CASA RAMONA INC.

When the first USGS topographic survey of San Bernardino was completed in 1893-4, the future site of the Ramona School comprised an undeveloped portion of the alluvial fan east of Lytle Creek (fig. 2).  The terrain sloped very gently from northwest to southeast.  Although some areas of the fan had or were about to be planted in citrus, the vicinity of the future Ramona School was apparently farmed (to judge by a 1947 aerial photo; cf. fig. 5).   The alignment of W. 7th Street existed to a point several hundred yards west of the school site but there were no north-south streets west of Mt. Vernon Avenue.

By the latter 1920's, when the Ramona School was built, the City had extended its limits to a point about a half a block to the west of the school site.  The 1947 aerial photograph of the school shows low density residential development north and east of the site (fig. 4), but the 1942 U.S.G.S. 7.5' topographic sheet shows that the area west of the school remained undeveloped farmland.  Ms. Esther Estrada, a near life-long resident of the community who has lived within two blocks of the school during that time, recalls that during the 20's and 30's most residents were Latinos who either worked for the Santa Fe Railroad or were orange pickers (Estrada 1999:pers.comm.; Alva 1991:pers.comm.).  During the 1940's, many of the local residents went to work for the Kaiser Steel plant in Fontana.

In 1941, the San Bernardino County Guide described the Latino community growing up around the school:

The Mexican settlement, west of Mt. Vernon Avenue, between Fourth and Ninth Streets, contrasts sharply with other sections [of San Bernardino].  It is a quarter of narrow streets, a few of which are unpaved, faced by small houses, some built of adobe.  The life of the area centers around the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with its fiesta grounds and social center, and the Home of Neighborly Service {fig. 14], a settlement house.  There are a theater which features Mexican pictures, and native cafes and shops.  Here is a transplanted bit of Old Mexico, with only a modicum of American influence ... (S.B. Co. Guide 1941:9).

It was not until after WWII that the community around the Ramona School became a densely developed residential area.  During the late 40's and 50's many low hip-roofed "liberty" style homes filled in the spaces between the pre-war frame California cottages.  Although a few newer structures may be found scattered here and there among the older residences, the fundamental architectural character of the neighborhood remains unchanged since the early post-war period.

The roots of Casa Ramona trace back to the rapid growth of San Bernardino's Westside community in the early 20th century. As the city's population expanded, particularly among Mexican and Mexican American families living west of Mount Vernon Avenue, the need for a neighborhood school became increasingly apparent.

The first Ramona School opened in 1921 at the corner of 7th Street and Mount Vernon Avenue. In 1925, the San Bernardino School District purchased a five-acre site on West 7th Street, and a new campus designed by Los Angeles architects Witmer & Watson was completed in 1927. The larger school served kindergarten through sixth grade and offered a broad curriculum that included music, art, physical education, and vocational subjects.

For decades, Ramona School was a central institution for the Westside community. Historical records show that it primarily served Mexican American and Spanish-speaking students during a period when educational opportunities were often segregated. Enrollment grew rapidly, reaching more than 800 students by the 1940s, making it one of the district's most heavily attended elementary schools. Community studies later identified the need for additional recreational space and facilities, recognizing the school's importance as a neighborhood gathering place.

In 1971, Ramona School closed after failing to meet California earthquake safety standards. Community members strongly advocated to preserve the campus and maintain local educational and cultural resources. Rather than disappear, the site found new life through the efforts of local leaders and organizations committed to serving Westside families.

La Confederación, a community-based organization dedicated to supporting educational achievement among Hispanic youth, purchased the former school and renamed it Casa Ramona. The organization expanded services to include tutoring, English-language classes, child care, senior nutrition programs, health services, workforce development, and family support programs.

Over the following decades, Casa Ramona continued to evolve into a trusted community resource. New health facilities, social services, and senior housing were added to the site, strengthening its role as a center for education, wellness, and community connection. Today, Casa Ramona remains deeply rooted in its historic mission of serving the Westside, building on nearly a century of community leadership, cultural pride, and neighborhood investment.