Lynde Street – Geo L. Lynde

I’ve always been curious about the meaning behind a street name. Some are obvious, like Broadway or Main Street. I’ve lived on Capricorn Ave (zodiac), Thornhill Dr. (Hiram Thorn), Georgia St. (the state), Athol Ave (still haven’t figured that one out), and Lynde St.

Lynde Street was declared a public road in 1886.

Oakland Tribune Dec 06, 1886

Lynde Street is in the Fruitvale District.

George L. Lynde owned the land in 1878

Map of Oakland and vicinity map number nine.
Published by Thompson & West, Oakland, Cala., 1878

Lynde Street was named for George L Lynde, a landowner. I don’t know precisely when he purchased the land in the Fruitvale District. I found him living there in 1866.

California Voters Registration 1866
San Francisco City Directory 1867

George Lee Lynde was born in about 1838 in the state of Vermont. By 1860 he was living in California with his parents and siblings. In 1861 he married Cassandra Jane Hewitt in San Francisco. They had four children.

1870 Federal Census for the Brooklyn Township in Oakland
  • George W. Lynde 1862-1941
  • Matthew A. Lynde 1868-
  • Martha V. Lynde 1868-
  • Frank H. Lynde 1876-1939

The 1877 Oakland City Directory has Lynde living in Fruitvale near East 27th, right by Lynde Street.

1877 Oakland City Directory
1880 Federal Census for District No 12 in Oakland

Cassandra and George were divorced in 1880, and she moved to Arizona. By 1899 George was living in San Francisco and was remarried. He died in 1915.

Oakland Tribune Sep 12, 1879

Lynde and Howard – Tin Shop

Alameda Encinal Nov 23, 1872
Oakland City Directory 1871

George co-owned a Tin Shop (plumbing, hardware, and gas fixtures) located at 683 East 12th Street.

The shop suffered a significant fire in 1878.

Misc Articles

A playmate accidentally shot Lynde’s son while they were playing “robbers” out by the barn. Not sure if the name of his son is correct.

Encinal Transcript – 1870

The End