Montclair Tracts – A Bit of History

Early Montclair, Montclair Tracts, People

$20,000 Log Cabin – Fernwood

Posted on June 6, 2019 by oaklanddots

Fernwood was the beautiful country estate of Col. Jack C. Hays and his wife Susan in 1852.

Residence of Col. John C. Hays, Oakland, Alameda County, California.”
(Published by Thompson & West, Oakland, Cal., 1878)
*from Oakland History Room*

After Hays’ death in 1883, the estate was sold to William J. Dingee. Dingee built an opulent 19-room Queen-Anne style mansion, and had additional landscaping done with gardens, terraces and waterfalls. He also added such features as a deer park and an elk paddock.

Sadly, the home and countless artworks were destroyed in a fire in 1899. Oakland Tribune Oct 19, 1899

In 1915 Dr. and Mrs. Nelson M. Percy of Chicago, Illinois purchase the former W.J. DIngee home “Fernwood” for an undisclosed amount.

**Yellow arrow shows the log cabin, green arrow the pool and blue arrow the tennis courts**

More of Fernwood –

Historic Dingee Estate to be a Home Again – Oakland Tribune Oct 10, 1915
Fernwood Estate has New Owner – Oakland Tribune Oct, 10, 1915
Old Estate Cut into Lots – Oakland Tribune Aug 18, 1923

Home Building, Model/Display Homes, Montclair Tracts

Forest Park – Homes

Posted on May 8, 2019 by oaklanddots

Just a few of the homes of Forest Park – I will update if I find more.

Oakland Tribune May 1927 – 6415 Oakwood Drive

Oakland Tribune Feb 28, 1928
6415 Oakwood Drive

6415 Oakwood Drive – Present Day – Google maps

The Forest Park Home of Benjamin Locket
Built in 1927
Original address was Box 411 Idlewild Drive
Now 7087 Thornhill Drive

7087 Thornhill Drive Present Day – Google Maps

Forest Park Mansion known as the Castle

The castle was the home of Col. Leonard Dunkel. Dunkel lived at 6708 Thornhill from about 1932 until his death in 1974.

Oakland Tribune Aug 12, 1928
Located at 6708 Thornhill Drive

6708 Thornhill Drive – Present Day – Google maps

The End

Early Montclair, History, Montclair Tracts

Forest Park – a scenic residential park

Posted on April 27, 2019May 6, 2019 by oaklanddots

Subdivision of Montclair – approx. the area above Thornhill at Woodhaven and Oakwood Drive and up to Snake and Colton Blvd. The Forest Park Pool (now Montclair Swim Club) was included with the tract. – Updated May 06, 2019

“Wickham Havens, Inc., to Sell Fine Scenic Property on the Highlands Northeast of Beautiful Piedmont” – Oakland Tribune May 11, 1924

A residential park that has been “twenty years in the making” is how they described Forest Park when in first opened in May 1924. The hills of Forest Park were barren of trees , when the late Frank C. Havens undertook the task in the early 1900s of planting them with trees. His son Wickham is in charge of selling Forest Park.

Oakland Tribune May 1924
Free Bus service to Forest Park

Big wooded lots some with a view of the bay were selling at a few hundred dollars each. “Investment in Forest Park today means rich profits in the future” – Come out and see the $10,000 pool being built for the residents – Oakland Tribune June 1924.

Oakland Tribune Jun 15, 1924
Elmer F. Morrill lived down the road where
Harbord Drive and Moraga Avenue meet since the late 1880s

Forest Pool was located at Thornhill Drive and Woodhaven Way is now the Montclair Swim Club.

Forest Pool – 1925
Photo By Cheney Advertising
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Forest Pool 1927
Photo By Cheney Advertising
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

The corner of Woodhaven Way and Indian Way
Cheney Photo Advertising 1925
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Woodhaven Way looking towards the corner of Indian Way
Photo by Cheney Advertising 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Woodhaven Way looking towards the corner of Indian Way
Present Day – Google Maps

From 7000 Thornhill Drive looking east
Cheney Photo Advertising 1925
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

From 7000 Thornhill Drive looking east
Cheney Photo Advertising 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Present Day 7017 and 7025 Thornhill Drive – Google Maps

San Francisco Bay – Forest Park with Oakwood Drive and Thornhill
Cheney Photo Advertising c 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

San Francisco Bay – from Skyline
Cheney Photo Advertising c 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

To be continued …Forest Park – the Shepard Canyon Section

Early Montclair, History, Montclair Tracts

Thornhill Park

Posted on April 18, 2019May 4, 2019 by oaklanddots

I wish I had more to share on this Thornhill Park this is all I can find. I only found out about it by accident when researching the home of Judge EM Gibson who lived on a ranch in area where Thornhill School is now and over to Aspinwall Drive. Judge Gibson lived there in the late 1880’s. I will soon post something on the first residents of Montclair which will include Gibson. I will call this page a work in progress to be undated.

The boundaries of Thornhill Park from REDFIN.com

Thornhill Park was first advertised for sale in May of 1917. It was handled by the Reality Syndicate at first and then Phil Hearty a local Montclair Real Estate Agent. The area was only know as Thornhill Park for few years it is now called Montclair and possibly Forest Park (another blog in the works) or what ever is best to sell the area.

Thornhill Park was an area of small farms of 1/4 acre to 1 acres where you could grow your own food or say raise chickens as noted the ad below.

By 1922 they were having a “Liquidation Sale” and trying to “close out” the rest of the tract. Selling 1/2 acre lots for 66 cents on the $1.00. It seems Thornhill Park wasn’t a big seller. I noticed it wasn’t advertised as much as any of the other tracts in Montclair like Forest Park, Merriewood, or Fernwood were. Later on Phil Hearty a developer and agent who had an office at 5815 Thornhill for years, took over the sale of the remaining Thornhill Park lot. Now Thornhill Park is part of Forest Park and Montclair Highlands.

Oakland Tribune 1922
The home of F.M. Boggs was the home Judge EM Gibson (more about him later) and later the home Dr. Mark Emerson Alameda County Coroner and now St. Johns Church
is in that location. Approximate location 1707 Gouldin Road

Some of the homes in Thornhill Park –

Oakland Tribune April 1922
650 Thorn Road is now 6116 Thornhill Drive

A September 1919 advertisement for 6-Room Bungalow on One Acre in Beautiful Thornhill Park located at 650 Thorn Road (now Thornhill Drive) . It is my best guess that this is not 6110 or 6116 Thornhill Drive. 650 Thorn Road is one address that I can’t link to a modern address number. But I am fairly certain that it is one those two.

6138 Thornhill Drive is another on the original homes in Thornhill Park. Back in the 1920’s the address was 670 Thorn Road . The Bullard family lived there until the 1990’s, from what I can tell. 6022 Thornhill Drive also. Col. George and Edith Mullin moved their in about 1917 when the address was 570 Thorn Road. The Mullin’s played a big role in the Montclair Women’s Club and Montclair Presbyterian Church.

6067 Aspinwall Road –
Recently sold for $910,000 in 2017 – Zillow

For now this is all I have.

End

Early Montclair, Home Building, Montclair Tracts

How to Build a Log Cabin

Posted on April 13, 2019April 13, 2019 by oaklanddots

In 1922 few people outside the hikers of the Contra Costa Hills Club, knew much about Pinehaven and its beautiful canyon. Pinehaven has all the characteristics of the most picturesque parts of Marin County. Roads have now been opened up. The property was originally laid out to be known as Upper Piedmont, but the owners changed the plans and decided to put it on the market for those who want summer home cabins close to downtown and transportation.

Pinehaven is located in Montclair

Lawrence Block of the Villa Site Sales Company was in changed with the sale of the property and Block said:

“Pinehaven is a summer home colony with its pretty cottages and cabin homes nestling in the side-hills, overlooking canyons and with in twenty minutes from City Hall. You awaken in the morning to the song of the birds refreshed and full of vigor and imagine you have traveled a hundred miles to the wilds of some distant state.”

This was Villa Site Sales Company first big sale and they were offering it at mortgage prices. The sale price was as low as $175.00. More than 50 cabins and cottages were being planned.

Oakland Tribune April 1922 – Road Work in Pinehaven

Lots of building going on…

Simple Plans for a Log Cabin –

Building Bungalows in Foothill Canyons

Pinehaven Is Building Up

Pitch Your Teepee or build an log cabin in the woods of Pinehaven.

The End

Montclair Tracts

Drake Drive – Montclair Highlands

Posted on March 30, 2019April 9, 2019 by oaklanddots

In 1937 Frederick L. Confer designed a “modernistic’ (now art deco) home for Mr and Mrs George H. Everest and their two daughters. The Everest family had been living at 1760 Mountain Blvd prior to moving into their new Montclair Highlands home at 1831 Drake Drive.

The home was developed by Emge and Stockman and was built by James H. Anderson who has worked with the architect before.

Oakland Tribune Mar 1937 – 1831 Drake Drive

The house has four bedrooms upstairs with two bath rooms. The lower floor has one bedroom with bathroom and a private entrance.

Behold the amazing views from all upstairs bedrooms, dining room, living room and patio. The large corner lot also a large yard

The house is completed in June 1937

The House has been on the market many times since 1937.

1955 – it listed for $24,500

In 1969 it listed for $46,500

In March of 2019 it is listed for sale at $1,695,000.

Style House – Piedmont Pines

Posted on March 29, 2019 by oaklanddots

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__May_26__1935_

The Tribune Jackson Style House – 5739 Chelton Drive

The “Style House” opened to the public in April of 1935. Over 1500 visitors passed through the home that first weekend.

The home was designed by local architect Frederick L. Confer with James H. Anderson and the builder was James Armstrong.

The agents for the house were Mitchell & Austin with Harry Stockman the agent in charge.

The house was completely furnished by the Jackson Furniture Company.

The View then and Now

Award Winning

The house is a modified Regency type design. It won an award for the distinguished “house of seven rooms or less” in the fourth Biennial Exhibition of American Architects. The house has also been called Monterey Style. Color is used abundantly in the house, the exterior is painted whited with mustard color shutters.

Unique Home and Cozy Interior

The living room with vaulted ceiling has French doors to the delightful front patio as well as the rear deck with SF and Bay views.

The floor plan has a full bath and generous bedroom on the main level with French doors to the patio. There are two more large rooms up, one with a deck for enjoying the views! The lower features a bedroom which would be ideal for a family/rumpus room, half bath, a generous laundry/craft room with work station and storage area. Two car garage.

On opening day a local Ford Dealer had a brand new Ford V8 parked outside the house.

Style house in 2018 – Realtor.com

Style House
5937 Chelton Drive
Piedmont Pines District
Built in 1935
Frederick L. Confer
Mitchell & Austin
Sold for $1,325.000 in 2018

	Robert Weis on Naming Our City Streets
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Category: Montclair Tracts

$20,000 Log Cabin – Fernwood

More of Fernwood –

Forest Park – Homes

Forest Park Mansion known as the Castle

Forest Park – a scenic residential park

Thornhill Park

Some of the homes in Thornhill Park –

How to Build a Log Cabin

Lots of building going on…

Simple Plans for a Log Cabin –

Building Bungalows in Foothill Canyons

Pinehaven Is Building Up

Pitch Your Teepee or build an log cabin in the woods of Pinehaven.

The End

Drake Drive – Montclair Highlands

More on 1831 Drake Drive

Style House – Piedmont Pines

The Tribune Jackson Style House – 5739 Chelton Drive

The View then and Now

Award Winning

Unique Home and Cozy Interior