The Las Vegas Springs Preserve and The Friends of Classic Las Vegas present:
Untold Stories
This monthly series helps explore our history and helps us understand the sacrifices and courage it took to build a city out of the desert. Each month we will bring together a group of long-time residents to talk about our history in a roundtable forum.
This month: Growing Up in Early Las Vegas.
What was it like growing up here in the years between World War I and the Great Depression? Before air-conditioning? Before paved roads? Come find out on Thursday, Sept. 6th as Ed Von Tobel, Jr, Virginia Beckley Richardson, Violet Tracht and Donna Andress take us back in time to when they were kids growing up in a small town called Las Vegas.
Ed Von Tobel was born here in 1911. His father came here for the land auction in 1905 and started Von Tobel Lumber. For years, Von Tobel Lumber supplied the hardware and building needs of Las Vegans. From their location on Second Street to their final location on Maryland Parkway, Von Tobel Lumber was a part of Las Vegas history.
Virginia Beckley Richardson was born here in 1917. Her father, Will, owned Beckley’s Men’s Wear on Fremont Street. She grew up here, married and raised her family. Her childhood house in part of Heritage Street at the Clark County Museum.
Violet Tracht was born here in 1910. Her family owned the Oppedyk Diary, one of the first in the valley. She grew up here, married and, like the others, raised her family.
Donna Andress was born in Searchlight but came to Las Vegas in 1932 at the age of four. Her mother, Clara Hanley, was a teacher at the local Grammer School and then at Las Vegas High. Donna married her high school sweetheart, Gail Andress, in 1944. She is a noted local historian.
Thursday, Sept. 6th
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Reception: 6:30 pm
Discussion: 7:00 pm