Author Archives: Dorothy Londagin

Court of All Nations

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“Homes of Cosmopolitan Architecture”

Oakland Tribune Mar 29, 1925

The Court of All Nations is located on Hillen Street (formally Trumbull Street) near Mills College, with a view of the bay and the nearby hills. The group of fifty homes was built in 1925, with the first four starting in January of that year.

Unique Idea Result of Europe Trip

The unique idea was brought back by local builder R.C. Hillen after spending five months motoring through Europe in search of ideas for one of his next developments.

He wanted to reproduce the picturesque homes that dot the hillsides and valleys of European countries.

The homes are of five and six-room European style with American convenience. Each home is an architectural gem, specially adapted by W.W. Dixon, architect and the editor of the Home Designer Magazine, from sketches Hillen made during that trip.

They will include patios and landscaped gardens both in front and back.

Casa Romero

Casa Rome
Oakland Tribune May 17, 1925

Casa Romero is a Spanish-Moorish type, and it opened in ???. The iron grill balconies before the windows and the flower-grown patio with pool and fountain suggest old Spain.

Oakland Tribune

W.W. Dixon, who designed Casa Romero, said, ” the name an old Spanish name dating from the days of the Mexican Grants in California.” Casa Romero means the house of the Romeros.

“‘Casa Romero’ Is All Electrically Equipped: Radio Featured.”

Oakland Tribune May 17, 1925

A Pipe-Organ Radio is installed in the living room. The rare acoustic properties of the room, eighteen by thirty-six feet in size and eighteen feet high, were fully utilized. A Radiola super-heterodyne is hidden behind what appears to be pipes of an organ on the balcony above. Using a central control, you could listen by loudspeaker or earphone connections by merely pressing a button.

The hidden radio – Oakland Tribune 1925
Casa Romero Today
Casa Romero Today from Google Maps

European Style Homes

Some of the homes were designed along the lines of English cottage architecture, and others suggest French and Italian villa homes with homes from Spain, Norway, or Holland.

All have charming features and will include a large living room with a unique fireplace, a dining room with a buffet, and a kitchen with all the modern fixtures. Priced from $6500-$7900

Grand Duke

The Grand Duke Model Home – Oakland Tribune 1925

Dixon and Hillen

Walter W. Dixon (1884-1953)

Robert C. Hillen (1884-1955)

Style: Storybook, fairy tale, Hansel & Gretel

Dixon designed homes and other buildings, alone and with the firm Dixon and Hillen, from about 1910 to 1950, mostly in the East Bay.

Dixon built grand Storybook houses and houses in other styles and is best known for compact Storybook tract cottages.

Both were involved under the name of Dixon and Hillen Publishers with the Home Designer Magazine, based in Oakland and printed out of their office at 1844 Fifth Ave. The monthly publication costs $2.50 yearly for a subscription and covers mostly bungalow and Storybook types of homes.

They also designed the homes on Picardy Drive in Oakland.

More Info:

The End

Klinknerville – Oakland

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A bit of history of Klinknerville.

Klinknerville was a town in what is now the Golden Gate neighborhood. It was started by Charles Alexander Klinkner in 1885, the name was changed to Golden Gate in 1888, and it was annexed by Oakland in 1897.

Oakland Local Wiki
Klinkner Hall, at the present-day corner of San Pablo and 59th Street, in the late 1800s. (Oakland Library History Room.)

In 1877 (or 1878), Charles A. Klinkner and a partner purchased 14 acres of dairyland in the area of what is now 59th and San Pablo. The land was subdivided into lots for building homes.

“Ring the Bell, Klink, Klink, Klink, the boom continues, “Klinknerville,” lots 50 x 150 $600.00, houses built to order on the installment plan, Apply to Klinkner before buying elsewhere.“

Klinkner built a home for his family on San Pablo Ave near 59th Street

Klinkner Family Home – OMCA

He also established a horse car line that ran from Park Avenue to what today is 62nd Street.

By 1885, the construction of Klinknerville had begun. He first built modest Victorian homes.

Tract homes under construction and offered for sale – OMCA

To attract residents to Klinknerville, he built Klinkner Hall at 5832 San Pablo Avenue, and in 1888, on the other side of the Street, he built the Del Monte Hotel.

Showing Klinknerville Hall in 1919 – Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising

Klinkner Hall was the social center of the town. There was a grocery store, a drug store, a dry goods store, a meat market on the first floor, and a large community assembly hall where the clubs and lodges would meet on the upper floor. There was a steeple clock atop the building.

 A photo of Klinkner Hall with signs showing “Drugs, Insurance, Wells Fargo Express, Post Office and Real Estate.” Carts advertise Klinkner’s Rubber Stamps. OMCA H76.295.58O

Klinkner also built Eureka Park, a baseball field, which was the home of the Klinkner 9. Later on, it was the home of the Oakland Oaks, the city’s professional baseball team in the early 1900s, and the name was changed to Freeman’s Park.

Eureka Park. Johnny Maher, proprietor. Baseball grounds about 1886. OMCA

He also built about 75 houses. The houses were sold for between $3,000 and $5,000 or sometimes could be won in a raffle off a $2 ticket.

SF Chronicle 1892

Huckster

Klinkner & Co. buggy, barn in the background, ca. 1886-1893 – OMCA H77.57.26

Mr. Klinkner was one of Oakland’s earliest hucksters, if not the first. He was a staunch believer in the fact that it pays to advertise. Every Fourth of July, he would hitch up a span of mules to his cart. The mules were painted red, white, and blue, and the coach was plastered from top to bottom, advertising his business. On St. Patrick’s Day, they were green; at other times, they’d be an appropriate color for the occasion. Sometimes, he would match his colorful mules with equally bright dogs and a monkey or two.

Buggy. Dog, two monkeys on the back of a horse. Gift of Fred L. Klinkner H77.57.28

Golden Gate

But Klinkner and the town bearing his name did not last long. In 1888, Klinkner applied for the area post office to take the

“Klinknerville” name, “much to the disgust of the old families in the area,” who preferred the term “Golden Gate,” Thomas Klinkner wrote.

Oakland Tribune 1888

A back-and-forth ensued, with Klinkner even making a trip to Washington, D.C., to personally appeal to then-President Grover Cleveland.

The “Golden Gate” side won out, and the town’s name was changed shortly before Klinkner’s death. Golden Gate was annexed to Oakland in 1897.

The name “Klinkner” soon vanished from the area. What was once called Klinkner Avenue was changed to 59th Street.

Klinkner family: Charles seated in the wagon
photo from Oakland Museum of California

Klinker’s Family

Charles Klinker was born in Ausen, Germany, in 1852. His family then settled in Iowa when he was an infant. At age 20, he came west to San Francisco and opened the Red Rubber Stamp Factory on Sansome Street.

Klinkner died in 1893, at the age of 40, from a cold he neglected. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

1983

C. A. Klinkner and Co. Red Rubber Stamps 1884 “Courtesy of California State Archives.”

Klinkner married Katherine Parke, an Oakland native. She was born in the town of Clinton (later part of Oakland) in 1855. Katherine Klinkner died in 1945.

They raised seven children in their home in Klinknerville.

  • Charles A. Klinkner 1876-1951
  • Fredrick S. Klinkner 1878-1954
  • Herman P. Klinkner 1881-1959
  • Cora V. Klinkner 1887-175
  • Harry D. Klinkner 1889-1968
  • Elma I. Klinkner 1891-1984

The Klinkner family home was demolished in 1929 to make way for a brick building, which housed a drugstore owned by Klinkner’s son, Fred, before closing in 1968, taking the last remnants of the Klinkner name in the neighborhood.

Oakland Tribune 1919

Katherine then moved into an apartment on the second floor of Klinkner Hall, where she lived until selling the building in 1941. She then moved next door to a small cottage at 1064 59th Street.

The DeRome Home 1076 – 59th St., Oakland, 1886. Gift of Junior League of Oakland-East Bay
H78.86.76

Her daughter, Mrs. Cora DeRome (see), lived next door at 1076, and her son, Fred, lived across the Street at 1097. Klinkner Hall was demolished and replaced with a grocery store.

Photos from the Oakland Museum – see here

More Info:

The End

East of Piedmont

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“New Residential Section East of Piedmont“

SF Examiner Nov 13, 1920

The Oakland Real Estate Board held a contest to name the new residential district along Moraga Road in the hills behind Piedmont. The syndicate owned the area comprising 2500 acres of residential land and a business section. The prize for the best name was $50.00.

Oakland Tribune 1919

“The one condition was they had to describe what they saw in the district to suggest the name they submitted.

Montclair was the winner.

Montclair Subdivsions

Oakland Tribune Aug 22, 1922

Development of the hill section was first envisioned in the early 1900s when the Realty Syndicate Company purchased the Dingee and Medau properties.

SF EXAMINER JUL 10, 1901

The first unit would open in 1920, extending across Moraga Avenue from the present business district up and over to the Piedmont border. They called this unit Montclair Acres, and the great demand for lots resulted in the opening of Montclair Estates in 1921.

SF Examiner Nov 2, 1920

“The wisdom in buying a homesite in Montclair Estates is bulwarked by ever increasing joy of ownership.”

Oakland Tribune Oct 22, 1922
SF Chronicle Sep 24, 1921

Streets for the two units were named after famous WWI generals such as Pershing, Dawes, McAndrew, Liggett, Bullard, and Harbord. 

They both offered half-acre and one-acre lots.

Country Club Acres was also put on the market in 1921. It was located on the other side of Moraga Avenue, extending to Holy Names School and Masonic Avenue was in it.

Oakland Tribune May 28, 1922

Montclair Vista adjoining Country Club Acres opened in 1922 and extended from Harbord Drive to include Maxwelton and Hiltop Crescent. They held a “huge bonfire” (wow!) to announce the opening of Montclair Vista.

Oakland Tribune May 28, 1922

Sierra Vista opened in 1922.

Oakland Tribune 1922

Across the valley, Merriewood was opened in also in 1922. In addition to selling lots, the company also sold lots with small bungalows, the purchaser choosing the style of home to be built. Within two years, they sold 250 of these homes.

Oakland Tribune April 18, 1926

In Merriewood there are streets named for some of the signs of the Zodiac like Aquarius, Aries (no longer used,) Capricorn (my street,) Leo, Taurus, Uranus, and Virgo.

SF Examiner Sept 1924

There is also a group of streets named in honor of Robin Hood. They are Nottingham, Robin Hood, Sherwood, Merriewood (Merry Men?), and Crown (Crown of England?.)

Hampton Highlands opened in 1925 and was located starting where Park Blvd meets Estates Drive.

Oakland Tribune Nov 1, 1925

Montclair Highlands was the large area adjoining the business center, and streets in it were named for explorers; Cortez, Balboa, Magellan, and Drake, among others.

Oakland Tribune June 7, 1925

In this section, the syndicate built an Observation Tower, which burned down a few years later. Montclair Highlands was so successful that Montclair Highlands Extension was opened, including Cabot Drive and Colton Blvd.

Montclair Observation Tower – Montclair Highlands c 1925

Smith Reserve included some 1,600 lots, now known as Piedmont Pines, opened in 1926, and the streets were given English names, such as Ascot, Chelsea, Beaconsfield, Holyrood, and Keswick.

Smith Reserve Beauty Spots
Oakland Tribune May 23, 1926

A lot of work went into preparing Smith Reserve; they had to remove trees, open roads, and put in storm drains.

Scenic Beauty Smith Reserve
Oakland Tribune May 30, 1926

It was in Smith Reserve that they built one of the finest model homes in all of California. Check out Casa Alta Dena here.

Oakland Tribune Oct 9, 1927

In 1927 they opened “Smith Reserve Highlands” after closing out Montclair Highlands.

The Townsite

Oakland Tribune 1919

In 1919 the Realty Syndicate announced the plans for a civic /business center for the area in the hills behind Piedmont.

Site of the new Townsite – Oakland Tribune Nov 7, 1920

When the business district officially opened in 1925, it was known and publicized as “Montclair Townsite.”

Oakland Tribune Nov 7, 1920

Big Promotional Campaign

An extensive newspaper campaign was carried out on both sides of the bay, with advertising bills amounting to thousands of dollars weekly. Banners and flags flew along Moraga Avenue. Two bus lines provided free transportation into the hills.

The syndicate built a large lodge used for sales promotion. A prominent artist on the Examiner staff named Virgil Theodore Nahl painted a large mural painting in the lodge of the hill district looking towards the bay.

The lodge was later converted into an attractive home. I’d love to find out which one on Lodge Court is “The Lodge.”

Following the collapse of the Reality Syndicate in 1929 Raymond Emge who had worked for them took over the management of Montclair Highlands. Emge organized a home building company that promoted homes designed by architects and held architectural competitions. From then until WWII scores of new homes were built throughout the hills.

List of Subdivisions

More Info:

The End

Queen for a Day – “The Confidence Man”

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“Then it was revealed that Milton Wiser was a “confidence man who had played out his racket and disappeared, owing many people in defaulted debts and checks that bounced.”

Montclarion Jan 1, 1958
Montclarion 1957

Milton Wiser and his associates were promoters of Heavenly Candies by Haas up and down the West Coast.

Their sales pitch told of up to $10,000 profits a year. The cost to the prospect was $4500 (or any amount from $1200 to $6,000), plus candy stock.

From 1956

How could they go wrong? The product was backed by daily promotion on the Queen for the Day t.v. Show. The famous Haas candy company of Oakland made the candy.

Haas Distributing Co of Oakland

When Wisser came to Oakland in 1956, he made arrangements with Louis Chiodo, the owner of Chiodo Candy Co., to provide candy for the stores.

Wiser organized  Haas Distributing Co. to buy products from Chiodo. Wiser invited the name Heavenly Candies and added: “By Haas.”

 Chiodo was advised by the Oakland Better Business Bureau, of which he was a sponsor, that Wisers activities should be questioned, and they were aware of Wiser’s activities elsewhere.

Alburquerque Tribune Apr 17, 1953
Albuquerque Journal Apr 17. 1953

Chiodo became concerned about the payment for candy he sold to Haas in December 1956. At that time, he was owed $58,000. Because of this, he did not extend any more credit to any of the Heavenly Candy Stores (that Wiser started and sold). The was one exception. He provided Dolly Monks with candy for her store on credit.

Bounced Checks

The bank account at the College Avenue branch of Bank Of America was closed with many outstanding checks, which bounced.

Dolly Monks was shocked when several local Montclaions brought in “rubber checks” from Heavenly Candies.

Calls to their office were switched to a recorded message “You have reached a discontinued number.”

Unhappy Owner

Edward Topping, who opened a Heavenly Candy store on Grand Ave, told. The Montclarion (August 21, 1957) was not satisfied with the way Wiser’s outfit had not fulfilled its promises.  

He had been sold on the “package deal.” which gave him for a cost of $4500 a complete store ready to operate. He was also promised a “grand opening,” including lights, a majorette to give away candy, etc. He opened his store with no fanfare, and nobody showed up from Haas Distributing Co or provided anything to give away. 

Haas did provide women to help Topping get started. But they paid her with rubber checks. 

Police Investigation

The Oakland Police Department’s grand theft detail began an investigation into Wiser in August 1957. They hoped to gather enough evidence of fraud that can convict the man. Wiser operated just short of breaking the law.

On the surface, they appeared to be running a legitimate business. Of the 100 stores sold on the West Coast, no more than 50 were still open after the first year. Many of the owners lost their original fees.

When Wiser closed out his bank account many checks were outstanding and of course, bounced. Many other debts incurred by Wiser just simply not paid by check or otherwise.

Various Names Used

It looks like (from the articles I read) Wiser was using the name Haas as in the Geo. Haas and Sons Candy stores. Geo. Haas Candy Company went bankrupt in 1940.

Auburn Journal Sept 1958
  • Haas Distributing Co.
  • Haas Heavenly Candies of Oakland
  • Haas Chocolates of Oakland
  • J.H.Hass Distributing Co
  • Heavenly Candies by Haas

Now I haven’t found much else on Milton Wiser after 1958. But if I do I will update this post.

The End

Disclaimer: Now I don’t if Milton Wiser was guilty of anything or if he was a “confidence man” as reported in the Montclarion. As far I can tell he didn’t get his day in court of give his side of the story.

Sources

  • Candy Promoter Disappears as Checks Bounce – The Montclarion August 21, 1957
  • Sad Story of Milton Wiser Unwinds – The Montclarion August 21, 1957
  • Case Against Promoter Studied By Police – The Montclarion August 28, 1957
  • Wiser’s Bad Checks Paid By Ex-Aide – The Montclarion September 11, 1957

The End

Queen For A Day

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Would you like to be Queen for a Day?! Host Jack Bailey would say that the entire audience would reply: “YES!” Four or five women, each having a sob story to tell, told Bailey why they believed they should be crowned the show’s Queen. Usually, each contestant asked for a merchandise prize, such as a washer and dryer. The audience determined the winner by applause (via the “applause meter”).

On the April 11, 1957 episode of Jack Bailey’s “Queen for a Day” show. Dolly Monks of Oroville Ca was one of the four contestants. Each contestant had to talk about the recent financial and emotional hard times she had been through.

Dolly spoke about the hardships involved in raising three small children as a single parent after her husband had died of cancer. She was worried that she would not be able to provide for them as a single mother.

Dolly was chosen as the “Queen of the Day!”

The winner of that episode would qualify to win a fully stocked candy store from a participating sponsor of the show.

The participating sponsor was Haas Distributing Co. of Oakland run by Milton Wiser to promote the sales of “Heavenly Candy” stores all over the west. At the time of the show, there were about 100 stores opened.

The store would be completely stocked with Heavenly Candy and fixtures that were provided by the sponsor. She would be trained for as long as necessary in all aspects of running a candy store.

Queen of the Day to Open New Store in Montclair

The Montclarion April 1957

Mr. Wiser chose a store in the Montclair District. He worked with John Grubb Realty to lease a store on Mountain Blvd at 2034. The store had been the home of Montclair Sporting Goods, which had recently moved up the street to a larger store (where they stayed in business until 2020.) Later on, the same storefront was the home of Williams Footwear well into the early 1990s. My two friends and I all bought our “sort of” platform shoes there in the 70s.

The store was scheduled to open on July 12, 1957

Wow! This Is Big!

“with all the Hollywood razzle dazzle”

Milton Wiser 1957

Plans for the candy store opening were shaping up to be big according to Wiser in an article in The Montclarion (July 3, 1957.) Wiser tried his best to estimate and came up with a figure of slightly less than 50,000 people who might turn up in Montclair for the opening of the Heavenly Candies store at 2034 Mountain Blvd. He attributed the large estimate due to all the advanced print advertising and the daily plugs for the store on the t.v. show.

Mr. Wiser made it clear the opening would be spectacular and that he has extended an invitation to the mayor of Oakland Clifford E. Rishell and of course lots of other people including some famous Hollywood types. Because of this, the Montclair merchants asked the police department for extra protection.

Queen to Draw Throngs

Montclarion July 1957

“Friday July 12 is the BIG DAY -the grand spectacular Hollywood-type opening of the new Heavenly Candies store”

The Montclarion 1957

The opening was scheduled to start at 7 pm and was scheduled to be seen live on KRON TV in San Francisco. The Mayor of Oakland, Jerry Colona of Hollywood, and of course Jack Bailey himself was expected to be there.

Five girls were hired to help with handing out free candy to the first 1000 people to come to the store.

Los Angeles Times July 12, 1957

Store Opens with a Modest Throng

The Montclair Business Association went into action fully expecting thousands of curiosity seekers to come to Montclair. They persuaded the Chamber of Commerce to help pay for the cost of a big banner welcoming the Queen to Montclair. They held a reception at Sanford’s before the grand opening and invited the “Hollywood representatives and such folk.”

SF Examiner July 12, 1957

As the time approached for opening to begin, a modest group of about 500 people slowly assembled in the blocked-off street in front of the store. Jerry Colona and Councilman Peter Tripp (for the mayor) were there to cut the ribbon opening the store. The Oakland police department had three officers.

The Montclarion July 1957

Dolly was there in her crown and robe.

Queen for a Day from left to right Jerry Colona, Dolly Monks and Milton Wiser – 1957

Contrary to the advance information given to The Montclarion by an overly hopeful candy official, there was no live television coverage of the event. There wasn’t a public address system. It was filmed by a professional movie company to be shown at a later date on the Queen for A Day show.

The Californian July 16, 1957

The Queen is a Pawn

It seems to me the whole thing was big promotional stunt for the T.V. show and Heavanly Candies, Dolly became something of a pawn between the two.

She sold her home in Oroville and moved her family down from Oroville to a rented cottage in Pleasant Hill and secured a day maid to take care of her children.

In response to to an article in The Montclarion (July 31, 1957.)

“I realize to some people this all must look like a publicity stunt, but unless you know the inside story you can’t tell where the ‘business’ ends ‘heart’ begins.”

Dolly Monks

End of Her Reign and a New King

After the fanfare of the opening had passed on. Dolly opened every morning at 9am after driving from her home in Pleasant Hill after leaving her three children with the babysitter.

The Montclarion

She found that candy sales not too brisk. In fact many weeks went by and she paid her babysitter more than she made in the store.

Then she found out the the people who bought her home in Oroville left without notice. Her car was damage when struck from behind one morning.

So, she announced through The Montclarion that she would be giving up the store.

That announcement and Halloween candy trade sales gave her a big upsurge and she decided to stick it out.

The Montclarion 1957

The just after Christmas she called The Montclarion and put in advertisement that she was selling out and closing the store on January 1, 1958.

It turns out the reason what not that the store was a failure but that she was in love. She had met her king. Ralph King that is. They planned on getting married in 1959.

The Montclarion Jan 1958

Queen for a day…and a King forever.

The Montclarion Feb 1958

Coming soon Part 2 of a “Queen for a Day” – The Confidence Man

More Info:

The End

Montclair is…

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The Birth of Montclair

The 1920s were economic boom years in the United States and California.

Economic growth was fueled by the general post–World War I recovery and oil discoveries in Los Angeles and, most notably, the automobile’s widespread introduction.

Oakland expanded during the 1920s, flexing enough to meet the influx of factory workers.

Oakland Tribune July 22, 1922

Between 1921 and 1924, 13,000 new homes were built in Oakland, more than 1907-1920.

Many of the large downtown office buildings, apartments, and single-family houses still standing were built during the 1920s, reflecting the architectural styles of the time.

Moraga Road District

Oakland Tribune Nov 2, 1919

After running a contest in Oakland Tribune in 1919, Montclair was the name given to the new area. You can read more about that here: Sunalta or Montclair?

Montclair Opens

Oakland_Tribune_Wed__Jun_30__1920_
1920

They sold $460,000 worth of property in Montclair during the first year.

Her First Birthday

Oakland Tribune October 1921
Oakland Tribune October 1921

Where is Montclair?

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Jun_7__1925_
The Montclair of the 1920’s – Oakland Tribune

Today, Montclair covers a much larger area. It includes the neighborhoods (or tracts) of Pinehaven, Merriewood, Fernwood, Glenwood Glade, Forest Park, Montclair Highlands, and  Piedmont Pines.

During the first years of the 1920s, much money and effort went into selling property in Oakland, whether through free houses or lot giveaways or providing car service to the sites from downtown (just 15 minutes away). The Realty Syndicate even provided buses ( see The First Bus lines in Oakland ).

I thought I would show you some clever ads from the Oakland Tribune and the San Francisco Chronicle.
In the months leading up to the day Montclair went on sale, they ran small teaser-type ads all through the paper.

Teaser Ads

What is Montclair?

Armistice Day 1920 in Montclair

Oakland_Tribune_Wed__Nov_10__1920_
Oakland Tribune

The End

Red Boots

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Growing up in Montclair, there was an older woman who would walk the streets of Montclair. She would walk with her head down, minding her own business and not causing any problems.

She would walk from her home at 2779  Carisbrook Drive near Skyline to the Montclair shopping area via Chelton Drive. Sometimes she would go to the library. She would go to the McCaulous Department Store.

She sometimes would take rides from her neighbors. She was very quiet and a loner.

She just always wore a gray raincoat and red rain boots.

People have different memories of her. Some thought she was related to Jack London or the Knowland Family (I can’t find anything); Some thought she was wealthy. Some thought of her as scary, spooky, or even crazy. There were many rumors about her, especially from people who didn’t know her.

If spoken to, she would talk to people and be very nice. She would purchase Girl Scouts cookies from her neighbors or donate to a school event.

 I believe she was just heartbroken and lonely.

Her name was Hazel Wells.

Early Life

She was born Hazel Beatrice Clark on June 19, 1914. She grew up in Alameda with her four sisters. From what I can tell, she led an everyday life.

Oakland Tribune Jun 19, 1925
Hazel Beatrice Clark at 16 Alameda High School

Marriage

In 1937 she married Oscar Donald Wells, who also grew up in Alameda. In 1941 Hazel gave birth to a son Oscar Donald Wells, Jr.

California, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941 – Alameda 1937

World War II

Oscar Donald Wells enlisted in the Army on December 30, 1941, in San Francisco, California, during World War II. He was 32 years old.

In March of 1943, while living in Alameda, Hazel received a letter from her husband saying he was going on leave and intended to buy their son a pet monkey. In the same mail delivery, she received a letter from the War Department saying that Staff Sargent Oscar Wells had been missing in action since March 1.

He went missing on a bombing mission in the Middle Eastern theater of operations. He is still considered missing, but they placed a marker for him in North Africa.

From the War Dept

In October 1943, two-year-old Oscar Wells was pinned with the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to his father.

Oakland Tribune October 25, 1943

Sometime after her husband’s death, she and her son moved to Montclair, and they lived at 2779 Carisbrook Drive, close to Skyline Blvd.

Contra Costa Times Nov 1956

In the early hours of November 6, 1956, Oscar Wells Jr. stole a 1956 Lincoln from in front of the home of M.P. Kitchel on Camino Lenada just down the hill from his home. The keys were in the car. Wells was on parole from California Youth Authority.

A short time later, he was pulled over by a Walnut Creek policeman for speeding. He pulled off as the officer approached the car. The police took chase on the streets of Walnut Creek, going 75 to 90 miles per hour.

During the chase, the policeman noticed a tank truck start up after stopping. He pulled back on the pursuit. Wells didn’t see it and slammed head-on into the tanker at about 75 mph. He was pinned in the car. There were no skid marks.

“Shot me – get me out of my misery”

Oscar Wells Jr

He was buried three days later.

Aftermath

Hazel had lost her husband and son in tragic ways, and she probably never fully recovered from that. This might explain the way she was.

The Montclarion 1987

Over the years, her house has fallen in disrepair, and her neighbors step in to help her with money to turn the power, or they would hold work parties to clean up her yard or replace broken windows. She often refused help.

In 1986 the home was condemned. The electricity and water had been turned off for years. The city put an “Order to Vacate” sign on the front door. Hazel responded with a sign of her own.

“Not Vacant/Occupied by Owner”

Hazel spent the rest of her life in the Salen Luthern Home in Oakland. She died in 2008.

The Monclarion Aug 1996

The house on Carisbrook was sold for $155,000 in 1992 and demolished, and a new home was built.

SF Examiner 1992

She was heartbroken and alone.

More Info:

The End

Old Timers Recall

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A bit of history of some of the early residents of Montclair from the 1920s.

The Montclarion

In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Otto H. Darmsted bought three and a half acres from Villa Site Sales in the Pinehaven Tract for $1800. The land was cleared of pine trees, and the logs were advertised as free giveaways to the buyers to build a log cabin.

The Darmsted’s were married in 1911 and raised five boys in the home on Pinehaven.

The Montclarion 1961
The Montclarion June 15 1960

The Darmsted’s lived at 8 Pinehaven Road, which was later changed to 6515 PInehaven Road. One of their sons lived at 6501 Pinehaven.

6515 Pinehaven – Zillow
The Montclarion 1961

On Leo Way

George and Sadie Davidson and Dellos Miller (Sadie’s brother) jointly purchased a lot on Leo Way in the Glenwood tract of Montclair in 1921. At that time, there were only two other homes in the neighborhood.

The Montclarion

They completed building their home in 1925.

In a 1970 article in Montclarion, Mrs. Davidson said they “really pioneered.” She cooked on a wood stove since they had no gas, phone, or mail delivery. They had to walk down Broadway Terrace to pick up their mail.

1011 Leo Way today

They lived at 1011 Leo Way until the mid-1970s, over 50 years.

On Thorn Road

The Montclarion

George and Edith Mullen moved to Montclair in about 1922. When they moved there, Thornhill Drive was still called Thorn Road, and it went straight instead of turning right by the swimming pool like it does today.

The Montclarion

In a letter shared with the Montclarion in 1960, Mrs. Mullen shared that

“Merriewood was a solid mass of trees… planted ages ago so taxes would be on forest land.”

She also said real estate developers planted Thorn Road with Royal Ann cherries and Gouldin Road with apricots.

The Montclarion

They lived at 570 Thorn Road, which was later changed to 6022 Thornhill Drive. George died in 1933, and Edith lived there until the late 1950s. They were the members of Montclair Presbyterian Church, Improvement Club, and Montclair Women’s Club.

I couldn’t find any current photos of 6022 Thornhill. The last time it sold was in 1989.

Glenwood Tract

Glenwood Tract Map
The Glenwood Tract

In 1921, George and Marie Annereau purchased two Glenwood Tract lots that spanned from Glenwood Glade and Duncan Way. Their house at 212 Glenwood Glade was the second one built in the tract. Dave Duncan, for whom Duncan Way was named, was the first. The Duncans live in a tent on their property while they built their home. There was no electricity then, and they cooked on a wood stove. They lived at 132 Duncan Way.

Oakland Tribune Feb 25, 1926

Mr. Annereau was a founding member who helped build the Montclair Improvement Club House at Thorn Road (now Thornhill Drive) and Mountain Blvd. The Montclair Women’s Association ended up buying the clubhouse and used it until the early 1990s.

The Monclarion 1961

The Annereau’s created a beautiful garden on their large double lot; each had a separate hothouse. They opened their garden each year for tours, and they had many blue ribbons for their exhibition entries.

Oakland Tribune May 3, 1953
212 Glenwood Glade – Today, google maps

More Info:

The End

Christmas Time in Montclair

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6

I thought I would take a moment to share some Christmas ads and articles from The Montclarion. I know these ads will bring back memories from some of you.

From the 1940s

The Montclarion 1941
The Montcalrion 1941
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion

The 1950s

The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1957
The Montclarion
The Montclarion

The 1960s

The Montclarion
The Montclarion
The Montclarion
The Montclarion
The Montclarion 1966
The Montclarion 1966
The Montclarion
The Montclarion 1967
The Montclarion

The 1970s

The Montclarion 1970
The Montclarion
The Montclarion

The End

The Home Place of Romance – Smith Reserve

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 Smith Reserve was a subdivision in Montclair and is now called Piedmont Pines.  

Smith Reserve is located at the top of  Park Blvd with borders on Shepherd Canyon and Joaquin Miller Park and up to Skyline Blvd.

Smith Reserve Opens

The Realty Syndicate announced in May of 1926 that they were putting 300 acres in the hills behind Piedmont for sale. TF.M. Smith once owned the land.

Page from 1928 Brochure of Smith Reserve courtesy of Chris Treadway

“Smith reserve is the most beautiful tract of land opened by the Syndicate Company” 

Oakland Tribune
Oakland Tribune May 23, 1926

“Much of the beauty of Smith Reserve is due to the varied groupings of oaks, ecualyptus and pine trees which cover the entire tract. The different shades of green, together with the variety of sizes and shapes of these trees afford an almost endless variety of choice to people in search of unusualsettings for distinctive homes.”

Oakland Tribune

Huge Sales!

In July of 1926, two months after the subdivision was open, the Realty Syndicate reported nearly $250,000 in sales. They also said a bus transportation system would be implemented, connecting with both local and San Francisco electric lines. – Oakland Tribune, July 18, 1928.

“Scenic Beauty”

Oakland Tribune 1926
Oakland Tribune May 30, 1926
S.F. Examiner Sep 4, 1926
S.F. Examiner Oct 28, 1928

“The Princely Estate of F.M. “Borax” Smith”


“Selected years ago by F.M. “Borax” Smith as a private estate when thousands of acres of the finest residentioal property in the East Bay were owned by him, Smith Reserve was set apart for eleborate development.”

Oakland Tribune
1912: Map of Oakland and vicinity published by the Realty Union, compiled from optical and other data by T. J. Allan; T. R. Morcom

Smith built Arbor Villa on the site further down on Park Blvd.

Arbor Villa estate, as seen from across Park Boulevard 

Camp Dimond

In 1919, 25 acres of the Smith Reserve were sold to the Oakland-Piedmont Council of the Boy Scouts of America for a camp. It was called Camp Dimond and was in use from 1919-1948.

In 1948 the Oakland Public School district took over the land and built Joaquin Miller Elementary and Montera Junior High Schools.

Bus Service

In July of 1928, the Realty Syndicate inaugurated a regular bus service into Montclair Highlands and Smith Reserve from the terminal at Moraga Ave and Hampton Road ( now La Salle Ave.) The buses had a regular schedule but alternated their run. It would go to Smith Reserve first on one trip and go to Montclair Highlands first on the next trip.

S.F. Examiner Jul 28, 1928

In Smith Reserve

In September of 1928, they broke ground for two new Spanish-type homes ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 in building costs. Architect Hamilton Murdock completed plans for four additional homes with three more on the drawing board. They embraced various types of architecture. Two of the homes were of the modified Spanish hacienda type with balconies overlooking the Eastbay and the Golden Gate.

S F Examiner Apr 14, 1929

One of the homes started in 1928 was the residence of G.O. Thomas. This h me was Spanish in style and was to cost $20,000.

S.F. Examiner Apr 13, 1929

The Harry S. Stockman is a nine-room English-type home that cost $25,000 to build. The house has a panorama view of the hills, Eastbay, and landscaped grounds and is at 5640 Castle Drive at Mountain Gate.

Oakland Tribune Sep 1928
5640 Castle Drive Piedmont Pines – Realtor.com
Oakland Tribune Sep 23, 1928

Panorama Home

This home is located on Ascot Court.

Oakland Tribune Oct 7, 1928

Hacienda Monterey

“the brave days of dashing dons and senoritas live again at “Hacienda Monterey” in Smith Reseve.”

Oakland Tribune
Oakland Tribune May 29, 1929

Piedmont Pines

In the early 1930s, Smith Reserve was re-subdivided and renamed Piedmont Pines.

New Light Beacon

Oakland Tribune Mar 10, 1929
Oakland Tribune Jan 27, 1929

More Info:

The End