Black History Month
By the end of World War II, the African American population in Las Vegas reached over 3,000 and they were segregated to the Westside. As the population grew, more and better homes were needed.
In 1949, a housing project was started and became the first subdivision in Nevada constructed by a black architect. His name was Paul Revere Williams. He was the first African American architect licensed in the state of California.
Berkley Square was named after Thomas L. Berkley, the primary financier of the project. Several streets are named after others who contributed to the project. The neighborhood consists of 148 one story ranch style homes and many are still owned by families of the original buyers.
The Nevada Preservation Foundation has established a walking tour, detailing the people who once lived in the homes, such as Ruth d'Hondt. Ruth ended up moving into the house next door to where she grew up in the neighborhood. She was one of the first black women who worked on the floor of a casino, being a cocktail waitress. She currently volunteers as President of the Berkley Square Neighborhood Association and was instrumental in it being declared historic. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
You may recognize one of Williams' most famous buildings, built in collaboration with some Los Angeles architects - the LAX Theme Building, which opened in 1961.
He also designed the homes of Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra, as well as the Beverly Hills Hotel.
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