History of the
Senior Squares
Las Vegas High School
The original Las Vegas High School campus, located at 315 S. 7th St. in downtown Las Vegas, was built Art Deco style and opened in 1930. It was the first high school built in the city and has been classified as a protected historic building. LVHS was built on property previously owned by the Union Pacific Rail Road and deeded to the City for use as a public school. In the next year or two, part of the athletic field area, near the tennis courts, will be replaced with a new building. (FYI: Many of the historic trophies and awards earned by our alumni are stored in a room above the old gym, now used as the Graphic Arts building, awaiting final disposition: possible disposal ! !)
In 1993, a new school campus was built on the foothills of Frenchman's Mountain at the East end of Sahara Avenue and, after much political debate, was designated to carry on the proud name and tradition of Las Vegas High School. After 63 years operation as a High School, the old campus was renamed the Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts, and remains in operation as such today.
The Original Senior Squares (photo vintage '71)
This group has been formed with the intention of promoting and completing the restoration of the historic "Senior Squares" (AKA "Senior Steps") at the original Las Vegas High School campus. The "Senior Squares" are squares in the concrete area at the bottom of the steps of the main entrance. Each graduating class designed and painted a square to commemorate the occasion of their graduation.
These squares hold a lot of memories for Las Vegas High School graduates, who span the range of society. Unfortunately, these squares have fallen into a sad state of disrepair due to neglect. As can be expected, the students of the "Academy" feel no attachment to the squares and hence ignore them. They are too far away from the new campus, and the squares, and traditions surrounding them, have been forgotten by the "new school". This group hopes to permanently rectify this situation.
So far we have received two versions of their origin:
Version #1
(Dr.) Robbie Robinson said that in 1941 he came to LVHS from Idaho. One night he and his friend Glenn Van Eaton decided to pull a prank and paint the first square. In the morning Robbie was called into the principal's office. He was expressing his innocence when he looked down and saw spatters oh the paint on his shoes...... He thought he was in BIG TROUBLE but instead Principal Maude Fraiser said that she liked the idea, but decided that the project should be given to the Art Guild. From there they put the project and ideas together to create the Senior Squares. Rob did not have any of the drawing materials and that the Art Guild took over the project.
Version #2
In 1946, a few days after their graduation my brother, Walter, and a few friends painted the first Senior Square, a fire ball, surreptitiously under the cover of night. The night watchman came upon the scene and apparently, smiled, and watched the art work in progress. The tradition was thus born without official authorization. I'm not sure of the names of his friends but it may have been Wayne Barnet and Rex Jamieson. Rex went on to a career as an attorney in Las Vegas. Wayne went on to Harvard as a full scholarship student and continued with graduation from the Harvard Law School, again under full scholarship. I'm not sure where he lived after graduation. My brother, now deceased, went to Linfield College in Mc Minnville, Oregon and later Andover Newton Theological University in Boston and was ordained as a Congregational Minister.
The squares with an earlier date were added later when other graduates became aware. I note the 1946 square now is in a location different from the original. It was in the center originally. Of course the original squares were painted, not mosaics.
William A. Bishop, MD
redstork@aol.com
The Senior Squares today:
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