A Murder in Hays Canyon

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Hays Canyon or sometimes called “Jack Hayes Canyon,” was the area in hills behind Piedmont. Now known as Thornhill Canyon, Thornhill Drive, and Moraga Avenue. For more info, please see here – Oakland Local Wiki – Hays Canyon

San Francisco Examiner June 07, 1894

On June 6th, 1894, Manuel Souza Quadros was murdered on the old Thorn Road in the “Jack Hayes Canyon” (Hays Canyon) by an unknown man while returning home. “The assassin did his work well and left no trace behind him.” Quadros had a wife and three children. He had a very “good reputation as a sober and industrious fellow.” He was returning home after delivering milk to the Oakland Creamery.

To reach the Moss Ranch (not sure where this was will have to research more), he had to pass through the canyon pass Blair Park. When found, he was lying on the seat of his wagon “in a lonely place” in the canyon. He was shot in the breast. He was killed instantly by a 44 caliber pistol.

Theodore Medau, a rancher, gives an only clue to the murder. He says, “a middle-aged man, who was very excited,” stopped him and said that a man was dead down the road. The man said he had 15 miles to drive, and he was in a hurry. Medau went down the road a few hundred yards and found the deceased. San Francisco Chronicle June 07, 1984

Was He Assassinated?

**San Francisco Examiner June 08, 1984**

Suspected in Murder

Quadros Suspected Slayer – Before Grand Jury

Miller Indicted

Miller Trial to Start

Miller does not seem to be frightened at the prospect of a noose.

Acquitted of Murder

Frank Miller Will Not Have to Stand a Trial

The moment Miller walked out of the courtroom, he said he was going to “start to walk East at once.”

**San Francisco Chronicle Nov 21, 1894**

Discharged and Rearrested

Murdered Man’s Estate

**San Francisco Chronicle Nov 24, 1894**

Cold Case

Now the question is who killed Manuel Quadros? I can’t find anything on it…yet.

Is this considered a “cold case”?

Is it still on the books?

Does the modern-day Oakland Police Department even know about this murder?

Was he murdered for his estate?

Inquiring minds want to know.

More to come, I hope.

Update

In January of 1886, a man by the name of John Schneider (the name he gave them) was arrested for a stagecoach robbery in Ukiah. When he was arrested, the SF Call published a picture of him. See Below

Attorney Tom Garrity recognized the man as Frank Miller. Garrity was Miller’s attorney during the Manuel Quadros’s murder case. Two other men also identified Schneider as Miller.

Ukiah Bandit Knows the Law – San Francisco Call – Jan 29, 1896
The Bandit Identified – San Francisco Examiner Feb 01, 1896
Ukiah Bandit Knows his Fate – San Francisco Call Apr 19, 1896

The End

Gold Star Streets

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

In my curiosity about the street names, I noticed the phrase “gold star streets” come up. With further research, I found that many of the streets of Oakland are named after and in honor of soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and World War II and lived in Oakland.

From the Oakland Local Wiki
Gold Star Streets

The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a Service Flag in the window of their homes. A blue star represented living service members. A gold star represented those who had lost their lives.

In 1919, an article in the Oakland Tribune entitled “170 Names on Oakland Honor Roll” listed all the Oakland men who lost their lives in the World War. See below

Oakland’s street commissioner W.H. Parker was quoted in a 1928 Oakland Tribune article as saying,

“Veterans who died during the World War and whose home had been Oakland are honored in the naming of many streets, and a special street sign has been designed with red, white and blue colors and a gold star for use on streets named for these veterans.” Oakland Tribune May 20, 1928

By 1932 the street department reported that there were “101 gold star streets named in honor of Oakland soldiers who died in France.” A total of 170 soldiers from Oakland were lost in battle. The names of 69 soldiers are still on the list of available street names. Oakland Tribune February 15, 1932

Montclair’s Krohn Lane is the only street named for a Korean War casualty named for Second Lt. Jered Krohn, who was killed in Korea in 1951.

This was just brought to my attention. Pfc Donald R. Colgett died on March 2, 1951, while serving with a machine gun squad with the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Division at Hoensong. This street is a part of the Crestmont Subdivision.

Sample Gold Star Streets Signs

photo © Micheal Fishkin
From Oakland Local Wiki photo © Micheal Fishkin

Gold Star Streets Map

In 2016 I created a Google Map of the streets based on a list of 170 that was printed in the Oakland Tribune. From what I have determined, not all the names were used. According to one article, it was left up to the “Street Numberer” in the Department of Streets. The list was given to the department in alphabetical order, but the names were picked randomly. Some names were too difficult to spell; a veteran’s name was used whenever possible.

I also started an Oakland Local Wiki Page – Gold Star Streets

Gold Star Street in Oakland, CA

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1hHuRQakfFJiUitM3HRS-F6SDDrg&w=640&h=480]

The End

Naming Our City Streets

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Growing up in Montclair (for me), Thornhill Drive was always just Thornhill Drive. But come to find out it was once called Thorn Road (sometimes Thorne Road). Thornhill is a more delightful-sounding name than Thorn. But there is a perfectly good reason why it was called Thorn Road.

Thorn Road

William J. Dingee 1878 Map of Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda. David Rumsey Map Collection –

The name goes back to 1856 when a man named Hiram Thorn (Hiram Thorne) built the road at a hefty expense. Thorn’s road brought redwood logs to Oakland out of the vast forest known as the Moraga Redwoods, where he ran a lumber mill on Pinehurst Road. Thorn was later given a franchise to run and collect tolls for the road, it was one of 3 toll roads in Oakland. In 1933 Thorn Road officially became Thornhill Drive.

From the 1870 Oakland City Directory

Since I found out about Thornhill Drive, I have been inquisitive about the names of our city streets. You can read more at the Oakland Local Wiki page Street Names if interested.

Named after Trees.

Acacia
Beech
Birch
Holly
Linden
Locust
Palmetto
Pine
Poplar
Plymouth
Redwood
Sequoyah
Spruce
Walnut
Willow

In the Laurel District, there are streets named for the states.

Maine
Vermont
Jersey
Montana
Texas
Ohio (now Dakota)
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho
Kansas
California
Wisconsin

Maine, Vermont, and Jersey are no longer due to the construction of the MacArthur Freeway. I happen to live on Georgia Street.

Sequoyah Hills

They are varieties of horse-drawn carriages.

Hansom
Coach
CHariot
Phaeton
Shay
Surrey

The theme is a pun, considering the wheel-like arrangement of Shay, Phaeton, and Coach streets radiating from Hansom.

Montclair

Streets named after early explorers, WW II, and the signs of the Zodiac

Balboa
Cabrillo
Cabot
Drake
Gasper
Magellan
Mendoza

Liggett
Pershing
Sims
Wood

Aquarius
Capricorn
Leo
Taurus
Uranus

English Names

Ascot
Bagshotte
Beaconsfield
Camelford
Carisbrook
Chatsworth
Chelsea
Darnby
Exeter

Girvin
Haverhill
Holyrood
Keswick
Mall
Melville
Scarborough
Stockbridge
Westover

The following is a group of articles by Albert E. Norman from the Oakland Tribune in 1960

If you have wondered about the name of your street, leave a message below, and I will check it out.

More Info:

Oakland-related links:

The Old Thorn Road – San Francisco Nov 14, 1896
Thornhill Drive Now Road’s Name – Oakland Tribune May 16, 1932
List of Streets – Oakland Local Wiki
Street Signs – Oakland Local Wiki
Some Street Name Changes in Oakland, CA – Steve Morse
Old Street Names Go with the Times – Oakland Tribune May 01, 1952

Misc Street Links:

Most Common Street Names – NLC -National League of Citied
Street or Road Name – Wikipedia

Coming soon Gold Star Streets

The End

State Rifle Range at Leona Heights

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Updated with new map – May 11, 2019

From Google maps – go here to see more of the map

Every day while taking my kids to school, we would pass a street called Rifle Lane. I thought that was a weird name, and I wondered why (they named it that), as I do many times as I drive around Oakland.

Fast forward a few years later. I looked up the history of the area. I lived in the area until 2012. The area is now called the Eastmont Hills (kind of boring). It goes back to 1925 when the C.P Murdock Company sold it as Melrose Highlands. It was just up the hill from the new Chevrolet Assembly Plant (now Eastmont Town Center). An excellent place to live if you work at the plant.

In my research, I came across the following article from July 1925. The Upper San Leandro filter plant (7700 Greenly Drive) and the State Rifle Range are adjacent to Melrose Highlands. I thought, wow, there was a rifle range right about where Rifle Lane is now. Solved that one. Well, not really, but…close.

Maybe now, some of the smart people who read this blog can help me figure out where the range was located. Maybe someone remembers it.

From the Oakland Tribune Oct 29, 1929 – Major fire in the Oakland Hills – threatens the rifle range. Map of the fire below –

A bit of history

The range has been called the following:

National Guard rifle Range
California National Guard rifle range
State Rifle Range at Leona Heights
Leona Heights Rifle Range

Target range — **Oakland Tribune Apr 11, 1917**

In 1917 the National Guard rifle range was transferred from Marin County to Leona Heights in Oakland. They had purchased “140 acres of land directly back of the quarry for the purpose”. The land was formally the property of the Realty Syndicate. The range opened in 1920. The location varies. Close to Mills College, 2 miles from Mills College, a top of Seminary Drive, and the back of the Leona Quarry.

In July 1921, a major fire destroyed most of the range. For more on the fire – Oakland Tribune Jul 04, 1921

It may have also been the location of the stables of the 143rd Field Artillery Regiment. I know there were horse stables there.

The California Guardmans highlighted the rifle range in their Feb-March 1925 issue. You can see it here.
“A California National Guard range and local training area located in the Oakland Hills of Alameda County. It may have also been the location of the stables of the 143rd Field Artillery Regiment. The site was developed approximately 1919 and was actively used until at least 1941. The site supported elements of the 143rd Field Artillery, 159th Infantry, and 250th Coast Artillery Regiments. The April 1919 edition of The American Rifleman, stated that there were 60 firing points for rifles with targets placed between 200 and 600 yards. There was also a pistol range with 14 firing points. The range was described as one of the finest ranges west of Camp Perry, Ohio.”
Military Museum site.

More Info:

Leona Heights Rifle Range to Open – Oakland Tribune Mar 14, 1921
Youth Shot at Rifle Range – Oakland Tribune April 24, 1921
Good Scores at Target Range – Oakland Tribune August 21, 1921
Google search – Leona Height State Range

The End

Highlands of Oakland

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

The “Highlands of Oakland” went on sale in November of 1925. It is located area of Tunnel Road and behind what is now the Parkwoods Condominiums. This area was burned during the 1991 Oakland Firestorm, and I assume there are no original homes left.

The “Highlands of Oakland” includes the following streets Bristol Drive, Buckingham Blvd, Charing Cross Road, Devin Way Marlborough Terrace, Norfolk Road,, Sherwick Drive and Westmoreland Drive. The area is right on the border of Berkeley. That area is now called the Claremont Hills.

Cheney Photo Advertising c 1925
Showing the “Highlands of Oakland” of in the distance

The Highlands of Oakland faces on Tunnel Road and is 20 minutes from the business district of Oakland. It consisted of 300 large parcels for a low price of $225.

Fred T. Wood Co. developed this beautiful scenic tract high in the hills of Oakland.

Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925

“Highlands of Oakland Entrance to our tract from Tunnel Road. A weekday average of over 6000 automobiles passes this point.”
Cheney Photo Advertising
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howard-Gibbon
OMCA H89.64.15

In the months before the opening of the “Highlands of Oakland” force of men had been actively building streets. The winding roads cover some of the most beautiful scenic property in the San Francisco Bay –

**Highlands of Oakland**
The steam shovel, an unfailing sign of progress.
**Cheney Photo Advertising**
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howard-Gibbon
OMCA H89.64.15

More pictures of the Highlands of Oakland can be seen here – OMCA

“The Oakland Hills has been compared to the Seven Hills of Rome.”

Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925

“Miss Australia” Beryl Mills visits the “Highlands of Oakland” after touring UC Berkeley.

The End

Forest Park – Homes

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

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
The original address was Box 411 Idlewild Drive
Now 7087 Thornhill Drive

7087 Thornhill Drive Present Day – Google Maps

Forest Park Mansion is 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

The Boyd Log Cabin

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

This log cabin located across the street from the entrance to Joaquin Miller Park at 3551 Joaquin Miller Road. It was built in 1922 by Thomas”Hal” Boyd.

**3551 Joaquin Miller Road – Back of the cabin**

High above the city on Joaquin Miller Road, he designed and built a log cabin. He used timber that had been cleared close by.

Hal Boyd loved the outdoors so much, so he learned to paint so he could express his love. The log cabin was his studio, where he painted. In 1926 he had an exhibit of his artwork.

During the day, he was employed by the city as a forest ranger to watch over Sequoia Park (now Joaquin Miller Park).

When his parents Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Parker Boyd, lost their home in the Berkeley fire of 1923, he added on to his cabin, giving them a place to live. – Oakland Tribune Jan 06, 1926

**For rent Oakland Tribune Jul 23, 1924**

**Oakland Tribune – 1927**
**Review from his Berkeley Exhibit**

He worked as a special promotion and production manager for the Woodminster Summer Concert Series during the 1945 season.

I found this article from 1955. It says the cabin was destroyed in a fire. I don’t know if this true or case of the wrong address. 3543 Joaquin Miller Road is the house next door. The cabin is still there.

**San Francisco Examiner April 17, 1955**

Sometime in the 1950s, he moved to Carmel, CA – He lived there until he passed away in August of 1990.

In 2014 the cabin sold as a “fixer-upper” for $260,000. REDFIN.Com
Ask Art – Thomas Hal Boyd – Biography
An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area – page 277

Beverly Terrace – The homes and more

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Part 2 – Beverly Terrace -The Sunshine Tract –

When Beverly Terrance was put on the market MacArthur Blvd as we know it, was called Hollywood Blvd and was a part of the Lincoln Highway. At this time, the Chevrolet Assembly Plant (now Eastmont Town Center) Fageol Motor Company (later Peterbilt and now Foothill Square) and the Pacific Tread Tire Company.

**Cheney Photo Advertising c 1916**
Groundbreaking Pacific Tread Tire Company
Previously sold on eBay

The M.T. Minney advertised in 1916 – The tracts are “Surrounded by beautiful homes, rolling hills, golf links, and wealthy estates and with the building of such plants as the Chevrolet Automobile Factory, the Pacific Tread Tire Factory, and others. The future value is not a matter of speculation, but an assured fact.”

In about 1947 George A. Sturtevant built the Hollywood Shopping Center on Hollywood Blvd at 107th Ave (10715 MacArthur Blvd) across from the Peterbilt Factory

Well, I didn’t have too much luck finding homes that were advertised in papers. I will keep looking and update when I do.

Frazier Avenue –

Oliver Avenue

**2574 Oliver Avenue – Built-in 1949 – Google maps**

Truman Avenue

**2560 Truman Ave – built-in 1927 – Google maps**

The End

Beverly Terrace – The Sunshine Tract

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

On the Beautiful Scenic Foothill Blvd. of Oakland Ca

Brochure from the OMCA – c:1916 Gift of Fred E. Reed H4599.44

Panorama from Beverly Terrace

**Cheney Photo Advertising c 1916**
Previously sold on eBay

Beverly Terrace went on sale in 1916. Located at Foothill Blvd and 99th on the border of the Dunsmuir House and Gardens. M.T Minney Company was the exclusive agent and developer. Later, C.W. Boden Company handled sales.

The first lots were being sold at the same time the new Chevrolet Assembly Plant was being built at Foothill Blvd and 73rd (now Eastmont Mall)

They advertised the area as a “The Automobile City Center” two blocks along Foothill Blvd being reserved for business purposes. – Oakland Tribune Mar 26, 1916

Foothill Blvd and Hollywood Blvd (now MacArthur Blvd)

Come out today and view San Francisco form beautiful Beverly Terrace. Unexcelled Climate. No Wind or Fog. $1.00 down payment and $1.00 a week. – Oakland Tribune Aug 1920.

Shepherd Canyon …a bit of history

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Have you ever wondered why it is called Shepherd Canyon?

It is named after the Shepherd Family, who owned about 200 acres and lived there from 1875 to the early 1900s.

You can view the location of Shepherd’s land in a Map of the City of Oakland, Berkeley, Oakland & Brooklyn Townships, and Alameda dated 1889, Published by E.P. Vandercook & Co. Real estate agents.

William J Shepherd (1844-1921) emigrated from England in about 1865 with his parents, Thomas and Ellen Shepherd, brothers John and Thomas, and sisters Mary Ann and Elizabeth.

In 1878 William married Mary Rogers (1842-1907). They had six children, William, James, Mary, Ellen, Louise, and Robert. They attended the Hays Canyon School.

Oakland Tribune Mar 10, 1875

LARGE LANDOWNERS OF 1876-BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-OF ALAMEDA
TOWNSHIP-

SF Examiner Mar 25, 1878

1895 Directory

Hays School Graduation – 1901

William Shepherd died in San Jose in 1921

Shepherd Pass Road –

A few articles discuss building a road that would run through the Canyon to connect to Skyline using County Road 2457 (now Shepherd Canyon Road.)

Oakland Tribune Daily Knave 1953. Settling a moot point in Oakland nomenclature from William’s nephew.

Shepherd Canyon Freeway – Highway 77

California Highways and Public Works – March -April 1958

“Cal Trans bought up land in Shepherd Canyon with the plan of building highway 77. It was to be an extension of Park Blvd. and would run up the canyon and connect highway 13 with Contra Costa county (much as highway 24 does just two miles north). Fortunately, community activists argued against the plan, and the area was preserved. In 1972, assembly member Ken Meade officially protected the area with AB561. After the downfall of the freeway plan, the Shepherd Canyon Corridor Plan was shaped by volunteers, and now guides the preservation of the canyon.”
Our Oakland Blog

More Info:

Montclair Railroad Trail – Oakland Local Wiki
Friends of the Montclair Railroad Trail – website
Unbuilt Highway 77 – Our Oakland Blog

Was He Assassinated?

Suspected in Murder

Quadros Suspected Slayer – Before Grand Jury

Miller Indicted

Miller Trial to Start

Acquitted of Murder

Discharged and Rearrested

Murdered Man’s Estate

Cold Case

Update

The End

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Sample Gold Star Streets Signs

Gold Star Streets Map

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Thorn Road

Named after Trees.

Sequoyah Hills

Montclair

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A bit of history

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Forest Park Mansion is known as the Castle

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Frazier Avenue –

Oliver Avenue

Truman Avenue

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On the Beautiful Scenic Foothill Blvd. of Oakland Ca

Panorama from Beverly Terrace

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Hays School Graduation – 1901

Shepherd Pass Road –

Shepherd Canyon Freeway – Highway 77

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