Phillip Richard Springer (1874-1952) was the first Black man in Oakland to own a taxicab. He was born in Barbados, in the British West Indies, and left home at age 16. At first, he operated under a jitney permit in Oakland, but he later had the license changed to a taxicab permit. By 1915, Springer’s Cab Company was well established. The Pullman Porters and West Oakland
Phillip lived at various addresses in West Oakland.
In the 1917 directory, he is listed at 835 Union Street with chauffeur as his occupation.
In the 1925 directory, he is listed along with his wife, Edna, at 879 Campbell Street, with a taxi driver as his occupation.
From 1927 until he died in 1952, he lived at 957-35th Street with his family. The 1930 census reports that he owned his home and operated his own taxi stand.
957- 35th Street – Google Maps
A Family Business
Helaine Springer Head knows the taxicab business inside out. That’s because she grew up in it. Her late father, Phillip Springer, was the
“the first black man to own and operate his own taxi business – Springer Cab – in Oakland in the early 1900s”
Before Springer died in 1952, he gave his wife and daughter a crash course in running the business, as it was up to them to carry on. They ran the company out of the family home on 35th Street.
Eventually, Helaine decided to strike out independently and acquired City Cab in 1964. She started with two cabs and, by 1975, had three.
More Info:
- Fire Hydrant Broken – Oakland Tribune March 31, 1947
- Cab Robbed – Oakland Tribune September 21, 1942
- She’s a Big Wheel in her Cab Company- Oakland Tribune, May 1975
- She Wheels Around in the Cab Business – Oakland Tribune, May 1975