Frances E. Willard Elementary School Architectural Bas Reliefs

Charles Haynes & Frances Gentry

Octagonal art stone plaques with stylized Modernistic flowers are found on the upper portion of the façade, while two reliefs of what appears to be the same idealized male figure is seen over the entrance. According to Dr. Louise Ivers’ book, Long Beach: A History Through its Architecture, this figure, which may represent Apollo, the Greek Sun God, is surrounded by spirals and images of the sun. This is not a typical image for the WPA schools, which tended highlight inspirational topics like jobs, ideas, and local industry.