Arnada Neighborhood Association

Memories of Arnada

'Early Years' by Jeanette Walsh

When we wonder how neighborhoods get their name, it is usually from a person who has lived in the area. According to A History of Vancouver Public Schools, the six lettters in ARNADA were taken from the names of three Vancouver women: MARgaret Ranns, AnNA Eastman and I-DA Elwell. The Arnada Park Addition was named and platted by John Elwell, a Vancouver Realtor, in 1906.
My first acquaintance with Arnada came in 1942 when I came to Vancouver to wed my sweetheart, Tom Walsh, who was in the Army Air Corps at Fort Lewis. At that time I was living with Mrs. Arthur Druet and her 3 children at 2613 H Street. Her husband, a military career man, was stationed at Virginia. Arnada shcool, where the Druet children attended, sat less than half a block south on Fourth Plain and H Streets. Many times Tom and I walked through Arnada, never dreaming that in 1951 we would be making our home in this neighborhood we had come to love. The houses and yards were so homey, and the people were friendly.
Arnada school was very important as a place for Boy Scout and Girl Scout, and PTA meetings and activities. The Arnada school was opened in 1910 and demolished in 1966. The site has changed from a school yard, to a Little League field, to a neighborhood park that is well used and enjoyed by many.
Few of our early neighbors are here; two are Edna Grace Miller and John Ritter. Before I-5 was built, we could walk across West Reserve St., which was only a narrow side road, and go into the woods south of Barnes Veterans Hospital and see deer and pheasants. Vancouver High was across Main from a great Soda Fountain at the High School Pharmacy, and just down the street there was an Orange Julius.
Today we are enjoying the new young families and a whole new generation who are doing wonderful things. Life in Arnada is GOOD!

Arnada Schools

In 1910, Arnada Elementary School opened with nine classrooms, an office area, furnace room, and a basement.
In 1922, a $50,000 addition was built onto the south side of the original building and contained six classrooms, an auditorium, and two basement gynmasium areas. One of the classrooms became the school library and the other the art room. At some later time two classrooms were created in the basement of the original building.
At the time of the addition, the playground was enlarged by the purchase of the block south across 25th Street. The efforts of the Arnada PTA, that block of 25th St. was condemned and closed. This removed the danger of traffic accidents to children crossing between the two playgrounds.
The principal of the school was Walter A. Law, who served from 1910 until his retirement in 1928. Law devoted much time to developing character and school spirit. He organized the Arnada Athletic Club, through which many children developed these traits. Law was followed by Sarah Martin, 1928-35; Albert Beardsly, 1935-41,; Laurence Winter, 1941-43; Joseph Hartley, 1943-48; and Elmer Lindquist, 1948-52.
In 1952 the building was declared unsafe; the Vancouver Fire Marshal reported that it presented serious fire hazards and should be abandoned. The school was closed, and the children were dispersed to other schools for 1952-53 while the building was being renovated.
The school reopened in the fall of 1953 and continued as an elementary school for seven years. Its principals were Ingwald Iverson, 1953-55; Edward Robertson, 1955-56, Ray Jongeward, 1956-58; and Donald Cannard, 1958-60.
In 1960, the Arnada building became an annex to Shumway Jr. High School, several blocks northwest. Students made the trek between the two campuses daily for the next two years. Elmer Lindquist was named Shumway's assistant principal in charge of the Arnada Annex for 1960-61, followed by Merle Vannoy in 1961-62. During these two years, a kindergarden, first and second grade were maintained at Arnada for children living in the immediate vicinity.
With the completion of Columbia River Junior-Senior High School in time for fall, 1962, the school board decided that because of declining enrollment and the need for major maintenance and expenditure, Arnada should not be used for kindergarten or elementary classes during the next year.
The building was abandoned. It remained vacant until it was demolished in 1966. Final disposition of the site came in April, 1968, when the board of directors authorized its sale to the City of Vancouver for $31,580.
(from "A History of Vancouver Schools", gathered by Jeanette Walsh

Looking for Memories

Many of us have keepsakes from our family history. Postcards, photos and mementos tell us a story of a different time, place and people. These are our family treasures and they are also community treasures.
The Vancouver National Historic Reserve is looking for folks willing to share their treasures for the O.O. Howard House, which will be the home of the National Historic Reserve Visitors Information Center. An exhibit is planned to display historic photos, documents and artifacts from the Reserve's collection.
This is a listing from March 1998, but should be available.