A Bit of History

The Rabbit Hole

Posted on April 23, 2018April 19, 2019 by oaklanddots

I started this blog because I have collected so much information on the history of Oakland that I couldn’t wait to share. Posting in Facebook groups really isn’t the best outlet for me. I love sharing what I know and reading what others share. But things get lost on Facebook.

So with the help of my dear friend Phil (setup and how to), I got started and I was off running, well sort of. This should be easy I say to myself because, in my mind, I had already laid out actual pages and everything I wanted to say.

Wow, it really wasn’t that easy for me. I tend to get bogged down in the details. I worry about not getting my facts correct. It is hard for me to find a happy medium between too much and too little. So, this is a work in progress, so bear with me.

Down the hole, I Go

But I have digressed from the topic of this post. Often when researching one thing you find something else that has nothing to do with what you are looking for, but it piques your interest. That happens to me a lot.

You might know this as the “Internet rabbit hole” you know when you try to research one thing, and then accidentally go to Wikipedia, and then you are trying to find out what really happened to Jimmy Hoffa? That is it in a nutshell.

One rabbit hole I get sucked into often is I will see a picture like this one and want to know more about it.

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Apr_2__1911_ (1) — Oakland Tribune Apr. 02, 1911

Location
Is it still there?

Those two things can be very hard as sometimes the location is very vague and wrong. Sometimes the location is correct in the form of an address right below the picture. When looking up the location I am also curious as to who the house was being built for, were they famous or rich, maybe both?

I have compiled a lot of these pictures of newly built houses. I decided to create a map using Google Maps. The map I have created is called “What was there or still is… Oakland California”. I have already added lots of the homes that I have found while down in the rabbit hole.

What was there or still is… Oakland California

Description of the Map

Some from long ago and long gone, but some still there. Based on clippings, newspapers, and photos. May not be totally accurate as address numbers have changed and locations were often vague.

Maroon – Still there
Black – Gone
Yellow – Landmark
Green – Berkeley
Purple – Piedmont
Red – Questions – researching

Here is a link to the map. Click on it to see. Please feel free to share it.

I still have lots of pages in the works just have to get myself out of this hole.

This might help explain Rabbit Hole.

Uncategorized

The History Bug Strikes

Posted on September 16, 2017May 19, 2019 by oaklanddots

I grew up in the Montclair District in Oakland. I moved there in early 1972 after my Mom remarried. We moved into a four-story home that my step-father had built pretty much by himself.

In 1983 my ex-husband and I were hired by the Montclair Presbyterian Church (where I went as a young child) as custodians. We moved into the house the church owned next to the Sanctuary. It was at church I started to get the history bug. I found out that the church had celebrated its 50^th Anniversary in 1980. I was amazed that the church had been there so long, the same as the house we lived in which was built in about 1927.

In about 1985 or so I went on a walking tour of the Fernwood neighborhood put on by the Oakland Heritage Alliance. From then on it was my mission to find out more about the history of Montclair and Oakland.

First blog post

East Oakland, Home Building, Model/Display Homes

Melrose Highlands- Part 2

Posted on July 13, 2019July 13, 2019 by oaklanddots

In 1935 Phil Heraty a local real estate agent and developer took over the sales of Melrose Highlands.

Colonial Village – 1935

A type of English brick was used on the exterior of a few houses built in 1935.

**Oakland Tribune June 1935** – **7773 Greenly Drive**

**Oakland Tribune July 1935** – **7765 Greenly Drive**

Both the houses are on Greenly Drive, they are side by side at 7765 and 7775.

Heraty to Build 100 Homes – Jan 1940

Cape Cod Colonial – 7776 Sterling Drive

Six generous size rooms with light filled upstairs bedrooms. Downstairs has the living room, dinette and kitchen. Detached Garage. Price $4150.00.

Present day photo below. I see they made a room out of the garage.

7225 Sterling Drive – 1940

Heraty Homes – Greenly Drive

Forty new -home owners have moved into Melrose Highlands since his organization became the selling agents
said Heraty – Oakland Tribune Sept 08, 1940

New Economy Home at 8108 Greenly Drive – 1940

Building Progress in Melrose Highlands

Below is about 8032 Fontaine Street which was lost due to the construction of the freeway.

Beautiful Melrose Highlands – 1941

In May of 1941 a furnished “Model Home’ opened in Melrose Highlands at 8033 Fontaine Street.

Built to Order in Melrose Highlands – 1941

A Garden Showplace on Greenly Drive

The home of R.E. Derby on 7757 Greenly Drive was featured in the garden section on the Oakland Tribune in July of 1939.

their principal concern was, what to do with the “mud hole” in the backyard.
R.E Derby – July 16, 1939

The End

Home Building, Montclair

10 Overlake Court –

Posted on July 11, 2019 by oaklanddots

Oriental Theme in Small Home

Oriental (now we would say Asian) theme in a small home. The five-room home is located at 10 Overlake Court above the Montclair Pool (Swim and Racquet Club).

It was designed with both far Eastern ideas and California architecture. Oil finished wood in a natural color, accented with Chinese red in finish and outside trim, grass cloth wall paper and bamboo mouldings, were some of the Eastern ideas.

The living room opens onto a private garden with beautiful oak trees. The house is somewhat like a modern ‘farmhouse’ with an exterior of oiled, heart redwood and an off-white limestone finished roof with wide overhanging eaves.

With many red brick window boxes and large glass areas of windows that are divided into horizontal panes, creating a streamlined effect that is unusual in residential construction. A large circular grille in the garage door was also new and different.

Montclair’s Most Talked-of Home

I don’t know who designed the home but it was built by Robert Darmsted of Pinehaven Road. The Darmsted’s moved to Montclair in about 1920.

Another local Montclarion F.A. Christopherson who lived up on Abbott Drive in the Merriewood area did the brickwork.

Modern with “oriental touch ” . Delightful patio. Price at $6450.00 in 1940.

It is priced in the low 30’s! – 1964

A true hide-away on a secluded cul-de-sac with a gorgeous living room in Japanese style. Price $289,000 in 1992.

The End

Home Building, Oakland Tracts

Melrose Highlands

Posted on July 9, 2019July 11, 2019 by oaklanddots

Melrose Highland is the area off of Keller Avenue to the King Estates Open Space and over to Field Street and up to Crest Avenue – The area is now called Eastmont Hills.

Melrose Highlands to Open

In June of 1925 preliminary construction work on a new track, called Melrose Highlands was nearly finished and ready to open.

Melrose Highlands is a part of the ‘old Houston ranch” (have to find out more about Houston) and a portion of the property was used by the National Guard as a rifle range ( see my blog here). It lies between Leona Heights and Sequoia Country Club and the Upper San Leandro filter plant (7700 Greenly Drive) on west side.

The tract opened on July 19, 1925

C.P. Murdock was the developer of the tract and the sales agents for Melrose Highlands.

The Tract Office –

Looking up Earl Street towards Keller Avenue

A group of 12 homes was almost complete. Oakland Tribune – July 26, 1925

Display Home Opens

On opening day a display home was ready to be toured.

FOR THE WORKINGMAN

In Melrose Highlands we are going to give the working man a chance to get the sort of house to which he has long looked for
states C.P. Murdock, Inc. –
Oakland Tribune – July 12, 1925

3 Offers to pick from

House and homesite complete – $100 down and $1 a day.
Homesite and material for a house – $50 down and 75c. a day
Homesite – $25 down and 50c.a day

Transportation

Due to the interest in Melrose Highlands CP Murdock set up a a bus system to bring potential buyers to the site and for the residents.

New School for Melrose Highlands

In 1923 the “Columbia Park School” was built on Sunkist Drive. It was next to the home of Susie Thompson and her husband Roy who lived at 6886 Sunkist Drive.

Mrs. Thompson was the custodian of the one room school building for three years, when only 14 families lived in the area.

The school was later destroyed in a high wind, was replaced by a new school (down the street) and later that school was renamed the Charles Burckhalter School. Oakland Tribune May 10, 1969.

Obituary for the custodian of Columbia Park School – May 10, 1969

The First Resident – Earl Street

In September of 1925 Anton J. Krajnc moved into his new home with his wife and daughter. This was his first time buying a home.

It’s Paying Me To Live In Melrose Highlands
A.J. Krajnc

**From the 1928 Directory – 234 in now 7957**

We have a baby girl just learning to walk and this is going to be a fine place for her to run around and grow up.
A.J. Krajnc – Oct 01, 1925

**Lot 234 or 7957 Earl Street today Google maps**

The W.E. Adams home on Earl Street

The new of William E. Adams on Earl Street. Their home was located at lot No. 232 which is now 7941 Earl Street , but the houses don’t look the same.

The Willard Booth Home – Earl Street

Croup Cured – by the Warm Climate of Melrose Highlands
Mrs. W. Booth – Jan 1926

**1927 Oakland Directory** – **Anderson Street is now Keller Avenue**

**Willard Booth Home – 7908 Earl Street**

Moved from San Francisco

**House similar to the A.De Backer home**

Homes and Life in Melrose Highlands

Many New Homes

New Store

In January 1927 new store was opened by John G. Koch. The store was located in the 7979 Macarthur (give or take a few numbers). The building was later in way of the construction of the MacArthur Freeway (580).

We have a fast-growing community here, and as fine a place to live as any could want
J. Koch, the first grocer in Melrose Highlands

**Oakland Tribune 1927 – Shows the new store**

You can see the store both the upper and lower articles

More Melrose Highlands Homes

The below article shows the progress of Melrose Highlands as of June 1926. The streets with the most homes are Earl Street, Winthrope Street, Keller Avenue and Greenly Drive.

The Highest Home in Oakland – 1928

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019 by oaklanddots

“1928 Model View Home “

The 1928 Model View Home is situated at the “Top of the World” in reality the top -most peak in Montclair Highlands, overlooking several counties as well as affording a magnificent sweep of the entire bay and part of the Pacific ocean beyond.

Montclair Highlands Commands Ones of The World’s Finest Views, and Only 15 Minutes From Downtown
Montclair Realty – 1928

Combining modern features in fixtures with a marine view the Spanish themed home with certain additions, designed by Hamilton Murdock an Oakland architect.

The “1928 Model” View Home “The Home Electric”. All the latest features of proven merit – the things you have wondered about are used in the “1928 Model” home, including: Oakland Tribune Mar 25, 1928

Complete Electrification
Quartz-Lite – window glass
Colored plumbing ware
Venetian Cabinets
Linoleum Floors
Balanced Illumination

Screen Test for Children

In November of 1928 they held a movie screen test for children in the “1928 Model View “ home. The screen test was under the direction of the Sherman Clay Company.

The “1929 Model View” Home

For a few weeks in 1929 is was renamed .

**Oakland Tribune 1936**
Asking price $**8750.00**

Location

The “1928 Model View” home is located at 1949 Asilomar Drive in Montclair. It was on of the first homes built in the hills directly behind the business district of Montclair. The area was called Montclair Highlands. The 1928 Model View Home was built just up the hill the lone home to the left of arrow.

**A 1928 photos showing the of the Observation Tower** –
**The lone home to the left of the yellow area is the Callahan House**
at **1989 Asilomar Drive**
**Photo from East Bay Hills Project**

The home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and last sold in 1974. I don’t have a present day picture.

1928 Model View Home
Montclair Highlands
Spanish Style
Hamilton Murdock – architect
Elmo Adams – builder
Howard Gilkey – landscaper
Paul Pause – owner
Montclair Realty
1949 Asilomar Drive

The Callahan House is the bottom in the photo below.

Last sold in 2017 for $1, 682, 619 – 1989 Asilomar Drive

The End

Home Building, Model/Display Homes, Montclair

Million Dollar View Home – 1936

Posted on June 28, 2019 by oaklanddots

Million Dollar View –
5614 Balboa Avenue
Montclair Highlands
Conrad T Kett – designer
Paul A. Wolter – builder
Harry R. Stockman
Emge & Stockman
1936

English Tudor with a panoramic view of the bay. Every room in the homes takes full advantage of the panorama of Oakland, San Francisco and the Bay which includes both bridges and everything from San Pablo Bay to miles down the Peninsula.

With a extra large living room, dining room and breakfast room and kitchen. The kitchen is usually large and is a masterpiece of careful planning and scientific, step saving arrangement. Oakland Tribune Aug 09, 1936

Three big bedrooms and two bathrooms and a sundeck on the second floor.

Women will marvel at its extra cupboard space and the way we have provided for thoses hard to store odds and ends
Martha Lee – Oakland Tribune Aug 09, 1936

The End

Early Montclair, History, Montclair, Photos

More Early Photos of Montclair

Posted on June 28, 2019July 2, 2019 by oaklanddots

Moraga Avenue and La Salle

The above is the corner of Moraga and LaSalle circa 1940 . Showing Montclair Pharmacy.

**L60-95-Public Works Photos, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department** c 1954

Above is Moraga and La Salle- showing the Siena Deli, Montclair Donuts, Simons Cleaning Center and Ray Smith Co. Realtors in 1954. Below is 1976

Below is the corner today

Montclair Terrace Building – Mountain Blvd and La Salle

**The Montclair Terrace Building circa 1946 – Roger Bird**

The above photo is from circa 1946 – The Montclair Terrace Building – Photo from Roger Bird

Circa 1963 Oakland Public Library,
Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
– ohrphoto.districts.023.jpg

The above photo is of Pete and Carl Saunders in front of the Montclair Carriage Inn on the corner of LaSalle Avenue and Mountain Boulevard.

**Sept 1965**: **ohrphoto.districts.022.jpg**
**akland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division**

Two workers repairing a water main break on LaSalle Avenue at Mountain Boulevard in the Montclair district of Oakland, California.

**The Montclair Terrace Building today – Google mps**

Mountain Blvd

**Sept 1965**
**ohrphoto.districts.031.jpg**
**Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division**

Mountain Boulevard at LaSalle Avenue looking west following a water main break. From Sept 1965 – Below present day

**Sept 1965**
**ohrphoto.districts.030.jpg**
**Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division**

The above is Mountain Boulevard at LaSalle Avenue looking west following a water main break. The below is the same

La Salle Avenue

The above photo is La Salle Avenue circa 1960s and below is today

More to come

The End

Home Building, Model/Display Homes, Oakland, Real Estate

Open for Inspection Today – Aug 13, 1939

Posted on June 27, 2019June 29, 2019 by oaklanddots

Six modern furnished homes were opened for inspection on Sunday August 13, 1939. The homes were located in Berkeley, Moraga and Oakland. I will just highlight the two homes from Oakland.

Lincoln Highlands

Harmony Home
2700 Alida Street
1939
$6750 up
Lincoln Highlands
Irwin M. Johnson – architect
W.H. Wisheropp – owner and builder
H.G. Markham – realtor

Harmony Home was one of several homes that were built in 1939. It is located in the scenic tract called Lincoln Highlands on Alida Street at the top of Coolidge Avenue.

The compact plan included a large living room, a dining room, a kitchen with breakfast nook, a tile bath with three bedrooms, as well as an informal den with access to double garage.

In less than a month over 12,000 had toured Harmony Home.

Harmony House Today – 2700 Alida Street – Google Maps

Sheffield Village

Hampstead House
1939
Sheffield Village
Theodore Thompson – architect
E.B. Fields – developer

Sheffield Village is located above Hwy 580 at Dutton Avenue.

I couldn’t locate the actual “Hampstead House”. I have included other houses in the area that were for sale during the same time period.

**Hampstead House** – **1939 – Unknown location**

Prior to the opening of Hempstead House in Sheffield Village the H.C Capwells Company created a full scale floor plan model completely furnished in the furniture department on the fourth floor of their downtown store.

	10 Overlake Court… on Merriewood
	The Highest Home in… on Montclair Highlands – To…
	oaklanddots on More Early Photos of Mont…
	Nan Greig on More Early Photos of Mont…
	Nan Greig on More Early Photos of Mont…

Down the hole, I Go

What was there or still is… Oakland California

Colonial Village – 1935

Heraty to Build 100 Homes – Jan 1940

Cape Cod Colonial – 7776 Sterling Drive

7225 Sterling Drive – 1940

Heraty Homes – Greenly Drive

New Economy Home at 8108 Greenly Drive – 1940

Building Progress in Melrose Highlands

Beautiful Melrose Highlands – 1941

Built to Order in Melrose Highlands – 1941

A Garden Showplace on Greenly Drive

The End

Oriental Theme in Small Home

Montclair’s Most Talked-of Home

The End

Melrose Highlands to Open

Display Home Opens

FOR THE WORKINGMAN

Transportation

New School for Melrose Highlands

The First Resident – Earl Street

The W.E. Adams home on Earl Street

The Willard Booth Home – Earl Street

Moved from San Francisco

Homes and Life in Melrose Highlands

Many New Homes

New Store

More Melrose Highlands Homes

More on Melrose Highlands

“1928 Model View Home “

Screen Test for Children

The “1929 Model View” Home

Location

The End

The End

Moraga Avenue and La Salle

Montclair Terrace Building – Mountain Blvd and La Salle

Mountain Blvd

La Salle Avenue

The End

Lincoln Highlands

Sheffield Village

More on Sheffield Village –

The End