Wickman Havens Real Estate Company opened Havenscourt in 1912.  Within the 170 acres of Havenscourt are 21 miles of streets and sidewalks.¹
SF Call April 13, 1912
The official entrance was at Havenscourt Blvd and East 14th Street, with a pergola and a gazebo. The Havenscourt station and business district were located on Havenscourt Blvd and Bancroft.².
Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising – Oakland History Room
The entrance to Havenscourt
Havenscourt Blvd at Bancroft looking towards Frick School
Two Schools, 17 Acres Playground, a Civic Center, and a train station
67th Avenue between Arthur St and Avenal Ave
Then and Now – Above and Below
Looking south on 66th Street from Arthur St
Looking south on 65th Ave from Arthur St
All photos were taken by Cheney Photo Advertising Company and are from Oakland History Room or OMCA.
Rolling Hills of Oakmore circa 1920’s – Oakland History Room
Natural beauty abounds in the 150 acres of wooded, rolling hills that comprise the Oakmore District or Oakmore Highlands. The Walter H. LeimertCompany laid out the subdivision with wide streets and ample sidewalks. See Oakmore Highland History
The Leimert Bridge was designed in 1926, by George A. Posey, to safely accommodate vehicle traffic, Park Boulevard Streetcars, and pedestrians.
The Leimert Bridge during construction and in 1926, Photo by Cheney Photo Advertising
The original subdivision was bordered by Sausal Creek and Dimond Canyon. During the initial sales period, sound design was promoted through a model open house program called the ‘Oakmore Home Ideal’ where buyers could visit a custom home designed by local architects Miller & Warnecke.
Later, in 1934, The Leimert Company teamed with the Oakland Tribune and Breuner’s FurnitureCompany to furnish a demonstration model home that drew 8,000 visitors in three weeks.
Oakland Tribune June 28, 1934
The following year another Breuner’s furnished house was nicknamed “Golden Windows” to highlight the extensive use of glass on the view side of the home and the commanding views from the subdivision.
Oakland Tribune August 1934
Real Estate Developer: Walter H. Leimert Company
Contractors: Park Boulevard Company
Property Managers: Mitchell & Austin
150 Acres, 4 tracts 440 lots
Sales began in October 1926
Photos
Aerial view of upper Dimond Canyon and surrounding, still mostly undeveloped, neighborhoods, Leimert Bridge visible in the foreground. – 1926-1936 Oakland History Room
Aerial view of Dimond Canyon – 1926-1936 – Oakland History Room
Broadway Terrace @ Ostrander St. Photo from Oakland History Room.
College Pines is located at the corner of Broadway Terrace and Harbord Drive location(formally Edith), just past the Claremont Country Club. The name of College Pineswas chosen because of the close proximity to the College of the Sisters of Holy Names, a new High School.
Harbord Drive and Broadway Terrace in 1933 – Oakland History Room Photo
Broadway Terrace and Clarewood Drive in 1933 – Oakland History Room photo
The homesites front on along Harbord Drive for about a half-mile or more. The lots were priced at $27.00 per foot. A forty-foot lot would cost $1075.00, with a low down payment and easy terms. Sold by the Claremont Pines Corporation and later Michell & Austin.
Oakland Tribune June 1932
Holy Names Central High School was built on Harbord Drive and opened in 1934.
Display Homes
In December of 1933, the first display home opened at 4339 Harbord Drive. The house had eight rooms with two baths and a 14 x 32-foot rumpus room, and
“pleasing features galore.”
Oakland Tribune Dec 1933
The house was priced at $6850 and was recently sold in 2016 for $1,360,000.
Oakland Tribune Dec 1933
In September of 1934, another display home was opened at 4347 Harbord Drive. The green and white wood and brick cottage and two bedrooms and a den or nursery, and a large playroom. The house was priced at $6500, with just a $75 down payment and $75 a month. The home recently sold for $825,000 in 2012.
Oakland Tribune Sept 1934
Misc. ads for homes
Update:
The stone pillar is still there at the corner of Broadway Terrace and Ostrander Street.
Broadway Terrace and Ostrander St 2018 – Photo from Google Maps
