Ross Park on Third Ave NW at NW 43rd Street is the former site of Ross School. It was named for the family who were the earliest settlers in the western part of Fremont.
The John Ross family took land in homestead claims on both sides of what is now the ship canal, including the present site of Seattle Pacific University. Up until the ship canal was created in 1911-1917, there was a stream flowing westward toward Puget Sound. When the Ross family moved to a new house on the north side of the creek, they cooperated with neighbors to build a school for the community’s children at the site of what is now Ross Park.
The school population grew larger until a new building was needed. The building pictured here, was an eight-room schoolhouse which opened in 1903. The school closed in 1940 and children were then sent to West Woodland Elementary.