Downtown Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
History of the "Senior Squares"
Photographed By Denise Boose, August 3, 2022
1. History of the "Senior Squares" Marker
Inscription.
History of the "Senior Squares". . The tradition of “Senior Squares” was created one night in 1941 when two students pulled a prank and painted one of the cement slabs in front of the main steps of the original Las Vegas High School. Expressing innocence the next morning when called into Principal Maude Frazier’s office, the painter looked down and saw paint splatters on his shoes. Luckily, Principal Maude Frazier liked the idea and decided the Art Guild should carry-on the project in subsequent years., Ensuing senior classes created their own squares. Over the years, seniors had so much pride in their squares that underclassmen who dared walk on them had to clean the squares with a toothbrush. In 1980, the squares were removed. This caused a huge uproar with LNHS alumni, and after a “protest square” was painted, the squares were re-created in “Pebble Tech”, which was also used for new squares until 1988. By 2000, the squares deteriorated and many were barely recognizable., Spear-headed by the Class of 1970, the “Senior Squares Committee,” all Las Vegas High School alumni, was formed in 2000 to recreate the squares as close as possible to their original colors and design. Because there were originally no squares for the classes during the world war two years (1942-1945), special squares were designed to honor the graduates of those years., The restoration project and on-going maintenance was funded by a grant from the State of Nevada and by many individual donations of funds, time, labor and materials. The “Senior Squares” are an important part of Las Vegas history. It is hoped that the restored “Senior Squares” will be maintained for all ages to come.
The tradition of “Senior Squares” was created one night in 1941 when two students pulled a prank and painted one of the cement slabs in front of the main steps of the original Las Vegas High School. Expressing innocence the next morning when called into Principal Maude Frazier’s office, the painter looked down and saw paint splatters on his shoes. Luckily, Principal Maude Frazier liked the idea and decided the Art Guild should carry-on the project in subsequent years.
Ensuing senior classes created their own squares. Over the years, seniors had so much pride in their squares that underclassmen who dared walk on them had to clean the squares with a toothbrush. In 1980, the squares were removed. This caused a huge uproar with LNHS alumni, and after a “protest square” was painted, the squares were re-created in “Pebble Tech”, which was also used for new squares until 1988. By 2000, the squares deteriorated and many were barely recognizable.
Spear-headed by the Class of 1970, the “Senior Squares Committee,” all Las Vegas High School alumni, was formed in 2000 to recreate the squares as close as possible to their original colors and design. Because there were originally no squares for the classes during the WWII years (1942-1945), special squares were designed to honor the graduates of those years.
The restoration
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project and on-going maintenance was funded by a grant from the State of Nevada and by many individual donations of funds, time, labor and materials.
The “Senior Squares” are an important part of Las Vegas history. It is hoped that the restored “Senior Squares” will be maintained for all ages to come.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 36° 9.928′ N, 115° 8.397′ W. Marker is in Las Vegas, Nevada, in Clark County. It is in Downtown Las Vegas. Marker is on South 7th Street south of East Bridger Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 South 7th Street, Las Vegas NV 89101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Bench donated by Ken Gragson LVHS Class of 1954 (to the left of the Senior Squares)
Thanks to the following for making the restoration of Senior Squares possible:
The Senior Squares Restoration Committee
(LVHS alumni from classes of 1941, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1971, and new LVHS Class of 1998)
Clark County Shcool District
Robert Curry - Roberty Curry Studio
Rollie Gibbs - Rollie Gibb Crane Service
Melvyn Green & Associates
Larry Hahn - Hahn's Surplus
Richard Lenz and Friends of the Las Vegas Academy
Tony Marnell - Marnell Corrao Associates
Max and Christi McKee - Geyser Mobile Wash
Gary Stewart, Darrell Thornton, Richard Thornton - Nevada Ready Mix
Tate Snyder Kimsey
Sir Herkimer Von Wildcat
Young Electric Sign Company
Individual contributions of funds by LVHS Alumni and funds raised at class reunions
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2022, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.