History Of Wade Thomas School
History
of Wade Thomas Elementary School
Prepared By The San Anselmo Historical Commission
March 1978
Reprinted By San Francisco Theological Seminary
October 1985
Stand at the intersection
of Kensington and Ross Avenues facing Wade Thomas School. On these
grounds, at the far end, was the site of the first school to be
built in San Anselmo in 1897 when the schoolroom in the Bouick
farmhouse became too small. It was known simply as “Main School.”
Built of redwood frame, it was a one-story, two-room building. A
second story was added in 1907 when there was a sudden population
spurt following the earthquake the previous year. In 1922 the
School District decided to replace it with a brick building, and
James Leach agreed to tear down the old Main School for $600.00. He
wound up with 2,000 feet of redwood limber which he used to build
houses all over town. Eventually the attractive two-story brick
school that replaced the old one was condemned as unsafe by the
Field Act (Earthquake law), and it was torn down (dynamited) in
1946. The older part of the present school, here on the northwest
end, replaced it. Originally, the school faced eastward on the part
of Kensington Avenue that ran through to Woodland Avenue. That
block of Kensington was cut off when the newer section of Wade
Thomas was built in the 1960’s.
Roy Farrington Jones recalled that in the old days, when there were
no school buses, children walked great distances to school, all
except a dozen or so who lived so far they came to school in two
taxis rented by the School District from the old San Anselmo Taxi
Company, an old DeSoto and a Model A Ford.
The playground and new wing of
the school were built in the early 1960’s. This site had been the
childhood home of Virginia Vail Keating, County Librarian for 30
years. The house was torn down and a number of old trees felled to
make room for the growing school. This whole area was once known as
the Souza Dairy Ranch. The Souza family home stood at the corner of
Ross and Sunnyside, where the log play equipment is now
located.
BIOGRAPHY OF WADE THOMAS
Wade Franklin Thomas (1880-1946) was a teacher and administrator in San Anselmo for thirty-nine years. He was an active member of the San Anselmo community. His civic interests included membership in the San Anselmo Rotary Club, the library board and volunteer work at the Robert Dollar Orphanage School. His love of music led him to establish an instrumental music program at San Anselmo Grammar School.
Wade Thomas was known to be honest and reliable, a man of integrity. We, the Wade Thomas community, are proud to carry on the traditions of service and excellence that this educational pioneer so valued.
Pictures of Wade Thomas, the brick building and former students of Wade Thomas School are on display in the main office.
