A bit of history of Montclair, Thornhill and Joaquin Miller Schools in Oakland.
Then & Now – Oakland Schools Part 9
On Moraga Avenue
An Enterprising Family and Their New Home in the Montclair District. - Oakland Tribune Mr. and Mrs. John W Martinsen's like many others in the area took on the task of building their own home. Mrs. Martinsen would serve a hot lunch for them from a cabin they had built in the back of the... Continue Reading →
Freeway Variety
Freeway Variety Photo by Bill Boyd C 1978 If you grew up the Montclair District of Oakland from 1956 to about 1990, you shopped at Freeway Variety. The Montclarion March 1956 Freeway Variety opened in March of 1956. It was owned and operated by partners Cy Fritz and David Iventosch. They both had experience running... Continue Reading →
A Murder in Hays Canyon
Hays Canyon or sometimes called "Jack Hayes Canyon," was the area in hills behind Piedmont. Now known as Thornhill Canyon, Thornhill Drive, and Moraga Avenue. For more info, please see here - Oakland Local Wiki - Hays Canyon San Francisco Examiner June 07, 1894 On June 6th, 1894, Manuel Souza Quadros was murdered on the... Continue Reading →
Naming Our City Streets
Growing up in Montclair (for me), Thornhill Drive was always just Thornhill Drive. But come to find out it was once called Thorn Road (sometimes Thorne Road). Thornhill is a more delightful-sounding name than Thorn. But there is a perfectly good reason why it was called Thorn Road. Thorn Road William J. Dingee 1878 Map... Continue Reading →
26 Ascot Court – Piedmont Pines
One of the Model Homes in Piedmont Pines - Ascot Court
Thornhill Park
Thornhill Park was an area of small farms of 1/4 acre to 1 acre where you could grow your own food or say raise chickens.
Early Photos of Montclair
Some old photos of the Montclair District of Oakland - all are from the Oakland Public Library History Room. When I can, I will show you the area now. I will start off with one of the earliest photos of Montclair that I have seen. This is circa 1886. I hope that there are more... Continue Reading →
The First Store in Montclair
A bit of history of the first store in Montclair - updated with photos.
Audrey Lucinda Robinson
Audrey Lucinda Robinson - 1915-2008 Audrey Robinson was the first African American teacher at Thornhill Elementary School in Oakland, Ca. Thornhill School 1966-1967 Early Years Audrey Lucinda Robinson was the daughter of Charles Nelson and Maude Gibson. She was born in 1915 in Oakland. She attended Peralta School and graduated from Claremont in 1930 and... Continue Reading →