Tag: Montclair

Posted in Early Montclair, Tract or Subdivisions

Montclair Highlands – On Top of the World

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

This is an updated version of a post I wrote in 2018. When I moved my blog to a different host (server), some of my posts didn’t fare well in the move. I’ve been reviewing my posts one by one, making corrections and updates as needed.

October 27, 2025

In May 1925, the Realty Syndicate Company offered two developments. They were both in Montclair.

Oakland Tribune, May 17, 1925

“It is said that the elevation of Montclair Highlands affords a view which surpasses anything from any other point in Oakland.”  Oakland Tribune, May 17, 1925

SF Call Bulletin May 16, 1925

The first was the Montclair Business Center, as the name indicated, which was a tract for area businesses. The second was Montclair Highlands, a residential tract directly behind the business center.

you get a marine panorama not surpassed by any view in the world. Our free buss will bring up to the site.” Oakland Tribune Jan 07, 1925

The business tract was first offered for sale in 1921, then withdrawn, awaiting further growth in the area.

This post is about Montclair Highlands.

Oakland Tribune, May 31, 1925

Montclair Highlands and Montclair Highlands Extension are located behind the present business district in Montclair. The tract goes up about Saroni Drive with Colton Blvd and Shepherd Canyon on either side. It includes a few houses on Thornhill Drive and Mountain Blvd from Thornhill to Colton Blvd.

Opening

Baedecker, Tourist Authority Rates View From This Tract as Third Finest in The World.” SF Examiner May 23, 1925

Montclair Highlands was separated from the original Montclair tract by the business center. It overlooks the bay and the earlier Montclair units.

The Realty Syndicate sold Montclair Highlands, a district of very high-class, beautiful homes with large lots and strict building restrictions.

Oakland Tribune June 7, 1925

Many flocked to Montclair Highlands during the opening week. They enjoyed the remarkable panoramas from the level lots.

Oakland Post Enquirer June 6, 1925

Lots were priced from about $500 up, with 10% down and 1% a month.

Oakland Post Enquirer June 13, 1925

Observation Tower

Observation Tower circa 1925 – Location Asilomar Drive and Aztex Drive

The Realty Syndicate Company built an observation tower equipped with a special telescope and field glasses in June 1925.

The Realty Syndicate Company built an observation tower equipped with a special telescope and field glasses in June 1925.

Oakland Tribune Dec 23, 1925

From the observation tower high on the hill above the Montclair Business Center, all the interesting points around the San Francisco Bay were visible.

On a clear day, you could see as far as the Farallon Islands.

Open daily 9 am to 9 pm, the tower was free to the public.

Every night, the tower was illuminated by a large searchlight — the most powerful in the world.”

Oakland Tribune June 14, 1925

From the Top of the World, as Montclair Highlands is called, there is an unobstructed view for many miles south, out across the bay to San Francisco, north to Mt. Tamalpais.

Oakland Tribune Aug 16, 1925

Transportation

In July 1928, the Smith Reserve- Montclair Highlands bus line was inaugurated by the Realty Syndicate. Leaving from the terminal, the buses would alternate their runs between Smith Reserve (now Piedmont Pines) and Montclair Highlands.

Oakland Tribune, July 1928

The increased popularity of the two tracts made this an essential step in their development.

Oakland Tribune Oct 7, 1928

With the completion of the new $18,000 bus terminal and depot in the Montclair business center, local transportation lines terminated at its slopes. The tract was also accessible by the Sacramento Northern Railroad.

you get a marine panorama not surprassed by any view in the world. Our free buss will bring you up to the site.” Oakland Tribune June 07, 1925

More Info:

Posted in Early Montclair, Neighborhoods, Real Estate, Tract or Subdivisions

A Log Cabin in Pinehaven

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

Growing up, I heard stories about Montclair having summer homes that belonged to the rich people of San Francisco and a few cabins that belonged to hunters. This is what I found.

Oakland Tribune 1922

In 1922, few people outside the hikers of the Contra Costa Hills Club knew much about Pinehaven and its beautiful canyon. Pinehaven has all the characteristics of the most picturesque parts of Marin County. Roads have now been opened up. The property was initially laid out as Upper Piedmont, but the owners changed the plans and decided to put it on the market for those who want summer home cabins close to downtown and transportation.

Pinehaven is located in Montclair.

Lawrence Block of the Villa Site Sales Company was in charge of the sale of the property, and Block said:

“Pinehaven is a summer home colony with its pretty cottages and cabin homes nestling in the side-hills, overlooking canyons and within twenty minutes from City Hall. You awaken in the morning to the song of the birds refreshed and full of vigor and imagine you have traveled a hundred miles to the wilds of some distant state.“

Oakland Tribune Mar 27, 1922

This was Villa Site Sales Company’s first big sale, offering it at mortgage prices. The sale price was as low as $175.00. More than 50 cabins and cottages were being planned. Pinehaven went on sale on April 9, 1922.

Oakland Tribune Feb 19, 1922

Lots of Building

Oakland Tribune Apr 9, 1922

Building Bungalows in Foothill Canyons

Oakland Tribune June 1922
Oakland Tribune May 1922
Oakland Tribune May and June 1922

Cabin Sites of 1/4 acre each sold for $85 to $385 each with payments of $2.00 a month.

John’s Family

Oakand Tribune Sep 1, 1922

Pitch a TeePee

Oakland Tribune May 21, 1922

Pinehaven Colony

“In a rustic setting of ferns and pines and little streams among rolling hills is located Pinehaven” Oakland Tribune

Oakland Tribune May 1922
Oakland Tribune May 21, 1922

Log Cabins

6466 Pinehaven Road was advertised as a “Log Cabin” in 1946, 1956, and 1980. There is no picture avaiable online for this home. I will have to venture into the world and check it out myself.

Oakland Tribune 1946
Oakland Tribune 1980
Oakland Tribune 1956

I believe this is one of the Log Cabins. It is advertised as being built in 1890, but I doubt it. It is located at 7135 Pinehaven Rd, close to Broadway Terrace.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7135-Pinehaven-Rd-Oakland-CA-94611/24818860_zpid/

Another possibility might be this log cabin on Heather Ridge Way. Built in 1922, it is in the correct time frame.

“The log cabin harmonizes seamlessly with the natural surroundings, inviting you to step into a world where old-world charm meets modern comfort. The rustic, cozy living/dining room has preserved the cabin’s historic appeal.” Redfin.com

6575 Heather Ridge Way

More Info:

The End

I did a blog on this before, but it was messed up when transferring my site.

Posted in Homes, Model/Display Homes

Piedmont Pines Display Homes

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

Happy New Year!

A bit more history of the display or model homes in the Piedmont Pines neighborhood. There seems to be a lot of information on these homes, and local architects (now famous) designed many.

Spanish View Home – Ascot Lane

“The Spanish View Home is completely equipped with the latest ideas in modern home construction”

Oakland Tribune 1932

The Spanish View Home and the one next to it were designed and built by Thomas Sharman.

Oakland Tribune June 26, 1932
“Spanish View Home” 31 Ascot Lane – Google Maps

Architectural Prize Home – 1933 – Unknown Location

I haven’t been able to locate the address of this house. If you recognize it, please let me know.

Oakland Tribune November 19, 1933

The Architectural Prize Display Home was designed by Miller & Warnecke. The design was chosen from among 19 individual plans submitted by 11 different architects during a competition in the spring of 1933.

Oakland Tribune December 10, 1933

It opened in December 1933. Thirty-nine hundred and eighty-five visitors walked through the home on its opening day, and by the end of the first two weeks, over Seventy-five hundred people had visited the house.

The home was created with these three principle points:

  1. Moderate in price -well within the means of the average family.
  2. It had to fit the site in Piedmont Pine and take full advantage of the contour of the lot, the size of the lot, the view, and the trees.
  3. It had to set a standard for the future homes to be built in the area.

Miller & Warnecke had this in mind when they designed the home.

Oakland Tribune Dec 1933

There are seven large rooms, including the rumpus room or recreation hall, in the basement. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are on the patio level. The bedrooms are elevated a half story above the living room.

Oakland Tribune November 26, 1933

The home was furnished by Breuner’s of Oakland, and L’Hommedieu were the selling agents.

Pages: 1 2
Posted in Early Montclair, Schools

Living on the Shore of Lake Temescal

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

In researching Montclair (a district in Oakland), I have come across many interesting stories. Here is one of them.

In a 1976 article in The Montclarion, entitled “Old Timer Reminisces,” Walter Wood discusses growing up along the shores of Lake Temescal.

“Montclair was wild as a hawk,”

Walter Wood

Walter was born in 1887 in a small, four-room house near the corner of 51st and Broadway, which his father had built and later torn down to make room for the widening of 51st. His father died in 1886 before Walter was born.

When Walter was attending school, he lived with his mother and stepfather, George W. Logan.   They lived on a farm alongside Lake Temescal, where Logan was the caretaker and superintendent for Contra Costa Water Company’s filtration plant, which supplied Oakland’s drinking water.

Oakland Directory 1889-90

Walter started school at the age of eight in North Oakland. Wood attended Peralta School until fourth grade. From 1899 to 1904, he attended Hays Canyon School, where he completed grades five through nine.

The Montclairion 1976

Walter and his seven brothers and sisters walked from Lake Temescal to Peralta School in North Oakland.

Walter Wood’s Report Card – The Montclarion 1976

The Hays Canyon School (where the old Montclair firehouse is) was located two miles from the lake when they walked there in the early 1900s. Sometimes, remember Wood, they rowed a boat to the other end of the lake and walked from there.

The Montclarion 1976

The school was a beautiful Victorian one-room building with a bell and a cupola. There was room for forty students and one teacher.

When Walter was 11, he was a mule driver with the crew that dug the first tunnel (Kennedy Tunnel) from Oakland to Contra Costa County. He spent a summer working on the project, earning him the honor of being the first person through the tunnel. He was near the front when they broke through, and a man who looked after Walter gave him a shove and pushed him through.

The Montclarion 1976

A Day in the Life

On a typical Day in 1899, Walter Wood would wake up on the farm and, after breakfast, do an hour’s worth of chores.   

Lake Temescal in 1898 – The Monclarion 1976

In addition to their regular chores, the Wood and Logan children were assigned the duty of weed-pulling on the Temescal dam. If weeds grew on the side of the dam, squirrels would dig into the barrier, causing damage.

Oakland Tribune, Nov 1902

Playtime came on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Wood and his siblings had run the area, as it was completely undeveloped except for a few farms.

One of the farms was the Medau Dairy, which is now Montclair Park.

Medau Dairy– Alameda County: The Eden of the Pacific

Superintendent Logan

Oakland Tribune Feb 1889

George W. Logan started working for the Contra Costa Water Company (now EBMUD) as the Superintendent of the Lake Temescal dam in 1888.

Oakland Tribune 1889

Logan worked at Lake Temescal for 18 years, transferring to Lake Chabot in 1904, and retired from the company in 1916.

Bubbles Vol. II July 1918

George William Logan (1842-1928) was born in Canada in 1842. He came to California in the late 1880s.

Logan was married twice, first to Elizabeth Robinson (1845-1886)in 1884, and they had a daughter, Jessie, and a son, Maurice. Elizabeth died in about 1886 or 87.

Oakland Tribune Feb 1906

His second wife was Mary Jane Hayden Wood (1860-1958); they had eight children, five of whom were hers and two of whom were his, and one child together.

  • Jesse Logan (1884-1961)
  • Maurice Logan (1886-1977)
  • Harry Logan (1889-1959)
  • Ann Wood (1880- ?)
  • Josephine Wood (1882-1970)
  • Juanita Wood(1883-1934)
  • Alfred Wood (1885-1920)
  • Walter Wood (1887-1990)
Oakland Tribune 1913

Maurice Logan

Maurice (1886 -1977) was an American watercolorist, commercial artist, arts educator, a member of the Society of Six, and a professor at the California College of the Arts in Oakland.

Oakland Tribune 1977

Logan grew up on the shores of Lake Temescal with his father, George Logan, stepmother, and brothers and sisters.

The Logan Family – The Society of Six

Later in life, he resided on Chabot Road, near Lake Temescal.

SF Examiner Oct 28. 1991

More Info:

The End

Posted in Uncategorized

East of Piedmont

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

“New Residential Section East of Piedmont“

SF Examiner Nov 13, 1920

The Oakland Real Estate Board held a contest to name the new residential district along Moraga Road in the hills behind Piedmont. The syndicate owned the area, which comprises 2500 acres of residential land and a business section. The prize for the best name was $50.00.

Oakland Tribune 1919

The one condition was that they had to describe what they saw in the district to suggest their submitted name.

Montclair was the winner.

Montclair Subdivsions

Oakland Tribune Aug 22, 1922

Development of the hill section was first envisioned in the early 1900s when the Realty Syndicate Company purchased the Dingee and Medau properties.

SF EXAMINER JUL 10, 1901

The first unit opened in 1920, extending across Moraga Avenue from the present business district up to the Piedmont border. They called this unit Montclair Acres, and the great demand for lots resulted in the opening of Montclair Estates in 1921.

SF Examiner Nov 2, 1920

“The wisdom in buying a homesite in Montclair Estates is bulwarked by ever increasing joy of ownership.”

Oakland Tribune Oct 22, 1922
SF Chronicle Sep 24, 1921

The streets for the two units were named after famous WWI generals, such as Pershing, Dawes, McAndrew, Liggett, Bullard, and Harbord. 

They both offered half-acre and one-acre lots.

Country Club Acres was also put on the market in 1921. It was located on the other side of Moraga Avenue, extending to Holy Names School, and Masonic Avenue was in it.

Oakland Tribune May 28, 1922

Montclair Vista, adjoining Country Club Acres, opened in 1922 and extended from Harbord Drive to include Maxwelton and Hiltop Crescent. To announce its opening, they held a “huge bonfire” (wow!).

Oakland Tribune, May 28, 1922

Sierra Vista opened in 1922.

Oakland Tribune 1922

Across the valley, Merriewood was also opened in 1922. In addition to selling lots, the company also sold lots with small bungalows, the purchaser choosing the style of home to be built. Within two years, they sold 250 of these homes.

Oakland Tribune, April 18, 1926

In Merriewood there are streets named for some of the signs of the Zodiac like Aquarius, Aries (no longer used,) Capricorn (my street,) Leo, Taurus, Uranus, and Virgo.

SF Examiner Sept 1924

There is also a group of streets named in honor of Robin Hood. They are Nottingham, Robin Hood, Sherwood, Merriewood (Merry Men?), and Crown (Crown of England?.)

Hampton Highlands opened in 1925 and was located starting where Park Blvd meets Estates Drive.

Oakland Tribune Nov 1, 1925

Montclair Highlands was the large area adjoining the business center, and streets in it were named for explorers; Cortez, Balboa, Magellan, and Drake, among others.

Oakland Tribune June 7, 1925

In this section, the syndicate built an Observation Tower, which burned down a few years later. Montclair Highlands was so successful that Montclair Highlands Extension was opened, including Cabot Drive and Colton Blvd.

Montclair Observation Tower – Montclair Highlands c 1925

Smith Reserve included some 1,600 lots, now known as Piedmont Pines, opened in 1926, and the streets were given English names, such as Ascot, Chelsea, Beaconsfield, Holyrood, and Keswick.

Smith Reserve Beauty Spots
Oakland Tribune May 23, 1926

A lot of work went into preparing Smith Reserve; they had to remove trees, open roads, and put in storm drains.

Scenic Beauty Smith Reserve
Oakland Tribune May 30, 1926

It was in Smith Reserve that they built one of the finest model homes in all of California. Check out Casa Alta Dena here.

Oakland Tribune Oct 9, 1927

In 1927 they opened “Smith Reserve Highlands” after closing out Montclair Highlands.

The Townsite

Oakland Tribune 1919

In 1919 the Realty Syndicate announced the plans for a civic /business center for the area in the hills behind Piedmont.

Site of the new Townsite – Oakland Tribune Nov 7, 1920

When the business district officially opened in 1925, it was known and publicized as “Montclair Townsite.”

Oakland Tribune Nov 7, 1920

Big Promotional Campaign

An extensive newspaper campaign was carried out on both sides of the bay, with advertising bills amounting to thousands of dollars weekly. Banners and flags flew along Moraga Avenue. Two bus lines provided free transportation into the hills.

The syndicate built a large lodge used for sales promotion. A prominent artist on the Examiner staff named Virgil Theodore Nahl painted a large mural painting in the lodge of the hill district looking towards the bay.

The lodge was later converted into an attractive home. I’d love to find out which one on Lodge Court is “The Lodge.”

Following the collapse of the Reality Syndicate in 1929 Raymond Emge who had worked for them took over the management of Montclair Highlands. Emge organized a home building company that promoted homes designed by architects and held architectural competitions. From then until WWII scores of new homes were built throughout the hills.

List of Subdivisions

  • Country Club Acres – 1921
  • Fernwood – 1922
  • Glenwood Glade –
  • Hampton Manor – 1925
  • Merriewood – 1922
  • Montclair Acres – 1920
  • Montclair Estates – 1921
  • Montclair Highlands – 1925
  • Montclair Townsite – 1924
  • Montclair Vista – 1922
  • Montera – 1925
  • Pinehaven – 1922
  • Sierra Vista – 1921
  • Smith Reserve (now Piedmont Pines) – 1921
  • Thornhill Park – 1917

More Info:

The End

Posted in Business, People

Queen For A Day

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

Would you like to be Queen for a Day?! Host Jack Bailey would say that the entire audience would reply: “YES!” Four or five women, each having a sob story to tell, told Bailey why they believed they should be crowned the show’s Queen. Usually, each contestant asked for a merchandise prize, such as a washer and dryer. The audience determined the winner by applause (via the “applause meter”).

On the April 11, 1957 episode of Jack Bailey’s “Queen for a Day” show. Dolly Monks of Oroville Ca was one of the four contestants. Each contestant had to talk about the recent financial and emotional hard times she had been through.

Dolly spoke about the hardships involved in raising three small children as a single parent after her husband had died of cancer. She was worried that she would not be able to provide for them as a single mother.

Dolly was chosen as the “Queen of the Day!”

The winner of that episode would qualify to win a fully stocked candy store from a participating sponsor of the show.

The participating sponsor was Haas Distributing Co. of Oakland run by Milton Wiser to promote the sales of “Heavenly Candy” stores all over the west. At the time of the show, there were about 100 stores opened.

The store would be completely stocked with Heavenly Candy and fixtures that were provided by the sponsor. She would be trained for as long as necessary in all aspects of running a candy store.

Queen of the Day to Open New Store in Montclair

The Montclarion April 1957

Mr. Wiser chose a store in the Montclair District. He worked with John Grubb Realty to lease a store on Mountain Blvd at 2034. The store had been the home of Montclair Sporting Goods, which had recently moved up the street to a larger store (where they stayed in business until 2020.) Later on, the same storefront was the home of Williams Footwear well into the early 1990s. My two friends and I all bought our “sort of” platform shoes there in the 70s.

The store was scheduled to open on July 12, 1957

Wow! This Is Big!

“with all the Hollywood razzle dazzle”

Milton Wiser 1957

Plans for the candy store opening were shaping up to be big according to Wiser in an article in The Montclarion (July 3, 1957.) Wiser tried his best to estimate and came up with a figure of slightly less than 50,000 people who might turn up in Montclair for the opening of the Heavenly Candies store at 2034 Mountain Blvd. He attributed the large estimate due to all the advanced print advertising and the daily plugs for the store on the t.v. show.

Mr. Wiser made it clear the opening would be spectacular and that he has extended an invitation to the mayor of Oakland Clifford E. Rishell and of course lots of other people including some famous Hollywood types. Because of this, the Montclair merchants asked the police department for extra protection.

Queen to Draw Throngs

Montclarion July 1957

“Friday July 12 is the BIG DAY -the grand spectacular Hollywood-type opening of the new Heavenly Candies store”

The Montclarion 1957

The opening was scheduled to start at 7 pm and was scheduled to be seen live on KRON TV in San Francisco. The Mayor of Oakland, Jerry Colona of Hollywood, and of course Jack Bailey himself was expected to be there.

Five girls were hired to help with handing out free candy to the first 1000 people to come to the store.

Los Angeles Times July 12, 1957

Store Opens with a Modest Throng

The Montclair Business Association went into action fully expecting thousands of curiosity seekers to come to Montclair. They persuaded the Chamber of Commerce to help pay for the cost of a big banner welcoming the Queen to Montclair. They held a reception at Sanford’s before the grand opening and invited the “Hollywood representatives and such folk.”

SF Examiner July 12, 1957

As the time approached for opening to begin, a modest group of about 500 people slowly assembled in the blocked-off street in front of the store. Jerry Colona and Councilman Peter Tripp (for the mayor) were there to cut the ribbon opening the store. The Oakland police department had three officers.

The Montclarion July 1957

Dolly was there in her crown and robe.

Queen for a Day from left to right Jerry Colona, Dolly Monks and Milton Wiser – 1957

Contrary to the advance information given to The Montclarion by an overly hopeful candy official, there was no live television coverage of the event. There wasn’t a public address system. It was filmed by a professional movie company to be shown at a later date on the Queen for A Day show.

The Californian July 16, 1957

The Queen is a Pawn

It seems to me the whole thing was big promotional stunt for the T.V. show and Heavanly Candies, Dolly became something of a pawn between the two.

She sold her home in Oroville and moved her family down from Oroville to a rented cottage in Pleasant Hill and secured a day maid to take care of her children.

In response to to an article in The Montclarion (July 31, 1957.)

“I realize to some people this all must look like a publicity stunt, but unless you know the inside story you can’t tell where the ‘business’ ends ‘heart’ begins.”

Dolly Monks

End of Her Reign and a New King

After the fanfare of the opening had passed on. Dolly opened every morning at 9am after driving from her home in Pleasant Hill after leaving her three children with the babysitter.

The Montclarion

She found that candy sales not too brisk. In fact many weeks went by and she paid her babysitter more than she made in the store.

Then she found out the the people who bought her home in Oroville left without notice. Her car was damage when struck from behind one morning.

So, she announced through The Montclarion that she would be giving up the store.

That announcement and Halloween candy trade sales gave her a big upsurge and she decided to stick it out.

The Montclarion 1957

The just after Christmas she called The Montclarion and put in advertisement that she was selling out and closing the store on January 1, 1958.

It turns out the reason what not that the store was a failure but that she was in love. She had met her king. Ralph King that is. They planned on getting married in 1959.

The Montclarion Jan 1958

Queen for a day…and a King forever.

The Montclarion Feb 1958

Coming soon Part 2 of a “Queen for a Day” – The Confidence Man

More Info:

The End

Posted in Business, Uncategorized

Christmas Time in Montclair

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

I thought I would take a moment to share some Christmas ads and articles from The Montclarion. I know these ads will bring back memories from some of you.

From the 1940s

The Montclarion 1941
The Montcalrion 1941
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion 1945
The Montclarion

The 1950s

The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1954
The Montclarion 1957
The Montclarion
The Montclarion

The 1960s

The Montclarion
The Montclarion
The Montclarion
The Montclarion
The Montclarion 1966
The Montclarion 1966
The Montclarion
The Montclarion 1967
The Montclarion

The 1970s

The Montclarion 1970
The Montclarion
The Montclarion

The End

Posted in History

The Home Place of Romance – Smith Reserve

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

 Smith Reserve was a subdivision in Montclair and is now called Piedmont Pines.  

Smith Reserve is located at the top of Park Boulevard, with borders on Shepherd Canyon and Joaquin Miller Park, and extending up to Skyline Boulevard.

Smith Reserve Opens

The Realty Syndicate announced in May of 1926 that they were putting 300 acres in the hills behind Piedmont for sale. F.M. Smith once owned the land.

Page from 1928 Brochure of Smith Reserve courtesy of Chris Treadway

“Smith reserve is the most beautiful tract of land opened by the Syndicate Company” 

Oakland Tribune
Oakland Tribune May 23, 1926

“Much of the beauty of Smith Reserve is due to the varied groupings of oaks, ecualyptus and pine trees which cover the entire tract. The different shades of green, together with the variety of sizes and shapes of these trees afford an almost endless variety of choice to people in search of unusualsettings for distinctive homes.”

Oakland Tribune

Huge Sales!

In July of 1926, two months after the subdivision was open, the Realty Syndicate reported nearly $250,000 in sales. They also said a bus transportation system would be implemented, connecting with both local and San Francisco electric lines. – Oakland Tribune, July 18, 1928.

“Scenic Beauty”

Oakland Tribune 1926
Oakland Tribune May 30, 1926
S.F. Examiner Sep 4, 1926
S.F. Examiner Oct 28, 1928

“The Princely Estate of F.M. “Borax” Smith”


“Selected years ago by F.M. “Borax” Smith as a private estate when thousands of acres of the finest residentioal property in the East Bay were owned by him, Smith Reserve was set apart for eleborate development.”

Oakland Tribune
1912: Map of Oakland and vicinity published by the Realty Union, compiled from optical and other data by T. J. Allan; T. R. Morcom

Smith built Arbor Villa on the site further down on Park Boulevard.

Arbor Villa estate, as seen from across Park Boulevard 

Camp Dimond

In 1919, 25 acres of the Smith Reserve were sold to the Oakland-Piedmont Council of the Boy Scouts of America for a camp. It was called Camp Dimond and was in use from 1919-1948.

In 1948, the Oakland Public School District acquired the land and constructed Joaquin Miller Elementary and Montera Junior High Schools.

Bus Service

In July of 1928, the Realty Syndicate inaugurated a regular bus service into Montclair Highlands and Smith Reserve from the terminal at Moraga Ave and Hampton Road ( now La Salle Ave.) The buses had a regular schedule but alternated their run. It would go to Smith Reserve first on one trip and go to Montclair Highlands first on the next trip.

S.F. Examiner Jul 28, 1928

In Smith Reserve

In September 1928, they broke ground for two new Spanish-style homes, with building costs ranging from $10,000 to $15,000. Architect Hamilton Murdock completed plans for four additional homes, with three more on the drawing board. They embraced various types of architecture. Two of the homes were of the modified Spanish hacienda style, featuring balconies that overlooked the East Bay and the Golden Gate.

S F Examiner Apr 14, 1929

One of the homes started in 1928 was the residence of G.O. Thomas. This home was Spanish in style and was to cost $20,000.

S.F. Examiner Apr 13, 1929

The Harry S. Stockman is a nine-room English-type home that cost $25,000 to build. The house offers a panoramic view of the hills, East Bay, and landscaped grounds, located at 5640 Castle Drive in Mountain Gate.

Oakland Tribune Sep 1928
5640 Castle Drive Piedmont Pines – Realtor.com
Oakland Tribune Sep 23, 1928

Panorama Home

This home is located at 17 Ascot Court.

Oakland Tribune Oct 7, 1928

Hacienda Monterey

“the brave days of dashing dons and senoritas live again at “Hacienda Monterey” in Smith Reseve.”

Oakland Tribune
Oakland Tribune, May 29, 1929

Piedmont Pines

In the early 1930s, Smith Reserve was re-subdivided and renamed Piedmont Pines.

New Light Beacon – Giant Eye

Oakland Tribune Jan 27, 1929
Oakland Tribune Mar 10, 1929

More Info:

The End

Posted in Buildings, Then and Now

A Storybook Firehouse

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

In the beginning

 There was a temporary station at the corner of Moraga and Hampton (now La Salle). Local builder Cos Williams, a local builder, donated the use of the land. 

An average day

Report at 9 am – They would report for duty at the station and 13th and Hopkins (now MacArthur) and drive the hook and ladder to Montclair. They did all their cooking on an outdoor camp stove

Off at 7 pm – At the end, they would pile onto the truck again and drive down the hill.

Lieutenant F.H. Waldron was the commanding officer. 

  • L.W. Parks – driver
  • E.E. Terrell – driver
  • F.W. Cochran – hoseman
  • C.A. Stone 

They fought two fires on their first day.

Engine Company No. 24

In June 1926, $11,000 was appropriated for a new firehouse in Montclair. In December 1926, the city purchased the land from the school department for $4,500. The final construction cost was $18,900.

Original Blueprints – Eldred E. Edwards 1927

Construction of the new firehouse began in early 1927, and Fire Commissioner Colburn officially accepted it in August 1927.

The land that the firehouse is on was once the Hays Canyon School.

Eldred E. Edwards of the Oakland Public Works Department drew up plans.

The architecture is primarily Old English. The construction method was unique among firehouses then, as it was precast with cement molded on the ground. All the plumbing fixtures, water pipes, and electrical wire conduits were cast in cement.

Storybook-style firehouse in the Montclair district of Oakland, California. 1928 Ohrphoto. Fire dept.006.


The roof consisted of 100 curved slabs of concrete set in grooved beams and held in place with slotted bolts.


Doubled copper strips run along the ridges, forming decorative motifs at the gable peaks. These decorations simulate fire, which follows along the peaked roofline and leaps into flames and gable corners. The copper has been painted white.

Work was done in 1934 as part of the WPA. Oakland Tribune 1934
A firetruck for fighting hill fires is on view in the foreground. 1934, Ohrphoto.districts.031.

Fire Captain Killed in the Line of Duty

Fire Captain Joseph F. Pimentel was killed, and three firemen were injured when their fire truck skidded out of control at the corner of Taurus and Broadway Terrace. Pimentel was pinned against a tree.

The fire truck was responding to a small blaze at Otto R. Johnson’s home at 6356 Crown Avenue.

January 22, 1942

Oakland Tribune January 22, 1942

The injured firefighters were Patrick S. Doyle, John Baratini, and Ray O. Wells.

Oakland Tribune January 22, 1946

Oakland’s Best-Decorated Firehouse

In 1951, Engine Company No. 24 was awarded the first prize of $500.00 for being Oakland’s best-decorated firehouse. The Oakland Tribune also awarded the firehouse a perpetual trophy installed in the house.

The firehouse was an old church scene, with a “Surrey with a Fringe on Top” arriving. Animated choir boys, accompanied by an old pump organ, are shown singing Christmas carols.

Christmas Chapel with Choir –1951

In 1952, they erected an old-time country store with a pot-bellied stove, family photographs, and animated figures. Inside, a clerk shows a blushing customer, a lady, a pair of “long john” underwear. Nearby is a blacksmith shop. There was a large holly wreath on the front of the firehouse.

Oakland Tribune, December 1952

In 1953, the firehouse was decorated as a church with a choir loft and organ. The S.F. Examiner awarded the house a special merit award.

Oakland Tribune December 18, 1953

Montclair Fires and Such

Montclarion 1955
Oakland Tribune 1953
Montclarion 1957 on the 30th Anniversary

Teddy of Engine No. 24

Oakland Tribune

Earthquake Hazard – 1960s

The Hayward Fault runs right down the middle of Moraga Avenue in front of the firehouse.

Because of that, the firehouse was determined to be an earthquake hazard and could not be repaired. The city hired Anderson, Simonds, Dusel, and Campini to provide architectural services for a new firehouse.

Oakland Tribune 1962

The city was prepared to tear down the Montclair firehouse and build a new one for $165,000. After an outside firm determined it was indeed unsafe to that day’s standards.

Oakland Tribune December 27, 1963

City Delays Replacing Firehouse

In October 1962, Oakland’s City Council held up the money to build a new firehouse and wondered if it could be used to “repair” it instead.

The firehouse is called ” the country club of the city” and “if it is unsafe so’s my house.”

Councilmember 1962

There was a dispute over the city manager’s report that the firehouse was damaged enough during a recent earthquake (??)to make it a hazard to its occupants. One architect said it could be repaired at little expense with some structural steel.

“two independent consultants said the building is unsafe and should be replaced.“

Oakland City Manager 1962

I can only assume that Oakland had money problems. They would no longer build a new firehouse. Instead, the council approved $22,000 for structural reinforcements, waterproofing, and making the space more habitable.

Contract Awarded

Oakland Tribune January 22, 1964

In January 1964, a contract was awarded to M.W. Garing for $13,975 to repair the firehouse.

Loma Prieta – 1989

The firehouse was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. The house was decommissioned in 1991.

Oakland City Landmark #34

On March 18, 1980, the old fire station was designated as Oakland City Landmark #34 

Address: 6226 Moraga Avenue, Oakland, California

Firehouse Today

  • A city report stated that the Fire Station was decommissioned around 1993 due to concerns that a facility for first responders should not be located on an active earthquake fault.

In 2018, City officials announced they sought development or purchase proposals for two parcels on Moraga Road. One is a vacant property totaling 24,000 square feet, and the other totals 16,000 square feet and contains the Montclair Fire Station, also known as Firehouse No. 24.

Firehouse For Sale – Loopnet 
Firehouse For Sale – Loopnet 

More Info:

You can view the set of blueprints here:

Montclair Firehouse Blueprints – Dropbox

The End

Posted in Advertisment, Early Montclair, History, Then and Now

“The Newspaper With The Hillside Slant”

Posted on by Dorothy Londagin

Before “The Montclarion” newspaper rolled off the presses in 1944, there were two earlier editions. The Montclair Garden Club published a newsletter called the Montclair Clarion in the early 1930s and then the Montclarion. 

Montclarion – Thanks to Chris Treadway

Montclair Clarion

In January of 1935, a small booklet of community news and poetry appeared in mailboxes in the Merriewood area. The Merriewood-Pinewood Improvement Club sponsored it.

The Montclair Clarion was distributed free of charge. It included poetry, stories, community activities, advertisements, and a recipe for Pumpkin Chiffon Pie.

The cover was a pen-and-ink sketch by Schuler of two pines, grass, and a view of the hills beyond. The sketch tool had slight variations, reflecting the seasons.

Montclarion 1992

Margery Lane Schuler, who lived at 5646 Merriewood Drive, was the editor. Schuler was also the advertising manager, copyreader, publisher, and art director.  

In her first editorial, Schuler wrote that she hopes the Montclair Clarion will “have a great many people become more aware of the beauty of the district of the district and promote a desire for our living amongst the trees and nature, living close to God, thereby establishing us to live richer fuller lives.

” We want them to see our sunset, to breathe our pines; and everyone should hear our birds sing in the morning, they like it too, out here.”

Some news from the Clarion

  • Mrs. Emerson’s garden party with an entrance charge of 50 cents.
  • The Women’s club was booked solid.
  • Realtor Ione Jones had a pine lot available for $1,500.
  • Montclair Realty at 6466 Moraga announced the permit for the Hamilton Market.
  • New street sign at the blind corner of Merriewood and Sherwood Drives.

The cover of the April 1935 edition boasted a circulation of 1000, and by September 1935, the little book was less than ten pages.

Montclair Clarion Feb-Mar 1935 – Thanks Chris Treadway

You can look at the above issue here: Montclair Clarion – Oakland Local Wiki

Montclarion

In 1940, the first issue of the Monclairion, still a typed, mimeographed newsletter, appeared. Promising its readers, “a personal newssheet will keep you informed on the interesting and important events in your community.

July 13, 1940 –Thanks Chris Treadway

The area’s monthly news source was published by the Montclair Townsite Association, “of, by and for the people of Montclair from Piedmont to Skyline.” The yearly subscription price is $1.00.

Thanks, Chris Treadway

The editor, realtor Beatrice Pause of The Montclair Realty Co., had a staff of three nurserymen: Elmer Warren, local resident Damond Woodlee, whose forte was “scandal,” and her sister Pierette DeVincenzi.

Vol 2 No 54 July 1941

A popular and controversial column, “Well What Do You Know” by Yehudi, reported the goings-on of hill residents and merchants. “Yehudi” kept things stirred up by tattling on everyone, even himself.

“What local golf wizard took what local scribe’s pants at what club?” began a column in July 1940. “Little did he suspect this local scribe had shed his longies.” (and editors’ note read: Yehudi to be released from local klink Monday)

Vol 2 Oct 1941 Thanks, Chris Treadway

Five months after that first issue appeared, The Montclarion became a weekly, six to eight-page publication that included the “important events of the community” gossip, meetings, gardening and cooking tips, new neighbors, and help-wanted columns.

Four months later, the paper was delivered by carriers every Friday to 2,150 homes.

Advertisements on the letter-size news sheet reflected the hill area growth.

  • Charles Huenneke had taken over the Montclair Pharmacy at the corner of Moraga and La Salle. 
  • Gil’s Market opened at 6120 La Salle.
  • Edward’s Cleaners and Hatters opened.
Thanks, Chris Treadway

The following year, four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, urged residents to enroll in civilian defense classes. 

Vol. 3 No 1 Jan 1942 – Thanks Chris Treadway

But despite its popularity—2000 papers every week—the Montclarion died quietly sometime in 1942, a victim of wartime shortages and rising production costs.

For nearly two years, the Montclarion was nothing more than a copyrighted title.

The Montclarion

Fred and Micky Graeser bought the title for $100.00, rented printing equipment, and set up shop in their home on Sobrante Road. They sold the paper in 1977.

Montclarion

The first issue was on October 27, 1944, and started as a four-page semi-tabloid whose pages varied in size.

Over the years, The Montclarion moved their offices at least eight times.

Montclarion

Various Issues

Monntclarion June 1949 – Thanks to Chris Treadway
Montclarion March 1952 Thanks, Chris Treadway
Montclarion August 1953
Montclarion Nov 17, 1955
Montclarion May 1957
Montclarion April 1957
Montclarion 1962

Thanks to The Montclarion for their history.

More Info:

The End