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 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.

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.

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.

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 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)

• New Castlemont School – Oakland Tribune September 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, who was a hero in the Spanish-American War that was being fought at that time.

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 at the cost of $5,000.

Brooklyn was annexed into 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 the 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. When the school was finally done, the total cost was $204,343,45.

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.

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.

More Info:

The school is located at 915 Foothill Blvd

• Franklin School – Oakland Local Wiki
• Recollections of the Old Brooklyn School – Oakland Tribune November 13, 1886
• Franklin School is Destroyed – Oakland Tribune December 30, 1902
• Inferior Constriction Franklin School – Oakland January 13, 1908
• Two Ex-Students Return – Oakland Tribune March 29, 1926
• Franklin School Story Brings Back Memories – Oakland Tribune February 06, 1955
• New School Opens- Oakland Tribune September 09, 1956
• Franklin School Website – OUSD

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.

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

New School

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

More Info:

• Path of Destruction – Oakland Tribune January 02, 1930
• A loss at $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 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.

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 Spanish and Moorish architecture.

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:

• School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune March 28, 1909
• Ground Broken for New School – Oakland Tribune May 20, 1926
• Frick School 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 in about 1910-1912. The school is located at 5222 Ygnacio Avenue. It was known as Melrose Heights School first.

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.

More Info:

• Groundbreaking for Horace Mann School – Oakland Tribune March 07, 1959
• Horace Mann Dedicated – 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. Ida M. Hammond was the first principal. The building below is facing Scenic Avenue. The address of the school is 3730 Lincoln Avenue.

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.

More Info:

• Sequoia Elementary School – OUSD
• Groundbreaking Sequoia School – Oakland Tribune September 08, 1926
• Sequoia School Tour Set – Oakland Tribune January 20, 1960

Please see Part 1 B for University High School

The End