Detroit of the West – Oakland California

Detroit of the West – Oakland California

A bit of history of the automotive industry in Oakland from 1911 to the mid-1960s. This is just a bit of history, as I have spent way too much time on this one post and need to get to work and finish the other 28 posts I have in draft form.

Be sure to check both pages of this post.


In 1913, automobile registrations in California reached 100,000. In 2021, California was the federal state with the highest number of motor vehicle registrations in the United States, with 14,268,528.

Detriot of the West

In 1915 General Motors (G.M.) introduced the Chevrolet Series 490 sedan, selling for $490. The demand for this car was strong all over the country.

After surveying the coast, the leaders of G.M. decided Oakland was the logical place to build a new plant.

Oakland Tribune February 26, 1936

Oakland was ideal, with facilities for Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Western Pacific railroads and deep-water ports.

In 1916 G.M. opened a Chevrolet Assembly Plant at 69th and Foothill Blvd. 

A large Fisher Body plant came next adjacent to the Chevrolet plant. Then the Buick Motor Company, Olds Motor Works, and Pontiac Motor Car Company opened warehousing facilities.

Oakland Tribune November 13, 1938

A-C, Delco, United Motors, and tire and truck companies added plants, factories, and warehouses.

California Motor Car Company

Oakland’s first automobile manufacturer and the city’s first city’s most short-lived motor-car maker, opening in May 1911, the California Motor Car Company was housed in a two-story concrete building built in 1908 for the California Cotton Mills and located on the east side of High Street at the corner of San Leandro Blvd.

Oakland Tribune May 25, 1911

The owners, Walter Sachs (president) and A.J. Schram, proudly proclaimed that Oakland was to have 

“the only large automobile manufacturing on the Pacific Coast.”

The first car, the Pacific Special, was ready to be tested in 1912.

Oakland Tribune June 1912

By 1914 the company was bought out by Cole California Car Company, and by 1915 the “Pacific Special” was no longer made.

More Info:

Chevrolet Assembly Plant

Oakland Tribune June 4, 1916

In 1916, Chevrolet opened the auto industry’s first West Coast assembly plant in Oakland in Elmhurst.

Breaking ground for the Chevrolet factory, 69th Avenue, and Foothill Boulevard in Oakland, California. Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

According to the Oakland Tribune, the plant was built in 90 days. A crew of twenty men poured 7,000 yards of cement in forty-six days.

Photos by Cheney Photo Advertising

Chevrolet Motors became a division of General Motors in 1918. In 1923 plant expanded to include Fisher Body Division.

Production of the Chevrolet Series 490 began on September 23, 1916.

S.F. Examiner November 23, 1954

During the first year (1917) of full production, the plant assembled 10,089 cars.

Payday at the Chevrolet Plant November 24, 1919 – Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising

By 1923 the original plant had been enlarged three times, increasing the workforce to 1,300.

Oakland Tribune October 23, 1927

Real Estate

Real Estate developers used the erection of the plant to their advantage. They advertised that you live close to your job at the plant. One development was named “Chevrolet Park. Melrose Highlands announced the “working man home.”

Oakland Tribune October 19, 1916

During World War II, the plant stopped the production of automobiles for commercial use and contributed to the war effort by producing mutations. When commercial manufacturing resumed, Chevrolet’s most well-known vehicles during the 1950s were built at the plant.

50 millionth General Motors Car 

In November 1954, General Motors celebrated the fifty million passenger car by making a solid gold 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. In Oakland, they celebrated by giving public tours of the assembly and truck plants.

S.F. Examiner November 23, 1954

Plant Closes

In 1963 the plant closed and moved its operations to Fremont, CA.

Before the factory closed and moved to Fremont in 1963, more than 4 million Chevys rolled off the assembly line.

In 1965 the old factory was demolished to make room for the 13 million-dollar Eastmont Mall.

More Info:

Fageol Motors Company

“Fageol Signs Up For New Factory”

The Fageol Motors Company of Oakland bought four acres of land between Foothill and Hollywood Boulevards (now MacArthur Blvd) and 107th Avenue to build an auto and truck plant. 

The exterior of Fageol Motors Company plant, Iveywood Development in Oakland, California Cheney Photo Advertising Company. Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.

GROUND BROKEN FOR FAGEOL PLANT

“Oakland City Officials Join Company Heads in Celebrating Event – Trucks and Tractors to Be Built

“Factory is Welcomed To Oakland Auto Parade Celebrates Event”

Oakland Tribune June 19, 1917

Speeches were made by John L. Davie, mayor of Oakland, Frank R. Fageol, secretary and manager of the Fageol Motors Co., and Joseph H. King, president of the local Chamber of Commerce. After the groundbreaking, three short racing events entertained the large gathering of spectators. The celebration closed with a demonstration of the new Fageol tractor.

“Fageol Plane is a Mecca of Big Crowds”

Oakland Triobune June 19, 1917

The plant’s first unit was to be built immediately at Hollywood Boulevard and 107th Avenue for $100,000, with more than 15,000 square feet of floor space. The structure was made of steel and brick, and cement.

Photos by Cheney Photo Advertising

Interior of Fageol Motors Company, Hollywood Boulevard at 107th Avenue in Oakland, California. Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room. Circa 1931

Since the founding of Fageol Motors Company, there had been a plan to build automobiles. Frank R. and William B. Fageol, with Louis H. Bill, built and marketed what was to be the most expensive luxury car of the time using the Hall-Scott aircraft engine. Marketed as the “Fageol Four Passenger Touring Speedster,” only three were known to have been produced before the government took over the engine manufacturing plant to build war planes, ending production.From Wikipedia

The factory produced trucks and tractors; in 1921, Fageol became the first company to build a bus from the ground up.

Oakland Tribune June 1996

In 1938 the factory was bought by T.A. Peterman.

“On a 1938 business trip in San Francisco, Peterman learned that Fageol Truck and Motor Company was to be sold. Seeking an opportunity to expand into new vehicle production, he acquired Fageol from Sterling Motor Company for $50,000, receiving the 13.5-acre Fageol plant in Oakland, California, its tooling, and parts inventory; the purchase was completed in 1939″

Wikipedia

Peterman died in 1945, and the business was sold in 1947 to a group of Peterbilt executives. His wife, Ida Peterman, retains ownership of the land.

In 1960 site was sold to the Draper Companies of San Francisco for the development of a $2,500,000 shopping center to be known as Foothill Square. Peterbilt moved to a new factory in Newark, CA.

More Info:

I am not sure if the factory was on land that was 4 acres or 13.5 acres. I bet they purchased more land later, bringing the total from 4 to 13.5.

Durant Motors

In 1921 William Durant started Durant Motors, and a year later, opened a 20-acre, 300,000-square foot plant in Oakland along East 14th between 107th and 109th.

The site included a spur (an extension of the Stonehurst branch) built by Southern Pacific. They laid two miles of track on the factory grounds.

Oakland Tribune December 4, 1921

The chassis was assembled on the first floor, and bodywork was done on the second floor. When the completed chassis arrived at the end of the assembly line, the completed body was lowered on it.

The Oakland plant assembled Durant Model Fours and Sixes and later the economical Star Car.

Durant Motors operated until 1931 when it was renamed De-Vuax-Hall Motors. In 1936 the facilities were sold to General Motors, becoming Chevrolet Trucks, General Motors Truck, and Coach Division.

Later the plant was used as a regional parts warehouse.’

In the 1980s, two wings of the plant were converted into a marketplace bazaar called Durant Center (Durant Square Mall.)

Today

More Info:

Willys-Overland Pacific Company

The Willys-Overland Pacific Company opened a new distributing plant at East 14th (now International Blvd) and 57th Avenue (5625) in November 1925.

Oakland Tribune November 22, 1925

In 1929 the company introduced the new Whippet Sedan four and six models.

Oakland Tribune
The Factory Today – Google Maps 5901 International Blvd.

More Info:

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 10

 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, 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.

Updated September 20, 2020

Golden Gate Elementary/Junior High School

Bay Public School was the first school in the Bay School District, now the Golden Gate District. The 2-room schoolhouse was built in about 1875.

Bay Public School. Built-in 1875.
glass plate negative
ca. 1890
Gift of Fred L. Klinkner
H77.57.43

In 1885, they added two rooms. In 1892, the school was replaced by a new building.

Oakland Tribune November 19, 1892
New Bay Public School (built 1892)
Gift of Fred L. Klinkner
H76.295.65A
 Bay Public School Building with students posed on the front steps. Gift of Women’s Board, Oakland Museum Association. Circa 1885-1895 – H77.55.10

More to come on the transformation from Bay School to Golden Gate School.

New School

Preliminary plans for the second unit of the new Golden Gate Junior High. The plans came a week after the residents of the Golden Gate district complained at a school board meeting that the

the old school is now so rickety that it is becoming dangerous

Residents Golden Gate District Dec 1926
Oakland Tribune August 10, 1927

The new school building was completed in November of 1928 for $119,232 and had space for 700 students.

A new shop building was added to the school for about $30,000. It was located at 63rd and San Pablo, including auto and machine shops.

The School Today

CC SA-BY Our Oakland
https://localwiki.org/oakland/Our_Oakland

More Info:

Golden Gate is now the Berkley Maynard Academy, a charter school. The school is named after publishers Thomas L. Berkley and Robert Maynard.

Berkley Maynard Academy – Website

Herbert Hoover Junior High School

Plans for the new Clawson-Longfellow Junior High School were drawn in 1928. Hoover was the last school built using the 1924 bond issue of $9,600,000.

Oakland Tribune August 29, 1928

The school’s cornerstone was laid on March 04, 1929, the same date as President Hoovers inauguration as the nation’s 31st president.

Oakland Tribune March 05, 1929

Herbert Hoover Junior High School, located at Thirty-third and West Streets, opened on August 12, 1929. The school was formerly known as the Clawson-Longfellow Junior High School.

The Tudor-style building was designed by John L. Easterly, an Oakland architect, and cost $460,000.

The school had a large assembly hall that could seat 1200. At one end, there was a stage that could hold 200 people. There were dressing rooms on each side of the stage. There was also a moving picture booth with the latest equipment.

The administration suite with the principal. Vice-principal and attendance offices. Next on the first floor was a textbook room, library, faculty cafeteria, a student cafeteria, and a quick lunch counter.

On the second and third floors, there were more than 25 classrooms.

Dedication

The official dedication events for the school were held during American Book Week, November 11-17, 1929.

Oakland Tribune November 07, 1929

Herbert Hoover Junior High School (1929–1974) is at 3263 West Street.

School Unsafe

In 1972, the School board approved the replacement of three schools. The schools were deemed unsafe in an earthquake.

The schools were Clawson and Durant Elementary and Hoover Jr. High. A new K-4th grade school was built on the Hoover site, and a 5th – 8th at the Durant site.

The school was demolished in 1974 to be replaced with a more earthquake-safe lower school.

The School Today

The school is located at  890 Brockhurst Street, Oakland, CA

Hoover Today – Google Maps
Hoover Today – Google Maps
  • Hoover Elementary School – Website

More Info:

Longfellow Elementary School

I haven’t had much luck finding any photos of the old Longfellow School.

Longfellow Elementary School was opened in 1907 and was located at 39th and Market Street.

In March of 1907, a couple of the school board members questioned the name of Longfellow for the school. One thought it was too close to the Berkeley school with the same name. The other questioned the school, being named after a dead poet who never did anything for the city. The name stayed with only one dissent.

New School

In 1957, plans were drawn up by the firm of Alexander and Mackenzie. The plans call for 16 classrooms, a kindergarten, a library, a special education room, a multipurpose room, and administrative offices for $ 623,600.

The new Longfellow Elementary School was formally dedicated in November of 1959. The new school replaced the multi-storied building built after the 1906 earthquake. It Cost $595,000.

Just Say No to Drugs!

First Lady Nancy Reagan met with a group of elementary school students and their parents Wednesday to discuss ways to fight drug abuse, one of the biggest problems facing the city of Oakland. UPI – July 1984

Today

Longfellow Today – Google Maps

Today, the Oakland Military Institute is using the Longfellow School site.

Oakland Military Institute – website

Located at 3877 Lusk Street

More Info:

Lowell Junior High School

Lowell Junior High, which most people will remember, opened in January 1928.

Oakland Tribune 1927

The new building cost between $288,000 and $ 320,000 (depending on what I read). The building is fronted on Myrtle Street at 14th Street.

  • Groundbreaking – 1927
  • Cornerstone laid – 1927
  • Dedicated Jan 1928

 Howard Schroder noted Oakland architect designed the school.

Name Change

Oakland Tribune August 14, 1927

Before Lowell’s opening in 1928, the school was called Market Street Junior High.

Oakland Tribune 1928
Oakland Tribune June 10, 1926

In 1937, the old McCymonds High School was abandoned, the students joined Lowell, and then it was known as Lowell-McClymonds. A year later, the name changed to McClymonds-Lowell. The Lowell students were moved to Prescot Junior High in 1938.

Oakland Tribune Oct 1955


When the new McClymonds High opened on Myrtle Street, it again became Lowell Junior High School.

Historic Site

The new building replaced an old historic wood-framed building that had the distinction of being the “most named” school.

Oakland Tribune Oct 1955

Earthquake – 1955

Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
Oakland Tribune Oct 1955

The building was damaged during an earthquake on October 23, 1955.

Oakland Tribune Oct 1955
Oakland Tribune Oct 1956

The formal dedication for the new Lowell Junior High was in November 1959.

Oakland Tribune Nov 1959

The new school was located at 1330 Filbert Street, cost about $1,656,083, and was designed by Warnecke and Warnecke.  

The new building had 18 general classrooms, five for Special Ed, three Art rooms, and three homemaking rooms.

More Info:

Peralta School

Peralta School Alcatraz and Telegraph Avenues
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising Circa 1919
April 1886
Oakland Tribune 1897
Oakland Tribune November 30, 1913

Peralta Today

Peralta Today

More Info

The End

Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 4

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.

Durant School

Bids were in to build a new school at the corner of West Street. A bid of $5000 made by J.J. Chaplain was the winner. The new school was called the Durant School in honor of the Rev. Henry J. Durant, the 16th Mayor of Oakland (1873-1875) and one of the founders of the University of California.

Durant School opened in August of 1875. It was reported by the Board of Education that all grades were formed and that they had over 400 pupils with eight teachers.

In 1878 a 6-room addition was added.

Durant Elementary School

Plans for a new Durant School to be built were accepted in 1912. The old school was sold. The new building was constructed at the corner of 29th and West Street and was to exceed $160,000.

School Architecture: Principles and Practices
By John Joseph Donovan 1921

The building above was designed by architects John J. Donovan and Louis Christian Mullgardt and was completed in August of 1914-15 at the cost of $179,868

In 1971 (probably before), it was determined that the school was structurally unsafe in the event of an earthquake. Bids were requested for the construction of a new school. I don’t know what happened with that. I couldn’t locate any pictures of a newer Durant School.

Location 2820 West St Oakland CA

Lafayette Grammar School

 

Picturesque Oakland 1889
Britton & Rey.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt309nd1h6/?order=20

 

Views of Oakland California’. Oakland: Pacific Press Publishing Company, 1893

Lafayette School was located at 17th and West Street and was built in the late 1860s.

The Lafayette Grammar School was one of the first schools built in Oakland. Lafayette even housed Oakland High School in 1869.

 

Oakland Tribune 1905

Lafayette Grammar School was named in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, a French military leader and statesman who fought on the side of the colonists during part of the American Revolution.

Lafayette Grammar School later changed its name to Lafayette Elementary School.

A brand new school was dedicated in October of 1949. Constructed at the cost of $594,825, the new school has 22 classrooms, a kindergarten, and an auditorium.

The school today

Lakeview Elementary School

The school was established in 1909 as an annex of Grant School, which was overcrowded. The Board of Education built a temporary structure of two rooms at the corner of Van Buren and Perry Streets. They called the school the Grant Annex.

 

Oakland Tribune Sept 1913

With the rapid growth of the surrounding area, it soon became necessary to build a permanent school.

Oakland Tribune 1913

In 1913 a large red brick building was built in a modern style of architecture opposite the Grant Annex at the corner of Grand Avenue and Perry Street. The new school was called Lakeview.

 

Construction of Lakeview School – circa 1913-14
Lakeside School

John J. Donovan was the architect of Lakeview Elementary. The estimated cost of building the school was $75,000.

Lakeview was situated on a high terrace with ivy-covered banks. Two flights of broad steps lead from the main building to Grand Avenue.

Lakeview School is situated at the head of Lake Merritt and surround by the beautiful Piedmont Hills. In one of the most attractive districts of Oakland.

Oakland Tribune Oct 1917

Across the street from the main building were two attractive smaller buildings that could not be seen from Grand Avenue.

There were manual art portables and a playground complete with equipment.

It appears that Julia Morgan designed an addition to Lakeview in 1915

 

Oakland Tribune Feb 1915

By 1917 Lakeview had an enrollment of 768.

Lakeview School circa the 1930s

Fire at the Lakeview School Annex – May 1937

Oakland Tribune May 03, 1937

MacArthur Freeway

In 1926 a group of Lakeview district residents appeared before the Board of Education to advocate steps to protect the area behind the school from future development. See below

They should see it now!

 

Go here to read the rest of the article
Oakland Tribune June 29, 1926

Lakeview School will soon be an island, completely surrounded by traffic”.

Oakland Tribune Jan 03, 1962

 

Oakland Tribune Jan 03, 1962

The school is located at 746 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94619

 

Lakeside Elementary – today

 

Lakeview
Elementary – today

It is now a charter school

American Indian Public High School –AIMS COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL
746 GRAND AVE, OAKLAND, CA 94610 | TEL: 510-220-5044

The End

Updated Oct 2019

Edenvale – The Talbot Estate

Eden of the Pacific 1898

1857 – 1888:  Ellis A Haines  purchased the property from the Peralta’s

In 1888,  Frederick C. Talbot of the San Francisco lumber firm Pope & Talbot purchased 133 acres from  Ellis A. Haines in Elmhurst near San Leandro and adjacent to the Souther Farm (now the  Dunsmuir Home)  for $15,000.

San Francisco Chronicle July 08, 1888
Oakland Tribune July 30, 1888

The total acreage seems to change depending on who wrote it or what you read. Above, you will see that one clipping has the entire area as “133 acres “and, in the other, it as “153 acres.” It has been as high as 453 acres. I have always understood it to be the same land as the Oakland Zoo and Knowland Park, but who knows?

Oakland Tribune August 08, 1890
'
Oakland Tribune September 14, 1888

Edenvale

Nestled in the hills surrounded by the choicest fruits and flowers, “Edenvale, as the name suggests, is a veritable paradise.

The estate comprised 140 acres (different acreage) of fertile land for farming and orchards. Sixty acres were planted with almonds, cherries, oranges, walnuts, lemons, prunes, apricots, peaches, and olives, and eighty acres were chosen farming land.

Talbot Home –
Cheney Photo Advertising
C 1915
View of Edenvale from the hillside. Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History 

In the picture below, you can see the caretaker’s home in the back (the taller one). This house is still standing today as part of the Oakland Zoo.

OutWest
A Magazine – Of The Old Pacific and The New
Page 125 -July 1907

The garden had rare trees, exotic plants, and lighted pathways. It also had a large pond with a bridge, large enough for a small rowboat.

The main house was a modern, elegant colonial structure with twelve rooms, four baths, running water, and gas.

There was a large modern stable, a greenhouse, and servants’ quarters. There was a home for the caretaker, which is still standing today. A brooder for chickens and a pen for pigs. Oakland Tribune March 22, 1902

Unknown Talbot Family Members at EdenVale c 189?
Photo by I.W. Taber
Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History 

Barn Burns –

San Francisco Dec 21, 1901
Oakland Tribune May 18, 1900

Talbot Farm for Sale

Meanwhile

Oakland Tribune January 31, 1902

R.C. “Cliff” Durant Purchases Estate

Durant purchased the Talbot estate “Edenvale.” The estate, which consisted of 470 acres (different acreage), sold for $200,000.

Oakland Tribune November 25, 1919
San Francisco Examiner Feb 08, 1920

The above says “478-acres” and below says “200-acres”.

Oakland Tribune November 23, 1919

Fire Destroys The Mansion

The fire broke out on December 19, 1921, on the third floor near the roof. Durant was outside then and alerted the servants and employees, who formed a fire brigade.

Strong winds fanned the fire, and it quickly spread throughout the mansion.

A squad of police out of the central division carried furniture and valuables from the burning mansion. They then turned their efforts to stop the fire from spreading to the basement, saving a valuable collection of wines and liquors.

Oakland Tribune December 20, 1921

The Estate Becomes A Park

In 1929, the city of Oakland council voted to purchase the former country estate of the late F.C. Talbot from the Park Commission. The 350 acres ( different acreage) would cost the city approximately $662,000. That deal fell through, and the whole story is confusing. Durant Park opened to the public in 1932.

Oakland Tribune April 19, 1929

In 1935Sidney Snow took possession of the  475-acre Durant Park (different acreage) and started building the zoo. He ran it with some help from the city of Oakland. – From A History as Told by the Founder’s Daughter”

In 1937Durant Park was called the Zoological Gardens and Arboretum of Metropolitan Oakland.

Durant Park Press Photo 1937
Durant Park Press Photo 1937 – Is this the same bridge that the Talbot’s had over their pond?
Oakland Tribune May 22, 1950

In 1950, Durant Park was dedicated as the “East Bay State Park” under the California park system. A dedication speech noted that many trees and plants from F.C. Talbot’s estate were included in the Historical Arboretum, a separate park from the Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Tribune December 29, 1957
The row of Canary Island Palms

A row of mature Canary Island Date Palms marks the part entry. Stately Mexican Fan Palms, Chilean Palms, and exotic Bunya Bunya trees from Australia dot the formal meadows of the existing picnic grounds. These Arboretum specimens were planted at the turn of the last century (I bet before that) as part of the Talbot Estate grounds. There is also a collection of 8 species of palms, native and exotic oaks, redwoods, and many other specimens from North Africa, the Himalayas, Chile, and the Canary Islands. – From the Zoo Master Plan 1996

In 1951, the park was renamed “Joseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park.” It is now known as Knowland State Arboretum and Park and the Oakland Zoo.

In 1962, a fire destroyed the building home to Effie, the elephant, until 1959. The building, built in 1890, was part of the Talbot Estate. It had been marked unsafe.

The Estate Today

On the map below, the sizeable red square shows where most of the estate was. The smaller green box shows the location of the caretaker home that was part of the Talbot Estate. When Sidney Snow ran the zoo, he and his family lived there. Now, it is used by zoo employees.

The meadow by the main gate still has some of the trees planted by Talbot over 100 years ago, and they are part of the Knowland State Arboretum and Park today.

From the Zoo Master Plan 1996

Sidney Snow’s Home
Circa 1939

Google Map 2019 showing the caretakers home still standing in Knowland Park

A couple of things:

I am working on getting copies of the actual photos instead of copies from a report.

I am also checking on the Knowland State Arboretum and Park. Does it still exist?

I know they allow parking (on crowded days) in the meadow, where some historic trees still stand.

More Info:

The End