Thomas Mahoney House

As I take a little break from my series on the schools in Oakland, I thought I would share this little bit of history with you.

These photos have popped up many times over the years, and I didn’t give them much thought. They popped up again yesterday. I decided to look into them and see what I could find.

Both photos are online at the Library of Congress. Please note there is a typo in the LOC description. The address is 669 Eighth Street.

• Thomas Mahoney House – LOC

I don’t know what became of the house after these photos were taken. I will let you know if I find out anything.

Early Pioneer

So, I started looking into Thomas Mahoney (sometimes spelled Mahony). Wow, I was amazed to find a Thomas Mahoney living at 669 Eight Street in 1871. In the 1880 census, he lived there with his wife and four children. I then located in an obituary from January 1900. In the obituary, I notice his daughter Laura’s married name is Bassett

Mahoney came to California in the 1850s. He mined for a while in Tuolumne County before retiring on his ranch in the Hills of Oakland. In 1863, he sold his ranch and moved to the home on Eighth Street next to St. John’s Episcopal. He was married in 1863 and raised four children in the home. His wife died in 1891, and he died in 1900.

His obituary

Oakland Tribune Jan 29, 1900

Thomas Mahoney, a well-known pioneer of this city, died at his home at 660
Eighth Street, last evening, in the 71st year of his age.

The deceased was a native of Ireland and came to this State many years ago, where he engaged in ranching. He owned a large quantity of land to the north of the present city limits, from which the sites now comprising Mountain View, St. Mary’s, and the Jewish Cemeteries were purposed by the managers of those several burial places.

The deceased was a widower, his wife having died several years ago. He was the father of Mrs. Laura J. Bassett, Louise H., Emma E., and George Mahoney.

The funeral services will be held next Wednesday in St. John’s Episcopal
Church. The interment will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Family members continued to live in the home until around 1913.

St. Mary’s Cemetery

In 1863, Archbishop Alemany purchased 36 acres of land known as the ” Mahoney Ranch” from Thomas Mahoney. The land is now called St. Mary’s Cemetery, next to Mountain View Cemetery. Thomas Mahoney was buried there in 1900.

Find A Grave – St. Mary’s Cemetery – Thomas Mahoney

• History of St. Mary’s – Oakland May 22, 1952
• St. Mary Cemetery – website

Laura Mahoney Bassett was well known for her reminiscences in the Sunday Knave in the Oakland Tribune. She was the oldest daughter of Thomas Mahoney, and she was born in Oakland in 1866, where she lived most of her 80 years. She died in 1950.

Some of her “reminiscences” in the Sunday Knave.

Go here to read the clip: Oakland Tribune.

The End