I found these photos during my research for my piece on Detroit of the West.
In 1931 Russell J Maynard opened his gasoline service station and repair shop on the northeast corner of 36th and Grove Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) at 3601 36th St.
At that time Oakland had more than 200 service stations along the cities main thoroughfares. in the days before the freeways San Pablo Avenue, Grove Street, East 14th Street, Telegraph Avenue and Foothill Blvd were main traffic arteries entering and leaving Oakland.
Oakland Tribune October 2, 1951
In 1931 Grove Street had 17 service stations, East 14th Street 29, Telegraph Avenue 22, San Pablo Avenue 22, and Foothill Blvd 17.
Loose zoning regulations and available land combined helped the expansion of service stations in the city in the 1940s.
These early stations architecturally were unique . Many had columns or faintly resembled Spanish haciendas or Italian Villas. Mr. Maynard’s station reminds you of a Southwestern Pueblo.
Mr. Maynard’s station, under numerous owners was there until 1951. In its place a freeway pillar now stands.
Misc. Photos
C. J. Bowers Union Oil service station, possibly at 3761 Park Boulevard in Oakland, California. DATE: 1940s Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
Shell service station and undeveloped woods at Broadway Terrace and Harbord Drive in the Broadway Terrace district of Oakland, California. DATE:1933 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room.
A bit of history of some of the early residents of Montclair from the 1920s.
The Montclarion
In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Otto H. Darmsted bought three and a half acres from Villa Site Sales in the Pinehaven Tract for $1800. The land was cleared of pine trees, and the logs were advertised as free giveaways to the buyers to build a log cabin.
The Darmsted’s were married in 1911 and raised five boys in the home on Pinehaven.
The Montclarion 1961
The Montclarion June 15 1960
The Darmsted’s lived at 8 Pinehaven Road, which was later changed to 6515 PInehaven Road. One of their sons lived at 6501 Pinehaven.
George and Sadie Davidson and Dellos Miller (Sadie’s brother) jointly purchased a lot on Leo Way in the Glenwood tract of Montclair in 1921. At that time, there were only two other homes in the neighborhood.
The Montclarion
They completed building their home in 1925.
In a 1970 article in Montclarion, Mrs. Davidson said they “really pioneered.” She cooked on a wood stove since they had no gas, phone, or mail delivery. They had to walk down Broadway Terrace to pick up their mail.
They lived at 1011 Leo Way until the mid-1970s, over 50 years.
On Thorn Road
The Montclarion
George and Edith Mullen moved to Montclair in about 1922. When they moved there, Thornhill Drive was still called Thorn Road, and it went straight instead of turning right by the swimming pool like it does today.
The Montclarion
In a letter shared with the Montclarion in 1960, Mrs. Mullen shared that
“Merriewood was a solid mass of trees… planted ages ago so taxes would be on forest land.”
She also said real estate developers planted Thorn Road with Royal Ann cherries and Gouldin Road with apricots.
The Montclarion
They lived at 570 Thorn Road, which was later changed to 6022 Thornhill Drive. George died in 1933, and Edith lived there until the late 1950s. They were the members of Montclair Presbyterian Church, Improvement Club, and Montclair Women’s Club.
I couldn’t find any current photos of 6022 Thornhill. The last time it sold was in 1989.
Glenwood Tract
The Glenwood Tract
In 1921, George and Marie Annereau purchased two Glenwood Tract lots that spanned from Glenwood Glade and Duncan Way. Their house at 212 Glenwood Glade was the second one built in the tract. Dave Duncan, for whom Duncan Way was named, was the first. The Duncans live in a tent on their property while they built their home. There was no electricity then, and they cooked on a wood stove. They lived at 132 Duncan Way.
Oakland Tribune Feb 25, 1926
Mr. Annereau was a founding member who helped build the Montclair Improvement Club House at Thorn Road (now Thornhill Drive) and Mountain Blvd. The Montclair Women’s Association ended up buying the clubhouse and used it until the early 1990s.
The Monclarion 1961
The Annereau’s created a beautiful garden on their large double lot; each had a separate hothouse. They opened their garden each year for tours, and they had many blue ribbons for their exhibition entries.
In the mid-1980s, I started looking into the history of Montclair in Oakland Hills. I discovered that Montclair had residents as early as 1865. Here is “A bit of History” of them.
I will also be doing a piece about the residents from 1900-1920.
Colonel John C. Hays – Fernwood
In the late 1850s, retired Texas Ranger Colonel John “Jack” Coffee Hays purchased about 800 acres of land in the hills of Oakland, behind what is now Piedmont. His beautiful country estate was Fernwood, and he lived there with his wife Susan and their children.
Residence of Col. John C. Hays, Oakland, Alameda County, California.” (Published by Thompson & West, Oakland, Cal., 1878) from Oakland History Room
His home was near today’s Mountain Boulevard and Thornhill Drive in Montclair. The area was frequently referred to as Hays (Hayes) Canyon or “Jack Hays Canyon.” The main road to his property from downtown Oakland would later be Moraga Avenue.
Hays died at home on April 22, 1883, at 66. After his death, Fernwood was sold to William J. Dingee.
William J. Dingee – Fernwood
William Dingee, water magnate and competitor of Anthony Chabot. Dingee enlarged and embellished the gardens, adding fountains, terraces, and statues. The improvements were said to have cost a quarter-million dollars.
Dingee built an opulent 19-room Queen-Anne-style mansion with additional landscaping, gardens, terraces, and waterfalls. He also added such features as a deer park and an elk paddock.
Sometime after 1915, Dr. and Mrs. Nelson M. Percy of Chicago, Illinois, purchased the former W.J. DIngee home “Fernwood” for an undisclosed amount.
Oakland Tribune March 12, 1916
Oakland Tribune Aug 19, 1923
Gibson and Fields
Map showing the locations of the Gibson and Fields
Cote Brilliant
Judge E.M. Gibson owned the property just beyond Thornhill School. Gibson built a beautiful home called “Cote Brilliant, ” later owned by E.M Boggs. The house burned down in 1910. Dr. Mark Emerson bought the land in the mid-1920s, built a lovely home, and lived there until the late 1950s. St John’s Episcopal Church is now there.
Oakland Directory 1889
Oakland Tribune April 23, 1887
Oakland Tribune 1891
J. B. Fields
Joseph B. Fields was born in England. Before moving to Hays Canyon, he was an Oakland Police officer for 12 years.
Oakland Tribune Apr 16, 1890
He owned 25 acres of farming land next to the property of Judge Gibson. His farm was in the general location of Aspinwall Road today.
Glen Kohler was designed by architects Samuel and Joseph C. Newsom (Newsom Brothers) in 1885. The residence was 18 rooms in what was known as a “freestyle.” It cost about $10,000.
Picturesque California Homes, Issue 2 Circa 1890
Picturesque California Homes, Issue 2 Circa 1890
She died at her home in Hays Canyon on November 27, 1894. Her funeral was attended mainly by the old settlers of the county and was held at her home on November 30, 1894. She is buried at Mountain View Cemetery alongside her husband Andrew and her daughter Louisa (1849-1854), who died at age 5.
I hope to show Then and Now images of Oakland Schools in this series of posts. Along with a bit of the history of each school, I highlight. Some photos are in the form of drawings or postcards or from the pages of history books.
Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes tricky. I do this all at home and online — a work in progress for some. I have been updating my posts when I find something new. Let me know of any mistakes or additions.
Updated December 17, 2019
Montclair Grammar School
Oakland Tribune September 20, 1925
The Montclair District held formal dedication ceremonies in their first school on March 14, 1926. The service is under the direction of A.R. Romer, the principal, and Mrs. J.D. Bishop, the teacher in charge of the 71 students already registered to attend the school.
Oakland Tribune March 15, 1926
The four-room schoolhouse was built with funds from the building program funded by a $9,000,000 bond issue voted by the people of Oakland in 1924.
In attendance were Mrs. Stanton Lore representing the Montclair Women’s Club, and Mrs. E.T. Jepsen of the Piedmont Avenue PTA
Oakland Tribune 1926
Montclair School 1927
Montclair School 1927
Montclair School 1927
The original brick building with a tile roof was later considered an earthquake risk and razed in 1936. They used portables for many years.
Oakland Tribune Oct 1936
The new school building was dedicated in 1942, with nine classrooms, an administrative suite, an arts and crafts room, a PTA room, and a Library, was created. In 1947, a Cafeteria and Assembly Hall were added.
Auditorium
Montclair in the 1950s
Montclair is located at 1757 Mountain Blvd., Oakland.
Montclair Today
In 2013, a new building was added to the campus, which houses a modern Multipurpose Room, new classrooms, a faculty lounge, and a living roof. A new learning garden and play structure were also added to the campus.
Plans for a new school in the Montclair District were drawn up by local Montclair residents Robert “Bob” Goetz and Jens Hansen in association with Confer and Willis.
Drawing of Thornhill 1956
The site on Thornhill Drive at Alhambra was acquired through condemnation proceedings. The court awarded $48,000 to the landowner, Alice Taylor.
Oakland Tribune July 4, 1956
Oakland Tribune July 4, 1956Oakland Tribune August 28, 1957Montclarion 1957
The school was to be ready in September 1958 and would have an administration office, a multipurpose room, a library, 11 classrooms, and a kindergarten room.
Montclarion Oct 23, 1957Oakland Tribune June 22, 1958
Thornhill 1959-60
Dedication – November 12, 1958
The Montclarion Nov. 12, 1958
November 12, 1958
November 12, 1958
The Montclarion Nov 1958
Bus Service
The district approved the school bus earlier in the year, stopping at both Thornhill and Montclair schools. The kids were picked up throughout the hills on the roads designated ‘safe.’ The bus service continued until 1959, when the service was going to be pulled but continued a little longer after the parents rallied to raise money to maintain the service.
Menu 1959Jan 1959Jan 1959The Montclarion
Thornhill 1963-64
The school is located at 5880 Thornhill Dr, Oakland
The bid was taken in November 1949 for the New Joaquin Miller Elementary School on Ascot Drive in Montclair.
Oakland Tribune November 1950
Oakland Tribune November 1950 Tribune
First Graduate
In January of 1950, Judith Lowe, 12 daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lowe, had the honor of being the first graduate of the school – she was the only one. She was the lone pupil in high sixth grade.
Oriental (now we would say Asian) theme in a small home. The five-room home is located at 10 Overlake Courtabove the Montclair Pool(Swim and Racquet Club).
It was designed with both far Eastern ideas and California architecture. Oil finished wood in a natural color, accented with Chinese red in finish and outside trim, grasscloth wallpaper, and bamboo moldings were some of the Eastern ideas.
Oakland Tribune Feb 1940
The living room opens onto a private garden with beautiful oak trees. The house is somewhat like a modern ‘farmhouse’ with an exterior of oiled, heart redwood, and an off-white limestone finished roof with wide overhanging eaves.
With many red brick window boxes and large glass areas of windows that are divided into horizontal panes, creating a streamlined effect that is unusual in residential construction. A large circular grille in the garage door was also new and different.
Oakland Tribune Feb 1940
Montclair’s Most Talked-of Home
I don’t know who designed the home, but it was built by Robert Darmsted of Pinehaven Road. The Darmsted’s moved to Montclair in about 1920.
From 1924
Another local Montclarion F.A. Christopherson, who lived on Abbott Drive in theMerriewood area, did the brickwork.
From 1944
Oakland Tribune Feb 1940
Modern with “oriental touch.” Delightful patio. Price at $6450.00 in 1940.
Prominent real estate companies and builders in Montclair held an “open-house” week during the Oakland National Home Show held October 22- 30, 1937. Oakland Tribune Oct 22, 1937
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 11, 1924
Oakland Tribune May 11, 1924
Oakland Tribune May 1924 Free Bus service to Forest Park
Oakland Tribune May 1924
Oakland Tribune 1924
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 – 1925 Photo By Cheney Advertising https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt209nd06r?&brand=oac4Forest 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
Present Day Google Maps
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
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.
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.
Oakland Tribune May 1917
Oakland Tribune 1922
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
Oakland Tribune April 1922
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 –
Oakland Tribune April 1922
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
Oakland Tribune Sept 24, 1919
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.
Recently, someone asked about when 7-Eleven came to Montclair, which was about 1958. I thought I would go back a little farther and tell you about the first store in Montclair.
A Bit of History.
In 1925, Otto Schuneman bought land on Thorn Road and built a store. His store was a combination fountain, grocery store, and service station. The address was 281 Thorn Road.
The Montclairion – circa 1957
From 1935
Early residents of the area remember the place as a tourist bus stop, where refreshments were served at the fountain and an outdoor terrace.
The original building is still standing behind the 7-11 store.
Showing the location of the first store
Mr. Schuneman leased the store. E.G., Nickerson of 408 Florence Ave (now 5800 Florence Terrace) in 1926, and Captain Baldwin in 1928.
The Monclarion
From the Montclarion 1964
Funk’s Grocery – 1930-1940
In March of 1930, Davis L. Funk leased the store from Schuneman and bought out his remaining stock. Mr. Funk had owned a couple of other stores in Oakland.
He called his store Funk’s Grocery and Montclair Grocery.
The Funk family lived at 5677 Thornhill in the mid to late 30s to early 40s.
In the early 1960s, the Montclair Presbyterian Church bought the house from the owners.
My ex-husband and I worked for the church from 1983- 1987 and lived in the house.
Note: Montclair Presbyterian Church (MPC) and the Montclair Library were formed in March 1930.
1941 Directory for Montclair
Montclair Food Center 1940-1957
Montclair Food Center – Carrol Mauro 1951
From Carrol Mauro
In 1940, Funk took on a partner, his son-in-law Malcolm “Scotty” Hodge, the husband of his daughter Lenore, and the store was renamed the Montclair Food Center.
Funk and Hodge ran the store together until Funk died in 1949 at his home on Grisborne Avenue behind the store.
Oakland Tribune 1949
Hodge and his wife continued until 1957 when they couldn’t negotiate a new lease with Otto Schuneman, the owner. I thought it was because he could make more money leasing it to Speedee Mart.
Montclarion 1957
Montclarion 1957
When the store closed in 1957, it was the last one in Montclair to maintain a credit and delivery service. Montclair Food Center was more than just a store for many of its customers.
By 1957, Montclair was also changing. Payless Grocery Store (soon to be Luckys) and LaSalle Avenue Market were located in the business district, and a new Safeway would soon be built.
Min-a-Mart and Speedee Mart 1958-1966?
A Min-a-Mart opened in about 1958.
In 1959, the store was leased by Speedee Mart Corporation.
In 1964, the parent company of the 7-Eleven Stores bought all the Speedee Mart franchises in California.
They began slowly changing the name to 7-Eleven (7-11)
In 1926 the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland approved the plans to build a Bible School in the Montclair District of Oakland.
Drawing by Charles Williams circa 1926
The building was to cost about $25,000. It became necessary because they had outgrown the temporary accommodations at the school. They started out with seven students in January of 1926; by July, they had eighty.
Thorn Road StudentsCicra 1926Thorn Road Students
In June of 1927, it was announced that the school would be open for four weeks during summer vacation.
Oakland Tribune June 1927
The 1920s showed significant growth in Montclair, and the bible school started having Sunday services for the area’s residents. They held Easter Services up on Skyline Dr and festive Christmas services.
Sunrise Service Circa 1928
Christmas circa 1928
ThornRoad Bible School Circa 1928
Oakland Tribune April 05, 1930
In 1930 Montclair Presbyterian Church was organized with 90 Charter Members.
Oakland Tribune April 1930
In 1938 they built a new Chapel which was there until they made the present complex in the mid-1960s at 5701 Thornhill Drive.
