Forest Park – a scenic residential park

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

Subdivision of Montclair – approx. the area above Thornhill at Woodhaven and Oakwood Drive and up to Snake and Colton Blvd. The Forest Park Pool (now Montclair Swim Club) was included with the tract. – Updated May 06, 2019

“Wickham Havens, Inc., to Sell Fine Scenic Property on the Highlands Northeast of Beautiful Piedmont” – Oakland Tribune May 11, 1924

A residential park that has been “twenty years in the making” is how they described Forest Park when it first opened in May 1924. The hills of Forest Park were barren of trees when the late Frank C. Havens undertook the task in the early 1900s of planting them with trees. His son Wickham is in charge of selling Forest Park.

Oakland Tribune May 1924
Free Bus service to Forest Park

Big wooded lots some with a view of the bay were selling at a few hundred dollars each. “Investment in Forest Park today means rich profits in the future” – Come out and see the $10,000 pool being built for the residents – Oakland Tribune June 1924.

Oakland Tribune Jun 15, 1924
Elmer F. Morrill lived down the road where
Harbord Drive and Moraga Avenue meet since the late 1880s

Forest Pool was located at Thornhill Drive and Woodhaven Way is now the Montclair Swim Club.

Forest Pool – 1925
Photo By Cheney Advertising
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Forest Pool 1927
Photo By Cheney Advertising
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

The corner of Woodhaven Way and Indian Way
Cheney Photo Advertising 1925
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Woodhaven Way looking towards the corner of Indian Way
Photo by Cheney Advertising 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Woodhaven Way looking towards the corner of Indian Way
Present Day – Google Maps

From 7000 Thornhill Drive looking east
Cheney Photo Advertising 1925
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

From 7000 Thornhill Drive looking east
Cheney Photo Advertising 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

Present Day 7017 and 7025 Thornhill Drive – Google Maps

San Francisco Bay – Forest Park with Oakwood Drive and Thornhill
Cheney Photo Advertising c 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

San Francisco Bay – from Skyline
Cheney Photo Advertising c 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4

To be continued …Forest Park – the Shepard Canyon Section

Thornhill Park

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

I wish I had more to share about Thornhill Park. I only learned about it by accident when looking into Judge EM Gibson’s home, who lived on a ranch where Thornhill School is now and over to Aspinwall Drive. He lived there in the late 1880s.

The boundaries of Thornhill Park from REDFIN.com

Thornhill Park went on sale in May 1917. The Reality Syndicate handled the sales at first.

Thornhill Park was an area of small farms of 1/4 acre to 1 acre where you could grow your food or raise chickens, as noted in the ad below.

The home of F.M. Boggs was the home of Judge EM Gibson (more about him later), and after the home of Dr. Mark Emerson, Alameda County Coroner, and now St. Johns Church, is in that location. Approximate location 1707 Gouldin Road

By 1922 they were having a “Liquidation Sale” and trying to “close out” the rest of the tract by selling 1/2 acre lots for 66 cents on the $1.00.

It seems Thornhill Park wasn’t a big seller. I noticed it wasn’t advertised as much as any other tracts in Montclair, like Forest Park, Merriewood, or Fernwood, were.

Later, Phil Hearty, a developer and agent who had an office at 5815 Thornhill for years, took over the sale of the remaining Thornhill Park lot. Now Thornhill Park is part of Forest Park and Montclair Highlands.

Some of the homes in Thornhill Park –

A September 1919 advertisement for “6-Room Bungalow on One Acre in Beautiful Thornhill Park” located at 650 Thorn Road is now 6116 Thornhill Drive. The Langdon family lived there from about 1923- 1945.

**6116 Thornhill Drive about 1948 – from the Forgotten Montclair Group on Facebook**

6138 Thornhill Drive is another of the original homes in Thornhill Park. Back in the 1920s, the address was 670 Thorn Road. The Bullard family lived there until the 1990s.

6022 Thornhill Drive, Col. George, and Edith Mullen also moved there in about 1917 when the address was 570 Thorn Road. The Mullen’s played a significant role in the Montclair Women’s Club and Montclair Presbyterian Church.

For now, this is all I have.

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Drake Drive – Montclair Highlands

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

In 1937 Frederick L. Confer designed a “modernistic’ (now art deco) home for Mr. and Mrs. George H. Everest and their two daughters. The Everest family had been living at 1760 Mountain Blvd before moving into their new Montclair Highlands home at 1831 Drake Drive.

The home was developed by Emge and Stockman. It was built by James H. Anderson, who has worked with the architect before.

Oakland Tribune Mar 1937 – 1831 Drake Drive

The house has four bedrooms upstairs with two bathrooms. The lower floor has one bedroom with a bathroom and a private entrance.

Behold the fantastic views from all upstairs bedrooms, dining room, living room, and patio. The large corner lot also a large yard

The house was completed in June 1937

The House has been on the market many times since 1937.

1955 – it listed for $24,500

In 1969 it listed for $46,500

In March of 2019, it is listed for sale at $1,695,000.

Montclair Display Homes

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Dorothy Londagin

Narragansett House

Narragansett House is a New England Colonial-style home in the Montclair Highlands Section on Balboa Drive, built as a model home in 1937.

The home opened in February 1937; by the end of the first week, 3500 toured the house, and by the end of April 1937, over 25,000 had visited the home.

Narragansett House
Montclair Highlands
New England Colonial style
Emge and Stockman – Developer
Earl R McDonald – Architect
HC Capwell’s – Decorator
Opened February 1937
5546 Balboa Drive

Tomorrow’s Home Today

Tomorrow’s Home Today was the first Oakland Home constructed under the Precision Built system, and it opened in December 1939. It is located at the corner lot at Balboa and Colton Blvd in Montclair Highlands, with a sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay.

The home was sold by Montclair Realty Co.

“The walls and ceilings were built with Homasote, the oldest and strongest insulating and building board on the market. The walls were prefabricated by the Precision-Built process in the shop of a local mill under standards of exacting accuracy, which ensure tight joints, freedom from sagging, and permanently crack-proof walls and ceilings”. Oakland Tribune Jan 21, 1940

Tomorrow’s Home Today
Montclair Highlands
Montclair Realty
John Wagenet – Architect
Mac Jordon – Builder
Arthur Cobbledick – Landscaper
Opened December 1939
5500 Balboa Drive –

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Merriewood

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Dorothy Londagin

Merriewood is a section or neighborhood of the Montclair District of Oakland. The Realty Syndicate was the exclusive agent selling the tract. It first went on sale in 1924.

gs07xdloz5rdi2zn — Oakland Tribune Yearbook 1926

Oakland Tribune stated that:

no other tract in Oakland can offer such a “combination of a magnificent view and comfortable home” The ad went on to say, “it is so pleasant and healthful with trees all around and birds singing away –Great for youngsters” October 1925

Lots in Merriewood were selling for as little as $1750 and as much as $2450 for a completely finished home. $30 a month with interest.

What your money bought in the 1920s:

Large lot wooded and clear
Well built roomy house
Variety of floor plans
Gas, lights, water, paved streets
Fast local and San Francisco transportation

Public Stairways

The Merriewood Stairs are divided into two sections the Lower Merriewood stairs (from Thornhill Drive to Marden Lane to Merriewood) and the Upper Merriewood stairs (from Merriewood Drive to Valley View Road to Merriewood again). Merriewood Stairs _ Oakland Local Wiki.

Street Names

In Merriewood, there is a group of streets named for the signs of the Zodiac. The streets are Aquarius Way, Capricorn Ave, Leo Way, Taurus Ave, Uranus Ave, and Virgo Rd. There are small cluster streets named in honor of Robin Hood. They are Nottingham Dr., Robin Hood Way, and Sherwood Dr. Street Names Oakland Local Wiki

Various Clippings from the Oakland Tribune

From the Oakland Tribune 1924

First Model Home

The first model home was located on Thornhill Drive and Grisborne Ave. The address was 5815 Thorn Road (now Thornhill Drive). It served as the model home and tract office for Merriewood. Later it was the offices of Phil Hearty, who sold real estate in Montclair for years, he also was involved in the development of many tracts in Oakland.

It is now the home of Montclair Community Play Center, which has served Oakland since 1933. Montclair Community Play Center

Model Home 5815 Thorn Road Oakland Tribune Sep-Oct 1924

Various Homes in Merriewood Oakland Tribune 1924-1927

Many of the old houses on Merriewood Drive were built as vacation cabins, and several retain their original clapboard siding: 5574 (1924), 5826 (1925), 5844 (1925), 5857 (1925), and 5876 (1926). An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area

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Montclair Observation Tower

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Dorothy Londagin

The Montclair Observation Tower was a two-story tower built by the Realty Syndicate in 1925 to assist with the selling of homes in the newly opened area of Montclair Highlands.

Montclair Observation Tower 1925 - Oakland History Room — **Montclair Observation Tower – Montclair Highlands 1923 – Oakland History Room**

Every night the Observation Tower was illuminated by the Idora Park searchlight – “the most powerful searchlight in the world.”

“On a clear day, it is said you could see points as far away as the Farallon Islands.”
Oakland Tribune June 25, 1925

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Jun_21__1925_ — **Oakland Tribune June 25, 1925**

The tower was still standing in July of 1929. I don’t when the tower was removed. I have heard that the was heavily damaged in a late-night fire in 1929 or 1930. But I have no proof.

Location of the tower

The tower (yellow arrow) is seen in this 1929 aerial By Fairchild

Montclair in 1928 Fairchild Aerial with arrow jpg

Near the intersection of Asilomar Drive and Aztec Way.

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Montclair Highlands – Top of the World

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Dorothy Londagin

Oakland Tribune May 17, 1925

Montclair Highlands was one of the earlier subdivisions in Montclair. Located in the hills back of Piedmont and just above Montclair’s Business district or the “Townsite” as locals called it in 1925.

“Montclair Business Center, as the name indicates, is the tract opened as a community trading district.” Oakland Tribune May 17, 1925

“Montclair Highlands is separated by the Business Center from the original Montclair” (more on that later). Oakland Tribune May 17, 1925

Montclair Highlands fronts out overlooking the bay and beyond.

“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

Montclair Highlands is soon called the “Top of the World.”

“The beautiful panorama afforded from the “Top of the World” is available to you all today – to be framed permanently by the windows of the home, you will build” C P Murdock Vice President of the Realty Syndicate – Oakland Tribune May 31, 1925.

“Skyline Blvd, which runs through Montclair Highlands has for years been the great scenic drive of the Eastbay.” Oakland Tribune Tribune May 31, 1925

Oakland Tribune May 17, 1925

Oakland Tribune May 1925

Oakland Tribune May 31, 1925

Oakland Tribune June 7, 1925

Oakland Tribune June 14, 1925

Coming soon:

Observation Tower – Top of the World
The Model Homes of Montclair Highlands
Bus Service to Montclair Highlands

Casa Altadena

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Dorothy Londagin

In Smith Reserve

“Atop one of the knolls, commanding full advantage of the ever-changing vistas, is Casa Altadena, the distinctive exhibition home of Realty Syndicate. Company”
SF Examiner February 11, 1928

Casa Altadena is of Spanish architecture. It occupies a knoll overlooking beautiful wooded vistas and canyons on one side and a panorama of the bay on the other.

Opening Day

Over 500 people attended the opening on January 29, 1929.

Casa Altadena reflects the discerning taste of its decorators, who sought to incorporate the romance of the Peraltas into its furnishings.

**One of the rooms in Casa Altadena – Oakland Tribune January 29, 1928**

Details include its tiled roof, arched doorways, decorative tiles, wood trims, antique wall sconces, and decorative wrought-iron work.

Casa Altadena Today

Casa Altadena
Smith Reserve (Piedmont Pines)
Open January 29, 1928
Spanish design
Realty Syndicate
Still there
6401 Chelton Drive

Location on Google Maps

More Info:

House Looks Over Vista of Bay and Hills – SF Examiner February 11, 1928

Updated July 17, 2020

The End

Exposition Home – Montclair Highlands

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Dorothy Londagin

Exposition Home – Located at 5988 Rincon Ave Oakland CA

Expostion hometo open Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Apr_10__1938_(1) — Oakland Tribune April 10, 1938

Built-in 1938 in preparation for the upcoming Exposition Fair at Treasure Island in 1939. The home is in Montclair Highlands, the scenic tract of Emge and Stockman, with sweeping views of the Golden Gate and Treasure Island from several windows.

Oakland_Tribune_Sun__Apr_17__1938_ — Oakland Tribune April 17, 1938

In July of 1938, Exposition House went on sale. It was sold “completely furnished” and “specially priced” at $18,450 (limited time only). The price also includes the large corner lot with a “panoramic view” and landscaped with shrubs and trees.

Opened April 1938

Frederick L Confer – Architect
J.R Armstrong – Contractor
Ned S. Rucker Landscape Architect
Furnished by H.C. Capwell Company
Emge and Stockman
Montclair Highlands
Still standing

Location of Exposition Home

5988 Rincon Dr.

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Some of the homes in Thornhill Park –

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More on 1831 Drake Drive

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Narragansett House

Tomorrow’s Home Today

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What your money bought in the 1920s:

Public Stairways

Street Names

From the Oakland Tribune 1924

First Model Home

Model Home 5815 Thorn Road Oakland Tribune Sep-Oct 1924

Various Homes in Merriewood Oakland Tribune 1924-1927

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Location of the tower

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In Smith Reserve

Opening Day

Casa Altadena Today

More Info:

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Opened April 1938

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