OAKLAND IN EARLY DAYS (No. 5) - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 28 Nov 1920, Sun - Page 12

OAKLAND EARLY DAYS (NO. 5) BY CHAS. G. REED Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Nov 28, 1920 – Page 12 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Contributed by Oakland Pioneers)
OAKLAND IN EARLY DAYS (No. 5) BY CHAS. G. REED.

In 1853 the county of Alameda was organized from parts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties, "New Haven," now Alvarado being named as the county seat in the organic act.

OAKLAND'S FIRST RAILROAD (No. 2) - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 21 Nov 1920, Sun - Page 7

OAKLAND'S FIRST RAILROAD (No. 2) By M. T. Dusinbury Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Nov 21, 1920 – Page 7 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Contributed by Oakland Pioneers)
OAKLAND'S FIRST RAILROAD (No. 2) [Part 1 - MF]
By M. T. Dusinbury.

The first locomotive (for the local or Seventh street railroad) was built at the Vulcan Iron Works San Francisco, was brought over in pieces on the Creek boat and put together at the Point. Afterwards they bought from the Market Street Railroad in San Francisco, then a steam line, a mongrel locomotive, known as "Old Betsy," but which was little more than a stationary engine in a box car connected up with a pair of driving wheels. Originally three cars were built at West Oakland and one was bought from the Market Street Railway in San Francisco.

OAKLAND'S FIRST RAILROAD (NO. 1) - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 14 Nov 1920, Sun - Page 43

OAKLAND'S FIRST RAILROAD (NO. 1) By M. T. DUSINBURY Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Nov 14, 1920 – Page 43 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers)
OAKLAND'S FIRST RAILROAD (NO. 1) [Part 2 - MF]
By M. T. DUSINBURY

On August 8, 1862. I helped to break ground to the Seventh street local railroad. It was built by George Coss and Charles W. Stevens, the latter being a brother of A. J. Stevens, afterwards master mechanic of the Southern Pacific company for many years. It was then said to have been financed by French capital furnished by Charles Mayne, a capitalist and banker of San Francisco. Alex. McBoyle came over with me from San Francisco on the steamer Contra Costa, each of us with a pick and shovel, landing at the foot of Broadway. The fare was 50 cents. We made our way down to West Oakland, then known as the "Point," where the work was started. We commenced by boring holes for the piles with a big auger, dropped the piles in the holes, built a section or two of piling, then pile-driver was built on top of these piles and pushed along as the piling was constructed westward.

There was a horizontal, circular saw connected with the engine of the pile-driver to saw off the piles when they were driven deep enough. The plles were brought down from Oregon in sailboats and were discharged on the east side of Goat Island, where the wharf is now located, and our men rowed over there every morning and towed some piles to this side for the wharf.

We had a bunkhouse which was built by John Scott. afterwards known as "Col. Scott," who was then a builder and afterwards a newspaper man, owner of the Oakland Transcript for a number of years. His two sons are living here now - J. Walter ("Bud") Scott, advertising agent, and Joe D. Scott, veteran letter carrier.

When the wharf was done and also a trestle was erected across the slough at the head of Hardy's Creek, at about Seventh and Filbert streets, four or five of us workmen cleared off the right of way along Seventh street from the bay up to Broadway, cutting down trees and shrubs and shoveling out the dirt ready for the ties.

(To be continued.)

Oakland Ferries in the 1850s - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 07 Nov 1920, Sun - Page 9

OAKLAND'S BEGINNINGS (NO. 4) BY CHAS. G. REED Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Nov 7, 1920 – Page 9 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers OAKLAND'S BEGINNINGS (NO. 4) BY CHAS. G. REED.

The new town of Oakland was entirely without resources, but its rare beauty, with here and there a house nestling among the oak trees, which were so close that they almost touched each other, from the bay to the lake and from the estuary to Fourteenth street, its mild climate and productive soil, soon drew from San Francisco to it people who made here a suburban place of residence. The troubles caused by the squatters, the uncertainty of titles and protracted litigation which followed, greatly retarded its growth. It is safe to say that had Col. Fitch and Col. Whitney succeeded in their proposed purchase in 1850, the growth of the town would have been much greater.

Connection with San Francisco was at a very early date kept up by means of whale boats, one of which, the Pirouette, plied regularly as a ferry boat between the embarcadero of San Antonio and San Francisco. A little steamboat called the Kangaroo is said to have been the first ferry steamer, making trips twice a week in the latter part of 1850. Another small sternwheel steamer, the Oakland, ran in 1851, while in 1852 the Boston and the Caleb Cope were placed on the ferry route. The Boston was burned toward the end of the year and the Cape Hays, the Red Jacket and other small crafts were put on the route.

The court of sessions of Contra Costa county, of which Oakland was then a part, on Aug. 4. 1851, granted a license to Carpentier and Moon to run a ferry "from Contra Costa (now Oakland), township of San Antonio, to San Francisco," fixing the fares as follows:

Each person $1; one horse $3; one wagon $3; one two-horse wagon $5; cattle per head $3; sheep $1; hogs $1; freight 50 cts. per 100 lbs.

Charles Minturn, who became interested with Moon, Carpentier and Adams, placed the steamer Clinton, and later the Contra Costa, on the ferry route, making two trips a day as the tide would permit, as the bar at the mouth of the estuary prevented steamers from passing at low tide.

(To be continued.)

Luis Maria Peralta, Moses Chase, Oakland History - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 08 Aug 1920, Sun - Page 10

Luis Maria Peralta, towns, Moses Chase, Carpentier, Moon, Adams Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Aug 8, 1920 – Page 10 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Data supplied by Oakland Pioneers)

In 1820, one Luis Maria Peralta, then a Mexican soldier at the Presidio of San Francisco for over thirty years, was granted by his government, "on account of distinguished and meritorious services," a tract of land extending from San Leandro Creek to what is now the northern boundary of Alameda county. It was then and for many years after inhabited only by Mexicans and Indians. In 1842 Peralta divided this San Antonio grant among his sons, and the portion comprising the business part of Oakland was given to his son, Vicente, and East Oakland to Antonio. The Vicente Peralta homestead comprised a large square tract of land, including what is now Idora Park. Ancient Indian mounds, composed mainly of oyster shells, were found at West Berkeley and Alameda, with similar ones scattered elsewhere.

San Pablo was flourishing submission, and San Antonio, a small central portion of what is now East Oakland, was a town long before there was a single white settler in Oakland. At San Antonio there was an embarcadero or wharf, from which lumber was shipped from the Redwood forests, as well as hides and horns collected from the adjoining country.

The first Oakland settler in what is now the city of Oakland was Moses Chase, father of the late George Chase, who pitched his tent at what is now the foot of Broadway in the winter of 1849-50 and commenced hunting. He was found here by the Patten Bros. when they arrived in the spring of the following year. In the summer of the same year came the historic trio, Carpentier, Moon and Adams, who took possession of the land, claiming that it belonged to the United States Government, not to Peralta, and erected a cabin near the foot of Broadway. The incorporation of the city by these men, the obtaining of the waterfront by them, and their various contests relating thereto and with the Peraltas are long since well-known matters of history.

The Oakland Pioneers are to hold their next regular meeting next Friday evening at the city hall.

House Mover, Pond, Pranks, Street Sprinkler - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 24 Oct 1920, Sun - Page 37

House-movers in Oakland, Marshall Curtiss Billy Blote Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Oct 24, 1920 – Page 37 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers)

Say, boys, do you remember Marshall Curtiss, the old housemover in the '60's, and his eight oxen? How easy it was for him to move house. Whether it was large or small, he just jacked it up, put two long timbers under the house, then four high wheels at the ends of the timbers. Sometimes he used four oxen and sometimes six or eight, according to the size of the house; when everything was ready he would just say "Gee" or "Haw" to the oxen and off they would go with the house. At times he would have to go several blocks out of his way on account of the oak trees in the streets. Often the family would live in the house all the time it was being moved, and wherever night found him with the house, that's just where he would leave it until next morning. When we boys wanted to have a little fun with Curtiss, all we had to do was say "Gee" or "Haw" to his oxen and get them going the wrong way; then he would chase us away with his big whip.

At the southwest corner of Clay and Fourteenth streets, there was a small fresh water pond, and we boys used to wade in the pond, but the owners would chase us away. We used to get even with them sometimes by hunting up dead dogs, cats or other animals that we could find and drag them into the pond, which would keep him busy trying to keep his pond clean.

On New Year's eve we sometimes had a little sport changing the storekeepers' signs. In front of the drugstore would go the undertaker's sign, perhaps, the drug sign at the restaurant, the drygoods sign in front of the saloon, the bakery sign in front of the Chinese laundry, the laundry sign at the butcher's, and so on down the line.

Who was the boy that came from Auburn and had never seen a street sprinkler until he hit Oakland, then stopped the man on the sprinkler cart and told him his barrel was leaking, and he was losing all his water? I think it was Ed M. H. Enough said this time,

BILLY.

Henry Paul Cordes, Harry Linden - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 03 Oct 1920, Sun - Page 43

HENRY PAUL CORDES Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Oct 3, 1920 – Page 43 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers)

One of the early settlers was Henry Paul Cordes, who in early days was manager of farms and orchards for some of the early settlers in Oakland. About the year 1861, he planted out an orchard for Geo. W. Fountain, who owned several acres on the east side of Broadway, near the present site of the Oakland postoffice. The old Fountain home still stands on the north side of the narrow street now known as Seventeenth street, formerly Birnie street, between Broadway and Franklin. Fountain had one son, still surviving, and several very attractive daughters, who married young men by the name of Thomas, Lemoge, Wilkie and Wetmore.

Cordes also planted a large orchard of cherry trees out on Telegraph avenue on the west side between Twenty-seventh and Twenty-ninth, for S. E. Alden, a direct descendant of the historic John Alden of Massachusetts, and he also planted the fine old linden trees now standing in front of Trinity church. Alden afterward moved out on Shattuck avenue, where he had a large ranch, was a prosperous farmer and bult another beautiful home, surrounded by an orchard and beautiful trees and shrubs. After his death, the old home was occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Major McElrath, and her family and afterward turned over for use in charitable work as a home for orphaned children. Cordes afterwards moved with his family to Gilroy, became quite wealthy, and left his estate to two married daughters, his son having previously died.

Another one of the early settlers was Harry Linden, a fine gentleman of the "old school." He was a brother of Mrs. Beebe and also of Mrs. Hinton of Temescal. Linden Lane, now known as Forty-fifth street, one of the early roads which ran from Telegraph avenue east to the present Ladies' Relief Society Home, was named for him.

Agricultural Pavilion - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 29 Aug 1920, Sun - Page 35

Agricultural Pavilion William "Billy" Blote Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Aug 29, 1920 – Page 35 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Ye Olden Days 

One of our Oakland pioneers, William ("Billy") Blote, tells some incidents of early days, as follows:

"In early days, including the early '60s, the Agricultural Pavilion stood in the center of the block now occupied by the Court House. It was the only place in town large enough for a show or a dance; so, whenever there was anything doing, the whole town was there. You could see them coming, some with the old-time four-cornered tin lanterns burning candles inside. As for streets, it was go-as-you-please; the thing was to get there. There was one show which came often; this was the Glass Blowers. They could, animals and ships, and were the source of great wonder and admiration by us boys.

In front of the Pavilion was a flag pole, perhaps fifty feet high. Once, when the halyards broke, the town officials offered $5 to anyone who would put in a new rope. A sailor boy came along, tried, got half way up and came down, saying it was too much of a job for the money. One of the town boys came along and, inquiring 'What's up?' learned of the sailor's failure and asked who offered the money.

'Capt Brown.'

"'Now, you just watch me get that money,' said he; and pulling off his hat, coat and shoes, hung the rope around his waist and, with the pole rocking and swaying, put the rope in place and came down. Will Kogel was his name; and the boys hunted up Capt. Brown, and saw the $5 in the hands of Will. His sudden financial prosperity started him to 'buy out the town' for the bunch. There being no ice cream parlors or candy stores, the 'bust' was limited to blowing in most of the 'fiver' on such juvenile luxuries as peanut sticks, jujube paste, lozenges and bottle soda."

Oakland Incorporation, Waterfront, Purchase, Subdivision - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 31 Oct 1920, Sun - Page 45

OAKLAND'S BEGINNINGS (No. 3) BY CHARLES G. REED Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Oct 31, 1920 – Page 45 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers) OAKLAND'S BEGINNINGS (No. 3) BY CHARLES G. REED

When the act incorporating the town of Oakland was passed the population was probably not over 100, and most of these knew nothing about the act until it was passed. Mr. Marier, president of the board of trustees at first refused to sign the deed conveying the waterfront to Carpentier, and only did so upon Carpentier's promise to deed back the property to the town as soon as all danger of a subsequent board making a grant of the property had passed. Carpentier told Marier that he only wanted to hold the property in trust for the town. Mr. Marier, at his death, left an affidavit in which he solemnly affirmed the truth of these statements. Mr. Carpentier did not deed the waterfront back to the town and the result was a long and bitterly fought litigation, including certain compromises, the result of which was that the city finally recovered a small portion of the waterfront many years later when the Western Pacific entered the city.

Early in 1850 Colonel Henry S. Fitch and Colonel Whitney made an attempt to purchase from Vicente Peralta the original town site of Oakland for $8000, but owing to Colonel Whitney's lack of faith in setting a good title the purchase was not completed. Colonel Fitch told Colonel Whitney that he would die tearing his hair for the mistake of his life, made that day. This prediction was literally fulfilled some years afterward, Colonel Whitney dying in an insane rage over his lost opportunity. [I have searched in vain for a first name for Colonel Whitney. Do you know it? - MF]

"Squatters" poured into town in great numbers, taking up such property as they could hold, principally outside of the incorporated town, already held by squatters. On March 3, 1852, purchase of the property in possession of the squatters, including the townsite was made by John Clar, B. de la Barra, J. K. Irving, Colonel John C. Hays, John Caperton and Jacob A. Cost for the sum of $10,000.

In the early part of 1853 Julius Kellersberger surveyed all that portion of the town lying south of Fourteenth street and between Market Street and the lake, dividing the property into blocks 200 by 300 feet, with 28 lots of 30 feet front in each. The streets were 80 feet wide, except Main street, now Broadway, which was 110 feet wide. On August 16, 1853, a deed of partition was executed, setting apart the respective portions to each of the purchasers and also making to each an equal division of the town plot.

train wreck 1869, wharf broke, ship building - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Sun, Aug 1, 1920 - Oakland Tribune - Page 13

train wreck 1869, wharf broke, ship building Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Aug 1, 1920 – Page 13 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Data Supplied by Oakland Pioneers.)

There was a big train-wreck shortly after the Central Pacific came into Oakland along about 1869. It was on a Sunday morning, when two trains running in opposite directions on the same track came head-on near what is now known as Melrose, but which was then occupied by farms. All of the train crew and many passengers lost their lives.

Col. John Scott, who was editor of the Oakland Transcript, conscripted young John Gilmore and drove to the scene of the wreck. The boy held the horse, while the Colonel gathered up the details of the disaster, and hastened baek to town, and by noon had extras on the street, with glaring headlines describing the wreck. The papers went like hot cakes, and when young Gilmore counted up, his share amounted to about twenty dollars. This was his first and last experience as newsboy.

Some years previous to this there was another big accident which resulted in the loss of several lives. It occurred on the Fourth of July, when a big parade was held in Oakland and many military companies and floats had come over from San Francisco. After the street parade, the literary exercises and a big picnic was held in Hardy's Woods west of Market street. When the visitors were returning, the apron that connected the wharf with the boat broke and those who were on it fell into the bay; many of them were drowned and their bodies were brought to Oakland until claimed by their friends or relatives. One of the Maloon boys distinguished himself on this occasion by saving several lives.

Those who think that Oakland became a shipbuilding point only in recent years will be interested to know that several small vessels were built at the foot of Franklin street, and also at other points on the water front, back in the sixties.

College of California, Baseball, Beer - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 25 Jul 1920, Sun - Page 8

Remembrances of John S. Gilmore, 1860s, university, brewery, baseball Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Jul 25, 1920 – Page 8 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Data Supplied by Oakland Pioneers.)

John S. Gilmore of 562 William street has many interesting recollections of early days in Oakland.

It was in the spring of 1863, when at the age of 7 years, he first set foot in Oakland, and the impression made on his young mind was of a fairy land covered with beautiful wild flowers and grand old oak trees, their wide-spreading branches inviting the stranger to stop and rest, and the longer he rested the more loath he was to leave.

Brayton school and the old College of California, which later became the University of California, occupied several buildings scattered along the north side of Twelfth street, east of Franklin. Even at this early date Oakland was known as an educational center and many of the students were from Mexico and Central America.

On warm afternoons in the summer the students, headed by the professors, marched to the beach at the foot of Webster street to have a swim in San Antonio creek, now known as Oakland harbor. He recalls one occasion when one of their members, named Rigby, was drowned, and the body was rescued by some men who worked in the oyster beds nearby.

Gilmore's father built the Empire brewery on First street between Franklin and Webster. This made the third brewery in town, and as the population was probably not over 3000 all told, there was no danger of any of them going thirsty.

Oakland could also boast of a baseball team in 1863, and it was able to hold its own with the best of them. Teams came from San Francisco and generally went home with the short end of the score to their credit. The. Oakland team was known as the Wide Awakes. The spitball, curve pitching and other devices had not been discovered at that date and the poor pitcher was at the mercy of the batter, and unless his teammates were spry the score would run up to 40 or 50 in a game of nine innings.

One stunt that was worked to advantage by the team captain was to place a keg of beer near the third base and when a runner reached that station he was given a big dipper of the contents. If he reached the home plate he was entitled to another, while a home run was good for three.

Agricultural Expositions of 1859 - 1865 - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 18 Jul 1920, Sun - Page 11

flower shows, exposition, pavilion Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Jul 18, 1920 – Page 11 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Data supplied by Oakland Pioneers.)

The flower shows that are held in Oakland are not an innovation. As early as 1858 plans for such an exposition were made and on, June 18, 1859, the first floral show opened.

This exposition was held under the auspices of the Agricultural society which was formed by leading citizens of the county at a meeting held in San Leandro In 1858. The society proposed to hold a flower show in the spring and an agricultural display in the fall. The first officers were: A. H. Myers, president; H. C. Smith and F. K. Shattuck, vice-presidents; E. S. Chipman, secretary; Frank F. Fargo, treasurer; Robert Blacow and Alfred Lewelllng, directors.

A large Gothic structure was erected on the block, then a plaza, where the court house now stands, to house the fairs. The flower show proved a big success and among the men who took a prominent part in the big ball given at the close of the display were Judge George M. Black, W. M. Home and Judge William H. Glascock.

At the fall exposition of 1859, the first kerosene lamps to arrive in California were exhibited and the Wheeler & Wilson and the Grover & Baker sewing machines were great curiosities. At the exposition in 1862 there was a stock parade in which the famous racing horses Kentuck, Hunter and Comet were seen. As was usual in those days, gambling games ran full blast and unmolested.

During the civil war days, the pavilion was used as a sewing room where bandages were made. It also served as the armory.

The regular meetings of the society are held on the second Friday of each month in the police court rooms at the city hall.

Oakland Cemeteries in the 1850s, New Members - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 11 Jul 1920, Sun - Page 23

Mountain View Cemetery Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Jul 11, 1920 – Page 23 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Data Supplied by Oakland Pioneers.)

While residences are now built practically all around the Mountain View Cemetery, back in the early days it was away "out in the country." The old residents of Oakland recall that this is not the first time that the growth of Oakland has resulted in the houses reaching a cemetery that originally was considered "quite a ways out."

In the early '50s the cemetery for Oakland was situated near Oak street, between Eighth and Eleventh streets. At that time there were practically no houses above Fourth street. In connection with that cemetery it is recalled that a diphtheria epidemic swept Oakland in 1854 and that probably several hundred children were buried there within a short space of time

A short time later the cemetery was moved to a spot between Webster and Alice, Sixteenth and Twentieth streets, and a man by the time of Wilson was the caretaker. This cemetery remained until 1864, when the Mountain View cemetery was established. It is stated that some of the bodies in both of the old cemeteries were never moved. When it became apparent that the Webster street cemetery world have to give way to the advance of the city's growth, many people buried their lead in their yards, waiting the time until the new cemetery would be established.

The regular monthly meeting of the Pioneers was held Friday night in the City Hall and Vice President Charles G. Reed presided. No special program had been arranged but the members spent the evening in meeting old friends they had not seen in years and in recounting olden days.

A class of 13 new members was admitted to membership. The names and the years when each candidate came to Oakland or was born in this city follow.

John Murphy, '60; Murray Dunham, '50; Peter Lamping, '69; Myren T. Dusinbury '62; W. R. Cole, '58; Joseph Flood, '60; M. J. Roach, '62; George E. Maloon, '53; Clarence L. Selfridge, '62; Daniel S. Richardson, '67; Professor J. H. Dorman, '65.

Springs, Gibbons Folly, Oakland Pioneers - Ye Olden Oakland Days No. 1 (?) - Oakland Tribune - 04 Jul 1920, Sun - Page 38

Fresh water springs, bridge to Goat Island, reunions Ye Olden Oakland Days TO BLOG Sun, Jul 4, 1920 – Page 38 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

(Data supplied by the Oakland Pioneers.)

Had prohibition come during the early days Oakland would not have been so dry as it now is. Nor was there any need of drinking fountains being erected for those who were then dry by inclination and not legislation.

Redwoods Atop Oakland Hills First Brought Settlers Here - Oakland Tribune - 09 Oct 1966, Sun - Page 137

Redwoods Atop Oakland Hills First Brought Settlers Here

THE KNAVE History of Redwood harvesting in Oakland, part 1 Sun, Oct 9, 1966 – 137 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

THE SPRITE OF THE HIGHTS - Sun, Jan 3, 1960 - Oakland Tribune - Page 96

THE SPRITE OF THE HIGHTS Sun, Jan 3, 1960 – 96 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

THE SPRITE OF THE HIGHTS

By DOLORES WALDORF

If Peter Pan had a sister her name would be Juanita Miller, for time means little to this pixie-like woman who on New Year's Day observed her 80th birthday.

Leimert Boulevard was a logging road - Oakland Tribune - 06 Jun 1926, Sun - Page 78

Sun, Jun 6, 1926 – Page 78 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Blue = my highlights of the newspaper article text.
Yellow = my comments. 

EARLY SALE SEEN FOR OAKMORE HIGHLANDS TRACT 

Scenic Subdivisions of Leimert Co. to Have Excellent Transportation. 

An ancient road across which the early Oakland pioneers hauled redwood logs to construct early Oakland, winds along the slopes of Oakmore Highlands, the new Walter H. Leimert Company residential development shortly to be placed on the market. 

MANY MILES OF NEW TRAILS ARE OPENED IN HILLS - Oakland Tribune - 09 Oct 1921, Sun - Page 17

Sun, Oct 9, 1921 – Page 17 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

[This article was written before Grizzly Peak Boulevard, Skyline Boulevard and Pinehurst Road were built. It describes trails in those locations that are likely gone, or replaced by the roads. Baldy is the former name of Vollmer Peak, the taller peak behind Grizzly Peak, looking east. The East Bay Water Company is now East Bay Municipal Utility District, or EBMUD. - MF]

MANY MILES OF NEW TRAILS ARE OPENED IN HILLS

Water Company Improvements Lure to Thousands of Hikers. 

Thousands of hikers and picnickers each week take advantage of the trails, constructed and maintained by the East Bay Water Company on its property on the hills in back of Oakland and Berkeley to reach the beauty spots of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, according to reports received by Paul Daniels, engineer in charge of water supply and sanitation of the water company, who is also in command of the ranger and patrol forces in the watersheds.

PLEA IS MADE TO HONOR FREMONT

PLEA IS MADE TO HONOR FREMONT TO BLOG Sun, Jan 22, 1911 – Page 26 · The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

[See also this recent post, EARLY DAY NOTES ON LINCOLN AVENUE. regarding the Bierstadt painting. I'm guessing it's lost, but would love to find it, or find out more about it. Thanks to Michael D. Manning for the clip, above. One thing you should know, and this is my opinion; Joaquin Miller was a tale-spinner. Many of his stories are good, but don't bear up under scrutiny. Since most of the first-person evidence doesn't exist, we'll have to enjoy the stories. One more thing to consider; in 1911 California, Fremont was a hero. Later historians shined a brighter light on his record, showing human mistakes and failings. As far as I can tell, Fremont never mentioned Miller in his letters or reports. - MF]

PLEA IS MADE TO HONOR FREMONT

Poet of the Sierras Addresses Audience at School Bearing Path Finder's Name

Buick Boys Discover Automobile Campers' Paradise: Downieville - Oakland Tribune - 20 May 1917, Sun - Page 48

Sun, May 20, 1917 – Page 48 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Buick car party on the scenic route traversing the early day mining region of Sierra County, where the mountains are filled with gold and the North Fork of the Yuba river teems with the gamey trout. A vacation land ideal for the camper who seeks to get away from the beaten trails.

BUICK BOYS EXPLORE TRAILS OF PIONEERS

Wonderlands of the Sierra Located in Mining Country of Days of '49; Good Fishing

EARLY DAY NOTES ON LINCOLN AVENUE. - Ye Olden Oakland Days - Oakland Tribune - 30 Sep 1923, Sun - Page 4

Sun, Sep 30, 1923 – Page 4 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Ye Olden Oakland Days

EARLY DAY NOTES ON LINCOLN AVENUE. 

By REV. FRANKLIN RHODA. 

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers. No. 115.)

(Note. The following are extracts from a series of articles recently published in the "Diamond News'' by Rev. Franklin Rhoda, whose family settled in upper Fruitvale in 1860.)

"One of the finest of all qualities, the highest of all attainments, after the capacity to appreciate God, is the appreciation of our neighbors. One of the saddest facts about our fallen humanity is that from age to age, and with every race of man, it holds true, that the prophet is not without honor save in his own home and among his own neighbors. I am glad of this opportunity to do what I may to make the dwellers near Dimond acquainted with their neighbors on Lincoln avenue. It is probably known to few or none of our present settlers hereabouts, that of the past and present residents along this avenue. thirteen or more have a state-wide reputation. or these possibly half may be said to have a national reputation, and several are internationally known."

Ye Olden Oakland Days AMONG THE OAKLAND REDWOODS IN EARLY DAYS - Oakland Tribune - 13 Aug 1922, Sun - Page 55

Ye Olden Oakland Days AMONG THE OAKLAND REDWOODS IN EARLY DAYS Sun, Aug 13, 1922 – Page 55 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Ye Olden Oakland Days

(Contributed by Oakland Pioneers. No. 91)

AMONG THE OAKLAND REDWOODS IN EARLY DAYS.

The following interesting reference to lumbering back of East Oakland in early days is taken from a book by Jacob Wright Harlan entitled "California '46 to '88", published in 1888:

ON arriving at the Mission San Jose (in the spring of 1847), I separated from my comrades, most of whom I have not seen since. I was welcomed to the home of my uncle, George Harlan, where I remained for a few days..... It was necessary for me to get to work, and work was not easy to get. Gold had not yet been discovered, and but little was doing, wages being only eight and ten dollars per month. So, I determined to go to the redwood forest on the east side of the San Antonio range of hills, to the eastward of the present site of East Oakland, and there try to make shingles.

CENTENNIAL STORY: 'Diamond Lill' Recalls City's Silk-Hatted Era - Oakland Tribune - 08 May 1952, Thu - Page 16

'Diamont Lill' Recalls City's Silk-Hatted Era Thu, May 8, 1952 – Page 16 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

CENTENNIAL STORY

'Diamond Lill' Recalls City's Silk-Hatted Era

By VIRGINIA DENNISON

When the Adios Handicap was run at the old Emeryville track in 1911 and the bookies and the fans for once wept together, it was not only taps for the end of racing. It was the last of the dollar bet. And it was about the last of the high living days before Oakland outgrew itself.

Oakland Beer History and Hart Barker in The Knave - Oakland Tribune - 23 Jul 1961, Sun - 49

The Knave Kramm Anchor Steam Dieves San Leandro Road Sun, Jul 23, 1961 – 49 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

[Published a few days ago, this news story from the San Jose Mercury, Oakland’s new beer district, Sierra Nevada Brewing news and more caught my eye. I'd recently clipped the article above, about Oakland's brewing history, along with a story about Volcano, CA, some politics and a reminiscence about Ralph T. Flewelling. The sections on politics and Flewelling are omitted in my transcription. You can find them in the clipping, above. For a much better description of Oakland brewery history, see this post on Oakland Momma and this post on Our Oakland. What piqued my interest was the mention of Joseph [P.] Dieves, and his connection to the golden era of bicycle riding with his ownership of Three-Mile House. - MF]

Bicycling in California in 1892 - The Overland Monthly, June 1892

F. D. ELWELL, ONE MILE 2:48 1/2

One important branch of track athletics deserves separate treatment, because of its distinct history. Bicycle riding grew up side by side with general athletics, and has now a co-ordinate existence, with separate local and national organization. The California division of the League of American Wheelmen has its own racing board, which governs as the local branch of the A. A. U. does in general athletic matters. [Interestingly, both of these organizations still exist today, click the links. - MF] The popularity of this sport rests on a deeper foundation than the love of exercise. Running, jumping, and shot-putting, occupy the attention of few compared with the number of active wheelmen. As a general rule, men that indulge in running, jumping and kindred exercises do not keep it up for any length of time, unless they find themselves specially proficient. It is only a man of determined will, and much forethought to lay up stores of health against old age, that continues these exercises without any chance of winning honors.

'Cyclistic. - Founding of Bay City Wheelmen - San Francisco Chronicle 23 Sep 1884, Tue - Page 3

'Cyclistic Tue, Sep 23, 1884 – Page 3 · San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

'Cyclistic

The Bay City Wheelmen's Club has been organised with the following officers: President, E. Mohrig; Vice President, George F. Day; Captain, R. F. Cook; Secretary, W. J. Munro; First Lieutenant, George Butler; Second Lieutenant, S. F. Booth; Bugler, Thomas Hill. The club has already taken a couple of runs. 

'Cycling is as popular in some parts of Ireland as in England and many clubs are established, with regular meets and some pretty good records.

Philadelphia has four schools for teaching the use of the tricycle and bicycle and it is a common sight to see in the course of an afternoon dozens of riders on hired machines taking a run through Fairmount.

Why is the word bicycle like a cat blind with one eye? Because it has one i (eye) and c's (sees).

They must bare some crooked roads in Australia. It is reported from that far-off land that a cyclist riding rapidly, upon turning a sharp curve became aware that there was a machine, or at least the hind wheel of one, in front of him. Upon dismounting he found it was his own hind wheel.

An electric tricycle is being imported from England.

The Century for September contains an interesting article on tricycling from Coventry to Chester. It is handsomely illustrated by Joseph Pennell, an enthusiastic wheelman, and vindicates the usefulness of the wheel as an adjunct lo entertaining literature.

ON THE WHEEL. - Daily Alta California, Volume 39, Number 13043, 29 November 1885

Daily Alta California, Volume 39, Number 13043, 29 November 1885

ON THE WHEEL.

The Amateur Bicyclists and Tricyclists of the State.

MILES, WITH LAME WRISTS.

Adventures on the Road — Taking Headers Through the Air and Into Mud- Puddles— A Graceful Amusement for Women.

OAKLAND'S FAMOUS OLD TIME BOULEVARD - Oakland Tribune 12 Nov 1916, Sun - Page 47

OAKLAND'S FAMOUS OLD TIME BOULEVARD Sun, Nov 12, 1916 – Page 47 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

SUNKEN AND FORGOTTEN. - The San Francisco Examiner 31 Aug 1890, Sun - Page 13

You may know this story:

From S.F. sewer work must navigate around buried ships

Here's the story of how they got there, from Fred Lawson, the guy who sank many of them:

Clara Classen & Fred Barker's names on Redwood Peak

Recently I was up on Redwood Peak in Oakland with some friends. I always look at the names and dates scratched into the rocks, there. Some are old. Redwood Peak used to be a very popular hiking destination, I think in part due to the view. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the hills were still nude from all the logging, and you could see a lot from the peak. Now the peak is cloaked in beautiful, second-growth redwood trees.

I was walking around the peak and a name caught my eye, CLASSEN. I live near Redwood Peak, and ride my bike and hike in the area all the time. I'm curious about its history, so I'd read quite a bit about it, and the name Classen is associated with it. Amelia Sue Marshall has done an excellent job in East Bay Hills: A Brief History, here describing the Classen property. The article she references is also below, but the article after that... that's worth reading. What I do here is curious noodling. Buy her book and read it.