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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/oakland_tribune_sun__may_11__1924_-1.jpg?w=584&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/oakland_tribune_sun__may_11__1924_-3.jpg?w=584&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/oakland_tribune_sun__may_25__1924_-1.jpg?w=584&ssl=1)
Free Bus service to Forest Park
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/oakland_tribune_sun__may_25__1924_-3.jpg?resize=384%2C769&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/40862227_10212845632116476_7018500337220714496_o.jpg?resize=584%2C634&ssl=1)
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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/oakland_tribune_sun__jun_15__1924_.jpg?w=584&ssl=1)
Elmer F. Morrill lived down the road where
Harbord Drive and Moraga Avenue meet since the late 1880s
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/oakland_tribune_sun__mar_23__1924_.jpg?resize=360%2C659&ssl=1)
Forest Pool was located at Thornhill Drive and Woodhaven Way is now the Montclair Swim Club.
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/forest-pool-in-the-foreground-looking-towards-woodhaven.jpg?resize=584%2C498&ssl=1)
Photo By Cheney Advertising
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/forest-pool1927.jpg?resize=584%2C500&ssl=1)
Photo By Cheney Advertising
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/corner-of-woodhaven-and-indian-way.jpg?resize=584%2C497&ssl=1)
Cheney Photo Advertising 1925
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/screen-shot-2019-04-26-at-8.54.49-pm.png?resize=584%2C431&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/woodhaven-way-.jpg?resize=584%2C501&ssl=1)
Photo by Cheney Advertising 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/screen-shot-2019-04-26-at-8.56.20-pm.png?resize=584%2C377&ssl=1)
Present Day – Google Maps
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/thornhill-drive-from-lot-257.jpg?resize=584%2C688&ssl=1)
Cheney Photo Advertising 1925
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/idlewild-drive-looking-east-from-257.jpg?resize=584%2C502&ssl=1)
Cheney Photo Advertising 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/screen-shot-2019-04-27-at-10.01.25-pm.png?resize=584%2C382&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/san-fran.jpg?resize=584%2C504&ssl=1)
Cheney Photo Advertising c 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
![](https://i0.wp.com/abitofhistory.site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/san-francisco.jpg?resize=584%2C502&ssl=1)
Cheney Photo Advertising c 1927
https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4
To be continued …Forest Park – the Shepard Canyon Section