Part of an interview with Cora Williams by Kathlyn E. Wilson on March 11, 1975. Williams describes early housing in West Las Vegas and explains how blacks helped each other build homes despite their inability to obtain loans.
Cora Williams oral history interview, 1975 March 11. OH-01987. [Audio recording] Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada
English
Collector: Why did you move from Monroe and Freeman? Williams: Well, at the time we were living in shacks on Monroe, (laughter). And the housing [federally subsidized housing], Marble Manor did not come to Las Vegas until about 1953 [1952], Marble Manor was the only decent housing units. You couldn't get a loan on any house in West Las Vegas. All Black people lived in West Las Vegas. Collector: Do you mean that Black people were restricted from living in other areas of town? Williams: That's right. That's exactly what I mean. Collector: So it was almost impossible to build or do any property improvement at that time? Williams: Right, and the loan companies didn't start lending money until 1950. The federal government was lending money in 1953 to West Las Vegas home builders. Then along came First Western [now First Western Savings and Loan Association but originally chartered as Silver State Building and Loan Association on August 5, 1952. Ed.] I guess in about that same year. First Western, which is now on Las Vegas Boulevard South, was called Fifth Street Branch [Fifth Street has become Las Vegas Boulevard. Ed.] and they would loan money in the later 50s for people to build houses and home improvements. Collector: Up to that time, how did people manage to get housing? Williams: They would just work on construction jobs. Some would save their money and compile it and some would apprend work on the construction jobs and come on Saturdays and help you build your house; they would rotate with each other. You work on my place this Saturday; I'll work on yours next Saturday.