Neighborhoods - A Bit of History

Thornhill Park

Posted on April 18, 2019May 11, 2023 by Dorothy Londagin

I wish I had more to share about Thornhill Park. I only learned about it by accident when looking into Judge EM Gibson’s home, who lived on a ranch where Thornhill School is now and over to Aspinwall Drive. He lived there in the late 1880s.

The boundaries of Thornhill Park from REDFIN.com

Thornhill Park went on sale in May 1917. The Reality Syndicate handled the sales at first.

Thornhill Park was an area of small farms of 1/4 acre to 1 acre where you could grow your food or raise chickens, as noted in the ad below.

The home of F.M. Boggs was the home of Judge EM Gibson (more about him later), and after the home of Dr. Mark Emerson, Alameda County Coroner, and now St. Johns Church, is in that location. Approximate location 1707 Gouldin Road

By 1922 they were having a “Liquidation Sale” and trying to “close out” the rest of the tract by selling 1/2 acre lots for 66 cents on the $1.00.

It seems Thornhill Park wasn’t a big seller. I noticed it wasn’t advertised as much as any other tracts in Montclair, like Forest Park, Merriewood, or Fernwood, were.

Later, Phil Hearty, a developer and agent who had an office at 5815 Thornhill for years, took over the sale of the remaining Thornhill Park lot. Now Thornhill Park is part of Forest Park and Montclair Highlands.

Some of the homes in Thornhill Park –

A September 1919 advertisement for “6-Room Bungalow on One Acre in Beautiful Thornhill Park” located at 650 Thorn Road is now 6116 Thornhill Drive. The Langdon family lived there from about 1923- 1945.

**6116 Thornhill Drive about 1948 – from the Forgotten Montclair Group on Facebook**

6138 Thornhill Drive is another of the original homes in Thornhill Park. Back in the 1920s, the address was 670 Thorn Road. The Bullard family lived there until the 1990s.

6022 Thornhill Drive, Col. George, and Edith Mullen also moved there in about 1917 when the address was 570 Thorn Road. The Mullen’s played a significant role in the Montclair Women’s Club and Montclair Presbyterian Church.

For now, this is all I have.

The End

Early Montclair, History

Early Photos of Montclair

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Some old photos of the Montclair District of Oakland – all are from the Oakland Public Library History Room.

When I can, I will show you the area now.

I will start off with one of the earliest photos of Montclair that I have seen. This is circa 1886. I hope that there are more like this.

Then

Students and teachers at Hays School in front of the school.
Circa 1886
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

Now

Another photo of the Montclair Firehouse

Storybook firehouse on Moraga Avenue in the Montclair
Circa 1934
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

The photo below is overlooking the area that is now Montclair Elementary School, and in the distance, you can see the intersection of Thornhill and Mountain Blvd and the Women’s Club.

Tracks for the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Railway
(later Sacramento Northern Railway) in Montclair
Circa 1925
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

Then

LaSalle Avenue looking down the hill towards Mountain Boulevard
Montclair Real estate offices and trolley depot in view.
circa 1927
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

Now

Looking down LaSalle Ave towards HWY 13 – Google maps

The photo below is probably on LaSalle Ave from Mountain Blvd. the small building is where Highway 13 is now.

Sales offices of real estate broker and home builder Cos Williams in Montclair –
circa 1925 Eston Cheney, photographer.
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

The photo below is probably taken from where Highway 13 is now. Off in the distance is the Sacramento Northern Station. Located at what is now the top of LaSalle Ave, as seen in the above photos.

Graded and staked lots in the undeveloped Montclair
Signs for the Cos Williams Montclair sales offices
circa 1925
Eston Cheney, photographer.
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room

Then

Northeast corner of Mountain Boulevard and Medau Place
Fred F. Chopin on Montclair Realty Co.
circa 1950
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

Now

Corner of Mountain Blvd and Medau Place – Google Maps

Then

Sidewalk construction on Mountain Boulevard near Antioch Street Montclair
Circa 1958
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

Now

Then

Construction Scout Road and Mountain Boulevard in the Montclair
circa 1955
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

Now

Scout Road and Mountain Blvd – Google Maps

The photo below is overlooking the area that is now the intersection of Oakwood and Thornhill Drives. Showing houses on Oakwood Drive

Looking out towards the bay from near the ridge-line above the Montclair
Several winding dirt roads and homes in view.
circa 1930
Eston Cheney, photographer
Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

The End

Homes, Real Estate

Homes in Montclair Highlands

Posted on March 30, 2019November 7, 2025 by Dorothy Londagin

This post, originally published in 2019, has been updated and expanded.

November 7, 2025

A few of the homes that were built in the Montclair Highlands area of Oakland in the 1930s and 1940s.

Drake Drive

In 1936, Frederick L. Confer designed a “modernistic” (now Art Deco) home for Mr. and Mrs. George H. Everest and their two daughters. The Everest family had been living at 1760 Mountain Blvd before moving into their new home in Montclair Highlands at 1831 Drake Drive.

Emge and Stockman developed the home, and James H. Anderson, who had previously worked with the architect, was the builder.

The house features four bedrooms upstairs, each with its own bathroom. The lower floor features one bedroom, a bathroom, and a private entrance.

The house was completed in May 1937

Behold the fantastic views from all the upstairs bedrooms, the dining room, the living room, and the patio. The large corner lot also has a large yard.

The House has been on the market many times since 1937.

**San Francisco Chronicle, July 19, 1946**

In 1969, it was listed for $46,500

In March of 2019, it was listed for sale at $1,695,000.

1831 Drake Drive – Zillow

The houses at 1881 and 2001 Drake Drive were also built around this time.

Narragansett House

Cape Cod colonial architecture characterizes the nine-room Narragansett House in the Montclair Highlands Section on Balboa Drive, built as a model home in 1937. Fully furnished by H.C. Capwell’s.

The home opened in February 1937; by the end of the first week, 3,500 had toured the house, and by the end of April 1937, over 25,000 had visited.

The site for the home was selected due to its panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay. The enjoyment of the view played a big part in the design of the house. The living room has a large plate-glass window that frames the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate.

“Three large bedrooms, two tile baths, an extra lavatory, and games room make a complement of rooms adapted to the needs of the most exacting home seeker.” Oakland Tribune Jan 31, 1937

Narragansett House
New England Colonial Style
1937
5946 Balboa Drive
Earl R. MacDonald – Architect
Emge & Stockman – Sales Agents

The house last sold in 2020 for $ 1.5 million.

The Windsor Display Home

Phil Hearty announced the opening of The Windsor Display Home in Montclair Highlands on April 18, 1937. Fitch Robertson was the builder.

Tomorrow’s Home Today

Tomorrow’s Home Today was the first Oakland Home constructed under the Precision Built system, and it opened in December 1939. It is located at the corner of Balboa and Colton Boulevard in Montclair Highlands, with a sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay.

Montclair Realty Company sold the home.

“The walls and ceilings were built with Homasote, the oldest and strongest insulating and building board on the market. The walls were prefabricated by the Precision-Built process in the shop of a local mill under standards of exacting accuracy, which ensure tight joints, freedom from sagging, and permanently crack-proof walls and ceilings”. Oakland Tribune Jan 21, 1940

Tomorrow’s Home Today
John Wagenet – Architect
Mac Jordon – Builder
Arthur Cobbledick – Landscaper
Opened December 1939
5500 Balboa Drive –

The End

Model/Display Homes

Style House in Piedmont Pines

Posted on March 29, 2019August 11, 2025 by Dorothy Londagin

The Tribune Jackson Style House – 5937 Chelton Drive

Updated August 2025

The “Style House” opened to the public in April 1935. Over 1500 visitors passed through the home that first weekend.

Local architect Frederick L. Confer designed the home in collaboration with James H. Anderson, and the builder was James Armstrong.

The agents for the house were Mitchell & Austin, with Harry Stockman as the agent in charge.

The Jackson Furniture Company entirely furnished the house.

The View Then and Now

Award-Winning

The house is a modified Regency-type design. And it won an award for the distinguished “house of seven rooms or less” in the fourth Biennial Exhibition of American Architects. The house has also been called Monterey Style. Color is used abundantly throughout the house. The exterior is painted white with mustard color shutters.

The Style House was built amongst the pine trees on a site with an inspiring view of the bay. A prize-winner at a recent exhibition in San Francisco by the American Institute of Architecture, the “Style House with its novel Regency architecture,…remains one of the outstanding demonstration in the history of Eastbay real estate.”

Unique Home and Cozy Interior

The living room, with a vaulted ceiling, features French doors that open to the delightful front patio and the rear deck, offering stunning SF and Bay views.

The floor plan features a full bath and a spacious bedroom on the main level, complete with French doors that open to the patio. There are two additional large rooms, one of which features a deck to take in the views. The lower level features a bedroom, ideal for a family/rumpus room, a half bath, a generous laundry/craft room with a workstation, and a storage area—a two-car garage.

On opening day, a local Ford Dealer had a brand new Ford V8 parked outside the house.

Style House
5937 Chelton Drive
Piedmont Pines District
Built-in 1935
Frederick L. Confer
Mitchell & Austin
Sold for $1,325.000 in 2018

The End

Business, Early Montclair, History, People

The First Store in Montclair

Posted on March 23, 2019March 27, 2024 by Dorothy Londagin

Updated with new photos March 2024

Recently, someone asked about when 7-Eleven came to Montclair, which was about 1958. I thought I would go back a little farther and tell you about the first store in Montclair.

A Bit of History.

In 1925, Otto Schuneman bought land on Thorn Road and built a store. His store was a combination fountain, grocery store, and service station. The address was 281 Thorn Road.

Early residents of the area remember the place as a tourist bus stop, where refreshments were served at the fountain and an outdoor terrace.

The original building is still standing behind the 7-11 store.

**Showing the location of the first store**

Mr. Schuneman leased the store. E.G., Nickerson of 408 Florence Ave (now 5800 Florence Terrace) in 1926, and Captain Baldwin in 1928.

Funk’s Grocery – 1930-1940

In March of 1930, Davis L. Funk leased the store from Schuneman and bought out his remaining stock. Mr. Funk had owned a couple of other stores in Oakland.

He called his store Funk’s Grocery and Montclair Grocery.

The Funk family lived at 5677 Thornhill in the mid to late 30s to early 40s.

In the early 1960s, the Montclair Presbyterian Church bought the house from the owners.

My ex-husband and I worked for the church from 1983- 1987 and lived in the house.

This house, grocery store, and the Thorn Road Bible School (now Montclair Presbyterian) were all built in 1925-27.

Note: Montclair Presbyterian Church (MPC) and the Montclair Library were formed in March 1930.

Montclair Food Center 1940-1957

**Montclair Food Center – Carrol Mauro 1951**

In 1940, Funk took on a partner, his son-in-law Malcolm “Scotty” Hodge, the husband of his daughter Lenore, and the store was renamed the Montclair Food Center.

Funk and Hodge ran the store together until Funk died in 1949 at his home on Grisborne Avenue behind the store.

Hodge and his wife continued until 1957 when they couldn’t negotiate a new lease with Otto Schuneman, the owner. I thought it was because he could make more money leasing it to Speedee Mart.

When the store closed in 1957, it was the last one in Montclair to maintain a credit and delivery service. Montclair Food Center was more than just a store for many of its customers.

By 1957, Montclair was also changing. Payless Grocery Store (soon to be Luckys) and LaSalle Avenue Market were located in the business district, and a new Safeway would soon be built.

Min-a-Mart and Speedee Mart 1958-1966?

A Min-a-Mart opened in about 1958.

In 1959, the store was leased by Speedee Mart Corporation.

In 1964, the parent company of the 7-Eleven Stores bought all the Speedee Mart franchises in California.

They began slowly changing the name to 7-Eleven (7-11)

The End

Buildings, Early Montclair, History

Thorn Road Bible School

Posted on January 15, 2019June 7, 2025 by Dorothy Londagin

In 1926, the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland approved the plans to build a Bible School in the Montclair District of Oakland.

18402338_10209483826033425_8414676837112543528_o — Drawing by Charles Williams circa 1926

The building was to cost about $25,000. It became necessary because they had outgrown the temporary accommodations at the school. They started out with seven students in January of 1926; by July, they had eighty.

In June of 1927, it was announced that the school would be open for four weeks during summer vacation.

Oakland Tribune, June 1927

The 1920s saw significant growth in Montclair, and the Bible school began holding Sunday services for the area’s residents. They held Easter Services up on Skyline Drive and festive Christmas services.

Christmas circa 1928

**Thorn Road** Bible Schoo,**l Circa 1928**

In 1930 Montclair Presbyterian Church was organized with 90 Charter Members.

In 1938 they built a new Chapel which was there until they built the present complex in the mid-1960s at 5701 Thornhill Drive.

The Chapel as it looked in 1940

18518255_10209529197807691_6198739890256919397_o

18451362_10209529197927694_3814965270914563087_o

The End

Donate

Model/Display Homes, Tract or Subdivisions

Hawthorne House – Sheffield Village

Posted on December 8, 2018 by Dorothy Londagin

Display Home – Sheffield Village Opens Mar 1941

Located at 168 Marlow Drive in Sheffield Village. Completely furnished by Jackson Furniture Company

E.B. Field Corporation, owners and builders of Sheffield Village.

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Mar_30__1941_ (5) — Oakland Tribune March 30, 1941

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Mar_30__1941_ — Oakland Tribune March 30, 1941

168 Marlow Ave — 168 Marlow Drive Today google maps

Hawthorne House
168 Marlow Drive
EB Field Corporation
1941
Jacksons Furniture
Zillow

Homes, Model/Display Homes, Tract or Subdivisions

Oakmore Highlands Homes

Posted on September 8, 2018June 20, 2024 by Dorothy Londagin

According to the above article, the first home was constructed for Erwin Howell. The two-story colonial was erected at 4065 Oakmore Road.

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Jun_5__1927_ (1) — **Oakland Tribune June 5, 1927**

Colonial
Erwin Howell Owner
1927
Google Map

1924 Hoover Avenue

Spanish Style
Grace Clifford
Frederick H Reimers Architect
Irwin Reimers Builder
1927
Google Maps

1941 Hoover Avenue

Colonial Style
1928
Harry W. Hartman Owner
Miller & Warnecke Architects
Google Maps

4420 Bridgeview Drive

Bestor robinson — The Bestor Robinson Home – 4420 Bridgeview Drive

Italian Style
Bestor Robinson owner
Guy Brown Architect
1928
Bestor Robinson
Curbed San Francisco

3992 Oakmore Road

English Cottage
Marie Wheeler – owner
Florence Wheeler – owner
1927
Google Map

4125 Oakmore Road

4125 Oakmore road — 4125 Oakmore Road – Bing Maps

Italian Design
John G. Evans Owner
1927
Bing Maps

3921 Oakmore Road

3921 Oakmore Rd — 3921 Oakmore Road – Google Maps

1927
Burton Jackson Wyman, Owner
Google Maps

4350 Bridge View Drive

4350 Brideview — 4350 Bridge View Drive – from Google Maps

Spanish Style
A.H. Monez – owner
1929
Googl e map

4266 Edge Street

Spanish Style
Lewis W. Jefferson Owner
Carl Jefferson Owner
Dec 1927
Google Maps

3956 Oakmore Road

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Apr_8__1928_ — Oakland Tribune 1928

1921 Rosecrest Drive

1921 Rosecrest Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Jun_2__1935_ — Oakland Tribune 1935

Monterey Colonial
Chester H. Treichel Architect
1935
Realtor.Com

The End

History, Model/Display Homes, Tract or Subdivisions

Oakmore Highland Model Homes

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Dorothy Londagin

Breuner-Tribune Home June 1934

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Jan_21__1934_ — Oakland Tribune Jun 1934

1774 Liedmet — 1774 Leimert Blvd – Google maps

Display Homes of 1934

New homes at 1746 Leimert, 1808 Leimert and 1816 Leimert – Sept 1934

1746 Leimert, 1808 Leimert and 1816 Leimert

Just a few of the homes in the Oakmore Highlands Neighborhood.

The End

Tract or Subdivisions

Havenscourt

Posted on August 25, 2018March 22, 2025 by Dorothy Londagin

Wickman Havens Real Estate Company opened Havenscourt in 1912. Within the 170 acres of Havenscourt are 21 miles of streets and sidewalks.¹

The official entrance was at Havenscourt Blvd and East 14th Street, with a pergola and a gazebo. The Havenscourt station and business district were located on Havenscourt Blvd and Bancroft.².