Monthly Archives: October 2019

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 7

Posted on by
1

In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images Oakland Schools.  Along with a bit of history of each school, I highlight. Some of the photos are in the form of drawings or postcards, or from the pages of history books.

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.

Updated Jan 12, 2020

Manzanita Grammar School

In 1909 the Board of Education annexed the Fruitvale and Melrose School Districts. More on the history of annexation in Oakland.

Oakland Tribune 1909
Oakland Tribune 1910

The first school to open was Manzanita Grammar School, located on 26th Street between 24th and 25th.

The 2-story building with 8 classrooms, a principal’s office, teachers’ locker room, library, and a kitchen was designed by F.D. Voorhees and cost $23,000.

Oakland Tribune June 28, 1970

In 1920 there was a gas explosion in the basement of the school.

Manzanita Annex

Oakland Tribune Jan 1926
Best Copy I could Get

In January of 1926, the board of education accepted the plans for an annex to be added to the building already on the site. The new structure will cost $70,000.

In September of 1926, it was determined that the (new) Manzanita Annex that was more than halfway done was unsafe. The concrete work was entirely defective, and to make the building safe for occupancy, they had to remove the entire structure above the foundation.

Oakland Tribune Sept 1926

The Alameda County Grand Jury was asked to investigate the faulty construction of the $70,000 school building.

New School Dedicated

A dedication ceremony was held in January of 1927 for the new $70,000 Manzanita School Annex at 24th Avenue and E.26th. The Mission style edifice had 8 classrooms and kindergarten and a restroom for teachers.

The new building adjoined the old school building.

Oakland Tribune Jul 4, 1956

In 1956 it was proposed that the 46-year-old 3-story building would be replaced with a new school building.

In 1958 bids were accepted to demolish the old school built-in 1909.

Oakland Tribune Aug 1958

The new building was designed by Donald S. Mackey architect, and it contained 15 classrooms, 1 kindergarten, 1 special education room, a cafeteria, a library, and offices.

The new building was dedicated in September 1958

Manzanita Today

Manzanita is located at 2409 East 27th Street, Oakland.

Manzanita School Today

Manzanita Community School (MCS) is a small school located in the heart of the Fruitvale neighborhood. Our bilingual program is K-3. We are one of the most diverse schools in OUSD. 

Manzanita Community School – website

More Info:

Maxwell Park School

I am sorry to say I haven’t been too lucky with finding pictures of the first school or older pictures of the present school. Hopefully, someone might have some to share.

The School Today

Maxwell Park School was established in August of 1924, in a single portable shack. It was then a part of Horace Mann School. There were 108 students registered that first year.

In April 1925, preliminarily plans for a new Maxwell Park school were approved.

In 1925 it became a separate school, with Miss. Sue Dunbar as the principal and a faculty of four teachers.

In January of 1926, a new six-room structure was dedicated.

I haven’t found any picture of the first school.

Oakland Tribune Jan 1926
Oakland Tribune 1928

Additions are added

Oakland Tribune Aug 10, 1930
Oakland Tribune July 1930

The new addition was complete, and they eliminated the need for the portables, for now.

Oakland Tribune Jan 04, 1931

More construction in 1936

Oakland Tribune Mar 1936

The school is located at 4730 Fleming Avenue, Oakland

Maxwell Park Now

Today

Melrose Leadership Academy now uses the school. It is a dual immersion school in the form of bilingual education; Website

Elizabeth Sherman Elementary School

Sherman Elementary School is located in Maxwell Park The site close to Mills College.

In 1931 a new auditorium was dedicated. The auditorium was called “Little Theater,” and it consisted of two portables joined together to make one. There was a stage built at one end.

Named After

Sherman Elementary was named after Elizabeth Sherman  (September 5, 1859 – June 27, 1937) was a long-time educator in Oakland in 1931.

In 1887 she was teaching at Lafayette Elementary School By 1907, she was the principal of the school. She retired from teaching in 1928.

New School

Oakland Tribune July 03, 1956

In 1956 architects Foulkes and Dennis drew up the plans for a structure to serve 325 students.

 

The new unit included an administration office, library, eight classrooms, one kindergarten, one special ed classroom, and a music room. They continued to use the auditorium built-in 1936.

The ground was broken for the new school in May of 1957, and the students moved in February 1958. A formal dedication was in April 1958.

Oakland Tribune Feb 09, 1958

Sherman Today

The school is located at 5328 Brann St.

Sherman Today

Today Melrose Leadership Academy and Urban Montessori share the campuses at Maxwell Park and Sherman.

Urban Montessori Charter School (UMCS) opened in the fall of 2012 and became Oakland’s first public Montessori school.

  • Urban Montessori Charter School – website

Melrose Leadership Academy (MLA) is a public school that emphasizes leadership development and focuses on social justice in partnership with our families

More Info:

Webster Elementary School

The Daniel Webster School is located at the large lot bounded by Plymouth, Olive, and 81st and 82ns Streets in East Oakland. The school over the years shorten the name to just Webster School.

Oakland Tribune November 27, 1921
Oakland Tribune November 27, 1921

The school opened in 1922 with just 4 classrooms, 200 students, and plenty of room to grow.

The construction of a 14 room addition and an auditorium to the school was to begin in July of 1925.

Below is how the school looked in 1925.

Oakland Tribune Oac 27, 1925

Webster Today

The school is located at 8000 Birch St.

The Webster Elementary School site hosts the East Oakland Pride Elementary. A TK-5 school in the Arroyo Viejo neighborhood, situated on the old Webster Academy campus.  We offer both Spanish-English bilingual and English-only programs in K-2; upper grades are taught in English.

Google Maps

More Info:

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 6

Posted on by
2

I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts. I highlight a bit of the history of each school. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books. 

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools can be tricky. I do this all at home and online—a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know if you have any additions.

Elmhurst Middle School

A June 1893 real estate ad for the Warner Tract in Elmhurst announced that.

building will commence soon on a new $15,000 schoolhouse upon the Warner Tract.

Oakland Evening Tribune Jun 26 1893

Elmhurst Grammar School was formally dedicated in July of 1894. The school contained four large classrooms.

New Addition for Elmhurst

The people of Elmhurst are requesting more room at Elmhurst; below is the proposed addition in 1903

Oakland Tribune July 29, 1903

In August of 1904, work had begun on the additions to Elmhurst School.

Oakland Tribune August 18, 1904
Oakland Tribune January 25, 1911
Elmhurst School circa 1912

Elmhurst School is now Elmhurst Junior High

With the opening of the Elmhurst Annex School ( E. Morris Cox), a junior high school was needed. A new school was built at the site of the Old Elmhurst School at 98th and Cherry and Birch Street. The new school opened in July 1927.

Oakland TribuneJuly, 31, 1927

John J. Donovan designed the new school. The structure is in classical design, with 21 classrooms and shops connected to manual training classes. Other features are an auditorium with a balcony and a motion picture projection room.

Modern Shops were added to Elmhurst.

Oakland Tribune June 23, 1926

Fires

In June of 1955, $35,00 destroyed one woodshop while damaging another.

In May 1967, Elmhurst Junior High suffered $25,000 in a suspected arson fire. It was the 7th school fire that year.

Elmhurst Today

Elmhurst is located at 1800 98th Avenue

Elmhurst Community Prep (ECP) is a triumphant middle school located in East Oakland. ECP prepares 6th – 8th-grade students for high school, college, and career by using a host of online and digital tools

Elmhurst United website – OUSD

McChesney Junior High

McChesney started an elementary school built in 1913 at the intersection of 13th Avenue and East 38th Street. The school was named in honor of educator Joseph B. McChesney (1832-1912), Oakland High School‘s first Principal, who died the year before this school was finished.

The building was designed by architect John J. Donovan.

In 1989, Oakland Unified School District renamed the school for Edna Brewer (19-1986), its principal from 1971 until 1985.

New School Built

Groundbreaking for a new school.

Oakland Tribune Jan 14, 1960

McChesney/Edna Brewer Today

Melrose School

In 1901 property was purchased for $1500 by the Melrose School District, then part of the unincorporated Brooklyn Township.

Bids opened in June of 1901. The entire amount used for construction and purchasing the property was $15,000.

Melrose School was dedicated in November 1901.

From the 1923 Fremont High School Yearbook

In 1905, Union High School No.4 was established at Melrose, and classes were held on the 2nd floor while plans were being drawn up for the new Fremont High School.

New School

In 1959, plans were drawn up to replace the 58-year-old Melrose School. The new building would hold 300 students plus faculty and have seven classrooms, one kindergarten, administration offices, a library, and a multipurpose room with a kitchen.

Oakland Tribune July 15, 1959

E.D. Cerruti designed the school.

Oakland Tribune May 10, 1959

The new Melrose Elementary was dedicated in December 1960. It was built on 53rd Avenue, and the old school was on 52nd Avenue.

Oakland Tribune December 7, 1960

Melrose Elementary School is located at 1325 53rd Avenue

It is now Bridges Academy at Melrose

We are building bridges from East Oakland to college and careers by breaking barriers to create a more just, equitable, and culturally responsive community

Melrose Heights Grammar School

Melrose Heights school was later renamed Horace Mann (please see Part 1)

Oakland Tribune May 3, 1909

Melrose Heights was built in 1909. The building was designed by F.W. Burki, who chose the Renaissance style of architecture. The three-story building has 12 rooms, including eight classrooms and a basement. Cost $30,000

Melrose School, later Horace Mann School

Santa Fe School

Oakland Tribune Mov 30, 1913
Oakland Tribune Mar 29, 1914

Santa Fe School was formally dedicated in July 1914. John J. Donovan designed the school.

Oakland Tribune July 23, 1914
School Architecture: Principles and Practices By John Donovan 1921

New School Built

The new Santa Fe Elementary School was dedicated in February of 1960.

Santa Fe has been the temporary school for the students of Glenview Elementary while a new school is being rebuilt for them. The new school has 18 classrooms, two kindergartens, a multipurpose room, a library, and offices. It cost $809,879

The school is located at 915 54th St., Oakland

Santa Fe Today – Google Maps

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 5

Posted on by
4

I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts. Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books.

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.

Brookfield Village School

Brookfield Village school opened for the new school year in September of 1944, the latest of Oakland’s 77 schools.

“Brookfield Village Elementary School opened without the benefit of bells.”

Oakland Tribune Sept 17, 1944

Brookfield was Oakland’s newest public school, which opened under wartime handicaps. Money and supplies were tight. Classes were being held in 19 portables that arrived three weeks before school started.

767 boys and girls were enrolled, just 33 less than anticipated in that first year.

New School

In February 1950, they held a groundbreaking ceremony for Unit 1 of the new Brookfield Village School.

Oakland Tribune Mar 13, 1949

The school unit was designed by Confer and Willis. The new building had 11 classrooms, a library, and an auditorium. It was a one-story building of wood frame construction.

Oakland Tribune Apr 24,1951

New Addition

Oakland Tribune Oct 23, 1957
Oakland Tribune Nov 26, 1957

In November of 1957, they broke ground for new addition costing $286,680. The new building will include a cafeteria, ten classrooms, a kindergarten, plus two special classrooms.

Brookfield Today

Brookfield Lions: Learning and Thriving with Pride.
Google Maps

The school is located at 401 Jones Ave., Oakland, CA 94603

Clawson Grammar School

Clawson School dates back to the 1880s, as seen in the image below.

Clawson in 1895

Clawson Elementary School was built in 1915. This Neo-Classical design had two stories and utilized extensive terracotta ornamentation. The ornamentation around its front doors. The building was designed by

School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921

The Clawson Elementary School was listed as standing near the intersection of 32nd Street and Magnolia Street in Polk-Husted’s Oakland, California, City Directory, 1918

Kindergarten

Entrance to the Kindergarten Classroom
Clawson School pergola, Oakland, California (1916) 1

Principal’s Office

Auditorium

School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921

Bathrooms Boys and Girls

clawson-boys-bathroom

Clawson Closed

The building functioned as a school until it was closed sometime between 1971-1973. OUSD closed three schools in 1973 rather than spend the money needed to retrofit them, including Clawson School. Clawson couldn’t meet the new stricter seismic standards that went into effect in 1973.

New Life

Clawson Lofts Today Google Maps

After extensive remodeling and structural upgrading, the building reopened as The West Clawson Lofts in 1999.

Location 3240 Peralta Street Oakland CA

  • Clawson School – Oakland Local Wiki
  • Clawson School – American Architect
  • School Architecture – 1921
  • West Clawson Lofts – webpage
  • Clawson School – PCAD

Emerson Elementary School

Emerson School 1912 John Galen Howard collection of progress photographs, ca. 1905-1910

The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley

Emerson Elementary School was built in 1913. It was designed by John J Donovan and John Galen Howard. The total cost of the school was $163,879. It was located at 49th and Shafter Avenue.

Oakland Tribune Jan 28, 1912
Oakland tribune Sept 20, 1912
Oakland Tribune Mar 29, 1914
School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921
School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921

Emerson Now

The address is 4803 Lawton Avenue. In 1978, it was torn down because it was considered seismically unsafe.

Emerson Today

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 4

Posted on by
3

I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts. Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books.

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.

Durant School

Bids were in to build a new school at the corner of West Street. A bid of $5000 made by J.J. Chaplain was the winner. The new school was called the Durant School in honor of the Rev. Henry J. Durant, the 16th Mayor of Oakland (1873-1875) and one of the founders of the University of California.

Durant School opened in August of 1875. It was reported by the Board of Education that all grades were formed and that they had over 400 pupils with eight teachers.

In 1878 a 6-room addition was added.

Durant Elementary School

Plans for a new Durant School to be built were accepted in 1912. The old school was sold. The new building was constructed at the corner of 29th and West Street and was to exceed $160,000.

School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921

The building above was designed by architects John J. Donovan and Louis Christian Mullgardt and was completed in August of 1914-15 at the cost of $179,868

In 1971 (probably before), it was determined that the school was structurally unsafe in the event of an earthquake. Bids were requested for the construction of a new school. I don’t know what happened with that. I couldn’t locate any pictures of a newer Durant School.

Location 2820 West St Oakland CA

Lafayette Grammar School

 

Picturesque Oakland 1889
Britton & Rey.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt309nd1h6/?order=20

 

Views of Oakland California’. Oakland: Pacific Press Publishing Company, 1893

Lafayette School was located at 17th and West Street and was built in the late 1860s.

The Lafayette Grammar School was one of the first schools built in Oakland. Lafayette even housed Oakland High School in 1869.

 

Oakland Tribune 1905

Lafayette Grammar School was named in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, a French military leader and statesman who fought on the side of the colonists during part of the American Revolution.

Lafayette Grammar School later changed its name to Lafayette Elementary School.

A brand new school was dedicated in October of 1949. Constructed at the cost of $594,825, the new school has 22 classrooms, a kindergarten, and an auditorium.

The school today

Lakeview Elementary School

The school was established in 1909 as an annex of Grant School, which was overcrowded. The Board of Education built a temporary structure of two rooms at the corner of Van Buren and Perry Streets. They called the school the Grant Annex.

 

Oakland Tribune Sept 1913

With the rapid growth of the surrounding area, it soon became necessary to build a permanent school.

Oakland Tribune 1913

In 1913 a large red brick building was built in a modern style of architecture opposite the Grant Annex at the corner of Grand Avenue and Perry Street. The new school was called Lakeview.

 

Construction of Lakeview School – circa 1913-14
Lakeside School

John J. Donovan was the architect of Lakeview Elementary. The estimated cost of building the school was $75,000.

Lakeview was situated on a high terrace with ivy-covered banks. Two flights of broad steps lead from the main building to Grand Avenue.

Lakeview School is situated at the head of Lake Merritt and surround by the beautiful Piedmont Hills. In one of the most attractive districts of Oakland.

Oakland Tribune Oct 1917

Across the street from the main building were two attractive smaller buildings that could not be seen from Grand Avenue.

There were manual art portables and a playground complete with equipment.

It appears that Julia Morgan designed an addition to Lakeview in 1915

 

Oakland Tribune Feb 1915

By 1917 Lakeview had an enrollment of 768.

Lakeview School circa the 1930s

Fire at the Lakeview School Annex – May 1937

Oakland Tribune May 03, 1937

MacArthur Freeway –

In 1926 a group of Lakeview district residents appeared before the Board of Education to advocate steps to protect the area behind the school from future development. See below

They should see it now!

 

Go here to read the rest of the article
Oakland Tribune June 29, 1926

Lakeview School will soon be an island, completely surrounded by traffic”.

Oakland Tribune Jan 03, 1962

 

Oakland Tribune Jan 03, 1962

The school is located at 746 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94619

 

Lakeside Elementary – today

 

Lakeview
Elementary – today

It is now a charter school

American Indian Public High School –AIMS COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL
746 GRAND AVE, OAKLAND, CA 94610 | TEL: 510-220-5044

The End

Updated Oct 2019

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 3

Posted on by
4

 I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts.  Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books. 

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.

Updated December 26, 2023

E. Morris Cox School (Elmhurst Annex)

The new Elmhurst Annex Elementary School was completed in Oct 1926. Howard Schroeder designed the Italian Renaissance-style building. The new school contained thirteen classrooms, a kindergarten, and an assembly hall. It cost $140,000 to build. The school is located at 98th Avenue and Sunnyside Street.

Oakland Tribune 1926
E Morris Cox School. Graham Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives

Renamed

The Elmhurst Annex school was renamed to honor E. Morris Cox, who died in 1925. Cox was the Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

In 1960 a new building was added to the school.

Located at 9860 Sunnyside Street

  • E.Morris Cox School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 10, 1926
  • Cox Academy Website – OUSD

Garfield School

Garfield Grammar School opened in March of 1887 with two seventh and eighth classes. The teachers will be Miss Murray and Miss Ellen Gibbs.

The school was named after the 20th U.S. President, James A. Garfield, who was assassinated in 1881.

Oakland Daily Evening Tribune March 24, 1887

The school was designed by John & T.D. Newsom (Newsom Brothers)

Garfield School 1893

In 1910 Miss Ellen Gibbs retired after 16 years as the principal of Garfield Grammar School.

Garfield School circa 1905
OMCA
Harry Courtright | Commercial Photo View

Fire

In 1926 a suspected arson fire destroyed the school built in the 1890s. The school was a combined elementary and junior high. This was the fourth school to be destroyed by fire in nine months.

Oakland Tribune September 11, 1924

New School Built

The school board approved a new Tudor-style building. Miller and Warnecke designed the new three-building with 26 classrooms.

Oakland Tribune December 16, 1925

A cornerstone for the new school was laid in Sept of 1926.

Oakland Tribune September 28, 1926

1959

Bids were open to build a new school on the present site.

Oakland Tribune 1959

Located at 1640 22nd Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94606

Jefferson School

John J Donovan and Washington J Miller designed Jefferson School. The school was built in 1912.

School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921
School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921

In 1959 bids were open to build a new school at the same site. The demolition of the old building was in 1960.

Oakland Tribune May 27, 1959

Dedication ceremonies were held in January 1961 for the new $560,000 school. Jefferson was the 31st project to be dedicated of the 51 proposed in the 1956 school bond issue.

Jefferson School – 2035 40th Avenue, Oakland, CA

It is now the Global Family Elementary, a TK – 5th-grade dual immersion school located in the East Oakland-Fruitvale corridor near Foothill Avenue. Our dedicated staff prepares students to be bilingual and bi-literate to meet the challenges of the 21st century. 

Lazear School

Lazear School, designated initially as the Park and Division School, was built in 1913-1914. The school cost $75 595. Fred Voorhees was the Architect.

The school was named after Dr. Jesse Lazear, an American physician and commission member that proved that a mosquito transmits the infectious agent of yellow fever.

New School

In 1959 a new school with 12 classrooms, a kindergarten, a library, and offices was built to replace the old one. The new school cost $162,456.

824 29th Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94601

Lazear Today

It is now Lazear Charter Academy 

The End

Updated October 21, 2023

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 2

Posted on by
3

I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts. Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books.

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.

Campbell Primary School

Campbell Primary School started put as the Grove Street School. The name was changed in 1906 to Campbell School for Fred Campbell, the superintendent of Oakland schools from 1870-1870 and 1886-1890. He was the state superintendent of schools from 1880-1883.

Campbell School looked in 1887 – Oakland Tribune June 09, 1926

His daughter Mary Campbell was the school’s principal from 1898-1926.

Miss Mary Campbell – Oakland Tribune Jun 9, 1926

In 1907 a new school was built. The Mission Style school was designed by Architect F.E. Voorhees and cost $38,000. It had seven classrooms and an office for the principal.

Oakland Tribune Mar 1907

1954 the school was closed because it was not earthquake-safe, and the students were sent to Tompkins School. The school was sold and demolished in 1954. A commercial building was built on the site.

More Info:

The school was located at 416 Grove Street.

Cleveland School

In 1912 the first drawing for a new Peralta Heights school was submitted to the school board. John J. Donovan and Shafer & Wilde were the architects.    Donovan designed many schools for the district.

Peralta Heights is a small neighborhood in what is now known as Cleveland Heights.

Bids to build the school were submitted in 1912, based on the below photo. They held a formal opening of the school in Jan of 1914.

Oakland Tribune Jan 6, 1914
Oakland Tribune Mar 29, 1914

The old school building stood in 1973 and was finally replaced with a new facility in 1977.

Oakland_Tribune_Mon__Mar_26__1973_
Oakland Tribune March 26, 1973

Cleveland Today

Cleveland School Today – Google Maps

More Info:

California Distinguished School for 2020

“serves the very diverse and historically underserved city of Oakland, with a large percentage of students living in poverty and a large percentage of English learner”

Release California Department of Education

Press Release – OUSD

Cleveland Elementary School is located at 745 Cleveland Street.

Cole Grammar School

Cole Grammar School was opened in 1878 in West Oakland on 10th Street between Union and Poplar Stree. The plans called for a two-story, 14-room building.

Cole School – Oakland and Surroundings 1885

It was named for Rector E. Cole, an early Oakland dentist and member of the city council, and member and then president of the Oakland Board of Education.

Jack London attended Cole starting in 1887. He graduated 8th grade in 1891.

Front Doors of the Cole School Building with several children standing on the sidewalk in 1908 Huntington Digital Library
Class of 1909
Class of 1910

School Fire

In Dec 1923, the school was destroyed in a six-alarm fire where one fireman lost his life, and six others were injured. The fire was deliberately set by a”firebug.” A suspicious fire was a reporter at Garfield School at 23rd and Foothill Blvd.

Cole School

The cornerstone for a new school was laid in May 1925, and the new two-story school was dedicated in April 1926.

More Info:

Cole School was the headquarters of the Chief of Police from 2013-2021 (?.) As of 2023, a new OUSD administration building in under construction.

Cole School Today – Google Maps

Cole School was located at 1011 Union Street.

  • Central Administrative Offices Cole Campus – OUSD

Piedmont Avenue School

The Piedmont Avenue School, as seen below, was built in 1891.

Oakland Tribune February 13, 1892

Before that, a two-room schoolhouse was closer to the Mountain View Cemetery. Classes we held for a time at the home of G.W. Hume, who lived in a large estate where the school is located now.

Both children from Piedmont and Oakland used the school at that time. The building was designed by William Kirk and cost about $10,000 to build. The school had a bell tower with a 350-pound bell. There was a large assembly room, a library, a hothouse for plants, classrooms on both floors and a large lighted basement where the children could play during wet weather.

Oakland Tribune February  20, 1892

The school was dedicated on Washington’s Birthday in 1892.

Engraving of the Piedmont District School at Webster Avenue in Oakland, Alameda County, California, from the book “Illustrated album of Alameda County, California” by Jos, 1893. Alex Colquhoun. Courtesy Internet Archive. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

School Fire

July 25, 1938
July 25, 1938
July 25, 1938

In July of 1938, while the students were on summer break, the school was destroyed by an arson fire. Ten firemen were injured, four of them seriously.

The new school was dedicated in March of 1941 with funds provided by “The Living New Deal” Works Progress Administration (WPA).

This Art Deco school building has an auditorium, library, kindergarten classroom, kitchen, offices, and regular classrooms. There is still a WPA sidewalk marker in front of the school.

More Info:

Prescott School

Prescott School was established in 1866 as a one-room primary school. It was named after William H. Prescott, a historian, and was located at Ninth and Campbell Streets on dirt roads surrounded by woods.

Oakland Tribune 1877

In 1869 a new two-story building with four classrooms on each floor, ‘the largest, and it was the most up- to- date school building in Oakland,’ with C. W. Brodt as principal, with a salary of $150 per month.

Prescott school building was heavily damaged in the historic 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.

 

Prescott School with damage from the 1906 earthquake
UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library
Permalink: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/hb1m3nb284/

New School

Prescott Primary School was constructed in a record time of 187 workdays by Lawton & Vezey, a local contractor.

Oakland Tribune October 24, 192

 

Oakland Tribune October 24, 1916

The new school was a two-story Spanish-style steel-framed building with a basement and seventeen classrooms.

“accepted by the school board, who considered it one of the best in the recent school buildings”

Oakland School Board – October 05, 1926

The exterior of Prescott School circa 1918
Towns (Royal E.) Papers
Oakland Public Library, African American Museum
prescott-school-playground-west_1_0f2ee96ce0f6fda0b21a28a70d72cea6
Prescott School 9th & Campbell Streets – Cheney Photo Advertising Company c 1919

Ida Louise Jackson, Oakland’s first African-American teacher, taught there in 1925 — 13 years before any other school hired a black teacher.

Unsafe and Condemned

 

Oakland Tribune 1958

In 1954 Prescott Junior High (name change?) was condemned for being dangerous to the students. At that time, there was no budget to replace it.

Prescott Today

Prescott is located at 920 Campbell St.

 

Prescott School Today – Google Maps

The school has been operating under the name PLACE @ Prescott (Preparatory Literary Academy of Cultural Excellence @ Prescott) since 2006, serving Kindergarten through 5th-grade children

More Info:

Swett Grammar School

Swett School was located at 12th Avenue and East 19th Street.

Views of Oakland 1893
Swett School – 1906 earthquake damage
Owning Institution: UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library
Permalink: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/hb9199p3sm/

Woodrow Wilson Junior High

Woodrow Wilson Junior High started as Mosswood Junior High in August of 1923. It was located at the corner of 48th and Webster Streets. In 1924 the school’s name was changed.

Oakland Tribune Feb 19, 1924

In 1926 they laid the cornerstone for a new school.

Oakland Tribune Oct 28, 1926
Oakland Tribune Aug 20, 1927
Woodrow Wilson Junior circa the 1970s

In the early 1970s, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School was demolished, and a new school was built. In the mid-1970s, the school was renamed the Verdese Carter Middle School.

Demolition of Woodrow Wilson School in the 1970s
from Adrienne Broach
Demolition of Woodrow Wilson School in the 1970s
from Adrienne Broach

Woodrow Wilson Today

The School Today Google Maps

In 2007 the Oakland Unified school district opened its first school that enrolls only immigrant students. The Oakland International High School is modeled after international high schools in New York City for newcomers to the United States. The school was still open in 2019.

More Info:

The school is located at 4521 Webster St.

  • Oakland International High School – OUSD
  • West Coast District Uses East Coast Model – August 2007

Updated August 2023

The End

Wrecker Uses Sherman Tank To…

Posted on by
1

Project Gateway – West Oakland

The world’s largest and fully mechanized mail handling facility designed to serve central California and the Pacific ocean area

Postmaster General – Aug 1959

It was announced that the facility would be built on a 12-block site in West Oakland bounded by Peralta, 7th, Wood Streets, and the Southern Pacific railroad yards.

Oakland Tribune August 26, 1959

The postmaster general officially named the Oakland project “Project Gateway”

Oakland Tribune August 26, 1959

Major Problems

City officials were excited that construction would begin in about one year. They expected an Oakland payroll of 750 workers and the clearing of some 20 acres of sub-standard homes for a significant redevelopment project.

Oakland Tribune August 30, 1959

Oakland Mayor Clifford E. Rishell noted that the post office project presents some significant problems, chiefly relocating 300 families (about 1000 people) in the project area.

Oakland Tribune July 25, 1965

The Oakland Redevelopment Agency was in charge of the relocation. A survey at the time determined that half of the 300 families had moderate incomes, permitting them to rent or purchase a home in other sections of the city. The other half will probably require public housing.

The job we face isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible

Arthur Hoff – Oakland Redevelopment Agency

One of West Oakland’s most revered landmarks was lost when the New Century Recreation Center and the adjoining school property at Atlantic, Pacific, and Peralta Avenues were razed.

The project would also destroy a junkyard, a few businesses, and McFeely School, which opened in 1949.

Evictions

In a March 1960 special meeting of city and postal officials, 34 families were told they had already received eviction notices. The families lived in homes already sold to the government by Southern Pacific. Twenty-one families had already found new homes.

August 01, 1960, was when they were to begin clearing the site.

Oakland Tribune July 19, 1960

A squadron of bulldozers was set to plow into the 12-block block of buildings. Twelve parcels of the 187 total had been acquired in negotiation. Commendation orders were entered for the holdouts.

12 Blocks Cleared For the Postal Center

Oakland Tribune Nov 30, 1960
Oakland Tribune Nov 30, 1960t

Sherman Tank

The postal officials were perplexed when building wrecker Aldo S. Allen submitted a low bid of $64,000 to clear the 20-acre site for Project Gateway. He was $10,000 lower than the next lowest bid and $50,000 lower than the highest bid.

“I got an idea” Allen a one time midget car racer explained.

Aldo S. Allen – 81st Ave Oakland CA

He planned to spend $2,000 on a surplus Sherman Tank of World War II vintage, a 73,000-pound dreadnaught powered by a 500 horsepower engine. The tank would be much more powerful, faster, and safer.

He was Right!

Aldo climbed into the tank in front of a row of six houses. He first practiced on a tree.

SNAP! Down went the tree.

Oakland Tribune August 16, 1960

Without pausing, he went towards the first house and bore a tunnel through it. The second story remained intact. Again, he aimed for the home. There was a roar, and the second story came down, burying the tank momentarily.

10 Minutes Flat! The time to clear the first house

Oakland Tribune August 16, 1960

It took 90 minutes to flatten and remove all six houses

Oakland Tribune August 16, 1960
Oakland Tribune August 16, 1960
Oakland Tribune August 16, 1960
Oakland Tribune August 16, 1960

Before and After

Oakland Tribune August 17, 1960
The Daily News Texan August 16, 1960

The post office Site is Now A Dump

Oakland Tribune July 15, 1963

1963, after five years of post office promises, the city demanded action. The site had become a 12-block dumping ground, and the city was losing $22,000 in tax dollars and $50,000 in additional school taxes. They were told that construction was set to begin in 1964. By July 1967, the building was nearly one-third complete. The belated Effects of a Long Wet Winter moved the opening date to March 1969.

Oakland Tribune August 26, 1984

More Info:

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 1 – A

Posted on by
11

My 100th post!

This is the first in a series of posts on Oakland Schools.

I hope to show Then and Now images of most of the schools and a bit of the history of each school I show. Some photos are in the form of drawings, postcards, or from the pages of history books.

Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.

Updated September 20, 2020

Castlemont High School

In 1863, Frank Silva purchased 73 acres of land for a farm. Castlemont High now stands on his land.

Oakland Tribune Oct 19, 1965

Castlemont High School is in Oakland, California, United States, formerly known as East Oakland High School. The Castlemont name was selected by a vote of the students. Castlemont High School was founded in 1929 in a medieval-style building. The school is located at 8601 MacArthur Boulevard.

 Castlemont High was designed by Chester Miller and Carl Warneke, Oakland architects. Oakland Local WIki – Castlemont High.

Castlemont Construction – Pouring the foundation.
Castlemont Under Construction
Castlemont Under Construction

On August 12, 1929, East Oakland High School opened at the cost of $670,000. Still, the name was short-lived; by a vote of the students and faculty in 1930, the name Castlemont was officially brought to prominence before being nationally designated the most beautiful school structure in the country.

Oakland Tribune July 7, 1929

The building’s main entrance is accessed from Foothill Blvd down six steps to the reflection pool, then ascends six steps to the extended terrace and the four-entry solid redwood doors.  The full length of Castlemont grounds adjacent to Foothill had been magnificently landscaped.

The building was replaced in 1961 as the old one was not earthquake-safe.

Castlemont is demolished
Castlemont is gone.

Castlemont Today

Google Maps
Google Maps

From 2004 to 2012, the large school housed three separate smaller schools called the Castlemont Community of Small Schools for eight years. The smaller schools were known by the names:

  1. Castlemont Leadership Preparatory High (10-12)
  2. Castlemont Business and Information Technology School (10-12) (CBITIS)
  3. East Oakland School of the Arts (10-12)

Dewey School

Dewey School was established as an elementary school at 38th Avenue and East 12th Street in 1899. It was a part of the Bray School District and the Fruitvale School District.

Oakland Tribune April 28, 1899

It was named after Admiral George Dewey, who was a hero in the Spanish-American War that was being fought at that time.

Dewey School circa 1916 Cheney Photo Advertising
Dewey School circa 1916 Cheney Photo Advertising

In 1964, Dewey became the first continuation high school in Oakland. Below is how Dewey looked in 1964. In 1913, an addition was added to the original school, which was still in use in 1964.

Oakland Tribune June 12, 1964

Dewey is now located at 1111 2nd Ave, Oakland, CA, 94606

Franklin School

Oakland Tribune Mar 29, 1928

The Brooklyn School was a two-story building built in 1863-64 at the cost of $5,000.

Oakland Tribune Jan 20, 1887

Brooklyn was annexed into Oakland in 1872. After the annexation, the nine-year-old school was renamed Franklin Grammar and Primary School.

Oakland Tribune Dec 30, 1874

An addition to the school was added in 1879 at the cost of $3,217.

Oakland Tribune Dec 30, 1902

On December 02, 1902, the school was destroyed by fire.

Oakland Tribune Nov 30, 1904
Oakland Tribune April 18, 1906

The new school building was almost complete when the SF earthquake of 1906 struck. The brick and steelwork were done, and the building was ready for the roof. When the school was finally done, the total cost was $204,343,45.

Franklin Grammar School – Cheney Photo Advertising circa 1912

In 1923, an oblong-shaped assembly hall was built at the rear of the school on 10th Ave and E16th. The cost is $40,000.

Oakland Tribune Nov 7, 1926

In 1943, the school’s address was 1530 Ninth Avenue.

In 1953, the 1906 brick building was declared unsafe. In 1955, it was demolished to make way for a new building. The new school was a principal part of the Clinton Park Urban Renewal Project. The school opened in Sept 1956 and was dedicated in Jan of 1957. The new school cost $467,000.

In 1956, a man, while remodeling his store, found an old report card from 1875.

Oakland Tribune Dec 20, 1959
Franklin Today –

More Info:

The school is located at 915 Foothill Blvd

Fremont High School

The John. C. Fremont High School was the successor of Fruitvale High School and was organized in 1905 by Frank Stuart Rosseter.

Oakland Tribune May 2, 1910
Fremont High School circa 1915 – Cheney Photo Advertising

The old building was destroyed in an arson fire on the night of January 01, 1930.

 

Oakland Tribune Jan 2, 1930
Oakland Tribune Jan 3, 1930

New School

Oakland Tribune July 29, 1931
Oakland Tribune January 10, 1932

The school reopened on April 19, 1932. It was constructed with the assistance of the federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds.

Fremont Today

Fremont School

More Info:

Frick Junior High

Frick was built on the Boulevard between Baker and Bay View (now Foothill and 62nd). The school takes its name from W.P. Frick, who donated the lot the school is to be built on. It was then part of the Lockwood District. The school was dedicated on March 17, 1909.

Oakland Tribune Sept 20, 1908

The first school was kindergarten through the seventh grade. The building had eight rooms. With the rapid growth of the area around Frick School, it was decided to make Frick School a junior high in 1923.

Frick Grammar School circa 1915 – Cheney Photo Advertising

New School

Oakland Tribune May 30, 1926

In 1927 a new school was built on adjoining land and was called Frick Jr. High School. The style of the new building is Spanish and Moorish architecture.

Oakland Tribune June 05, 1927

Another New School

In 1953, it was determined that the 1927 building was an earthquake risk. In 1957, the was broken for a new school fronting Brann Street. The old building was razed during the summer of 1960. The present school has been in use since 1960-61.

It is now called Frick Impact Academy

More Info:

Hamilton Junior High School

Alexander Hamilton Junior High was built in 1922. The school is located at 2101 35th Avenue.

It was named after Calvin Simmons sometime in the early to mid-1980s. The school was renamed United for Success Academy in 2006.

Google Maps

More Info:

Horace Mann Grammar School

Horace Mann was built in about 1910-1912. The school is located at 5222 Ygnacio Avenue. It was known as Melrose Heights School first.

Horace Mann Grammar School

Groundbreaking for the new Horace Mann school after it was determined to be not earthquake-safe was in 1959. The new school was formally dedicated in 1961.

 

Oakland Tribune May 11, 1959

Horace Mann today – Google Maps

More Info:

Sequoia Elementary School

Sequoia Elementary School is located on Lincoln Avenue at Scenic Avenue. It was built in 1910. Ida M. Hammond was the first principal. The building below is facing Scenic Avenue. The address of the school is 3730 Lincoln Avenue.

Original Sequoia School
Lincoln Avenue and Scenic Street

Cheney Photo Advertising Company circa 1910

In 1926, a new school building was built adjoining the original. The new building will have 13 to 14 rooms and an auditorium. It will face Lincoln Avenue, as seen below.

The original building is razed to make room for a new $235,880 addition. The addition added seven classrooms and a cafeteria.

Oakland Tribune November 28, 1958

Sequoia School today. Google maps

More Info:

Please see Part 1 B for University High School

The End