Legislation passed by the House of Representatives on Friday includes an amendment that would officially add a historic school site to the Rosie The Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond.
The amendment by U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier adding Nystrom Elementary School to the park was included in the HR 803, the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act that passed the U.S. House by a vote of 227-to-200. The bill next goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“Thank you Mark for carrying this important initiative to add Nystrom Elementary to the historic park on behalf of our community and the families that moved here to work at the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II,” Richmond Mayor Tom Butt commented on social media.
The school was constructed during World War II to serve the families of workers at the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond as part of a planned development that includes the Maritime Child Development Center, a restored building next door that is already part of the park. The Nystrom Housing Area, built as part of that development, is also scheduled for future preservation and redevelopment by the city.
“The families of Richmond and West Contra Costa County played a critical role in our nation’s World War II efforts. Expanding this culturally significant site to include the Nystrom Elementary School will better tell the story of the history of our community and honor the service of all who contributed during the war,” DeSaulnier said in a statement.