The schools were single-story buildings with integrated gardens and pavilion-like classrooms, which increased children’s access to the outdoors, fresh air, and sunlight. They were primarily built in areas away from city centers, sometimes in rural locations, to provide a space free from pollution and overcrowding.
The first open-air school in Oakland was established at Fruitvale School No. 2 (now Hawthorne School) on Tallent Street (now East 17th). When it opened, forty students from grades three through seven were enrolled. Miss Lulu Beeler was selected as the teacher because she had prior experience working in an open-air school in the East.
The school was designed to help cure ill and tubercular children. It focused on improving physical health by infusing fresh air into the classrooms and the children’s lungs. The school was established as a medical experiment. It was reserved for children judged to be of “weak” disposition.
It was constructed at the rear of the playground, one hundred feet from the existing main building.
“Fruitvale School. The Fresh Air School, 5-18-13.” The negative shows a group of children, boys and girls, posing in front of an enclosed porch on the back of the building. Two adult women and a man are standing with the children on a set of stairs leading up to this room. OMCA
The square, the wood-framed building, was raised to prevent underfloor dampness.
Fruitvale School. Saluting the flag, 5-18-13.” Negative shows a group of children with their right hands to their foreheads. One girl is standing in front of them, holding an American flag on a pole. OMCA
Each side had a different treatment to reflect the sun. The southern side had tall windows that, when open, didn’t seem enclosed. The east side was opened to the elements with only half a wall. A screen protected them from insects. In storms, awnings could be pulled down to protect the students.
Fruitvale School.” The negative shows schoolchildren hanging out of the school’s windows, posing for the photo. A male teacher is standing on the ground outside the windows, looking up at the first-floor windows filled with students. OMCA
The school was to be the first in a series of open-air schools installed on the grounds of Oakland’s existing city schools.
Objections
Fruitvale School. The outdoors brought indoors 5-18-13.” OMCA
There were some objections to opening the school, both from the parents of the selected children and the children themselves. The parents did not want their children singled out; the children worried they would be teased as being “sick.” These fears were realized, and the teachers struggled with how to deal with the repeated taunts
The open-air classroom idea was incorporated into many new schools built in the 1920s. I don’t know how long the Fruitvale Open Air School was open. I will update you if I find more information.
A bit of history of 2062 Mountain Blvd. According to the OHA, the building was constructed in 1946 for Klee’s Smorgasbord and designed byFrederick Dyer-Bennet. An addition was made in 1951, designed by John Carl Warnecke. The building was divided, and the facade changed c.1990.
If I could only find one photo of the Equinox.
Klee’s Smorgasbord
From the collection of Dorothy Londagin
Johnnie Lee Jackson was the chef from 1948-1949. Johnny Radell was the chef in 1949
From the collection of Dorothy Londagin
Flagg’s Restaurant
Forgotten Montclair Group
In 1951, the restaurant was purchased by A. J. Flagg and John S. Flagg, who already owned Pland’s Restaurant. A. J. spent considerable time and money remodeling it before opening it in March 1952. Joe Kiklas was manager, and famed maitre d’hotel, Jerome DeFelice was host.Â
Walsh & O’Brien’s Store, junction 18th, Peralta & Center Sts., Oakland, CA, ca. 1898″ OMCA – Gift of Mrs. Brent Howard H26.1429
Oakland Tribune Dec 21, 1901
Oakland’s oldest flatiron building resides at the juncture of Peralta, Center, and 17th Streets in West Oakland. It was built for William Walsh in 1879; the two-story redwood structure initially housed the Center Junction Exchange Saloon with apartments above.
Oakland Tribune Feb 11, 1884
A native of Ireland, Mr. Walsh purchased the Peralta Street lot in 1877. Peralta Street was one of the main avenues to Berkeley.
Oakland Tribune Dec 21, 1901
By 1877, the saloon had evolved into the Junction Cash Grocery and Liquor Store. In 1894, Mr. Walsh partnered with Austin O’Brien. The firm of Walsh & O’Brien was described as:
“importers selling direct to families, groceries, wines, cigars, home furnishing goods, hay, feed, and grain.”
Mr. Walsh bought out O’Brien’s share of the company in 1901 and changed the name to Walsh & Co.
Oakland Tribune Apr 18, 1901
Plate 100
From Oakland 1902 Vol 1, California Published by Sanborn Map Company in 1902
Most who grew up in the Montclair District of Oakland have fond memories of Mort’s Drive-in on the corner of Moraga and Medau. My memories of Mort’s are from when it was on Thornhill Drive next to the 7-11. The smell of French fries (the best!)wafting through the air into our classrooms would make our mouths water. I can still remember how good they smelled and tasted. Yum!
The Montclarion1969
Above is a ad from the late 60s after Mort’s moved to Thornhill Drive.
FYI – I don’t know why McKeen’s was sold. I think the owner’s political life took up much of his time. But that is just my opinion.
The Corner of Moraga and Medau – 6420 Moraga
Before Mort’s opened at the corner of Moraga Avenue and Medau Place, the land was part of the Medau Dairy.
Here is what the corner looked like in 1954.
Moraga and Medau in 1954 Public Works Photos, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey
McKeen’s Charcoal Broiler
McKeen’s in 1958 Montclarion
On a shakedown run, they sold three hundred “Big Mac’s” in four hours.
“Big Mac” & “Little Mac”
Montclarion July 1958
In 1958, Robert “Bob” McKeen, a local realtor, opened a delightful contemporary-style barbecue restaurant. The ex-Cal basketball star planned to eventually have a chain of them, and Montclair was the first. It offered both take-home and on-site dining.
Bob McKeen 1958
“Montclair claims Big Bob and his natty new spot.”
Oakland Tribune July 1958
Mort’s Drive-In
Montclarion March 1961
Morton “Mort” and Gertrude Saunders bought McKeen’s in 1961 and reopened it as Mort’s Drive-In.
Montclarion March 1961
Montclarion March 1961
Arson Suspected!
In April of 1966, fire swept through Mort’s Drive-In, causing several thousand dollars in damage.
Montclarion April 13, 1966
The building was broken into through a rear window. Police believe the intruders were disappointed that they did not find cash on the premises. Papers and rubbish were piled in the middle of the room and set on fire.
Mort Sauders, the owner, offered a $100 reward for information.
Montclarion April 13, 1966
Montclarion April 13, 1966
Going, going gone!
Crown Liquors and Cleaners
In 1967, a new building replaced the Drive-In. Crown has been there ever since.
Oakland Tribune 1967
Oakland Tribune 1968
More Info:
A special thanks to Chris Treadway for the clippings from the Montclarion.
This was posted before, but I had to update it because some of the photos were lost when I switched hosting sites.
In the summer of 1931, a group of property owners in the central downtown section formed the Downtown Property Owners Association.
One of their first projects was modernizing some of the “elderly buildings” in the downtown area. They were losing tenants to the new modern buildings being built there.
The association took care of all the details of the program.
“Just try to find a vacancy!”
D. Frost
Oakland Tribune 1933
A committee was formed to study older buildings. Buildings were photographed, and data was gathered, including finances, taxes, leases in effect, rentals, accurate measurements, and complete descriptions of the buildings.
By 1934, there were seven completed projects, with three more started.
The Jonas Building
The Jonas Buildingis located at thecorner of Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California.
Abraham Jonas owned the building and ran a clothing store for men.
Jonas building, Oakland, California. 1932 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Jonas building was the first to be remodeled and modernized.
Jonas building, Broadway and 11th Street in downtown Oakland, California 1934 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Abrahamson Building
The Abrahamson Building is located on the corner of 13th and Washington Streets.
It was opened in 1893 as Abrahamson’s Dry Goods and is owned by Jules and Hugo Abrahamson.
Abrahamson Building – circa 1931 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The second project in the modernization program was a five-story structure. J.H. King supervised its transformation, and E.T. Foulkes was the architect.
Oakland Tribune April 12, 1932
The facelift was completed in March of 1934 with the opening of the Union Furniture Company. The firm occupied all five floors of the building.
Oakland Tribune 1934
Modern vertical lines predominate in the remodeled building, replacing the bay windows, cornices, and ornamentation from when it was built. Green tiles was used to cover the brick walls.
Abrahamson Building 1932 – Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Over the years, other businesses occupied the building.
Abrahamson building, southeast corner of Washington and 13th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Darling Shop in view. 1942 -Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The M.K. Blake Building
M.K. Blake Building was a four-story store and office structure at the corner of 12th and Washington Streets.
This was the third modernization project.
M. K. Blake building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of Washington and 12th Streets circa 1935 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland Tribune August 1932
The building was stripped of the bay windows, cornices, and other ornamentation removed. A warm ivory shade was used on the exterior walls, with a darker color for the trim.
M. K. Blake Estate Co. building (the Blake Block), southwest corner of 12th and Washington Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Smith’s in view. 1949 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Delger Building
The Delger Building was the ——building to be remodeled under the program.
The project included the removal of the former exterior and the bay windows.
Delger is building at the corner of 13th Street and Broadway Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
Delger building, northwest corner of 13th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland, California.
The Park Building
In 1933 the modernization of the Park Building begin. The building was locatied on fourteenth street between Broadway and Washington Street across from City Hall.
Park building:circa 1930 Downtown Property Owner’s Association.Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
Oakland Tribune July 6, 1933
The Park Building marked the eight building in the program.
The Park Building circa 1933
Glenn Building
Work began in 1937 on the Glenn Building at 1308 Broadway as part of the Downtown Property Association’s modernization program.
Glenn building, 1935 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
According to the Oakland Tribune, the Glenn Family had owned the building for 50 years.
The improvements to the two-story cost $5,000 and included all new tiles on the front of the building. Edward T. Foulkes was the architect of the project.
Most people will recognize the building as the home of De Lauer’s Newsstand.
Glenn building, east side of Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. Margaret Burnham’s Cottage Candies, Leighton, Kay Jewelry Company in view. 1935
The Zukor Building
The Zukor building was modernized in 1934. The ancient arches were replaced, and the unsightly exterior features were removed. The wall finish was replaced with a soft shade of green hard glaze.
Zukor’s, Inc. building, Washington Street, between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1932 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
ScreenshotScreenshotOakland Tribune
Zukor’s, Inc. building, Washington Street, between 13th and 14th Streets in downtown Oakland, California. 1934 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division (Oakland, Calif.)
The Schutz Building
The Schutz Building, was on Twelfth Street between Broadway and Washington Street, was the twenty-first modernization project.
The three-story building was owned by the F.W. Schutz Estate Company.
Schutz building, north side of 12th Street between Broadway and Washington Streets. Smith’s Shoes for Men, Brunswick Billiards in view. circa 1936 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Oakland Public
The builing was the twenty-first project.
The briock exterior was replaced with a hard tile finish in a light tan with black trim.
Schutz building, north side of 12th Street between Broadway and Washington Streets. Smith’s Shoes for Men, Brunswick Billiards in view. circa 1936 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.Oakland Public
More Info:
In total, 31 buildings were rebuilt or given a “facelift.” The program was a success; buildings were filled with stores, and the stores were filled with shopping people.
Plaza Building at 15th and Washington Streets
Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank Building at 13th and Franklin
S.H. Cress Company on 14th and Broadway.
Federal Telegraph Building at 12th and Washington Streets
Fuller-Sparks Building on 14th Street.
Masonic Temple Building on 12th Street for the new Lerner Store
In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools.  Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Â
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. Â
Montera Junior High
Montera and Joaquin Miller Schools are located where Camp Dimond, owned by the Boy Scouts, once was. The camp opened in 1919 and closed in 1949 when the board of education purchased the land.
Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in December 1957. The school was next to Joaquin Miller Elementary School. Speakers at the event were Peter C. Jurs, board member; Mrs. Robert Hithcock, President of the Joaquin Miller PTA; Zoe Kenton, eighth-grade student; Jim Ida, seventh-grade student; and Supt Selmer Berg. Rev Robert H. Carley led the invocation.
Malcolm D. Reynolds and Loy Chamberlain designed the school. The new school featured: Administration Offices.
Construction
Jan 1958
1958
Parking Lot – November 1958
Gymnasium
June 1958 Russ Reed Photo
Naming the School
Montera Junior High – Nov 1959
The school was temporarily called Joaquin Miller Junior High because it is adjacent to Joaquin Miller Elementary School. Â
As in all new Oakland Schools, the students, faculty, and community help choose the school’s name.Â
Recommendations to the school board from the school’s parent-facility club were as follows:
Jack London Junior High
Montera Junior High
Pineview Junior High
They were set to vote on the name at the next board meeting. Before they could vote, they received a second letter from the parent-faculty club at the school withdrawing the recommendation of Jack London Junior High.
The parents said that.
London was not a fit person for the honor.“
Parent – Faculty
SF Chronicle – Oct 1959
 A student representative said, “Montera Junior High” was the top choice for those attending the school. The area was known historically as the Montera District.
Oakland Tribune November 23, 1924
School Dedication
The school was formally dedicated as Montera Junior High on November 10, 1959
In 2011, Montera became a California Distinguished School. The woodshop is another source of school pride, having celebrated over 50 years of teaching children the arts of woodcraft. It is the only remaining woodshop in an Oakland middle school.
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.
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.
Skyline High School
Skyline High School is located on a 45-acre (some say 35 acres) campus at the crest of the Oakland hills. The school is near the Redwood Regional Park and has a panoramic (through the trees)view of the San Francisco Bay Area on one side and Contra Costa on the other.
My School Id
Hill Area High School
Where will Oakland’s proposed new hill-area school be located”
Oakland Tribune Sep 05, 1956
Talks about a new “Hill-Area High School began in the early to mid-1950s. After weeks of field trips and meetings the possible sites for the new school were reduced from eight to three.
They finally they decided on a 31-acres site at Skyline Blvd and Fernhoff Road – No 1 above and below.
The new hill area high school costs were expected to be almost $4,000,000, with nearly $3,000,000 earmarked for site development and construction.
Oakland Tribune May 21, 1958
For 1,500 students, the plans called for fifty-four classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, an auditorium, and administrative offices. The number of classrooms would be increased to 67 for 2,000 students.
The Oakland architectural firm of Warnecke and Warnecke were hired to design the new school.
Construction
The grading and excavation was complete by July of 1959 at a cost of $182,000
Montclarion 1961
Architects Warnecke and Warnecke estimated the school building would cost $3,650,600 in addition to the money already spent on the site, and development would bring the total to $4,623,301.
Some of the suggestions to cut the cost was.
Omit a $500,000 auditorium
Omit the covered walkways for a savings of $97,000
Substitute 13 portables classrooms for permanent buildings to save $266,800
Oakland Tribune Jan 25, 1959
The contract to build the Hill Area High School was awarded to Branagh and Son, at a cost of $4,140,500 for 50 classrooms.
Construction was set to begin in November of 1959
The school was set to open in the fall of 1961.
Oakland Tribune Jan 25, 1961
Loud protests that the “tentative” boundaries for the new Hill Area High School would keep low income and minority groups prompted the Board of Education to request further study on the matter in January of 1961.`
Representatives of the NAACP told the board members that keeping attendance boundaries in hill area would make the new facility a
“private prep school supported by public funds.”
The existing boundaries of the four high schools in Oakland then had lines extending to the eastern limits of the city allowed for a wide divergence of racial and economic backgrounds.
The proposed boundary for the new school stretched along the top lines of the hills would only allow for “horizontal mobility.”
David P. McCullum, president of the Oakland NAACP, stressed that “Negros would not be the only ones deprived of a chance to attend the new school but that all races in the lower economic group would be cut out.
” It is not just a color problem-it is a total problem.”
Henry J. Kaiser Jr was the chairman of PACE (Oakland’s Public Advisory Committee on Education), and he wrote in a letter to the board of education that.
“This is the time when all of us-the Negro people and the white people-should face common problems together and work them out to our mutual satisfaction, to the end that the community is strengthened and our school children are given the maximum opportunities for development.”
McCullum said:
Skyline boundaries don’t just shut out Negroes, but create general “economic” segregation which also affects many white people.
The new attendance boundaries brought charges of gerrymandering.
The Segregation unintentional School Official Decries”
April 03, 1962
But today there are many Negro children in junior highs which feed into Skyline High School”
Selmer Berg Apr 1962
The discussion on Skyline’s borders went on for a few more years. In 1964 an ‘Open” enrollment plan was proposed, and eventually, it was accepted.
Oakland Tribune Feb 26, 1961
The new boundary did the best job of following present junior high attendance lines, and in giving relief to Castlemont, Fremont, Oakland High and Technical High.
The Name Skyline Wins!
In January of 1961, Dr. George C. Bliss was appointed the first principal of Skyline. Dr. Bliss had with the Oakland schools for 36 years most recently as the principal of Technical High School.
School board members received suggestions that the new Hill Area High school be named Sequoia or Skyline High.
Montclarion 1961
In February of 1961, Oakland’s newest high school had an official name.
The board voted at the regular meeting to call the $4.5 million school “Skyline High School”.
Athletic Shakeup
To fill Skyline, they planned on taking the following students from:
700 from Oakland
400 from Fremont
200 from Castlemont
125 from Technical
Seniors could stay at their present school and graduate with their class, and junior within the new boundaries also had that choice. Sophomores had no choice. They must go to Skyline.
This meant that some of the star athletes would be leaving their school for Skyline.
Oakland’s starting basketball guard and the best high jumper in track and field were bound for Skyline.
Oakland High was set to lose Paul Berger, their coach of nine years.
Ben Francis was the sophomore starting basketball guard at Oakland High, who must switch to Skyline. Others were Craig Breschi,Glen Fuller, Jim Ida, and Ed Huddleson.
Oakland Tribune Nov 03, 1962
Ben Haywood Oakland’s best high jumper was bound for Skyline.
JUNIOR BEN HAYWOOD WIND FOUR EVENTS
Oakland Tribune Mar 03, 1962
It was announced in April of 1961 that no varsity football would be played the first year at Skyline, by principal Dr. George Bliss.
“Football depends a great deal on size and weight.” the principal said, ” and we’ll be outnumbered two and three to one in seniors by the other schools.”
Skyline High circa 1963
Dedication
Sky’s the limit
All we have to do is develop the finest school that’s possible-one that everybody can look up to”
Dr. George Bliss – Aug 1961
The formal dedication for the school was held in December of 1961. The ceremony was held in the auditorium, with music provided by the Skyline Concert Band and Choir.
Oakland Tribune Dec 04, 1961
The formal presentation was made by Selmer Berg the Sup. of the Schools with Arch W. Host and Leroy D. Smith accepting on behalf of the students and faculty.
In a surprise feature to the program the auditorium was named the Selmer H. Berg Hall in his hoor.
The school newspaper is the Skyline Oracle and the yearbook is the Olympian. These publications have existed since the early decades of Skyline High history. The participants of each publication are involved by taking the offered courses. The Skyline Oracle has won numerous honors over the years for the quality of its publication.
Skyline Mascot
Arson Fire
From Chris Treadway
In January of 1973, an ex-student of Skyline who at the time was AWOL from Fort Ord broke into the 20 Building in search of food or money. He said he threw a lighted match into a can of cleaning fluid. He said he tried to put the fire out but fled and pulled the fire alarm. When the fire department responded, they were unable to find it. Neighbors later saw the flames and called the fire department by this time the 20 Building was gone.
From the Skyline Yearbook
After leaving Skyline, he broke into a church down the hill and was arrested by the police; he had set off the silent alarm. While in police custody, he confessed to starting a fire at Skyline.
I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts on Oakland Schools. Along with a bit of the history of each school. 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.
Dag Hammarskjöld School
Sorry I wasn’t able to find any pictures of the school. Let me know if you have any.
The new Columbia Gardens school on Empire Road was a temporary school established in 1961 as a “bonus” project from the 1956 bond issue.
The school was officially named Dag hammarskjöld School after the late secretary-general of the United Nations in October of 1961.
Dedication
The school was dedicated in March of 1962.
Oakland Tribune Mar 21, 1962
The school is now a middle school called Hammarskjold (Dag) Opportunity and is located at 9655 Empire Road
$40 Million School Program Ends – Oakland Tribune Feb 02, 1964
Lincoln Elementary School
Lincoln Elementary School is one of the oldest schools in the Oakland Unified School District. The school had several incarnations before becoming Lincoln Elementary School.
Lincoln School’s history goes back to 1865 when the Board of Education established Primary School No. 2, “the Alice Street School,” at Alice and 6th Streets.
The school was moved to Harrison Street and renamed Harrison Primary.
The lot for the first school cost $875, and the two-room school cost $1,324. There were 60 students registered that first year.
Lincoln School in 1887
In 1872 (1878), Lincoln Grammar School was built on its site at Alice and 10th Streets. They paid $7,791 for the land, and the building, complete with “modern speaking tubes for communication,” cost $20,000.
Lincoln School in 1898
1906 Earthquake
Drawing of the New Lincoln School
The 1906 Earthquake interrupted the construction of a new school building with 22 classrooms that replaced the school from 1872. New plans were drawn to make an earthquake-proof structure. There were many delays, but the school was finally open in the fall of 1909.
Oakland Tribune Aug 31, 1907
New Lincoln School ended up costing between $150,000-$175,000.
Lincoln School offered the first manual training and homemaking classes in the city. During the flu epidemic of 1918, meals for prepared for and served to 200 daily.
New School
Preliminary plans for a new two-story concrete building were authorized in October 1957. The cost was estimated at $535 000.
The 1906 building was demolished in 1961 due to seismic safety concerns.
Oakland Tribune October 06, 1959
A new building was erected in 1962. The cost of the building was $617,000 and had 16 classrooms, offices, an auditorium, a library, and a kindergarten.
A bronze plaque of the Gettysburg Address was presented to the school.
Oakland Tribune Apr 18, 1961
The school grew and used portable classrooms to accommodate the new students.
Lincoln Today
The school is at 225 11th St. in Oakland.
The school has a long history of serving families in the Oakland Chinatown neighborhood and children from other parts of Oakland. Today, the majority of the children at Lincoln come from immigrant families across the globe. To learn more about the history of Lincoln Elementary, please visit the Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project.
Lincoln Today
In 2004 the new annex building was built to replace eleven portable buildings.
Lincoln’s alums include famous Oaklanders: Raymond Eng (first Chinese-American elected to Oakland’s city council), James Yim Lee (author and student of Bruce Lee), and Benjamin Fong-Torres (famous rock journalist and author).
Distinguished School
2006: Lincoln Elementary wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
2007: Lincoln Elementary wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
2008: Lincoln Elementary is named a California Distinguished School and wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
2009: Lincoln Elementary wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
2010: Lincoln Elementary wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award and is named a National Blue Ribbon School
2011: Lincoln Elementary wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
2012: Lincoln Elementary wins a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
2019: Today, Lincoln Elementary serves over 700 TK-5 students.
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 from home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts with new information or corrections.
Let me know of any mistakes or additions.
King Estates Junior High School
In 1956 the city of Oakland and the Board of Education (OUSD) agreed to purchase a 46-acre tract on Mountain Blvd. near the Oak Knoll for future development as a combined school and recreation area.
Central National Savings Bank Map 1923
They purchased the land from the heirs of Arthur Dale King a Hillsborough millionaire, who died in 1952.
Under the agreement, 19 acres of the total 46 were for the two new schools.
In June of 1958, the Board of Education approved the plans for the new King Junior High School on Fontaine Street.
Groundbreaking Oakland Tribune Feb 1959
The estimated cost of the school was $1,638,445. The school was designed by the firm of Confer and Wills.
Oakland Tribune Jun 1958
Oakland Tribune Jun 1958
Twenty-six classrooms
Gymnasium
Library
Multipurpose room
Administrative Offices
800 Students
In October of 1960, the board ok’d the name “King Junior High” for the new school in King Estates.
Oakland Tribune Sept 06, 1960
School Shooting
Oakland Tribune March 18, 19
Oakland Tribune March 1973
In March of 1973, 15-year-old Leonard Key watched his mother die by a sniper’s bullet outside the school gym. Leonard’s mother, Mrs. Kay Key, and two sisters had just seen him play in an all-star basketball game.
Police arrested two 15-year-old boys who confessed to firing random shots onto the campus with a sawed-off shotgun and a .22-caliber pistol.
King Junior High Today
Google Maps
Google Maps
OUSD Photo
Google Maps
OUSD Photo
In 2005 two small highs schools opened at the campus; they are the Youth Empowerment School and East Oakland Community High School.
Now Rudsdale Continuation School and Sojourner Truth School are there.
The school named for Ralph Johnson Bunche (1903-1971). He taught Political Science at Howard University and was the first African American to get a Ph.D. in political science from an American university. He worked with helped Martin Luther King Jr. He was the first African American to be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. He helped form the United Nations and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President John F. Kennedy.
Bunche Visits the School
In 1966 Ralph Bunche paid a visit to the school that bears his name.
“I have been waiting to come and see you since the school was established.I’ll try not to do anything that would anything that will embarrass you.”
Ralph K. Bunche 1966
Ralph K. Bunche 1966
Ralph K. Bunche 1966
He spoke to the 450 students in the play yard of the school. He then spent about an hour shaking hands with all the children and signing autographs.
After the event, some of the children said:
“He’s real nice, I liked the way he talked,” said Claudia Mason age 10
“He’s an intelligent man,” “He’s a real fine gentleman “
said Wayne Jackson age 10
Tribute to Bunche
Ralph Bunche Day was held on November 19, 1971. The children of the school paid tribute to the man the school is named after.
The school was called the Laurel Annex School and was organized in May of 1935.
The name officially changed to Redwood Heights School in June of 1935.
Location of the first School
The first school was located at 4359 Bennett Place.  Avenue Terrace Park is there now.
New School and location
The Oakland Board of Education officially broke ground on the site of the new school at Mountain Blvd and 39th Avenue. The new school was the tenth building as part of the 1948 tax election.
The two-story building had 11 classrooms, a kindergarten, an auditorium, and a library. Donovan and Kerr were the architects.
4401 39th Ave, Oakland, CA 94619
Redwood Heights Construction 1959 Oakland History Room Photo
The Board of Education approved plans for the new school in February of 1927.
The plans called for a two-story steel and concrete structure at an estimated cost of $260, 000. The “Spanish type” building constructed in the form of an L and had 35 classrooms, a gymnasium, shops, and an auditorium.
Oakland Tribune 1928
Westlake Junior High was known as Lakeview Junior High.
Dedication Ceremony
The formal dedication of the school was held on March 14, 1928.
Name Change
Renaming the school became necessary to avoid conflict with Lakeview elementary school.
The students wanted the school named after Col. Charles Lindbergh. The board decided against that. Lakeview Junior High became West Lake Junior High in May of 1929
One hundred sixty-two students graduated from West Lake Junior High on June 06, 1929. “The Biggest Class Ever.”
Oakland Tribune June 1928
Oakland, CA December 13, 1953 – Heralds from Westlake Junior High School opens the Christmas Pageant at the Oakland Auditorium. (Russ Reed / Oakland Tribune Photographer) (Photo by MediaNews Group/Oakland Tribune via Getty Images)
I plan 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 can sometimes take time and effort. 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.
I didn’t have much luck with this group of schools. I figured I better share it now, as I was spending too much time on it.
Laurel Elementary School
Laurel School Photo By Cheney Photo Advertisingcirca 1915
The Laurel School opened in February 1910. The school was a part of the Allendale School district.
Laurel School – 1937
Unique School
Oakland Tribune August 26, 1928
New School Building
Oakland Tribune October 31, 1957
In 1959 the wooden three-story school building was demolished to make room for a new school building.
Oakland Tribune October 30, 1958
The new school was the building on the bottom right side. Google Maps
School Bell
For almost 50 years, the ringing of the bell in the wooden three-story building played an essential part in the neighborhood around the school.
The area residents were determined to save the bell as a local shrine. It was the last public school bell used in the city.
The bell is mounted and on display in the hallway by school offices.
Sobrante Park Junior High, as it was first called, opened on February 01, 1960, and was the 27th project to be completed, paid for money from the 1958 bond issue.
The $1,425,525 school would eventually house 900 students. The school s campus is 14 acres and has the following. The school was designed by Mitchel Van Bourg & Associates.
Eight General classrooms
Two Science Rooms
Two homemaking rooms
Two arts & crafts rooms
Two music rooms
Three shops
Two special ed rooms
a library
a gymnasium
a multipurpose room
offices
In May of 1960, the Board of Education approved James Madison Junior high school as the permanent name of the new Sobrante Park Junior High.
Oakland Tribune Wed June 15, 1960
Oakland Tribune 1960
The plaque on the school
Madison Today
Madison Today – OUSD
400 Capistrano Drive, Oakland, CA 94603
Today it is called Madison Park Academy of Engineering and Graphic Design. It has approximately 800 students in grades 6-12.
Madison Park Business & Art AcademyCampus Expansion
The new 30,464-square-foot classroom building will feature:
Fourteen classrooms equipped with modern classroom furniture
Two science laboratories
Four student restrooms will feature low water flow fixtures
Six administrative offices and increased staff workspace, including a break room, conference room, workroom, and staff restrooms
Exterior assembly area for student activities
Renovation of kitchen shared by MPA and James Madison Middle School
In 1956 a new school was proposed for the site on El Paseo drive that a group of portable buildings occupied.
Oakland Tribune July 05, 1956
The new school was designed by Ralph N. Kerr and Robert E. Riggs.
Thirteen general classrooms
Special Ed classroom
A kindergarten
A library
A multipurpose room
Offices
Sobrante Park Today
The school is located at 470 El Paseo Drive
Today the school is called Madison Park Academy (MPA Primary). MPA Primary serves students in grades TK-5. Our vision at MPA Primary is to educate, challenge, and nurture our students to succeed in secondary school and beyond.
Wow, this school’s history was hard to put together.
Stonehurst School opened in 1915 as one portable school.
The citizens of the Elmhurst and Stonehurst districts attended a school board meeting in August of 1915. They demanded each area get a portable school, one north and the other south of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific tracks.
“We have working men down in South Elmhurst, workmen have children!”
JA Halpruner August 1915
The Stonehurst people based their claim on growth, and the Elmhurst people based their claims on more children.
“The rich people in Stonehurst don’t have any.”
August 1915
Small or Not!
“Stonehurst is a small insignificant burg, but we have a big district and many children,” continued Sherwood. At the time, there were 78 students and 89 not yet in school in South Elmhurst and only 41 Stonehurst. The meeting was adjourned!
The South Elmhurst school was located on Edes and Douglass Avenues.
Oakland Tribune April 28, 1916
New School
Oakland Tribune Dec 25,1917
In 1916 it was reported in the “School Building Report” that they intended to purchase another site for a new Stonehurst school building to replace the portable one. The district was leasing the land the school was on.
Demand
After demanding a new school as promised in 1916, the residents were guaranteed by the school board the first money that was received from selling school bonds
“shall be used in the construction of the Stonehurst school.”
Oakland Tribune 1921
Stonehurst School in 1926 – showing the 1922 school building with a proposed addition Oakland Tribune November 07, 1926
Work began on the new school in late May of 1921. The new school consisted of eight classrooms and an assembly hall for about $50,000. An addition was added to the school in 1927, costing $60,000.
Grocery Store.
Oakland Tribune October 05, 1926
“The scene in the Stonehurst School grocery, where second- grade pupils are learning how to make play dollars go far.”
Unsafe School
In 1972 a $1.2 million project to replace the 50-year-old Stonehurst school building because it is an earthquake hazard was approved by the Board of Education.
Built before 1933, when California’s Field Act established new construction standards for earthquake safety, the building was surrounded by a cluster of 29 portables -10 were built before 1933. The school was built to house 380 students and had 973 enrolled in 1972.
Ratcliff, Slama, and Cadwalader architects designed the new $1.2 million school.
No Name Change
At different times, Madison Junior High and Stonehurst requested their school be renamed for Dr. Marcus A. Foster. They were turned down.
Stonehurst Today
10315 E Street, Oakland, CA, 94603
Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy is a public community K-5 elementary school in East Oakland with an integrated focus on academics, youth development, family support, health, and social services. KDA website –OUSD
On November 07, 1928, the new $116,000 Whittier School was dedicated. The first principal was R.S. Wheeler.
Oakland Tribune November 07, 1928
The school was named after John Greenleaf Whittier, an American Quaker poet, and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States.
In 1953 Whittier was closed after being declared an earthquake hazard.
The school reopened in 1956 after a $376,722 reconstruction project. Eleven thousand square feet of added space in the basement was converted into a cafeteria and a special education classroom.
Oakland Tribune July 06, 1956
Whittier School Today
Whittier school closed in 2012. It reopened as Greenleaf Elementary school in
