin Stevens. Imagine them sitting side by side in geography class. They’re not just ‘almost famous’! Which brings us to legendary Hollywood director John Ford (The Searchers). According to the Los Angeles Times, “after graduating from Portland High School in 1914 and being rejected by the U.S. Naval Academy, he boarded a train to California.” The rest is up on the big screen.

Read the full story in the digital magazine above.