Toler Heights

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

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 on the foothills road between Elmhurst and San Leandro, later known as Foothill Blvd, and is now MacArthur Blvd. The ranch was close to both the Talbot Farm and the Dunsmuir Home.

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.

Map of Toler Heights – 1907

Map of Toler Heights : Brooklyn Township, Alameda County, Califo — Shows block and lot numbers, measurements, land ownership, etc. Covers area bounded generally by Stanley Rd. [i.e. Ave.], Wise [i.e. 99th] Ave., Foothill [i.e. MacArthur] Blvd., and Hillcrest Ave. [i.e. Seneca St.]. Panel title: Map of Toler Heights, Elmhurst, Oakland. Oriented with north toward left. Cadastral map. t

Opening Day 1907

Toler Heights went on sale in 1907. A group of Investors owned the property, and the Southwest Securities Company was handling the sales for them.

Change of Ownership

In 1910 the Henderson & Tapscotts Company purchased Toler Heights. The made a lot of improvements to the tract. Opening day in was held on May 22, 1910

Looking towards Thermal Street and 90th Avenue
Cheney Photo Advertising Company c1910
Previously sold on eBay

The photo above might be showing the Silva Ranch on Foothill Blvd

Opening day was one of the most auspicious days in the residential property sold. Oakland Tribune May 24, 1910

The Piedmont of East Oakland
SF Examiner
SF Examiner

The corner of MacArthur and 90th Avenue
Cheney Photo Advertising Company c1912
Previously sold on eBay

Another change in ownership

In 1922, the property was for sale via an auction. “Sales way down.” Oakland Tribune May 28, 1922

**Along Foothill Blvd**
**Oakland Tribune June 04, 1922**

New School – May 1928 – Now Barack Obama Academy

**Toler Heights School – Now Barac**k **Obama Academy**
**9736 Lawlor Street**

Location

More Information on Toler Heights

Ready to Rush to Toler Heights – Oakland Tribune Oct 05, 1907
Birdseye View of Toler Height Advertisement – SF Examiner Oct 13, 1907
90th Avenue to be Boulevard – Oakland Tribune Jul 12, 1914
The Men Who will Try an Auction – Oakland Tribune Jun 03, 1922
Absolute Auction – Oakland Tribune June 04, 1922

Toler Heights – Oakland CA
The Oakland Neighborhood Project – Toler Heights

More to come – Toler Heights Homes

The End

HopkinsTown – in the Dimond District

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

“Quit paying rent; by build and live in HopkinsTown, Oakland’s newest subdivision”

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.

Josiah died on August 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

“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”

Free Home Plans

California Subdivision Company prepared plans to construct an ideal one-room home economically.

The one-room bungalow included every convenience needed in a modern home, including bathroom, built-in features, kitchen sink, etc.

Church for Hopkinstown

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.

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.

More Info:

Estate of Josiah Rose – Oakland Enquirer October 12, 1894
Early History of HopkinsTown – Oakland Tribune August 17, 1922
HopkinsTown Attract Buyers – The Oakland Post Enquirer September 02. 1922
From Bare Ground to Housekeeping in Two Days – Oakland Tribune September 14, 1922
HopkinsTown Draws Many Buyers – Oakland Tribune September 16, 1922

The End

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

Central Terrace – 55th and Foothill

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

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”

See brochure below

Central Terr 1915_side — Earth Sciences and Map Library,
University of California, Berkeley –
Historic Maps of Bay Area

centarl-terrace-brochure-front — Earth Sciences and Map Library,
University of California, Berkeley –
Historic Maps of Bay Area

Foothill Blvd at 55th Avenue
Photo By Cheney Advertising c 1912
Previously Sold on eBay

**Laverne from 55th Ave**
**Photo By Cheney Advertising c 1912**
**Previously Sold on eBay**

**Ruth Ave from 55th Ave**
**Photo By Cheney Advertising c 1912**
**Previously Sold on eBay**

**Photo By Cheney Advertising c 1912**
**Previously Sold on eBay**

**Ruth Ave**
**Photo By Cheney Advertising c 1912**
**Previously Sold on eBay**

More to come –

Highlands of Oakland

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

The “Highlands of Oakland” went on sale in November of 1925. It is located area of Tunnel Road and behind what is now the Parkwoods Condominiums. This area was burned during the 1991 Oakland Firestorm, and I assume there are no original homes left.

The “Highlands of Oakland” includes the following streets Bristol Drive, Buckingham Blvd, Charing Cross Road, Devin Way Marlborough Terrace, Norfolk Road,, Sherwick Drive and Westmoreland Drive. The area is right on the border of Berkeley. That area is now called the Claremont Hills.

Cheney Photo Advertising c 1925
Showing the “Highlands of Oakland” of in the distance

The Highlands of Oakland faces on Tunnel Road and is 20 minutes from the business district of Oakland. It consisted of 300 large parcels for a low price of $225.

Fred T. Wood Co. developed this beautiful scenic tract high in the hills of Oakland.

Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925

“Highlands of Oakland Entrance to our tract from Tunnel Road. A weekday average of over 6000 automobiles passes this point.”
Cheney Photo Advertising
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howard-Gibbon
OMCA H89.64.15

In the months before the opening of the “Highlands of Oakland” force of men had been actively building streets. The winding roads cover some of the most beautiful scenic property in the San Francisco Bay –

**Highlands of Oakland**
The steam shovel, an unfailing sign of progress.
**Cheney Photo Advertising**
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howard-Gibbon
OMCA H89.64.15

More pictures of the Highlands of Oakland can be seen here – OMCA

“The Oakland Hills has been compared to the Seven Hills of Rome.”

Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925

“Miss Australia” Beryl Mills visits the “Highlands of Oakland” after touring UC Berkeley.

The End

Beverly Terrace – The Sunshine Tract

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

On the Beautiful Scenic Foothill Blvd. of Oakland Ca

Brochure from the OMCA – c:1916 Gift of Fred E. Reed H4599.44

Panorama from Beverly Terrace

**Cheney Photo Advertising c 1916**
Previously sold on eBay

Beverly Terrace went on sale in 1916. Located at Foothill Blvd and 99th on the border of the Dunsmuir House and Gardens. M.T Minney Company was the exclusive agent and developer. Later, C.W. Boden Company handled sales.

The first lots were being sold at the same time the new Chevrolet Assembly Plant was being built at Foothill Blvd and 73rd (now Eastmont Mall)

They advertised the area as a “The Automobile City Center” two blocks along Foothill Blvd being reserved for business purposes. – Oakland Tribune Mar 26, 1916

Foothill Blvd and Hollywood Blvd (now MacArthur Blvd)

Come out today and view San Francisco form beautiful Beverly Terrace. Unexcelled Climate. No Wind or Fog. $1.00 down payment and $1.00 a week. – Oakland Tribune Aug 1920.

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 March 30, 1941

Oakland Tribune March 30, 1941

168 Marlow Drive Today google maps

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

Oakmore Highlands Homes

Posted on September 8, 2018 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

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

Havenscourt

Posted on August 25, 2018 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.

ohrphoto.districts.040 — **Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising – Oakland History Room**

1920Havenscourt Station East 14th St. & Havenscourt Blvd. — **Havenscourt Blvd at Bancroft looking towards Frick School**

Two Schools, 17 Acres Playground, a Civic Center, and a train station

**67th Avenue between Arthur St and Avenal Ave**

Then and Now – Above and Below

HAVENSCOURT-BUNGALOWS-66th-AVENUE-1912 — **Looking south on 66th Street from Arthur St**

HAVENSCOURT-HOMES-65th-AVE-ARTHUR-ST-VIEW-OAKLAND-1914- — Looking south on 65th Ave from Arthur St

All photos were taken by Cheney Photo Advertising Company and are from Oakland History Room or OMCA.

The End

Updated Dec 16, 2019

Toler Ranch

Toler Ranch Sold

Map of Toler Heights – 1907

Opening Day 1907

Change of Ownership

Another change in ownership

New School – May 1928 – Now Barack Obama Academy

Location

More Information on Toler Heights

The End

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Josiah Rose Farm

“Get a Home — Your Own Buy — Build –Live In Hopkinstown All for $49 First Payment”

“From Bare Ground to Housekeeping in Two Days”

Free Home Plans

Church for Hopkinstown

More Info:

The End

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The homes of Claremont Circle

Wide Horizons Display Home

Home of Today – Display Home – 58 Sonia Street

64 Sonia Street

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Brochure for Central Terrace

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The End

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On the Beautiful Scenic Foothill Blvd. of Oakland Ca

Panorama from Beverly Terrace

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1924 Hoover Avenue

1941 Hoover Avenue

4420 Bridgeview Drive

3992 Oakmore Road

4125 Oakmore Road

3921 Oakmore Road

4350 Bridge View Drive

4266 Edge Street

3956 Oakmore Road

The End

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Breuner-Tribune Home June 1934

Display Homes of 1934

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Then and Now – Above and Below

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