I have been an Oakland history buff since going on an Oakland Heritage Alliance Tour of the Fernwood Neighborhood in the Montclair District of Oakland, in the mid-80's. On that tour, I learned that there use to be a train (Sacramento Northern) that ran through Montclair, in the early 1900's and that people lived the area as early as 1860's. I have been hooked ever since. Since then I have spent a lot of time looking into the history of Montclair and I have learned a lot. I feel this will be the best way to get it out of my head and onto paper.
Oriental (now we would say Asian) theme in a small home. The five-room home is located at 10 Overlake Courtabove 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.
Oakland Tribune Feb 1940
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.
Oakland Tribune Feb 1940
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.
From 1924
Another local Montclarion F.A. Christopherson who lived up on Abbott Drive in theMerriewood area did the brickwork.
From 1944
Oakland Tribune Feb 1940
Modern with “oriental touch ” . Delightful patio. Price at $6450.00 in 1940.
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.
Oakland Tribune 1925
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
Oakland Tribune 1925
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
Oakland Tribune 1926
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.
Oakland Tribune Jan 15, 1926
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 at6886 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.
Oakland Tribune Aug 30, 1925
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
Oakland Tribune Sept 1925
From the 1928 Directory – 234 in now 7957
Oakland Tribune Oct 01 1925
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.
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.
From the 1928 Directory
The Willard Booth Home – Earl Street
Croup Cured – by the Warm Climate of Melrose Highlands
Mrs. W. Booth – Jan 1926
Oakland Tribune Jan 17, 1926
1927 Oakland Directory – Anderson Street is now Keller Avenue
Willard Booth Home – 7908 Earl Street
Moved from San Francisco
Oakland Tribune Jan 31, 1926
House similar to the A.De Backer home
Homes and Life in Melrose Highlands
Oakland Tribune Apr 1926Oakland Tribune Aug 29, 1926
Many New Homes
Oakland Tribune Jan 1927
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
Oakland Tribune 1927
Oakland Tribune Jan 1917
More Melrose Highlands Homes
Oakland Tribune 1927
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 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.
Oakland Tribune 1928
Oakland Tribune March 1928
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
Oakland Tribune 1928
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.
Oakland Tribune Nov 11, 1928
The Oakland Tribune November 1928
The “1929 Model View” Home
For a few weeks in 1929 is was renamed .
Oakland Tribune Dec 1928
Oakland Tribune 1936 Asking price $8750.00
1954 – Asking price $17,500
1969
Location
The “1928 Model View” home is located at 1949 Asilomar Drivein 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.
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
Oakland Tribune Aug 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
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
Oakland Tribune Aug 1939
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.
Oakland Tribune Aug 1939
Oakland Tribune Aug 20, 1939
Oakland Tribune Aug 27, 1939
In less than a month over 12,000 had toured Harmony Home.
Oakland Tribune Sep 1939
Harmony House Today – 2700 Alida Street – Google Maps
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.
