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.
Oakland Tribune Aug 1912
“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’.
Oakland Tribune Aug 1912
Oakland Tribune Aug 1912
This photo was most likely taken from the hill behind the present-day Walgreens on High and Redding Streets.
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising c. 1911 ‘The Collection of Ed Clausen’.
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.
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising c. 1911 ‘The Collection of Ed Clausen’.
3651 39th Avenue
4026 Masterson
Laurel School
3625 Patterson Avenue
3840 MacArthur Blvd
St. Lawrence O’Toole
Oakland Tribune Aug 1912
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising c. 1911 ‘The Collection of Ed Clausen’.
Oakland Tribune Aug 1912
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.
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising c. 1911 ‘The Collection of Ed Clausen’.
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising c. 1911 ‘The Collection of Ed Clausen’.
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.
The Toler Heights subdivision changed hands so many times before the 1930s that it seems they never really got around to selling the area, despite photos of new homes being built. The following is all I could find.
SF Call Bulletin Feb 17, 1923SF Chronicle June 03, 1922SF Call Mar 11, 1911The Bulletin May 27, 1922 SF Call Feb 04, 1911
If anyone recognizes the homes above, let me know.
Toler Heights is located on the Foothill Boulevard (now MacArthur Boulevard). The tract is about 157 acres with almost 1,000 building sites.
Toler Heights got its name from the ranch that was on the land previously.
SF Examiner May 20, 1910
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 located on the foothills road between Elmhurst and San Leandro, later known as Foothill Boulevard, and is now MacArthur Boulevard. The ranch was close to both the Talbot Farmand theDunsmuir Home.
Oakland Tribune Oct 8, 1888
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.
Oakland Tribune, Mar 26, 1906
SF Call July 30, 1906
The ranch spanned approximately 300 to 349 acres, but according to the newspapers, the tract was 150 acres.
Oakland Tribune Jan 6, 1907
Map of Toler Heights – 1907
Panel title: Map of Toler Heights, Elmhurst, Oakland. Oriented with north towards the left. Cadastral map.the http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b11188562~S1
Opening Day 1907
Large crowds attended the opening on October 6, 1907. On that day, they held a barbecue festival with free food served in tents. A band played lively music, while young boys sold popcorn.
Sf Chronicle Oct 27, 1907
SF Examiner Oct 13, 1907
A group of Investors owned the property, and the Southwest Securities Company was handling the sales for them.
SF Call Sept 28, 1907
Over $200,000 was sold on opening day.
The lots were larger, ranging from 50X125 to a full acre. The business lots fronted on Foothill Boulevard.
Toler Heights is not a newtown, sand dune or a place in the wilderness: But Toler Heights is the Nob Hill, the cream of Elmhurst property, and so cheap in price that is – The Best Buy Offered.” Oakland Tribnune Oct 09 1907
Change of Ownership
In 1910, the Henderson & Tapscotts Company purchased Toler Heights. They made numerous improvements to the tract. Opening day was held on May 22, 1910.
The corner of MacArthur and 90th Avenue,Cheney Photo Advertising Company.Circa 1912.Previously sold on eBay
The photo above might be showing the Silva Ranch on Foothill Blvd
Toler Heights is on the scenic boulevard along the foothills. The area has a slight elevation and an unrivaled view of Oakland and the bay with San Francisco in the distance.
it combines all the beauties and advnatages of Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, and Piedmont Heights, but without the cutting winds, blinding dust, and exasperating fog.” SF Call Oct 06, 1907
Toler Heights was referred to as “The Piedmont of East Oakland” due to its commanding view and surroundings.
Some of the wealthiest families of Oakland and one wealthy banker from San Francisco have their villa homes adjoining Toler Heights.
Looking towards Thermal Street and 90th Avenue. Cheney Photo Advertising Company, Circa 1912
In 1911, the Oakland Traction Company completed a Toler Heights branch line via 90th Avenue from East 14th (now International Boulevard). They called it the Toler Heights Extension. At the time, Toler Heights was 24 minutes from downtown Oakland, via streetcar.
During the auction, buyers were allowed to make their own estimate of the value of each piece of property, and they could bid as low or as high as they pleased.
Oakland Tribune, June 4, 1922
Oakland Tribune Feb 11, 1923
Restrictions
The owners of the Toler Heights imposed certain building restrictions, which were incorporated in the transfer of the property, giving assurance that “neither Orientals or any objectionable persons, or their homes will ever be tolerated on the heights.”
New School – May 1928 – Now Barack Obama Academy
Oakland Tribune, May 23, 1928
Toler Heights School – Now Barack Obama Academy – 9736 Lawlor St
“Quit paying rent; by build and live in HopkinsTown, Oakland’s newest subdivision”
Oakland Tribune Aug 19, 1922
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.
Rose Property 1877 Map
Josiah died on August 25, 1894.
Oakland Enquirer – Aug 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
The Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 2, 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”
Oakland Tribune Sept 14, 1922
Free Home Plans
California Subdivision Company prepared plans to construct an ideal one-room home economically.
Oakland Post Enquirer Sept 8, 1922
Oakland Tribune Sept 7, 1922S
The one-room bungalow included every convenience needed in a modern home, including bathroom, built-in features, kitchen sink, etc.
Oakland Tribune Sept 16, 1922
Church for Hopkinstown
Oakland Tribune Sept 14, 1922
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.
Oakland Tribune Dec 17, 1959
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.
