Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 1 – A

My 100th post!

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

I hope to display ‘Then and Now’ images of most of the schools, along with a brief history of each one I feature. Some photos are in the form of drawings, postcards, or from the pages of history books.

Note: Piecing together the history of some older schools can be a challenging task. 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.

Castlemont High School is in Oakland, California, United States, formerly known as East Oakland High School. The Castlemont name was chosen by a student vote. Castlemont High School was founded in 1929 in a building with a medieval-style design. 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.

August 12 12, 1929, East Oakland High School opened for $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.

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 Today

From 2004 to 2012, the large school housed three separate smaller schools, collectively known as 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)

• New Castlemont School – Oakland TribSeptember 21r 21, 1961
• Castlemont Community of Small Schools – Wikipedia
• Castlemont High School – Oakland Local wiki
• Castlemont High School website – OUSD

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.

It was named after Admiral George Dewey, a hero of the Spanish-American War then being fought.

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.

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

• Dropouts Get a New School- Oakland Tribune Oct 30,1964
• Dewey High School – OUSD

Franklin School

The Brooklyn School was a two-story building built in 1863-64 for $5,000.

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

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

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

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. Once the school was finally completed, the total cost was $ 204,343.45.

In 1923, an oblong-shaped assembly hall was built at the rear of the school on 10th Avenue and E 16th Street. The cost is $40,0November 07

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 September 1956 and was dedicated in January 1957. The new school costs $467,000.

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

More Info:

The school is located at 915 Foothill Blvd

• Franklin School – Oakland Local Wiki
• Recollections – Oakland Tribune, November 13, 1886
• Franklin School – Oakland Tribune December 30, 1902
• Inferior ConstricJanuary 13lin School – Oakland January 13, 1908
• Two Ex-Students Oakland Tribune March 29, 1926
• Franklin School Story – Oakland Tribune February 06, 1955
• New School- Oakland Tribune September 09, 1956
• Franklin School Website – OUSD

Fremont High School

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

The old building was destroyed by fire on the night of January 01, 1930.

New School

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

Fremont Today

More Info:

• Construction – Oakland Tribune January 02, 1930
• $400,000 – Oakland Tribune January 02, 1930
• Group of photos of the School after the fire – OMCA
• Fremont High School – OUSD
• Fremont High School – Oakland Local Wiki

Frick Junior High

Frick was constructed 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 on which the school is to be built. Was then part of the Lockwood march on March 17. The school was dedicated on September 20, 1909.

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.

New School

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

Another New School

In 1953, it was determined that the 1927 building was an earthquake risk. In 1957, the ground 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 the 1960-61 academic year.

It is now called Frick Impact Academy

More Info:

• School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune March 28, 1909
• GrounMay 20en for New School – Oakland Tribune May 20, 1926
• Frick 05School Completed – Oakland Tribune June 05, 1927
• Frick Junior High website – OUSD

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.

More Info

• New Hamilton Jr High – Oakland Tribune March 12, 1922
• United for Success Academy –OSUD

Horace Mann Grammar School

Horace Mann was built between 1910 and 1912. The school is located at 5222 Ygnacio Avenue. It was initially known as Melrose Heights School.

Groundbreaking for the new Horace Mann school, which was deemed not earthquake-safe, took place in 1959. The new school was formally dedicated in 1961.

More Info:

• Groundbreaking for Horace MMarch 07ol – March 20Tribune March 07, 1959
• Horace MannMarch 20ed – Oakland Tribune March 20, 1961
• Horace Mann Website – OSUD

Sequoia Elementary School

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

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

The original building was razed to make room for a new $235,880 addition, which added seven classrooms.

More Info:

• SequoSeptember 08y School – OUSD
• Groundbreaking SequSeptember 08 OJanuary 20bune September 08, 1926
• Sequoia School- Oakland Tribune, January 20, 1960

Please see Part 1 B for University High School

The End