First Framed House in Oakland

“Oakland in the days when oaks were here,and the Peralta’s owned all the land.”

Oakland Tribune Feb 1891

The house was located at N. E. corner east Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue, East Oakland.

The city directories list the addres as 404 East Eight Street. It was known in the early years as 202 Jefferson Street.

In Search of Gold

The lure of the gold drew Moses Chase and his son George to California in 1849. They sailed from Boston aboard the Capitol on a 176-day voyage.

Chase then became the first white man to settle in Oakland, and he first camped at the foot of what is now Broadway in 1849.

After the search for gold did not pan out Chase leased land from the Peralta Family just east of what is now Lake Merritt. The area later became part of the Township of Clinton, later a part of Oakland.

The Cabin

He built a small cabin 14 feet wide and 24 feet from ship timbers, driftwood, and rough boards on this land.  He intended to bring his new bride Mary Ellen Clinton back to California from Boston and live in the cabin. But she died before he arrived back home to marry her. Clinton Park was suposebly named in her honor.

In 1856 the front part was added.  This would become the main section of the house. Over the years, other alternations and additions expanded the cabin into a two-story building of 17 rooms during its 86-year occupancy by Chase, his son, and his grandson.

The original section, after standing intact until 1936 when it was cut in half and became the laundry room.

As you see in the photograph, the house is in first-class condition today, October 5, 1928. The photo was taken by Jesse B. Cook and Joseph A. Murray.

See: While Oakland was Finding its Place on the Map of the World – Oakland Tribune May 01, 1932

First Settler Laid to Rest

The Oldest Inhabitant has Gone to Rest

 Chase spent the later years of his life a near recluse on Bay Farm Island, but he died in the family home on February 17, 1891, at the age of 84. He was laid to rest at the Mountain View Cemetery.

A Wedding Takes Place

In May of 1925, Albert B. Chase was married in the same room he was born 45 years before. Albert was the son of George Chase (1841-1919), the only child of Moses Chase.

At the time of his wedding, Albert was the only surviving member of the Chase family. His older brother died in 1924, and his sister in 1925.

Oakland 80th Birthday

In honor of Oakland’s 80th Birthday in May of 1932, the Clinton Improvement Association erected a sign on the home, noting its historical significance. Oakland Tribune Apr 07, 1932

Razing the Old Home

Through three generations, the old home continued at the family residence until, in 1936, Albert died. Albert’s widow sold the house to Guido Pacini, a trucking contractor.   Pacini graded the adjacent lot for his trucking business.  The old home was completely renovated and was used as a residence for Picini’s daughter and her husband.

In 1946 workman from the Symon Brothers Wrecking Company started demolishing the “old Chase home,” a small rear portion of which was the original cabin that Chase built-in 1849.

Cook Brothers Equipment Distributors began a 10-year lease of the old homestead after clearing it.   Oakland Tribune July 02, 1946

More info:

• Oakland Local Wiki – Moses Chase
• Moses Chase and the First House in Oakland – Oakland Tribune June 27, 1927
• While Oakland was Finding its Place on the Map of the World – Oakland Tribune May 1, 1932
• Through the Golden Gate – Moses Chase –Oakland Tribune May 24, 1943
• Oakland’s 100th Birthday – Tied to Chase – Oakland Tribune Nov 13, 1949

The End