“Quit paying rent; by build and live in HopkinsTown, Oakland’s newest subdivision”
Oakland Tribune Aug 19, 1922
HopkinsTown is located at Hopkins St (now MacArthur Blvd), Georgia, Maple, Peralta Ave (now Coolidge), and Carmel and Morgan Streets.
California Subdivision Company handled the sales. It opened in September 1922.
Josiah Rose Farm
HopkinsTown was once the farm of Josiah Rose, who settled there in 1864. When Rose lived on his farm, Antonia Mario Peralta was his neighbor.
Rose Property 1877 Map
Josiah died on August 25, 1894.
Oakland Enquirer – Aug 25, 1894
In 1922, Rose’s daughter Mary Mulrooney (Mulroony) and her son James still lived on a small piece of the farm on Peralta Street (now Coolidge). I found that in 1933, Mary lived at 2844 Georgia Street, part of a small commercial area where Loard’s Ice Cream is today. Mary died in 1933. – Oakland Tribune Aug 19, 1922
From 1933 Directory
“Hopkinstown Like City Within a City ;In Oakland”
Oakland Tribune August 14, 1922
“Get a Home — Your Own Buy — Build –Live In Hopkinstown All for $49 First Payment”
The Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 2, 1922
“The fastest growing “small home” community in the state.”
Oakland Tribune 1922
The Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 2, 1922
“Every lot is a GOOD lot, and NO HILLSIDES!”
His home was on Georgia Street – Oakland Tribune Aug 20, 1922
“From Bare Ground to Housekeeping in Two Days”
Oakland Tribune Sept 14, 1922
Free Home Plans
California Subdivision Company prepared plans to construct an ideal one-room home economically.
Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 8, 1922
Oakland Tribune Sept 7, 1922S
The one-room bungalow included every convenience needed in a modern home, including bathroom, built-in features, kitchen sink, etc.
Oakland Tribune Sept 16, 1922
Church for Hopkinstown
Oakland Tribune Sept 14, 1922
I didn’t find many homes built in HopkinsTown, at least not advertised. This is the area I live in now. I drove around the area, trying to locate some of the homes. I did notice small homes on deep lots.
In the late 1950s, the unsold Hopkins Town lots were being rezoned for duplexes or apartment buildings. The large lots zoned for single-family homes have long caused problems for the planning department.
Oakland Tribune Dec 17, 1959
I have noticed a lot of construction around Morgan Street. They are converting a few of the Hopkins Town Tract “lots” into duplexes or triplexes.
Gradually some of those small houses with large lots have been subdivided or the houses enlarged. Thw Morgan-Carmel-Maple corridor was thoroughly explored by my kids during the trick-or-treating era.
Dennis Evanosky discovered that Caspar Hopkins had a reservoir. I bet it was along Sausal Creek below MacArthur and Aidell. You can see the drop off on the escarpment by Altenheim. Hopkins’ house was at Dimond and MacArthur (then “Hopkins Street”) where the palm tree grows behind the hamburger drive-in.
Yes,I noticed a lot construction on Morgan St a couple of years ago. Some of them were adding what looked liked full units behind the homes. I had a friend that lived on Morgan in the cul-de-sac, and we would also go trick or treating in the area. Lots of candy to be had.
As always, interesting and well-researched. The posted floor plan spoke volumes.
Love that “city within a city” tease!
Thank you!
Thank you for this work! So interesting.
Gradually some of those small houses with large lots have been subdivided or the houses enlarged. Thw Morgan-Carmel-Maple corridor was thoroughly explored by my kids during the trick-or-treating era.
Dennis Evanosky discovered that Caspar Hopkins had a reservoir. I bet it was along Sausal Creek below MacArthur and Aidell. You can see the drop off on the escarpment by Altenheim. Hopkins’ house was at Dimond and MacArthur (then “Hopkins Street”) where the palm tree grows behind the hamburger drive-in.
Yes,I noticed a lot construction on Morgan St a couple of years ago. Some of them were adding what looked liked full units behind the homes. I had a friend that lived on Morgan in the cul-de-sac, and we would also go trick or treating in the area. Lots of candy to be had.