Shepherd Canyon …a bit of history

Have you ever wondered why it is called Shepherd Canyon?

Heart of Shepard (sic) Canyon

It is named after the Shepherd Family, who owned about 200 acres and lived there from 1875 to the early 1900s.

Oakland Tribune Feb 16, 1927

You can view the location of Shepherd’s land in a Map of the City of Oakland, Berkeley, Oakland & Brooklyn Townships, and Alameda dated 1889, Published by E.P. Vandercook & Co. Real estate agents.

View the map here: Georeferencer.com

William J Shepherd (1844-1921) emigrated from England in about 1865 with his parents, Thomas and Ellen Shepherd, brothers John and Thomas, and sisters Mary Ann and Elizabeth.

Oakland Tribune Nov 4, 1876

In 1878 William married Mary Rogers (1842-1907). They had six children, William, James, Mary, Ellen, Louise, and Robert. They attended the Hays Canyon School.

Oakland Tribune Mar 10, 1875
LARGE LANDOWNERS OF 1876-BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-OF ALAMEDA
TOWNSHIP-
SF Examiner Mar 25, 1878
1895 Directory

Hays School Graduation – 1901

William Shepherd died in San Jose in 1921

Oakland Tribune Jun 7, 1921

Shepherd Pass Road –

A few articles discuss building a road that would run through the Canyon to connect to Skyline using County Road 2457 (now Shepherd Canyon Road.)

Oakland Tribune Jun 15,1896
Oakland Tribune Sept 18, 1897

Oakland Tribune Daily Knave 1953. Settling a moot point in Oakland nomenclature from William’s nephew.

Oakland Tribune Jul 6,1953

Shepherd Canyon Freeway – Highway 77

California Highways and Public Works – March -April 1958

“Cal Trans bought up land in Shepherd Canyon with the plan of building highway 77. It was to be an extension of Park Blvd. and would run up the canyon and connect highway 13 with Contra Costa county (much as highway 24 does just two miles north). Fortunately, community activists argued against the plan, and the area was preserved. In 1972, assembly member Ken Meade officially protected the area with AB561. After the downfall of the freeway plan, the Shepherd Canyon Corridor Plan was shaped by volunteers, and now guides the preservation of the canyon.”

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The End