Merriewood is a section or neighborhood of the Montclair District of Oakland. The Realty Syndicate was the exclusive agent selling the tract. It first went on sale in 1924.
Oakland Tribune stated that:
no other tract in Oakland can offer such a “combination of a magnificent view and comfortable home” The ad went on to say, “it is so pleasant and healthful with trees all around and birds singing away –Great for youngsters” October 1925
Lots in Merriewood were selling for as little as $1750 and as much as $2450 for a completely finished home. $30 a month with interest.
What your money bought in the 1920s:
- Large lot wooded and clear
- Well built roomy house
- Variety of floor plans
- Gas, lights, water, paved streets
- Fast local and San Francisco transportation
Public Stairways
The Merriewood Stairs are divided into two sections the Lower Merriewood stairs (from Thornhill Drive to Marden Lane to Merriewood) and the Upper Merriewood stairs (from Merriewood Drive to Valley View Road to Merriewood again). Merriewood Stairs _ Oakland Local Wiki.
Street Names
In Merriewood, there is a group of streets named for the signs of the Zodiac. The streets are Aquarius Way, Capricorn Ave, Leo Way, Taurus Ave, Uranus Ave, and Virgo Rd. There are small cluster streets named in honor of Robin Hood. They are Nottingham Dr., Robin Hood Way, and Sherwood Dr. Street Names Oakland Local Wiki
Various Clippings from the Oakland Tribune
From the Oakland Tribune 1924
First Model Home
The first model home was located on Thornhill Drive and Grisborne Ave. The address was 5815 Thorn Road (now Thornhill Drive). It served as the model home and tract office for Merriewood. Later it was the offices of Phil Hearty, who sold real estate in Montclair for years, he also was involved in the development of many tracts in Oakland.
It is now the home of Montclair Community Play Center, which has served Oakland since 1933. Montclair Community Play Center
Model Home 5815 Thorn Road Oakland Tribune Sep-Oct 1924
Various Homes in Merriewood Oakland Tribune 1924-1927
Many of the old houses on Merriewood Drive were built as vacation cabins, and several retain their original clapboard siding: 5574 (1924), 5826 (1925), 5844 (1925), 5857 (1925), and 5876 (1926). An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area