Model/Display Homes - A Bit of History

Melrose Highlands- Part 2

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

In 1935 Phil Heraty, a local real estate agent and developer, took over the sales of Melrose Highlands.

Colonial Village – 1935

A type of English brick was used on the exterior of a few houses that were built in 1935.

**Oakland Tribune June 1935** – **7773 Greenly Drive**

**Oakland Tribune July 1935** – **7765 Greenly Drive**

Both the houses are on Greenly Drive, they are side by side at 7765 and 7775.

Heraty to Build 100 Homes – Jan 1940

Cape Cod Colonial – 7776 Sterling Drive

Six generous sized rooms with light-filled upstairs bedrooms. Downstairs has the living room, dinette, and kitchen. Detached Garage. Price $4150.00.

The present-day photo below. I see they made a room out of the garage.

7225 Sterling Drive – 1940

Heraty Homes – Greenly Drive

Forty new -home owners have moved into Melrose Highlands since his organization became the selling agents
said Heraty – Oakland Tribune Sept 08, 1940
said Heraty – Oakland Tribune Sept 08, 1940

New Economy Home at 8108 Greenly Drive – 1940

Building Progress in Melrose Highlands

Below is about 8032 Fontaine Street, which was lost due to the construction of the freeway.

Beautiful Melrose Highlands – 1941

In May of 1941, a furnished “Model Home’ opened in Melrose Highlands at 8033 Fontaine Street.

Built to Order in Melrose Highlands – 1941

A Garden Showplace on Greenly Drive

The home of R.E. Derby on 7757 Greenly Drive was featured in the garden section on the Oakland Tribune in July of 1939.

their principal concern was, what to do with the “mud hole” in the backyard.
R.E Derby – July 16, 1939
R.E Derby – July 16, 1939

The End

Million Dollar View Home – 1936

Posted on June 28, 2019November 7, 2025 by Dorothy Londagin

This is an updated version of this post I wrote in 2019. When I moved my blog to a different host (server), some of my posts didn’t fare well in the move. I’ve been reviewing my them one by one, making corrections and updates as needed.

The Million Dollar View home is named for its exceptional panorama of the entire bay.

The home officially opened on August 9, 1936, and by the third week, 7000 visitors passed through the Million Dollar View Home. The architect was Conrad T Kett, and the builder was Paul Walter (Worter?)

The residence was designed with the family in mind. Great care was taken to ensure the kitchen was both conveniently and spaciously arranged.

English Tudor with six spacious rooms that take full advantage of the panoramic view of Oakland, San Francisco, and the Bay, including both bridges and vistas from San Pablo Bay to miles down the Peninsula.

Look at the View—Oakland, the Bay, and San Francisco from every major window!” Oakland Tribune Oct 11, 1936

With an extra-large living room, dining room, breakfast room, and kitchen. The kitchen is usually large and is a masterpiece of careful planning and scientific, step-saving arrangement. Oakland Tribune Aug 09, 1936

Three large bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a second-floor sundeck.

Women will marvel at its extra cupboard space and the way we have provided for thoses hard to store odds and ends

Martha Lee – Oakland Tribune Aug 09, 1936

An architecturally perfect home” Oakland Tribune Oct 17, 1937

For Sale

Million Dollar View –
Montclair Highlands
5614 Balboa Avenue
Conrad T Kett – Architect
Paul A. Wolter – builder
Emge & Stockman
1936

The End

Homes, Model/Display Homes, Real Estate

Open for Inspection Today – 1939

Posted on June 27, 2019October 13, 2022 by Dorothy Londagin

Updated October 2022

A tour of six modern furnished homes was opened for inspection on Sunday, August 13, 1939. The houses were in Berkeley, Moraga, and Oakland. I will highlight the two places from Oakland.

Lincoln Highlands

Harmony Home
2700 Alida Street
1939
$6750 up
Lincoln Highlands
Irwin M. Johnson – architect
W.H. Wisheropp – owner and builder
H.G. Markham – realtor

Harmony Home was one of several homes constructed in Lincoln Highlands in 1939. It is located on Alida Street at the top of Coolidge Avenue.

The compact plan included a large living room, a dining room, a kitchen with a breakfast nook, a tile bath with three bedrooms, and an informal den with access to a double garage.

In less than a month, over 12,000 had toured Harmony Home.

Sheffield Village

Hampstead House
1939
Sheffield Village
Theodore Thompson – architect
E.B. Fields – developer

Sheffield Village is located above Hwy 580 at Dutton Avenue.

I couldn’t locate the actual “Hampstead House.”

Hampstead House

Before the opening of Hempstead House in Sheffield Village, the H.C Capwell’s Company created a full-scale floor plan model wholly furnished in the furniture department on the fourth floor of their downtown store.

Home Tour of Montclair – 1937

Posted on June 26, 2019November 6, 2022 by Dorothy Londagin

5335 Estates Drive
5664 Thornhill Drive
1731 Mountain Blvd
6025 Bruns Drive
Liggett Drive
2645 Camino Lenada
Montclair Realty Offices- 6540 Moraga Ave
Emge and Stockman Offices – Mountain and LaSalle
Winder & Gahan Office – 6500 Moraga Ave

C.W. Leekins – 6054 La Salle Ave

Home Tour of the Hills District

Prominent real estate companies and builders in Montclair held an “open-house” week during the Oakland National Home Show held October 22- 30, 1937. Oakland Tribune Oct 22, 1937

The following is a list of the sponsors:

C.W. Leekins – builder
Montclair Realty Company
Herbert A. Richardson – builder
Emge and Stockman Realtor
Winder & Gahan – developers

C.W. Leekins Sponsored

2645 Camino Lenada
C.W. Leekins – builder
1937
$7250

5335 Estates Drive
C.W. Leekins – builder
1937

1731 Mountain Blvd
C.W. Leekins – builder
1937
$6750

H. A Richardson Sponsored

6025 Bruns Drive
H.A. Richardson – builder
1937
$13,000

Montclair Realty Company Sponsored

5664 Thornhill Drive
F.H. Slocombe – Architect
L.A. Larson – builder
1937
$6850

Emge & Stockman Sponsored

Winder & Gahan Sponsored

Model/Display Homes

Silver Windows – Piedmont Pines

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

“Silver Windows” was a display home in the Piedmont Pines section of Montclair. The house opened for the public to see in 1936. The house was designed by F. Harvey Slocombe. It is on Darby Drive.

Windows, from which one glimpses the bay through lofty pines are not the only feature of this new show home.

Oakland Tribune Dec 06, 1936

Sunlight through “Silver Windows”

Oakland Tribune Dec 13, 1936

From the curved window in the living room, you could see all of Oakland, plus two bridges,

The kitchen, with its floors curving into the wall, eliminating dust-gathering corners was of particular interest to the women visitors. The kitchen was “all-metal” with a gleaming sink, drainboard, work board, and cabinets. Oakland Tribune Mar 19, 1937

Silver Windows Today

2768 Darnby Drive – Piedmont Pines Oakland CA
Google Maps

Silver WIndows
Built-in 1936
F. Harvey Slocombe Architect
Allen & Allen Builders
Mitchell & Austin – Real Estate
Piedmont Pines
2768 Darnby Drive

Links and More:

New Showhome Open to the Public – Oakland Tribune Dec 06, 1936
Interest in Home Holds – Oakland Tribune Dec 20, 1936
Display Home Attracts Many – Oakland Tribune Jan 10, 1937

Model/Display Homes

Allendale Terrace

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Allendale Terrace is a group of twenty-seven homes built east of High Street on Allendale Avenue. They were built and sold by K.A. Johnson.

Fifteen homes were ready for inspection in 1930. The area is most likely is considered Maxwell Park.

Twenty -seven unusually beautiful English designed homes. Five, six, and seven rooms, basements, furnaces, water heaters, and laundry rooms. Close to new schools.

All basements are sufficiently large to provide space for a social hall. The five-room homes can be converted to six-room homes by completing another room upstairs, the stairways are already built.

The homes of Allendale Terrace

**4722 Allendale Ave** Today – Google Maps

The End

Model/Display Homes, Tract or Subdivisions

Claremont Circle

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Claremont Circle is a real estate development by the E.B. Field Company. It opened in 1935.

Claremont Circle has a magnificent panorama view of SF Bay, Golden Gate, Marin County, and Mount Tamalpais

The homes of Claremont Circle

**Oakland Tribune Aug 1936**
**38 Sonia Street**

**Oakland Tribune Sept 1936**
**Not sure of the location**

**Oakland Tribune Oct 1936**
**Not sure of the location**

Wide Horizons Display Home

**Oakland Tribune Feb 14, 1937**
**34 Sonia Street**

In February of 1937, the E.B. Field Company held a contest to name their newest display home that opened. The winning name was “Wide Horizons.” The house was located at 34 Sonia Street

**Oakland Tribune Mar 1937**
**34 Sonia Street**

Home of Today – Display Home – 58 Sonia Street

The Home of Today is located Claremont Circle, a small real estate development by E.B. Fields Co. on Sonia Street. It opened in May of 1937. The address is 58 Sonia Street.

**Oakland Tribune Apr 1937**
**58 Sonia Street**

The Home of Today was designed and built by Earl R. MacDonald and Herman A. Schoening

**Oakland Tribune May 1937**
**58 Sonia Street**

Home of Today opens – April 11, 1937 Oakland Tribune
Home of Today – April 25, 1937, Oakland Tribune

64 Sonia Street

The End

Homes, Model/Display Homes

Sunshine Court

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Sunshine Court is group homes built by Pedigreed Home Builders in 1927

Each house had 4 or 5 rooms with separate garage, ranging in from $3950-$4550.

Every Sunshine Court Home had a dining room set, gas range, Hoyt water heater, linoleum, curtain rods, bathroom fixtures, and other time and money-saving extras.

The first six homes went on sale in May of 1927

1425 Sunshine Court.
1638 Sunshine Court.
1645 Sunshine Court
1651 Sunshine Court
1657 Sunshine Court
1665 Sunshine Court

Sunshine Court Model Home

“Le Petit Chateau” was located at 1665 Sunshine Court. The home was entirely furnished by Montgomery Wards.

Oakland Tribune May 1927
1665 Sunshine Court

Sunshine Court – Oakland Local Wiki

Location of Sunshine Court

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1II_kN8diRYShmZawzoAsHmOnw-7nlys3&w=640&h=480]

The End

Homes, Model/Display Homes

Forest Park – Homes

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Just a few of the homes of Forest Park – I will update if I find more.

Oakland Tribune May 1927 – 6415 Oakwood Drive

Oakland Tribune Feb 28, 1928
6415 Oakwood Drive

6415 Oakwood Drive – Present Day – Google maps

The Forest Park Home of Benjamin Locket
Built-in 1927
The original address was Box 411 Idlewild Drive
Now 7087 Thornhill Drive

7087 Thornhill Drive Present Day – Google Maps

Forest Park Mansion is known as the Castle

The castle was the home of Col. Leonard Dunkel. Dunkel lived at 6708 Thornhill from about 1932 until his death in 1974.

Oakland Tribune Aug 12, 1928
Located at 6708 Thornhill Drive

6708 Thornhill Drive – Present Day – Google maps

The End

Homes, Model/Display Homes

Beverly Terrace – The homes and more

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Part 2 – Beverly Terrace -The Sunshine Tract –

When Beverly Terrance was put on the market MacArthur Blvd as we know it, was called Hollywood Blvd and was a part of the Lincoln Highway. At this time, the Chevrolet Assembly Plant (now Eastmont Town Center) Fageol Motor Company (later Peterbilt and now Foothill Square) and the Pacific Tread Tire Company.

**Cheney Photo Advertising c 1916**
Groundbreaking Pacific Tread Tire Company
Previously sold on eBay

The M.T. Minney advertised in 1916 – The tracts are “Surrounded by beautiful homes, rolling hills, golf links, and wealthy estates and with the building of such plants as the Chevrolet Automobile Factory, the Pacific Tread Tire Factory, and others. The future value is not a matter of speculation, but an assured fact.”

In about 1947 George A. Sturtevant built the Hollywood Shopping Center on Hollywood Blvd at 107th Ave (10715 MacArthur Blvd) across from the Peterbilt Factory