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A Las Vegas pioneer's contributions were recognized recently at Garehime Elementary School in a ceremony titled "A Dream Comes True," dedicated to the school's namesake.
Pupils presented family members of Edith Garehime with gifts depicting the legendary woman's life.
But the most important gift offered was read to the family by fifth-grader Jake Seifman, who represented the voice of the student body: "On this day, March 18, 1999, we dedicate Edith Garehime Elementary School to Edith Garehime -- our hero, who is everything we would love to be."
"It's the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to us, and the most important thing that ever happened to us,' said Garehime's son, Jake Garehime, 75, after the ceremony. "I know she would have been thrilled to have this happen to her."
Edith Garehime was born Aug. 14, 1898 in Eudora, Kan. to Harvey and Ida Mae Mellot.
At the age of 18, she met her future husband, Jacob W. Garehime, at a dance where he was playing the violin and cornet. The two were married on Nov. 8, 1917 and had three children. The family lived in Hugo, Colo., until moving to Las Vegas in 1924.
Soon after arriving, the Garehimes, opened the city's first music store, which catered to the likes of Louis Armstrong, Jr., Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Xavier Cougat. The Garehime Music Company spanned 65 years, until closing its doors in 1988. Edith Garehime died a year later at age 90.
In 1948, the Garehime's purchased 480 acres of land in the Northwest and also helped found the Whitney township in East Las Vegas.
Throughout her life, Edith Garehime remained active in numerous civic organizations, including the Mesquite Club, U-Wan-Uh Study Club, Knife and Fork, St. Judes, the Salvation Army Auxiliary and Easter Seals. She also belonged to the League of Women Voters, the African Violet Club and United Methodist Ladies Circle. In addition, she helped launch UNLV's first marching band with a $5,000 donation of musical instruments.
Her daughter, Wilma Titus, 79, said her mother was always a positive person and tried to see the best in everyone.
"It feels overwhelming," she said about the dedication.
Jake Garehime, who played the trumpet professionally in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, said, "She was a very encouraging mother. When I'd get discouraged practicing, she'd just say `keep on working at it, keep on working at it and you'll get better. Just keep practicing.' "
Garehime Elementary, opened Aug. 24 with 1,085 pupils. It's one of nine new schools -- three middle schools and six elementary schools -- that opened last fall.
Francie Summers, Garehime Elementary's principal, said for one month the pupils have been reliving the life of Edith Garehime, which was evident by displays made by the children that covered walls throughout the school.
"They started in the pioneer days ... then they went into the gardening aspect of her life, because she was very much into plants," Summers said. "They also made musical instruments relating to the '60s. So everything was integrated."
The school operates as a microsociety, known as Garehime Heights, complete with its own city council, chamber of commerce, court system, newspaper, television station, recycling center, post office and other large and small businesses.
In a previous interview, Summers said the microsociety concept is about "people of different ages working together to form a community."
In other words, it replicates real life, while implementing life skills such as integrity, initiative, responsibility, problem solving and respect. Pupils aren't merely taught how to get a job or run a business, they are taught how to be contributing members of society.
"What a great thing to be honored for," said Edith Garehime's grandson Kurt Garehime, who spoke at the dedication to a packed auditorium of staff members, parents, pupils and guests. "An elementary school where we teach the very values that hopefully will make possible dreams come true for these young children who will eventually be our citizens who will lead our cities and states in the next century. We as the family cannot be more honored, more thrilled, more overwhelmed to have Edith Garehime's namesake on this school. And then to have Francie Summers and her staff create the kind of excellence that she is producing here is even beyond our wildest dreams."
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