Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 15

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Dorothy Londagin

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 Advertising** **circa 1915**

The Laurel School opened in February 1910. The school was a part of the Allendale School district.

Unique School

New School Building

In 1959 the wooden three-story school building was demolished to make room for a new school building.

**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.

Laurel School Now

3750 BROWN AVE, OAKLAND, CA, 94619,

Laurel Elementary School website – OUSD

More Info:

Laurel School Opens – Oakland Tribune February 05, 1910
Earth Turned for New School – Oakland Tribune January 07, 1928
The ground was broken for new school – Oakland Tribune January 09, 1928
Laurel School Completed – Oakland Tribune August 26, 1928
School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 07, 1928
Contract to Remove Old School – Oakland Tribune July 08, 1959
Old Bell Stays On – Oakland Tribune June 12, 1960

James Madison Junior High School

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.

Madison Today

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 Academy Campus 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
Restoration of the parking lot

Madison Park Expansion – OUSD
Madison Park Academy Website – OUSD

Sobrante Park Elementary School

In 1956 a new school was proposed for the site on El Paseo drive that a group of portable buildings occupied.

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.

Madison Park Academy – website

More Info:

New Sobrante Park School – Oakland Tribune July 05, 1956

Stonehurst Elementary School

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.

New School

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.

“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

Esperanza Elementary is a dual language school that prepares students to be college and career ready. Esperanza website – OUSD

More Info:

Demand School – Oakland Tribune August 03, 1915
Stonehurst and Elmhurst Argue for Schools – Oakland Tribune August 03, 1915
Portable School Building – Oakland Tribune April 16, 1916
School Report – Oakland Tribune April 28, 1916
Stonehurst to Get School – Oakland Tribune April 07, 1921
Bids for new School – Oakland Tribune April 19, 1921
Work to Start on New School – Oakland Tribune May 04, 1921
School Dedication – Oakland Tribune April 06, 1922
Land Granted as Playground – Oakland Tribune July 02, 1942
$1 Million Stonehurst School Plea – Oakland Tribune January 05, 1972
New $1.2 million School – Oakland Tribune May 17, 1972
Oakland School Gets Turned Down – Oakland Tribune December 05, 1973

Whittier Elementary School

On November 07, 1928, the new $116,000 Whittier School was dedicated. The first principal was R.S. Wheeler.

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.

Whittier School Today

Whittier school closed in 2012. It reopened as Greenleaf Elementary school in

More Info:

6328 E 17th St, Oakland, CA 94621

New Whittier School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 07, 1928
District Funds Used – Oakland Tribune July 06, 1956
New Reconstructed Whittier to Open – Oakland Tribune April 04, 1957
Greenleaf Celebrates Opening – OUSD

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 14

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Dorothy Londagin

I hope 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 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.

I wasn’t able to locate pictures of Sheffield School. I am hoping someone might have some. The same goes for Burbank, although I think the school looks pretty much the same now as it was built in 1950.

Update January 17, 2020

Burbank School

In 1928 plans for the new Burbank School on 64th Avenue in East Oakland were approved. The new six-room brick structure was to cost $60,000 and house 270 students.

The school is named after Luther Burbank, a botanist and horticulturist who made his home in Northern California.

New School

In 1948 plans for a new school and the reconstruction of the old school, the building was approved. They added an auditorium and a couple more classrooms. Hudspeth and Cerruti were the architects.

The new $297,777 Luther Burbank Elementary School was dedicated on November 15, 1950. The building is a one-story and had a capacity of 315 students.

School Song

High Upon a hill near home, there’s a school my very, very own
Its name is Burbank Elementary, and of all the schools in Oakland, It’s the only one for me
Burbank School, where we study hard each day
Burbank School, where we have some fun and play
Burbank School, you’re the best in every way
So we give three cheers for Burbank School
Hurray, Hurray, Hurray!

Burbank Today

Burbank was closed by the Oakland Unified School District in 2004.

In September 2010, Burbank Preschool Center was opened.

Burbank is a special place in OUSD that supports infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with special needs through exemplary special education programming as well as related services

More Info:

It is located at 3550 64th Ave.

Burbank School – Oakland Local Wiki

Class Place Mementos – Oakland Tribune Dec 1928
Notice to Bid – Oakland Tribune August 12, 1949
Work to Begin – Oakland Tribune Sep 14,1949
Burbank Dedication – Oakland Tribune November 15, 1950

Burckhalter Elementary School

In 1923 a new one-room school was built on Sunkist Drive; the school was called Columbia Park (Columbian Park). Susie Thompson was the custodian of the school for three years. She lived next door to the school at 6868 Sunkist.

In the obituary of Susie Thompson, it is reported that a wind storm destroyed the first school, which was replaced by a new building in 1925.

New School

In September of 1948, they broke ground for the new Burckhalter School.

Burckhalter Today

More Info:

The school is located at 3994 Burckhalter Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94605

Burckhalter School Website – OUSD

Excellent Schools – Oakland Tribune August 30, 1925
Burckhalter Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925
Funeral for Susie Thompson – Oakland Tribune May 1969

Carl B Munck Elementary

Plans were approved for the new Redwood Road Elementary School at 5000 Redwood Road. E. Geoffrey Bangs was the architect. The site included a field for the Oakland Recreation Department.

12 Classrooms
Administration Offices
Library
Multipurpose Room

The new school opened in 1960. The name was changed to honor Carl B Munck, who was the president of the school board (five times), was president of the California School Board, and was the president of the National School Boards Association in 1958.

On a rare snow day in 1962, icicles formed on the shrubs after a sprinkler was left on.

In 1962 five local Girl Scout troops they donated a Colorado blue spruce tree to the school in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

Bus Service

In 1965 students were able to ride the bus to school. The bus made six to seven trips daily.

In 1966 without warning, the service was ended at the beginning of the school year as part of the Oakland School Board’s effort to make ends meet. Parents were concerned with the safety of children who couldn’t get a ride to school.

The young fourth-grader walks about a mile to school every day, up a steep and winding Redwood Road.

Mrs. Niall Quinn – Sep 1966
Mrs. Niall Quinn – Sep 1966

Munck Today

More Info:

The school is located at 11900 Campus Drive.

Carl B. Munck website – OUSD
New School to be Built – Oakland Tribune November 18, 1959
A Child’s Climb to School – Oakland Tribune September 14, 1966
Free Buses Demanded – Oakland Tribune February 25, 1967
Dean of School – Oakland Tribune May 30, 1971

Howard Elementary School

Before being named Howard Elementary School, it was called King Elementary School. The ground was broken for the school in March of 1959.

Alvin Fingalo and George Kern, with David Horn, designed the school.

The new Howard School was dedicated on December 13, 1960. It was named after Charles P. Howard, a civic leader.

Howard Today

Today it is the Sojourner Truth Independent Study (K-12), an alternative public school.

Sojourner Truth website – OUSD

More Info:

The school is located at 8755 Fontaine Street

See Then and Now – Oakland Schools – Part 16

Kaiser Elementary School

The school was named in honor of Henry J. Kaiser Jr., an industrialist and civic leader.

Integration Bus Program

Kaiser Today

The school is located at 25 South Hill Court

More Info:

Kaiser Elementary website – OUSD
Who is Henry J. Kaiser Jr. – OUSD
Kaiser Dedicated – Oakland Tribune February 05, 1964
Integration Bus Plan Under Way – Oakland Tribune September 12, 1966

Markham Elementary School

The Krause Avenue School (Webster Annex) was formally dedicated in November 1928.

The “Krause Avenue School” before being demolished to make room for the new school in 1956.

In March of 1929, the Oakland Board of Education changed the name of the Webster Annex school to Edwin Markham School in honor of the widely known California poet and educator. Edwin Markin was principal of the Tompkins School from 1891-1899

New School

In 1949 a new $450,000 school building with ten classrooms, an auditorium, and a kindergarten was dedicated. The building has a capacity of 385 students and was designed by Edward T. Foulkes.

Markham Today

More Info:

Located at 7220 Krause Avenue.

Markham Elementary School – Oakland Local Wiki
Markham Elementary School – OUSD
Krause School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune November 09, 1928
School Renamed for Markham – Oakland Tribune March 12, 1929
Markham School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune October 23, 1949
Arson Suspected – Oakland Tribune January 06, 1971

Sheffield Village School

Note: I have not been able to locate any pictures of the school

The Sheffield Village School opened in March 1950. The four-classroom building was designed by C.A. Whitten, Dir. of Architecture for the Oakland Public Schools. The school cost $40 300.

The school closed in 1964, and the students were transferred to the San Leandro School District. The site is now used as a park and the Sheffield Recreation Center.

More Info:

The school was located at 241(251) Marlow Drive.

Sheffield School Contracts – Oakland Tribune February 24, 1950
Groundbreaking – Oakland Tribune March 01, 1950
Dedication – Oakland Tribune September 13, 1940
Sheffield School Rites – Oakland Tribune September 11, 1940
Sheffield to Close – Oakland Tribune June 19, 1963
Tiny School to Quit District – Oakland Tribune May 06, 1963

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 13

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Updated September 2021

I hope 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.

John Swett Elementary School

John Swett Elementary School was constructed in 1926, opened in January 1927, and closed in 2004.

The school was named for John Swett (1830–1913), who is considered the “Father of the California public school” system. He served as the 4th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1863-1867.

Boys Build Amphitheater

John Swett Today

The school is now a K-8 community school called Roses in Concrete.

“Our mission is to develop youth committed to lives characterized by self-discipline, integrity, love, and hope in the pursuit of justice and equity for all communities.“
Roses in Concrete – Website

More Info:

John Swett Elementary School – Oakland Local wiki

Located at 4551 Steele St, Oakland, CA, 94619

Parker Elementary School

Updated

In 1925 a new small school was being constructed at 78th Avenue and Parker Avenue near Foothill Blvd ( now MacArthur Blvd.) The Oakland school board ordered the new school be named the “Francis W. Parker” school. I have only seen it being called the Parker Avenue School or just Parker School.

Dedication

Parker School was opened and dedicated in February of 1926.

New School

Parker School was to be the first permanent building to be constructed from the 1945 school bond.

Bids for a new two-story school at the corner of Ney Avenue and Ritchie Street in April of 1948.

Dedication ceremonies were held in November 1949

Parker Today

More Info:

Located at 7929 Ney Street

Parker School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune February 11, 1926

Roosevelt High School

Groundbreaking for a new school at 19th Avenue and E. 19th Street occurred on November 11, 1922. The cornerstone was placed on March 24, 1923. The school costs $917,452.43 to build. The school was named after Theodore Roosevelt.

The school would house about 1500 students. The dedication took place in September 1924.

In 1934 the main school building was closed (I assume due to it being unsafe).

Roosevelt Today

Roosevelt is now a middle school.

More Info:

1926 19th Avenue

Roosevelt Dedicated – Oakland Tribune September 21, 1924
260 Roosevelt High School Graduates – Oakland Tribune May 21, 1930
Roosevelt Middle School – The New Living Deal
Roosevelt Middle School – OUSD website

Tompkins School

**Oakland Evening Tribune Sept 22, 1877**

Tompkins School opened on January 7, 1878, at 5th and Linden Streets in West Oakland, named after State Senator Edward Tompkins. There were 231 students enrolled.

C.H Clement was the first Principal from 1877 to 1881.

Edwin Markham was the principal from 1891-1900.

Observation School

**Oakland Evening Tribune April 21, 1897**

In October of 1894, Tompkins became an observation school under the supervision of the University of California Department of Pedagogy.

Many Firsts

Tompkins school was known for its many “firsts.”

First Kindergarten – in Oakland
First American Flag to fly – in Oakland
First Scientific Child Study Club
First Health Study Club
First Observation School
First Parents and Mothers Club
First of the Experimental playgrounds

The first American Flag to fly over an Oakland School was raised over Tompkins in 1890.

Experimental Playground

In 1909 the first two experimental playgrounds were set up at Tompkins and Prescott Schools.

Fire Destroys Tompkins

In August of 1914, the school was destroyed by a fire. Arson was suspected. There were seven school fires in four weeks during July and August.

Plans for a new school were put in place at once. The new school opened on October 11, 1915. There was a $96,000 six-room addition added in 1924. In 1954 another addition costing $148,000 was added.

No More Schooldays

In 1965 the school was razed to make room for the Acorn Projects.

More Info:

Fire Destroys Tompkins – Oakland Tribune August 21, 1914
Founding and Growth of Tompkins – Oakland Tribune March 1, 1942
Tompkins to Close – Oakland Tribune May 27, 1964
Tompkins School Threatened – Oakland Tribune August 16, 1964
Historic School Doomed – Oakland Tribune September 16, 1965
Public Notice – Oakland Tribune Oct 1965

Woodland Elementary School

Woodland Elementary School started as Lockwood-Highland School. It was built to relieve the overcrowding in Lockwood and the Highland Schools.

On January 4, 1960, the school opened with 540 students. The one-story school with 14 classrooms, a kindergarten, a library, an administration office, and a teacher’s lunchroom. It was the 29th of 51 school projects proposed in the 1956 school bond election. The school costs $432 296 to build.

Dedication

A new multi-purpose building was dedicated in November of 1961. Then Municipal Judge Lionel Wilson spoke on “The Role of the Parent in the Eyes of the Judge.”

Woodland Today

Today the school is called Acorn Woodland Elementary (AWE)- At ACORN Woodland Elementary (AWE), we employ various strategies to ensure that a solid base of grade-level skills is mastered while fostering creative and critical thinking among our students.

Acorn Woodland Website – OUSD

More Info:

1025-81st Avenue Oakland

School Opens – Oakland Tribune January 4, 1960
Dedication – Oakland Tribune April 26, 1960
Multi-Purpose – Oakland Tribune Nov 1961
Woodland FIre – Oakland Tribune Jan 1969
Woodland School – Oakland Local Wiki

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 12

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images Oakland Schools. and 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.

Updated March 2, 2020 – see Highland School

Edison Elementary School

In 1927 the Old Grant school at 29th and Broadway was closed, and two new schools were built to replace it, one on each side of Broadway.

Grant School No. 1 was at Kempton Ave and Fairmount Avenue and, Grant School No. 2 was at Summit and 29th Street.

**Edison School 3239 Kempton Ave circa 1940**

Edison Now

The school was closed in 1975 because it was not up to earthquake standards. The school was later sold to developers, and the classrooms were converted into expensive condos.

The playground turned into a city park called Oak Park.

More Info:

The school was located at 3239 Kempton Avenue, Oakland

Edison School – Oakland Local Wiki
Grant No. 2 – Oakland Tribune Dec 29, 1927

Highland School

88236386_226450348485354_7798874888218869760_n — **Highland School – circa 1910-12**
**Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising**

Oakland Tribune Dec 28, 1907

Highland School was established as part of the Highland School District in 1908 and was annexed into the Oakland School district in 1909.

New School

The school was dedicated on November 14, 1908. There were 250 pupils had enrolled in the new Highland Grammar School. The Mission-style building was built at the cost of $23,000. There were 8 classrooms with the possibility of adding more.

1923 a one-story 8 classroom addition was built, and in 1924, they added an auditorium for $44,200.

New School

In 1957 the old school building was demolished. Plans were approved for a new school to house 644 pupils. The new school was designed by Andrew P. Anderson and Irwin M. Johnson.

In 1958 a new school was built to replace the one from 1908. The new building has 9 classrooms, a special classroom, administrative offices, a library, and a multi-purpose room. The total cost was $411,999. The 1923 addition was retained.

More Info:

The school is located at 8521 – A Street Oakland, CA

Today the school is called the New Highland Academy. The vision for New Highland is that our students become creative thinkers, effective communicators, and compassionate members of their community.

New Highland Academy – OUSD Website

School Site – Oakland Tribune Dec 28, 1907
New Highland School – Oakland Tribune Nov 05, 1908
New School is Popular – Oakland Tribune Dec 06, 1908
Replaces 1908 Building – Oakland Tribune Apr 26, 1959

Grant School

Grant School was built in 1885 and was located on Broadway at the corner of 29th Street, then called Prospect Avenue. The Grocery Outlet is now where the school was originally.

**Grant School in 1891**
**Gift of Miss Marietta Edwards**
http://collections.museumca.org/?q=collection-item/h68104

New School

A new school was approved in 1904. The plans were drawn up by San Francisco Architects Stone & Smith.

Another New School

The last day of school in the “old Grant School” building was January 9th, 1928. The 500 grammar school children would march in a parade to the new school buildings that were built. The two new buildings were constructed to replace Grant School. At that time they were called

Grant School No. 1 – Edison Elementary School (see above)
Grant School No. 2 – Grant School at 29th and Summit

Building Abandoned

The old school building was abandoned and demolished. The land was sold for $350,000, and the money was used to pay for the new schools and property.

Continuation School

In 1966 Grant became a continuation school.

Grant School Today

It is now the site of the Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy.

The vision of Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy (OEZSA/Street Academy) is to provide students a small, safe, high school with a social justice-focused college-preparatory education.

More Info:

Grant School – Oakland Local Wiki

New School Named Grant – Oakland Tribune Jul 28, 1885
Old Grant School Property Sold – Oakland Tribune Sep 13, 1927
Last Day at Grant – Oakland Tribune Jan 08,1928
Now Wrecking Grant School – Oakland Tribune Jan 08, 1928
Old Grant School Closes – Oakland Tribune Jan 29, 1928
New Grant School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune May 30, 1928
The Old Grant School – Oakland Tribune Nov 25, 1951
Grant School ‘Too Costly to Continue’ – Oakland Tribune Jun 06, 1966

Toler Heights School

In December of 1925, Toler Heights School was just one portable classroom, where 40 students attended school. There were six grades in one room under the guidance of two teachers.

New School

In 1927 a new school was built. The school had four classrooms and was Spanish in design. The new school’s capacity was 180 students and cost about $36,000.

Dedication

The new school building was dedicated on May 24, 1928.

**Shared in the Oakland History Group on Facebook**

Toler Today

The school is located at 9736 Lawlor St.

In 2007 the school became known as the Alternative Learning Community, a middle school.

In March of 2009, it became notable as the first, middle school in the United States to be officially named or renamed after US President Barack Obama.

It is now the Francophone Charter School. It opened in 2015 as Transitional Kindergarten through third grade, which offers a French language immersion program.

More Info:

Tiniest School – Oakland Tribune Dec 10, 1925
Toler Heights Bids – Oakland Tribune Apr 21, 1927
Dedication – Oakland Tribune May 23, 1928
School Re-Dedication – Oakland Tribune Sep 03, 1939

The End

Oakland Schools – Tech High

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

In researching the schools in Oakland, I found out that there are a lot of them and a few schools more than their fair share of photos or history.

Technical High and Oakland High are two of those schools.

Tech High School also has a great website celebrating its Centennial in 2012.

Oakland Tech Centennial

Oakland High School has a great history with photos on their Oakland High School Memorial site.

oshmemorial.com

So, with that in mind, I wasn’t going to spend much time on either of these schools, but I found these of Technical High, and I couldn’t resist sharing.

The following are from the book by one of the architects of Tech.

School Architecture Principles and Practices By John Joseph Donovan 1921

The End

Then & Now – Oakland School Part 11

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Chabot Elementary School

Bungalow Annex

The Board of Education in May of 1926 approved the plans for a new school to relieve the overcrowding at Claremont School.

The new school was on Chabot Road at Patton Street. The Tudor Revival-style school was built in 1927 and was initially known as the Claremont School Annex. The seven-room structure was designed to hold 350 students and cost $50,000 using funds from a 1924 voter-approved school bond.

The “Claremont” Annex was dedicated on April 21, 1927. The school cost approx. $89,000. The architect was William G. Corlett (1887-1954.)

Soon after the school opened its doors, the name was changed to Anthony Chabot School.

New Addition

In 1937 an addition was added and funded by the Living New Deal.

In the mid-1950s, a portion of the old Sacramento Northern right-of-way was acquired and converted into an upper playground field.

Chabot Today

Chabot is located at 6686 Chabot Road

More Info:

Storied School Marks 80th Anniversary – Oakland Tribune October 21, 2007, + pg 2

Claremont Middle School

The new school at the corner of College Avenue and Birch Street was to be named Claremont School, and it opened in August of 1913 as an elementary school. John J. Donovan and Walter D Reed designed the school.

By 1916 the school was so crowded that they were using the teachers’ room and the auditorium as classrooms. Portables were added later.

List of Graduates 1921

In 1925 7th and 8th grades were added. The elementary grades were transferred to The Annex (Chabot School) when it opened in 1927. Claremont soon after 1927 became Claremont Junior High.

In the 1950s, 28 classrooms were added to the Claremont campus, plus a cafeteria and gymnasium.

50th Anniversary

Claremont Today

The historic gates are all that remain of the original school building that was demolished in 1976. The gates were moved to the corner of Birch and College Avenue.

More Info:

Members of the Vernon-Rockridge Improvement Club had hoped that the school would be named Vernon-Rockridge.

Claremont School Defects – Oakland Tribune December 10, 1913
Defends Construction of Claremont – Oakland Tribune December 25, 1913
Overcrowded Schools – Oakland Tribune August 13, 1916
New GYM – Oakland Tribune November 19, 1950
Claremont Middle School – Oakland Local wiki

Centennial Celebration 2013

Letters to the Editor

Claremont Middle the need historical accuracy – April 4, 2013
Claremont Middle Centennial will be Accurate- April 11, 2013

Crocker Highlands School

In 1922 the board of education authorized the purchase of land for a new school named Crocker Highlands School.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in April 1925.

The six-room structure costing $40,000 was built as part of the 1924 school bond issue. Wythe, Blaine & Olson designed the school.

The school was dedicated in September 1925.

Miss Bernice Baxter was the first principal of the school. There were 61 students enrolled that first year, and by 1929 there were 485 students enrolled.

In 1929 plans were approved for a new $95,000 addition of 11 classrooms and an auditorium. Blaine & Olson were the architects.

In 1937 another addition was added.

In 1971 the original building from 1924 was declared unsafe in an earthquake and was to be replaced.

In 1976 when the school was upgraded for earthquake safety. They added a two-story basement with ten classrooms, two special education rooms, a multipurpose room, a library/resource teachers, a music room, a teachers’ lounge, a computer lab, a kitchen, storage, and custodial rooms.

Crocker Highlands Today

More Info:

School Site – Oakland Tribune July 7, 1922
Groundbreaking – Oakland Tribune April 7, 1925
School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune September 23, 1925
Crocker School – Oakland Tribune June 14, 1925
Plans Accepted – Oakland Tribune April 17, 1929
Parents Aid In School Refurbishing – Oakland Tribune September 7, 1970

Grass Valley School

In 19Oakland’sd’s newest school was officially known as Grass Valley School. The name was chosen by parents of the children attending the school after it was temporarily known as the Toler Heights Annex. Meadow View and Rancho Benito came in 2nd and 3rd.

On December 11, 1952, the school was dedicated. For the first 3 or 4 years, the school consisted of three portables and 100 students.

New School Building

In October 1957, plans were submitted to build a new school with eight classrooms. A kindergarten, a special education room, a library, a multipurpose room, and admin. Offices. The new school was to house 362 students, cost about $350,000, and was expected to be completed by August 1958.

First Day of School 1958

Grass Valley Today

The is located at 4720 Dunkirk Avenue

More Info:

The Name is Grass Valley – Oakland Tribune November 4, 1953
Temporary School Dedicated – Oakland Tribune December 11, 1953
Grass Valley Bids – Oakland Tribune October 30, 1957

Grass Valley Website – OUSD

Hillcrest School

I couldn’tcouldn’t find any earlier photos of the school. I will update you if I do.

Construction on the new Rockridge Highlands school began in 1950.

The new school housed 210 children in six classrooms, a kindergarten, and a library.

It was designed by Anderson and Simonds and cost $218,697.

The school was dedicated on January 19, 1951, and was the 27th building to be built due to the $15 million bond issue voted in 1945.

In May 1951, Rockridge Highlands School’s name was changed to Hillcrest School.

1991 Fire

Hillcrest was spared during the 1991 Oakland Hills fire.

Forty-six Hillcrest families, including 59school’sschool’s 236 students, lost their homes in the fire.

**The playground in 1993**
**S.F. Examiner**

Hillcrest Today

The school is located at 30 Marguerite Drive

More Info:

Work to start – Oakland Tribune January 12, 1950
Student Share Toys After Fire – S.F. Examiner October 26, 1991

Rockridge School

Note: I could not locate any pictures of the first school. I will update this if I find some.

They purchased a triangle piece of property on Broadway Terrace adjoining the Claremont Country club facing Broadway.

The school opened in February 1922. It cost $75,000.

They built a Spanish colonial renaissance-style two-story structure with cement stucco and a tile roof. The exterior was painted coral with windows green-blue and tiles bright red.

Every one of the classrooms opened upon a terrace that sloped down to a garden.
Ventilation in the new building was by windows and not by a fan, and there was a warm bench for drying wet shoes.

Large Play Space

“The kindergarten is one of the best in the west.”
Oakland Tribune

The kindergarten contained ample play space, a fireplace, various nooks, and a glass porch.

Plans were approved for a new addition consisting of an assembly hall, and three classrooms were added in 1927.

FrElsie’s Elsie’s Column in 1938

Condemned Building 1953 and 1971

In 1953 the auditorium was condemned and closed. Preliminary plans for a new one were drawn up in 1957.

The old building from 1922 was deemed unsafe in an earthquake in 1971.

In 1978-1979, the school building was torn down, and portable classrooms were placed on the grounds.

The school closed after the 1988-89 school year and later became Far West High School, which closed in 2011.

Rockridge Today

The school is located at 5263 Broadway Terrace.

More Info:

Rockridge to Open Soon – Oakland Tribune February 5, 1922
Citizens Debate Demolition of Rockridge School- Oakland Tribune June 22, 1979

Update Dec 2022

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 1 – B

Posted on December 11, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

This is a continuation of Part 1 – University High School

I hope to show Then and Now images of most of the schools, along with a bit of history of each school I show. Some of the photos are in the form of drawings, postcards, or from the pages in history books.

University High School

University High School, which was built in 1922 and opened in 1923 and was designed by Charles W. Dickey. The school is located at 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, (the original street name was Grove Street, but became MLK, Jr. Way in 1984)

The school initially opened in 1923 at what was 5714 Grove Street. “UNI” gained the reputation of the “feeder” high school of Oakland of students directly to the University of California.

The high school was closed following World War II in 1948.

In 1954, the campus was converted into the first location of Oakland City College, which later became Merritt College. Merritt College moved to its new campus in 1967. In the early 1970s, the location temporarily became a high school again, as Oakland Technical High School moved its students into the campus. In contrast, its normal location was retrofitted for earthquake safety. At the time, many called this site “Old Tech,” although Oakland Tech was actually opened at its current location in 1914, before University High School.

National Register of Historic Places

This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The following photos are from the 1992 National Historic Places Registration Form.

**National Register of Historic Places**
**University High School**
**The National Historic Places Register Reference Number is 92001300.**

University High School Today

The school is now used by the North Oakland Senior Center. Annual events at the Center include holiday dances, birthday parties, and flea markets. There are weekly salsa, swing and line dancing classes, along with activities such as Tai Chi and blood pressure screening.

More Info:

Oakland Local WIki – University High
University High School – Wikipedia
North Oakland Senior Center – website

The End

School War Work in 1918

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

War work in the Oakland Public Schools during 1918 was considered one of the most essential items in the curriculum by both the school administration and the teachers.

They felt the first duty of the schools was to aid the national government in winning the war to the best of their ability.

Service became the keynote of all work. Oakland’s boys and girls realized that they had a particular part to play in making the world a safe place to live in.

Sewing and Knitting Classes

During the summer vacation, thousands of garments for refugees were made by the children as part of their regular classwork.

**Sewing Classes**
**Board of Education 1919**

Boys and girls of all ages learned to knit, and tireless little hands were busy every spare moment making garments for sailors, soldiers, and people of stricken countries.

Berkeley Schools also helped
Oakland Tribune August 25, 1918

School and Home Garden Army

The urgent need for higher food production led to the organization of the School and Home Garden Army in Oakland. Fifteen thousand children enlisted, and 6,00 brought their gardens to successful harvests.

Jackson Furniture Company offered two silver loving cups as prizes, one for the school having the best school garden, and one for the best home garden.

Luther Burbank visited Oakland and personally inspected many of the war gardens.

Jefferson School won the School Garden Cup, and Lakeview School won the Home Garden School Cup.

The Art Department devoted its time propaganda of publicity of the was needs through posters.

The Manual Training shops worked closely with the Red Cross. They created items needed for hospitals.

Liberty Loans

The schools helped raised money through the various Liberty Bond/Loan Campaigns.

More Info

Looking back at a 1918 parade that helped spread the deadly flu, leaving nearly 13,000 dead – SF Gate – September 22, 2019

1918 Flu Pandemic – Oakland Local Wiki

Free war Garden Primer – Oakland Tribune March 13, 1918
Jackson’s War Garden Cups – Oakland Tribune March 27, 1918
Liberty Loan Parade – Oakland Tribune April 07, 1918
Luther Burbank Inspects Schools – Oakland Tribune May 15, 1918
War Garden Page – Oakland Tribune August 25, 1918
Annual Report of the Oakland Public Schools 1919

The End

The Oakland’s First School House

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

When Oakland became a city in 1852, there was no free public school. There was a private school at the corner of 2nd and Broadway run by Mrs. Monroe.

Sketch of Oakland’s first school building
African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph Collection

The town trustees saw the need for a school, so they rented a room at the rear of a dance hall called a Fandango House at 2nd and Washington. The room was furnished with half a dozen wooden benches, a table for the teacher, a blackboard, a map of the world, and a rawhide whip. 12 to 15 children attended this school.

Horace W. Carpentier donated a school building to the city in exchange for (control of)the area around the harbor. Oxen teams from the hills brought redwood lumber, and a small structure was erected at 4th and Clay Streets. It was 30 x 20 feet with a 12-foot ceiling and a shingled roof. A belfry with a little bell. Carpentier described the building as “substantial, elegant, and commodious.”

In June of 1853, when the school opened, the citizens held a parade, and 16 students carried a banner that read, “Our Duty to Our Country, First, Last, and Always.”

Miss Hannah Jayne – Oakland History Room

The first teacher of the school was Miss Hannah Jayne. She taught until 1856, when she resigned to marry Edson Adams, one of Oakland’s pioneers.

In 1853, the First Presbyterian Church used the building for services. The church’s current sanctuary (built-in 1914) memorializes the schoolhouse in one of its stained glass windows showing church history.

stained glass showing the church’s history – localwiki.org/oakland/Our_Oakland”>Our Oakland

By 1855 there were 155 children of school age in Oakland. The little schoolhouse could not house them all. The old Carpentier school was replaced by a slightly larger building between Jefferson and Grove ( now Martin Luther King) on 11th and 12th Streets.

The city continued to grow, and so did the need for schools. By 1873 there were 13 buildings with more than 2000 children receiving instruction. By 1875 there were 3,225 attending school, increasing by 1000 in 2 years.

First A.M.E. Church

The First A.M.E. Church of Oakland began in 1858 by a small group of Oakland residents and is the oldest African American church in Oakland. The church founders purchased the Carpenter School House in 1863, which became the first church building.

According to the article below, the building was still there in 1921

In 1943 the school district celebrated its 90th Anniversary with nearly 2000 teachers and 75 schools with almost 45,000 students.

More Info:

The First Schoolhouse – Oakland Local Wiki
Oakland’s First Schoolhouse – Oakland Tribune May 26, 1918
Know Your Schools 90th Anniversary – Oakland Tribune Sep 12, 1943
Oakland’s First School Bell – Pt 1 –Oakland Tribune Feb 08, 1970
Oakland’s First School Bell – Pt 2 – Oakland Tribune Feb 08, 1970

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 9

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Updated December 17, 2019

Montclair Grammar School

The Montclair District held formal dedication ceremonies in their first school on March 14, 1926. The service is under the direction of A.R. Romer, the principal, and Mrs. J.D. Bishop, the teacher in charge of the 71 students already registered to attend the school.

The four-room schoolhouse was built with funds from the building program funded by a $9,000,000 bond issue voted by the people of Oakland in 1924.

In attendance were Mrs. Stanton Lore representing the Montclair Women’s Club, and Mrs. E.T. Jepsen of the Piedmont Avenue PTA

The original brick building with a tile roof was later considered an earthquake risk and razed in 1936. They used portables for many years.

The new school building was dedicated in 1942, with nine classrooms, an administrative suite, an arts and crafts room, a PTA room, and a Library, was created. In 1947, a Cafeteria and Assembly Hall were added.

Montclair is located at 1757 Mountain Blvd., Oakland.

Montclair Today

In 2013, a new building was added to the campus, which houses a modern Multipurpose Room, new classrooms, a faculty lounge, and a living roof. A new learning garden and play structure were also added to the campus.

Montclair Website – OUSD

Thornhill Elementary School

Plans for a new school in the Montclair District were drawn up by local Montclair residents Robert “Bob” Goetz and Jens Hansen in association with Confer and Willis.

The site on Thornhill Drive at Alhambra was acquired through condemnation proceedings. The court awarded $48,000 to the landowner, Alice Taylor.

The school was to be ready in September 1958 and would have an administration office, a multipurpose room, a library, 11 classrooms, and a kindergarten room.

Dedication – November 12, 1958

Bus Service

The district approved the school bus earlier in the year, stopping at both Thornhill and Montclair schools. The kids were picked up throughout the hills on the roads designated ‘safe.’ The bus service continued until 1959, when the service was going to be pulled but continued a little longer after the parents rallied to raise money to maintain the service.

The school is located at 5880 Thornhill Dr, Oakland

Thornhill Today

Thornhill Website – OUSD
Thornhill 50th Anniversary –blog

Joaquin Miller Elementary School

The bid was taken in November 1949 for the New Joaquin Miller Elementary School on Ascot Drive in Montclair.

**Oakland Tribune November 1950 Tribune**

First Graduate

In January of 1950, Judith Lowe, 12 daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lowe, had the honor of being the first graduate of the school – she was the only one. She was the lone pupil in high sixth grade.

The school is located at 5525 Ascot Drive.

Joaquin Miller Today

Joaquin Miller website – OUSD

The End

Updated November 28, 2019

Laurel Elementary School

Unique School

New School Building

School Bell

More Info:

James Madison Junior High School

Sobrante Park Elementary School

Sobrante Park Today

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Stonehurst Elementary School

Demand

Unsafe School

No Name Change

Stonehurst Today

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Whittier School Today

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John Swett Elementary School

Boys Build Amphitheater

John Swett Today

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Parker Elementary School

Updated

Dedication

New School

Parker Today

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Roosevelt High School

Roosevelt Today

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Tompkins School

Observation School

Many Firsts

Experimental Playground

Fire Destroys Tompkins

No More Schooldays

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Woodland Elementary School

Woodland Today

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Chabot Elementary School

Bungalow Annex

New Addition

Chabot Today

Claremont Middle School

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Crocker Highlands Today

Grass Valley School

Large Play Space

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