In 1909 a newly appointed commission met at city hall with then Mayor Frank Mott to assume the responsibility of establishing a public playground system.
Oakland was the second city in California to establish a playground system; the first was Los Angeles in 1905.
Superintendent of Playgrounds
George E. Dickie Greater Oakland 1911
In May of 1909, the commission appointed George E. Dickie, the first playground superintendent, and that summer, the city opened two “experimental” playgrounds at Tompkins and Prescott Schools.
Oakland Tribune Oakland (Calif.) Park commission., Oakland (Calif.) Playground commission. (1910). The park system of Oakland, California. [Oakland: Carruth & Carruth.
Before 1909, the Oakland Women’s Club operated summer playgrounds for two years at West Oakland’s Tompkins and Prescott’s schools at their own expense.
Oakland (Calif.) Park commission., Oakland (Calif.) Playground commission. (1910). The park system of Oakland, California. [Oakland: Carruth & Carruth.
With a budget of $10,000, the commission opened three municipal playgrounds in 1910.
Oakland (Calif.) Park commission., Oakland (Calif.) Playground commission. (1910). The park system of Oakland, California. [Oakland: Carruth & Carruth.
The first was opened on January 10, 1910, at de Fremery. The park included a dozen swings, two long slides, a baseball diamond, two regulation tennis courts, and courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball.
Oakland (Calif.) Park commission., Oakland (Calif.) Playground commission. (1910). The park system of Oakland, California. [Oakland: Carruth & Carruth.
Two weeks later, they opened Bushrod Playground at 60th Street and Shafter. The land was deeded to the city in 1904 by Dr. Bushrod Washington James of Philadelphia with the stipulations that it is maintained as a public park forever.
Playground at Bushrod Park 1911Oakland (Calif.) Park commission., Oakland (Calif.) Playground commission. (1910). The park system of Oakland, California. [Oakland: Carruth & Carruth.
The first recreation “center” was built at the site, and the structure remained standing until 1943.
Oakland Tribune 1911
They then provided playground equipment to the West Oakland Park (which later became Bayview, and is now Raimondi Field)and Independence Park ( now San Antonio).
Oakland Tribune 1911
Recreation for Everyone
In 1911 the city charter was revised to include the role of recreation in the community, this resulted in disbanding the commission, and a board of playground directors was created to oversee the parks. The Parks and Recreation Department was formed
In the summer of 1931, a group of property owners in the central downtown section formed an association called the Downtown Property Owners Associations.
One of the first projects they took on was the modernization some of the “elderly buildings” in the downtown area. They were losing tenants to the new modern buildings going up in the downtown area.
The association took care of all the details of the program.
“Just try to find a vacancy!”
D. Frost
Oakland Tribune 1933
Jonas Building – 1932 – Northwest corner of Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California. Abraham Jonas owned the building. He ran a clothing store for men.
The Jones building was the first to be remodeled and modernized.
Jonas building, northwest corner of Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California. Three Star Cafe, Normal Pharmacy, Broadway Theater in view. 1932 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)Jonas building, northwest corner of Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California 1934 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Abrahamson Building – Southwest corner of 13th and Washington streets. Opened in 1893 as Abrahamson’s Dry Goods. Owned by Jules and Hugo Abrahamson.
Abrahamson Building – circa 1931 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland Tribune 1931
A five-story structure at the southeast corner of 13th and Washington Streets was the second project in the modernization program. J.H. King supervised the transformation of the building, and E.T. Foulkes was the architect.
The facelift was complete in March of 1934 with the opening of the Union Furniture Company. The firm occupied all five floors of the building.
Abrahamson building, southeast corner of Washington and 13th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1932 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)Oakland Tribune 1934
Over the years, other businesses occupied the building.
Abrahamson building, southeast corner of Washington and 13th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Darling Shop in view. 1942 -Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Delger Building – northwest corner of thirteenth and Broadway
Delger building, northwest corner of 13th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland, California. Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)Delger building, northwest corner of 13th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland, California.
M.K. Blake Building. – A four-story store and office structure at the southwest corner of 12th and Washington Streets.
The building was stripped of the bay windows, cornices, and other ornamentation removed. New tile was placed on the exterior walls.
M. K. Blake building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of Washington and 12th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Money Back Smith in view. 1935 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)M. K. Blake Estate Co. building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of 12th and Washington Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Smith’s in view. 1949 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Glenn Building – 1308 Broadway –
According to the Oakland Tribune, the Glenn Family had owned the building for 50 years.
Glenn building, east side of Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Margaret Burnham’s Cottage Candies, Leighton, Kay Jewelry Company in view. 1935 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
In 1937 work began on the Glenn Building at 1308 Broadway as part of a modernization program of the Downtown Property Association.
The improvements to the two-story cost $5,000 and included all new tiles on the front of the building. Edward T. Foulkes was the architect on the project.
Most people will recognize the building as the home of De lauer’s Newsstand.
Glenn building, east side of Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Margaret Burnham’s Cottage Candies, Leighton, Kay Jewelry Company in view. 1935Zukor’s, Inc. building, west side of Washington Street between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1932 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Zukor’s, Inc. building, west side of Washington Street between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1934 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
More Buildings
In total, 31 buildings were rebuilt or given a “facelift.” The program was a success, buildings were filled with stores, and the stores were filled with people who were shopping.
Plaza Building at 15th and Washington Streets
Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank Building at 13th and Franklin
S.H. Cress Company on 14th and Broadway.
Federal Telegraph Building at 12th and Washington streets
Fuller-Sparks Building on 14th Streets.
Masonic Temple Building on 12th Street for the new Lerner Store
There have been many discussions and articles about the name “Uptown” for an area in downtown Oakland. Most people hate it, except for the new people who just moved here, who call it “hip” or “trendy” (this is just my opinion I did not conduct a poll).
Most recently on one of the Facebook groups, I belong to. Just about everybody who commented hates the use of word uptown. Only two people actually read my comment about the history of the name. One still didn’t buy my explanation, and the other thanked me.
No as a native oaklander we have never used the word uptown it was always downtown”
Facebook Group
Gentrification definitely gentrification”
Facebook Group
We went Downtown
Growing up in Oakland, we always went downtown and never uptown because we went home.
It still is downtown to us and will always be! I will not argue that!
People are assuming the name “Uptown” comes from newcomers or “gentrifiers” that are taking over the area.
I know I questioned it, thinking they (the developers) were trying to make it sound like New York.
“The use of “Uptown” to refer to what is really part of downtown Oakland is relatively new and followed the city’s massive gentrification project to renovate the Fox Theater and build 10,000 new units of housing around Grand Avenue and Telegraph in the early 2000s.”
Too bad, the author of that article didn’t spend time researching the name.
Statements like this would further their belief that the term is new and made up.
“Square (the tech company) has launched its East Bay operations by moving a few hundred employees into new digs in downtown Oakland’s hip and trendy Uptown neighborhood.”
A couple of years ago, I decided to research the name a little more. I was reading an old report from the redevelopment agency from the 1980s and I saw a reference to the “Uptown District”. That got me to thinking and the rest is history.
A bit of history follows.
During the first fifty years of Oakland, the primary business activity centered around 9th and Broadway. The first map of Oakland, drawn in 1853, marked 14th street as the northern boundary of the city.
Businesses initially were built near the waterfront at 1st and Broadway. As transportation improved and the population increased, buildings moved further up Broadway.
A prominent sign of upward commercial advance was the completion of the First National Bank in 1908 at Broadway and San Pablo, along with the Cathedral Building and City Hall.
Uptown Historic District
The Uptown Historic District runs from 18th Street to 21st Street along Broadway at the north end of Oakland’s central business district. It includes three blocks of the triangular gore between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue, plus the Fox Theater on the west side of Telegraph and portions on the eastern side of Broadway at the 19th Street intersection.
The district represents a phase of the expansion of the central business district, in the 1920s and 30s. The new shopping and entertainment center was at the north end of the turn of the century downtown, anchored by the new Capwell department store and developed by Capwell’s 20th and Broadway Realty Company.
The district is an essential collection of small to medium scale commercial buildings of the 1920s and 30s, historic brownstone and terra cotta buildings from the 1920 and colorful Art Deco Terra Cotta from the 1930s.
Oakland Floral Depot, northeast corner of 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue Date: circa 1980 – Oakland Stores Collection Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division Permalink: https://calisphere.org/item/45a075ddbec11673a0d40a3fc87d3b17/
Capwell’s, I. Magnin buildings, the Fox and Paramount Theaters, and the Flora Depot building are excellent examples of each of the styles.
In the early 1900s as Oakland grew from the waterfront people started calling the area past 14th Street “Uptown.” By 1903 the area just below 14th Street was called getting crowded and the large mercantile businesses were reaching out for more space. They could only go uptown.
The real expansion uptown began in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Capwell’s was built in 1928.
Pioneers in “Uptown Oakland”
Oakland Tribune Mar 20, 1927
Smith Brothers new “Beautiful Uptown Store”
Oakland Tribune Oct 25, 1931Oakland Tribune Oct 25, 1931
It was reported in the Oakland Tribune on March 24, 1936 that 19 new leases were signed in Oakland’s uptown business district.
Oakland Tribune Mar 24, 1936
In 1944 the new Hibernia Bank was built in “Uptown.”
Oakland Tribune Dec 18, 1944
After 17 years on 14th Street Walson’s moved “Uptown” to 2000 Franklin in 1968.
Oakland TRibune April 17, 1968
I could go on and on but I won’t.
Tours
There have been walking tours of the “Uptown District” since the early 1980s.
Map of Uptown Walking Tour circa 1982
Walking Tour 1982
I like that the “old” name was used and not changed to something awful like the following:
“NOBE” is possibly the baldest and most obnoxious attempt to rename part of Oakland. Devised by realtors, the name is an acronym referring to North Oakland-Berkeley-Emeryville.”
East Bay Express
“Baja Dimond” This is a ridiculous name that some realtors have tried foisting on the part of the Fruitvale just below the Interstate 580 freeway across from the actual Dimond neighborhood. It’s the Fruitvale, not the Dimond.
East Bay Express
Just remember that Uptown is a part of Oakland’s History and they a linked in history.
War work in the Oakland Public Schools during 1918 was considered one of the most essential items in the curriculum by both the school administration and the teachers.
They felt the first duty of the schools was to aid the national government in winning the war to the best of their ability.
Service became the keynote of all work. Oakland’s boys and girls realized that they had a particular part to play in making the world a safe place to live in.
Sewing and Knitting Classes
Oakland Tribune July 07, 1918
During the summer vacation, thousands of garments for refugees were made by the children as part of their regular classwork.
Boys and girls of all ages learned to knit, and tireless little hands were busy every spare moment making garments for sailors, soldiers, and people of stricken countries.
Berkeley Schools also helped
Oakland Tribune August 25, 1918
Oakland Tribune August 25, 1918
School and Home Garden Army
The urgent need for higher food production led to the organization of the School and Home Garden Army in Oakland. Fifteen thousand children enlisted, and 6,00 brought their gardens to successful harvests.
The town trustees saw the need for a school, so they rented a room at the rear of a dance hall called a Fandango House at 2nd and Washington. The room furnished with half a dozen wooden benches, a table for the teacher, a blackboard, a map of the world, and a rawhide whip. 12 to 15 children attended this school.
For control of the area around the harbor, Horace W. Carpentier donated a school building to the city. Oxen teams from the hills brought redwood lumber, and a small structure was erected at 4th and Clay Streets. It was 30 x 20 feet with a 12-foot ceiling and a shingled roof. A belfry with a little bell. Carpentier called the building, “substantial, elegant, and commodious.”
In June of 1853, when the school opened, the citizens held a parade, and 16 students carried a banner that read, “Our Duty to Our Country, First, Last, and Always.”
The first teacher of the school was Miss Hannah Jayne. She taught until 1856 when she resigned to marry Edson Adams, one of Oakland’s pioneers.
Oakland Tribune 1936
Oakland History Group
In 1853, the First Presbyterian Church used the building for services. The current sanctuary of the church (built-in 1914) memorializes the schoolhouse in one of its stained glass windows showing church history.
Stained Glass showing Church History CC SA-BY Our Oakland
By 1855 there were 155 children of school age in Oakland. The little schoolhouse could not house them all.
The old Carpentier school was replaced by a slightly larger building between Jefferson and Grove ( now Martin Luther King) 11th and 12th Streets.
The city continued to grow, and so did the need for schools. By 1873 there were 13 buildings with more than 2000 children receiving instruction. By 1875 there were 3,225 attending school an increase of 1000 in 2 years.
First A.M.E. Church
The First A.M.E. Church of Oakland began in 1858 by a small group of Oakland residents and is the oldest African American church in Oakland. The church founders purchased the Carpenter School House in 1863, which became the first church building.
Oakland Tribune 1883
According to the article below the building was still there in 1921
Oakland Tribune 1921
Oakland Tribune May 1952
Oakland Tribune Sep 12, 1943
In 1943 the school district celebrated its 90th Anniversary with nearly 2000 teachers, 75 schools with almost 45,000 students.
In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images Oakland Schools. Along with a bit of history of each school, I highlight. Some of the photos are in the form of drawings or postcards, or from the pages of history books.
Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.\
Updated Feb 2020
Golden Gate Elementary/Junior HighSchool
Bay Public School was the first school in the Bay School District which is now the Golden Gate district. The 2-room schoolhouse was built in about 1875.
Bay Public School. Built-in 1875. glass plate negative ca. 1890 Gift of Fred L. Klinkner H77.57.43
In 1885 two more rooms were added. In 1892 the school was replaced
Oakland Tribune Nov 19, 1892
New Bay Public School (built 1892) Gift of Fred L. Klinkner H76.295.65A
More to come on the transformation from Bay School to Golden Gate School.
New School
Preliminary plans for the second unit of the new Golden Gate Junior High. The arrival of the plans came a week after the residents of the Golden Gate district complained and at a school board meeting that the
the old school is now so rickety that it is becoming dangerous
Residents Golden Gate District Dec 1926
Oakland Tribune Aug 10, 1927
The new school building was completed in November of 1928 at a cost of $119,232 and had space for 700 students.
A new shop building was added to the school at a cost of about $30,000. It was located at 63rd and San Pablo and included auto shops and machine shops.
Herbert Hoover Junior High School (1929–1974) was located at 3263 West Street.
Plans for the new Clawson-Longfellow Junior High School were drawn in 1928. It was the last school to be built using the 1924 bond issue of $9,600,000.
Oakland Tribune Aug 29, 1928
The school’s cornerstone was laid on March 4, 1929, the same date as President Hoover‘s inauguration as the nation’s 31st president.
Oakland Tribune March 05, 1929
It was designed by John I. Easterly.
The official dedication events for the school held during American Book Week, November 11-17, 1929
Oakland Tribune November 07, 1929
School Unsafe
In 1972 the School board approved the replacement of 3 schools. The schools deemed unsafe in an earthquake.
The schools were Clawson and Durant Elementary and Hoover Jr. High. A new k-4th Grade was to be built on the Hoover site and a 5th – 8th at the Durant site.
The school was demolished in 1974, to be replaced with a more earthquake-safe lower school.
I haven’t had much luck with finding any photos of the old Longfellow School.
Oakland Tribune Nov 29, 1904
Longfellow Elementary school was opened in 1907 and was located at 39th and Market Street.
In March of 1907, a couple of the school board members questioned the name of Longfellow for the school. One thought it was too close to the Berkeley school with the same name. The other questioned the school being named after a dead poet who never did anything for the city. The name stayed with only one dissent.
New School
In 1957 plans were drawn up by the firm of Alexander and Mackenzie. The plans call for 16 classrooms, kindergarten, library, special education room, multipurpose room, and administrative offices at a cost of $623, 600.
The new Longfellow Elementary School was formally dedicated in November of 1959. The new school replaced the multi-storied building built after the 1906 earthquake. It Cost $595,000.
Just Say No to Drugs!
First Lady Nancy Reagan met with a group of elementary school students and their parents Wednesday to talk about ways to fight drug abuse, one of the biggest problems facing the city of Oakland. UPI – July 1984
Lowell Junior High that most people will remember opened in January of 1928.
Oakland Tribune 1927
The new building cost between $288,000 and $ 320,000 (depending on what I read). The building fronted on Myrtle Street at 14th Street.
Groundbreaking – 1927
Cornerstone laid – 1927
Dedicated Jan 1928
Howard Schroder noted Oakland architect designed the school.
Oakland Tribune 1928
Name Change
Prior to Lowell opening in 1928, the school was called Market Street Junior High.
Oakland Tribune 1924
Oakland Tribune 1927
Oakland Tribune Jun 10, 1926
In 1937 the old McCymonds High School was abandoned, the students joined Lowell, and then it was known as Lowell-McClymonds. A year later, the name changed to McClymonds-Lowell. The Lowell students were moved to Prescot Junior High in 1938.
Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
When McClymonds was built on Myrtle Street. It became Lowell Junior High School, again.
Historic Site
The new building replaced an old historic wood-framed building that had the distinction of being the “most named” school.
Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
Earthquake – 1955
Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
The building was damaged during an earthquake on October 23, 1955.
Oakland Tribune October 1955
The formal dedication for the new Lowell Junior High was in November 1959.
Oakland Tribune Nov 1959
The new school located at 1330 Filbert Street cost $1,656,083 and was designed by Warnecke and Warnecke.
The new building had 18 general classrooms, 5 special Ed, 3 Art rooms, 3 homemaking rooms, 2
In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images Oakland Schools. Along with a bit of history of each school, I highlight. Some of the photos are in the form of drawings or postcards, or from the pages of history books.
Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.
Updated Jan 12, 2020
Manzanita Grammar School
In 1909 the Board of Education annexed the Fruitvale and Melrose School Districts. More on the history of annexationin Oakland.
Oakland Tribune 1909
Oakland Tribune 1910
The first school to open was Manzanita Grammar School, located on 26th Street between 24th and 25th.
The 2-story building with 8 classrooms, a principal’s office, teachers’ locker room, library, and a kitchen was designed by F.D. Voorhees and cost $23,000.
Oakland Tribune June 28, 1970
In 1920 there was a gas explosion in the basement of the school.
Manzanita Annex
Oakland Tribune Jan 1926 Best Copy I could Get
In January of 1926, the board of education accepted the plans for an annex to be added to the building already on the site. The new structure will cost $70,000.
In September of 1926, it was determined that the (new) Manzanita Annex that was more than halfway done was unsafe. The concrete work was entirely defective, and to make the building safe for occupancy, they had to remove the entire structure above the foundation.
Oakland Tribune Sept 1926
The Alameda County Grand Jury was asked to investigate the faulty construction of the $70,000 school building.
New School Dedicated
A dedication ceremony was held in January of 1927 for the new $70,000 Manzanita School Annex at 24th Avenue and E.26th. The Mission style edifice had 8 classrooms and kindergarten and a restroom for teachers.
The new building adjoined the old school building.
Oakland Tribune Jul 4, 1956
In 1956 it was proposed that the 46-year-old 3-story building would be replaced with a new school building.
In 1958 bids were accepted to demolish the old school built-in 1909.
Oakland Tribune Aug 1958
The new building was designed by Donald S. Mackey architect, and it contained 15 classrooms, 1 kindergarten, 1 special education room, a cafeteria, a library, and offices.
The new building was dedicated in September 1958
Manzanita Today
Manzanita is located at 2409 East 27th Street, Oakland.
Manzanita School Today
Manzanita Community School (MCS) is a small school located in the heart of the Fruitvale neighborhood. Our bilingual program is K-3. We are one of the most diverse schools in OUSD.
I am sorry to say I haven’t been too lucky with finding pictures of the first school or older pictures of the present school. Hopefully, someone might have some to share.
The School Today
Maxwell Park School was established in August of 1924, in a single portable shack. It was then a part of Horace Mann School. There were 108 students registered that first year.
In April 1925, preliminarily plans for a new Maxwell Park school were approved.
In 1925 it became a separate school, with Miss. Sue Dunbar as the principal and a faculty of four teachers.
In January of 1926, a new six-room structure was dedicated.
I haven’t found any picture of the first school.
Oakland Tribune Jan 1926
Oakland Tribune 1928
Additions are added
Oakland Tribune Aug 10, 1930
Oakland Tribune July 1930
The new addition was complete, and they eliminated the need for the portables, for now.
Oakland Tribune Jan 04, 1931
More construction in 1936
Oakland Tribune Mar 1936
The school is located at 4730 Fleming Avenue, Oakland
Maxwell Park Now
Today
Melrose Leadership Academy now uses the school. It is a dual immersion school in the form of bilingual education; Website
Elizabeth Sherman Elementary School
Sherman Elementary School is located in Maxwell Park The site close to Mills College.
In 1931 a new auditorium was dedicated. The auditorium was called “Little Theater,” and it consisted of two portables joined together to make one. There was a stage built at one end.
Named After
Sherman Elementary was named after Elizabeth Sherman (September 5, 1859 – June 27, 1937) was a long-time educator in Oakland in 1931.
In 1887 she was teaching at Lafayette Elementary School By 1907, she was the principal of the school. She retired from teaching in 1928.
New School
Oakland Tribune July 03, 1956
In 1956 architects Foulkes and Dennis drew up the plans for a structure to serve 325 students.
The new unit included an administration office, library, eight classrooms, one kindergarten, one special ed classroom, and a music room. They continued to use the auditorium built-in 1936.
The ground was broken for the new school in May of 1957, and the students moved in February 1958. A formal dedication was in April 1958.
Oakland Tribune Feb 09, 1958
Sherman Today
The school is located at 5328 Brann St.
Sherman Today
Today Melrose Leadership Academy and Urban Montessori share the campuses at Maxwell Park and Sherman.
Urban Montessori Charter School (UMCS) opened in the fall of 2012 and became Oakland’s first public Montessori school.
Melrose Leadership Academy (MLA) is a public school that emphasizes leadership development and focuses on social justice in partnership with our families
The Daniel Webster School is located at the large lot bounded by Plymouth, Olive, and 81st and 82ns Streets in East Oakland. The school over the years shorten the name to just Webster School.
Oakland Tribune November 27, 1921Oakland Tribune November 27, 1921
The school opened in 1922 with just 4 classrooms, 200 students, and plenty of room to grow.
The construction of a 14 room addition and an auditorium to the school was to begin in July of 1925.
Below is how the school looked in 1925.
Oakland Tribune Oac 27, 1925
Webster Today
The school is located at 8000 Birch St.
The Webster Elementary School site hosts the East Oakland Pride Elementary. A TK-5 school in the Arroyo Viejo neighborhood, situated on the old Webster Academy campus. We offer both Spanish-English bilingual and English-only programs in K-2; upper grades are taught in English.
In 1858 Miss Julia Aldrich was contracted to run a small private school on Isaac (Issac) Yoakum’s farm. Yoakum had built his house on the site of the present Lockwood School, he later moved that house and replaced it with a small building to be used as a school (see above).
The school was located at the intersection East 14th Street (County Road No. 1525 and now International Blvd) Mary Street, then 68th Avenue, and later 69th Avenue. The schoolhouse remained in use for another 42 years, with a small addition in 1892.
The first year Lockwood had 12 students enrolled.
Map from 1912 – the Redline is East 14th -68th
In February of 1876, there were 28 boys, and 10 girls enrolled in the school. The teacher was Alonzo Crawford.
Oakland Tribune Mar 01, 1876
In August of 1876 (typo in the newspaper), there were 20 boys and 21 girls enrolled.
The Damon Family owned a general store at the corner of E.14th & 66th
The Kinsell Family lived on 94th Avenue just below E. 14th
The A.H. Merritt family lived on 66th Avenue
The Moss home was at 82nd and Foothill
The Silva’s owned a saloon at 84th and E. 14th
New School – 1902
The new school was built on the corner of East 14th Street and 68th Avenue in 1902. Charles H Greenman was the principal. The school was demolished (need to verify this) in 1936.
Lockwood Public School
Circa 1912
Photographer: Cheney Photo Advertising Company
Across from the school was the 282-acre dairy belonging to William Machado. The big pasture was later used as the landing field of Weldon Cooke,an early Oakland aviator. In 1910 Wickham Havens subdivided into what we now know as Havenscourt.
Old School is Sold – 1903
Oakland Tribune Feb 05, 1903
Class of 1904
Oakland Tribune May 1948
Lockwood Junior High – 1912
Lockwood School – Havenscourt Area
East 14th Street (now International Blvd) and Mary (now 68th) Avenue
Circa 1912
Photographer: Cheney Photo Advertising Company
Old Timers Reunions
For many years the former students of the school would hold an annual reunion for all graduates of the school.
In December 1943, there were winds up to 75 MPH and many fires in the hills and the East Bay. There were at least 10 brush and grass fires reported all over Northern California.
The smell of burning eucalyptus hung over the city for hours
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 19443
The fire in the Oakland hills started near Broadway Terrace and Skyline, in the area above the Broadway Tunnel (Caldecott Tunnel). There also was a fire on Snake Road.
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
The fire started just after midnight and burned for about 3 hours. The fire was most likely started by down wires knocked down by gale-force winds. There were over 30 fires reported all over Oakland.
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Wind and Fires Wreck Havoc
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
Fire destroyed the garbage facility at the end of Davis Street
The fire bore a striking resemblance to the disastrous 1923 Berkeley fire, which swept from the hills, destroyed 600 buildings, and leaving 4000 homeless.
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
The fire started at 11am and was under control by 2:30 pm and officially out by 4pm.
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
More than 200 firemen from the Oakland and San Leandro fought the fire for over four hours with the help of the residents who lived in the area. At times the fire came within feet of homes and rained sparks on their roofs. The damage was held to the loss of two houses, brush and oak trees.
From noon until 2pm the battle was a see-saw affair
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
Weekend Warriors
SF Examiner October 16, 1960
For the residents, it was a battle to the death. They stood of roofs and garages pointing hoses with little pressure behind them at the walls of flame, which roared through the brush and oak trees.
In the hills above, Leona Street flames roared 50 feet into the air and came within that distance of homes. At one point, police advised people to advise the residents on Leona Street, Mountain Blvd, and Mountain View Avenue to evacuate.
There were unconfirmed reports of two boys playing with matches in the quarry area just before the fire started.
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
At the time, the winds gusted 45 mile-per-hour, which spread the fire across Mountain Blvd. but quick work by firemen and homeowners stopped the fire from spreading in that direction.
More than 100 homes were endangered during the day. Most were in the $30,000 bracket.
The Homes
6384 Mountain Blvd – destroyed
6434 Mountain Blvd – destroyed
The home at 6434 Mountain Blvd belonged to William Crecque, and 6384 Mountain Blvd belonged to Charles Suggs.
