The Fremont Tract

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Dorothy Londagin

The Fremont Tract opened in 1911. The tract is located at the intersection of MacArthur and High Street with frontage on MacArthur, High, Masterson, Quigley and Porter Streets. The Realty Syndicate handled the sales.

“The tract is near Mills College and commands a beautiful view of the hills.”

Every lot in the Fremont Tract was a full 35-front -foot lot. The prices ranged from $10 to $18 a front foot – the terms from $35 to $85 for the first payment. The balance paid at $5 or $10 per month.

“Natural beauty and delightful surroundings, combined with even temperature, make this a delightful spot to build a home and enjoy living every day in the year. Every lot is high and well-drained.“

The eastern side of Quigley Street is now the High Street freeway exit, and Redding Street is part of the freeway.

Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising c. 1911
‘The Collection of Ed Clausen’.

This photo was most likely taken from the hill behind the present-day Walgreens on High and Redding Streets.

3315 Vale Street
3333 Vale Street
St. Lawrence O’Toole
Location of Walgreens today
Freeway exit ramp
Macarthur Blvd and High Street
Masterson Street
Laurel School

Kanning Street is now Masterson Street, and Franklin Avenue is now 39th Avenue, and Hopkins Street is now MacArthur Blvd.

3651 39th Avenue
4026 Masterson
Laurel School
3625 Patterson Avenue
3840 MacArthur Blvd

St. Lawrence O’Toole

St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church at the corner of Porter and High Street opened in 1911, in time for Christmas Eve Mass. The church was dedicated on August 25, 1912.

In March of 1956, the Diocese of Oakland broke ground for a new church just three blocks up High Street. They held the first mass on Thanksgiving Day in 1957.

More Info:

Oakland’s Laurel District

History is All Around Us

Opening New Foothill Tract – Oakland Tribune Mar 11, 1911
New Houses in Fremont Tract – Oakland Tribune Mar 31, 1912
A 35-foot lot Fremont Tract – Oakland Tribune Apr 02, 1912

The End

Toler Heights – The Homes

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

The Toler Heights subdivision changed hands so many times before the 1930, it seems they never really got around to selling the area with photos of new homes being built. The following is all I could find.

Lawlor Street

9703 Lawlor Street

**Oakland Tribune Oakland Tribune Oct 27,1913**
**Address now is 9703 Lawlor St**

Liquor Raid 9703 Scott St – Oakland Tribune Jun 22, 1928

**9703 Lawlor St – today**
**Google Maps**

**Unknown location**
**SF Examiner May 1922**

MacArthur Blvd

**Along Foothill Blvd (now MacArthur) circa 1919**
**Photographer: Cheney Photo Advertising Company**

**Another view of photo above – circa 1919**
**Photographer: Cheney Photo Advertising Company**

**9224 and 9230 MacArthur today – Google Maps**

8802 MacArthur Blvd –

Thermal Street

8727 Thermal Street – built 1917

The End

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

A Bit of History

Oakland Unfolded

Tag Archives: MacArthur Blvd