Las Vegas Grammar School
a.k.a. Westside School
Washington and D Sts., Las Vegas, NVThe history of Westside School has great historical significance in that it is Las Vegas's oldest remaining schoolhouse. It was the original "Branch No. 1, Las Vegas Grammar School". The original building, the one proposed for renovation through this funding was built in 1922, at Washington and "D" Streets. The original building consisted of just two classrooms--the front two rooms of the existing structure. The back two rooms that make up the building were added in 1928.
The school was built on land donated to the Clark County School District by Helen J. Stewart in 1921. The first two rooms contained lst and 2nd grades only and the two remaining rooms added in 1928 housed 3rd and 4th grades. The first principal of the school was Ms. Ruth Fyfe who served from 1924-1935.
The second principal of the school was Mr. Howard A. Wasden, who served from 1935-1942. It is interesting to note that there were no black students at the school in its early days. The first black students were in attendance in 1926-27. Some early students of note who attended the Westside School included Dr. Sam Davis and Mrs. Mendoza, mother of District Judge John Mendoza.
It should also be noted that the original building was painted grey, not the pink color that it is now. The Westside School location is also historically significant as the original Las Vegas town site.
In 1948, eight block classrooms were added to the school complex, under the construction supervision of Mr. Ben 0. Davey. The facility as it now stands is a partially wood frame and partially concrete block and is situated on a 2.6-acre parcel. The school was phased out for use on June 8, 1967--the last principal being Mr. D. French--and on November 24, 1974, the School Board of Trustees declared it to be surplus property and adopted a resolution to sell at its appraised market value of $25,000.
In the spring of 1975, the Economic Opportunity Board received $37,500 from 1st Year Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Las Vegas. $25,000 was spent to purchase the facility and the remaining $12,500 was used for the preliminary restoration of the block structure.
The Westside School is significant to the Black Community of Las Vegas from a social and education standpoint. It was the school for Black citizens; enabling many to obtain basic education and/or go on to secondary educational facilities. The community leaders of the Westside still regard the old school with affection and esteem.
Local significance of the building:
The school was built on land donated to the Clark County School District by Helen J. Stewart in 1921. The first two rooms contained lst and 2nd grades only and the two remaining rooms added in 1928 housed 3rd and 4th grades. The first principal of the school was Ms. Ruth Fyfe who served from 1924-1935.
The second principal of the school was Mr. Howard A. Wasden, who served from 1935-1942. It is interesting to note that there were no black students at the school in its early days. The first black students were in attendance in 1926-27. Some early students of note who attended the Westside School included Dr. Sam Davis and Mrs. Mendoza, mother of District Judge John Mendoza.
It should also be noted that the original building was painted grey, not the pink color that it is now. The Westside School location is also historically significant as the original Las Vegas town site.
In 1948, eight block classrooms were added to the school complex, under the construction supervision of Mr. Ben 0. Davey. The facility as it now stands is a partially wood frame and partially concrete block and is situated on a 2.6-acre parcel. The school was phased out for use on June 8, 1967--the last principal being Mr. D. French--and on November 24, 1974, the School Board of Trustees declared it to be surplus property and adopted a resolution to sell at its appraised market value of $25,000.
In the spring of 1975, the Economic Opportunity Board received $37,500 from 1st Year Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Las Vegas. $25,000 was spent to purchase the facility and the remaining $12,500 was used for the preliminary restoration of the block structure.
The Westside School is significant to the Black Community of Las Vegas from a social and education standpoint. It was the school for Black citizens; enabling many to obtain basic education and/or go on to secondary educational facilities. The community leaders of the Westside still regard the old school with affection and esteem.
Black; Education
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Nevada is home to one of the largest man-made lakes in the world: Lake Mead, located on the Colorado River, is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world and a popular destination for boating and fishing.
About Clark County
Clark County Timeline
Clark County, Nevada is located in the southernmost part of the state and has a rich and fascinating history. The area that is now Clark County was first inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Paiute people, who established settlements along the Colorado River.
In the mid-19th century, Mormon pioneers settled in the Las Vegas Valley, establishing a fort and bringing irrigation techniques that transformed the desert landscape. However, their presence was short-lived, and by the 1880s, the area was mostly abandoned once mining activity diminished.
The history of Clark County took a significant turn in 1905 when the railroad arrived in the area, linking it with the rest of the country. This development led to the establishment of Las Vegas as a bustling railroad town, attracting people from various backgrounds and sparking rapid growth in the region.
The next major milestone in Clark County's history came in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized gambling. This decision forever altered the county's landscape, as casinos and entertainment venues began to flourish. The construction of the Hoover Dam, also in the 1930s, provided employment opportunities and further boosted the economy of Clark County.
Over the following decades, Clark County continued to see exponential growth, driven largely by the tourism and entertainment industries. Las Vegas, in particular, became known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, with its world-class resorts, casinos, and vibrant nightlife attracting millions of visitors annually. Today, Clark County remains a major tourism destination and a dynamic hub of culture, entertainment, and economic activity in the southwestern United States.
In the mid-19th century, Mormon pioneers settled in the Las Vegas Valley, establishing a fort and bringing irrigation techniques that transformed the desert landscape. However, their presence was short-lived, and by the 1880s, the area was mostly abandoned once mining activity diminished.
The history of Clark County took a significant turn in 1905 when the railroad arrived in the area, linking it with the rest of the country. This development led to the establishment of Las Vegas as a bustling railroad town, attracting people from various backgrounds and sparking rapid growth in the region.
The next major milestone in Clark County's history came in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized gambling. This decision forever altered the county's landscape, as casinos and entertainment venues began to flourish. The construction of the Hoover Dam, also in the 1930s, provided employment opportunities and further boosted the economy of Clark County.
Over the following decades, Clark County continued to see exponential growth, driven largely by the tourism and entertainment industries. Las Vegas, in particular, became known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, with its world-class resorts, casinos, and vibrant nightlife attracting millions of visitors annually. Today, Clark County remains a major tourism destination and a dynamic hub of culture, entertainment, and economic activity in the southwestern United States.
Clark County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Clark County, Nevada.
- 1909 - Clark County is established in Nevada.
- 1931 - Construction of the Hoover Dam begins, bringing an economic boom to the area.
- 1941 - The El Rancho Vegas, the first hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, opens.
- 1955 - The Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino becomes the first racially integrated casino in Las Vegas.
- 1967 - The International Hotel (now the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino) opens, becoming the largest hotel in the world at the time.
- 1989 - The Mirage Casino-Hotel opens, starting the era of themed resort development in Las Vegas.
- 1990 - The population of Clark County surpasses one million residents.
- 2005 - The Las Vegas Monorail begins operation, providing public transportation along the Las Vegas Strip.
- 2010 - The population of Clark County exceeds two million residents.