“Silver Windows” was a display home in the Piedmont Pinessection 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
Oakland Tribune Dec 06, 1936
Sunlight through “Silver Windows”
Oakland Tribune Dec 13, 1936
Oakland Tribune Dec 13, 1936
Oakland Tribune Dec 1936
From the curved window in the living room, you could see all of Oakland, plus two bridges,
Oakland Tribune Dec 1936
Oakland Tribune Dec 1936
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
Toler Heights is located on the Foothill Boulevard (now MacArthur Boulevard). The tract is about 157 acres with almost 1,000 building sites.
Toler Heights got its name from the ranch that was on the land previously.
SF Examiner May 20, 1910
Toler Ranch
William Pinkney Toler(1829-1899) and his wife, Maria Antonia (1836-1926), owned 330 (349) acres of land in the foothills of Elmhurst. Maria was the daughter of Hermenegildo “Ignacio” Peralta. William and Maria were married in 1853.
The ranch was located on the foothills road between Elmhurst and San Leandro, later known as Foothill Boulevard, and is now MacArthur Boulevard. The ranch was close to both the Talbot Farmand theDunsmuir Home.
Oakland Tribune Oct 8, 1888
Toler Ranch Sold
After her husband’s death, Mrs. Toler sold the ranch to the Realty Syndicate for $110,000-$120,000. The land was then subdivided and placed on the market.
Oakland Tribune, Mar 26, 1906
SF Call July 30, 1906
The ranch spanned approximately 300 to 349 acres, but according to the newspapers, the tract was 150 acres.
Oakland Tribune Jan 6, 1907
Map of Toler Heights – 1907
Panel title: Map of Toler Heights, Elmhurst, Oakland. Oriented with north towards the left. Cadastral map.the http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b11188562~S1
Opening Day 1907
Large crowds attended the opening on October 6, 1907. On that day, they held a barbecue festival with free food served in tents. A band played lively music, while young boys sold popcorn.
Sf Chronicle Oct 27, 1907
SF Examiner Oct 13, 1907
A group of Investors owned the property, and the Southwest Securities Company was handling the sales for them.
SF Call Sept 28, 1907
Over $200,000 was sold on opening day.
The lots were larger, ranging from 50X125 to a full acre. The business lots fronted on Foothill Boulevard.
Toler Heights is not a newtown, sand dune or a place in the wilderness: But Toler Heights is the Nob Hill, the cream of Elmhurst property, and so cheap in price that is – The Best Buy Offered.” Oakland Tribnune Oct 09 1907
Change of Ownership
In 1910, the Henderson & Tapscotts Company purchased Toler Heights. They made numerous improvements to the tract. Opening day was held on May 22, 1910.
The corner of MacArthur and 90th Avenue,Cheney Photo Advertising Company.Circa 1912.Previously sold on eBay
The photo above might be showing the Silva Ranch on Foothill Blvd
Toler Heights is on the scenic boulevard along the foothills. The area has a slight elevation and an unrivaled view of Oakland and the bay with San Francisco in the distance.
it combines all the beauties and advnatages of Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, and Piedmont Heights, but without the cutting winds, blinding dust, and exasperating fog.” SF Call Oct 06, 1907
Toler Heights was referred to as “The Piedmont of East Oakland” due to its commanding view and surroundings.
Some of the wealthiest families of Oakland and one wealthy banker from San Francisco have their villa homes adjoining Toler Heights.
Looking towards Thermal Street and 90th Avenue. Cheney Photo Advertising Company, Circa 1912
In 1911, the Oakland Traction Company completed a Toler Heights branch line via 90th Avenue from East 14th (now International Boulevard). They called it the Toler Heights Extension. At the time, Toler Heights was 24 minutes from downtown Oakland, via streetcar.
During the auction, buyers were allowed to make their own estimate of the value of each piece of property, and they could bid as low or as high as they pleased.
Oakland Tribune, June 4, 1922
Oakland Tribune Feb 11, 1923
Restrictions
The owners of the Toler Heights imposed certain building restrictions, which were incorporated in the transfer of the property, giving assurance that “neither Orientals or any objectionable persons, or their homes will ever be tolerated on the heights.”
New School – May 1928 – Now Barack Obama Academy
Oakland Tribune, May 23, 1928
Toler Heights School – Now Barack Obama Academy – 9736 Lawlor St
“Quit paying rent; by build and live in HopkinsTown, Oakland’s newest subdivision”
Oakland Tribune Aug 19, 1922
HopkinsTown is located at Hopkins St (now MacArthur Blvd), Georgia, Maple, Peralta Ave (now Coolidge), and Carmel and Morgan Streets.
California Subdivision Company handled the sales. It opened in September 1922.
Josiah Rose Farm
HopkinsTown was once the farm of Josiah Rose, who settled there in 1864. When Rose lived on his farm, Antonia Mario Peralta was his neighbor.
Rose Property 1877 Map
Josiah died on August 25, 1894.
Oakland Enquirer – Aug 25, 1894
In 1922, Rose’s daughter Mary Mulrooney (Mulroony) and her son James still lived on a small piece of the farm on Peralta Street (now Coolidge). I found that in 1933, Mary lived at 2844 Georgia Street, part of a small commercial area where Loard’s Ice Cream is today. Mary died in 1933. – Oakland Tribune Aug 19, 1922
From 1933 Directory
“Hopkinstown Like City Within a City ;In Oakland”
Oakland Tribune August 14, 1922
“Get a Home — Your Own Buy — Build –Live In Hopkinstown All for $49 First Payment”
The Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 2, 1922
“The fastest growing “small home” community in the state.”
Oakland Tribune 1922
The Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 2, 1922
“Every lot is a GOOD lot, and NO HILLSIDES!”
His home was on Georgia Street – Oakland Tribune Aug 20, 1922
“From Bare Ground to Housekeeping in Two Days”
Oakland Tribune Sept 14, 1922
Free Home Plans
California Subdivision Company prepared plans to construct an ideal one-room home economically.
Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 8, 1922
Oakland Tribune Sept 7, 1922S
The one-room bungalow included every convenience needed in a modern home, including bathroom, built-in features, kitchen sink, etc.
Oakland Tribune Sept 16, 1922
Church for Hopkinstown
Oakland Tribune Sept 14, 1922
I didn’t find many homes built in HopkinsTown, at least not advertised. This is the area I live in now. I drove around the area, trying to locate some of the homes. I did notice small homes on deep lots.
In the late 1950s, the unsold Hopkins Town lots were being rezoned for duplexes or apartment buildings. The large lots zoned for single-family homes have long caused problems for the planning department.
Oakland Tribune Dec 17, 1959
I have noticed a lot of construction around Morgan Street. They are converting a few of the Hopkins Town Tract “lots” into duplexes or triplexes.
Residence of Col. John C. Hays – Oakland History Room
After Hays died in 1883, the estate was sold to William J. Dingee. Dingee built an opulent 19-room Queen-Anne-style mansion and had additional landscaping with gardens, terraces, and waterfalls. He also added such features as a deer park and an elk paddock.
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.
Oakland Tribune May 11, 1930
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.
Claremont Circle is a real estate development by the E.B. Field Company. It opened in 1935.
Oakland Tribune Sep 1935
Claremont Circle has a magnificent panorama view of SF Bay, Golden Gate, Marin County, and Mount Tamalpais
Oakland Tribune 1935
Oakland Tribune Sep 1935
Oakland Tribune Sept 1935
Oakland Tribune 1935
Oakland Tribune 1935
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
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
It is located where Foothill Blvd meets Trask Street and 55th Avenue. 55th Avenue was formally called Central Avenue, and Foothill Blvd was often referred to as the Scenic Boulevard. Central Terrace also includes Ruth Avenue, Laverne Avenue, El Camille Avenue, and Kingsland Avenue. The area now is considered to be an extension of Maxwell Park or the Fairfax District, depending on who you talk to.
Mutual Realty Co.’s Central Terrace office,
Foothill Boulevard at 55th Avenue and Trask Street looking north
Cheney Photo Adv. Co., photographers. C 1912
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
Brochure for Central Terrace
The Mutual Realty Company put the Central Terrace Subdivision on sale in April of 1912. The agent was Fred T. Wood, who later took over the project. Then they added the Central Terrace Extension and Scenic Park Knoll
Earth Sciences and Map Library,
The University of California, Berkeley -Cadastral map. Historic Maps of Bay Area
“Central Terrace is surrounded by modern schools and educational institutions of the very highest standard, the John C. Fremont high erected at the cost of $140,000, the Melrose School, the W.P. Frick School and the Lockwood Grammar School and the famous Mills Seminary for young ladies, all are within short walking distance from any part of Central Terrace”
Sunshine Court is group homes built byPedigreed 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.
Ardsley Heights is part of Bella Vista Park and is now considered part of Ivy Hill. The streets of Ardsley Heights are Park Blvd, East 28th Street, Bay View Avenue, Lake View Avenue Elliot Street, and East 34th Street.
Ardsley Heights went on sale in October 1912 by the Realty Syndicate.
Adjoining F.M. Smith’s home
Directly across from the Home Club
Twelve Minutes by car from Broadway
Oakland Tribune Oct 12, 1912
Oakland Tribune Sep 1912
A sign advertising the Ardsley Heights tract Circa 1915
Cheney Photo Adv. Co., photographers.
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
ohrphoto.districts.148
The above photo shows the house at 1011 Bay View Ave. It was built in 1915.
Bayview Avenue between East 28th and Elliot Streets
in the Ardsley Heights tract, circa 1915 Cheney Photo Adv. Co., photographers.
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
ohrphoto.districts.147.
The above photo shows the house at 985 Bay View Avenue –
Park Boulevard in Ardsley Heights c 1915 Cheney Photo Adv. Co., photographers.
Previously sold on eBay
View from Ardsley Heights
Showing the Home Club (later the German Pioneer Home) and the Smith Cottages (Home for Friendless Girls). The German Pioneer Home was demolished to make room for Oakland High School.
Home Club and Smith Cottages from Ardsley Heights C 1915 Cheney Photo Adv. Co., photographers
Previously sold on eBay
