Melrose Highlands is Healthier!

Melrose Highlands is the area off Keller Avenue to the King Estates Open Space, Field Street, and Crest Avenue – The area is now called Eastmont Hills.

Melrose Highlands to Open

Melrose Highlands is a part of the ‘old Houston ranch” (I have to find out more about Houston, I think it might be Hewston), and a portion of the property was used by the National Guard as a rifle range ( see my blog here).  It lies between Leona Heights and Sequoia Country Club and the Upper San Leandro filter plant (7700 Greenly Drive) on the west side.

Oakland Tribune July 17, 1925

The tract opened on July 19, 1925

C.P. Murdock was the developer and sales agent for Melrose Highlands.

Oakland Tribune July 12, 1925

Melrose Highlands location was ideal for the people to be employed in the industrial plants of East Oakland. It was up the hill from the Chevrolet Assembly plant that opened a few years before.

Oakland Tribune July 26, 1925

They offered a lot and a completely built home on easy terms. A homesite and building material, or just a homesite, could be purchased.

3 Offers to pick from

  1. House and homesite complete – $100 down and $1 a day.
  2. Homesite and material for a house – $50 down and 75c. a day
  3. Homesite – $25 down and 50c.a day

These homes were complete and comfortable, from the concrete foundations to the plastered walls. A sink, wash basin, toilet, and bathtub are included in the price. The kitchens had built-in cabinets.

On Keller Avenue – Oakland Tribune August 23, 1925
Oakland Tribune November 8, 1925

A group of 12 homes was almost complete. Oakland Tribune – July 26, 1925

In Melrose Highlands we are going to give the working man a chance to get the sort of house to which he has long looked for

  C.P. Murdock, Inc.
Oakland Tribune – July 12, 1925

 

Transportation

CP Murdock established a bus line that ran on a regular schedule designed to appeal to the wage earners of the industrial district.

Oakland Tribune August 23, 1925

“Men can reach their work, women can go shopping, and children can get to high school, from Melrose Highlands”

August 23, 1925
Oakland Tribune January 15, 1926

A.J. Krajnc and His Home In Melrose Highlands

In September 1925, Anton J. Krajnc moved into his new home with his wife and daughter. This was his first time buying a home and the first family on Earl Street.

“It’s Paying Me To Live In Melrose Highlands”

A.J. Krajnc

From the 1928 Directory – 234 is now 7957 Earl Steet
Oakland Tribune 1925
The House Today Google Maps

The Adams home on Earl Street

The new home of William E. Adams on Earl Street. Their home was located at lot No. 232, now 7941 Earl Street, but the houses don’t look the same.

Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925
7941 Earl Street -Google Maps

“Croup Cured by Warm Climate of Melrose Highlands”

“I am so glad we moved to Melrose Highlands,” states Mrs. W Booth. “Over on 64th Avenue, I was up almost every night taking care of one or more children suffering from croup.”

Oakland Tribune January 17, 1926

“Melrose Highlands is healtier.”

Mrs Boothe 1926
1927 Directory – Anderson Street is now Kelller Avenue
The Booth Home today 7908 Earl Street – Google Maps

Moved from San Francisco to Melrose Highlands

“I still work in San Francisco as a molder, and find that by taking my car over to the Seminary Southern Pacific Station I get home at night by 5:45.”

Oakland Tribune January 31, 1926
A similar house to theirs – Google Maps

Homes and Life in Melrose Highlands

Oakland Tribune Apr 1926
Oakland Tribune August 29, 1926

Many New Homes

Oakland Tribune January 17, 1926

New School for Melrose Highlands

In 1923  the “Columbia Park School” was built on Sunkist Drive.  It was next to the home of Susie Thompson and her husband Roy, who lived at 6886 Sunkist Drive.

Oakland Tribune 1925

Mrs. Thompson was the custodian of the one-room school building for three years when only 14 families lived in the area.

The school was later destroyed in a high wind, replaced by a new school (down the street), and then renamed the Charles Burckhalter School. Oakland Tribune, May 10, 1969.

Glad I Moved to Melrose Highlands

In January 1927, a new store was opened by John G. Koch. The store was located at 7979 Macarthur (give or take a few numbers). The building was later in the way of construction of the MacArthur Freeway (580).

“We have a fast-growing community here, and as fine a place to live as any could want”

J. Koch, the first grocer in Melrose Highlands

Oakland Tribune March 13, 1927

More Melrose Highlands Homes

Oakland Tribune January 3, 1926

The picture below shows the progress of Melrose Highlands as of June 1926. The streets with the most homes are Earl Street, Winthrop Street, Keller Avenue, and Greenly Drive.

Oakland Tribune July 11, 1926

More Info:

To be continued with the next phase of homes built in the 1930s to 1940s

Updated June 2023

The End

The Ward-Way – Homes by Montgomery Wards

Oakland Tribune Apr 28, 1940

In the 1940’s Montgomery Wards, through its building services department, sold pre-fab homes to be made by local contractors.  They would supply everything necessary to build your home.

“The Ward Way method of building and furnishing is a simplified system of obtaining built to order home,”  states Ralph Jarvis  Ward-Way representative 

Oakland Tribune Oct 27, 1940

 

I found information on ten or so homes built “The Ward-Way.”   I am basing this solely on what I see in the Oakland Tribune.  So, with that in mind, my list might not be perfect due to errors in the paper.  I am not perfect, either.   If possible, I have included a picture of the house as it is today.  All these homes were built in 1940.

Oakland’s Home Built The Ward Way

  • 4225 Lincoln Ave – Lincoln Highlands
  • 4215 Lincoln Ave – Lincoln Highlands
  • 3598 Lincoln Ave – Upper Dimond
  • 3917 Whittle Ave – Upper Dimond
  • 3001 Logan – Meadow Brook Fruitvale
  • 1991 Magellan Dr. – Montclair Highlands
  • 6024 Leona St – Leona Heights
  • 9909 Murillo Ave – Oak Knoll
  • 7879 Michigan Ave – Eastmont Hills
  • 2227 85th Ave – Castlemont
  • 1615 82nd Ave  – Webster

Here are a few:

4225 Lincoln Ave

4225 Lincoln Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Jun_9__1940_

3917 Whittle Ave

1991 Magellan

9909 Murillo Ave

Oakland Tribune Oct 27, 1940

7879 Michigan Ave

2227 85th Ave

1615 82nd Ave

1615 82nd ave
Google Map

6024 Leona St

The End