California Images

John Muir in Yosemite Valley

2012-01-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

hand-tinted © Bennett Hall 2010
Background from Wikipedia
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John Muir (21 April 1838 – 24 December 1914) was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to save the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is now one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. One of the most well-known hiking trails in the U.S., the 211-mile John Muir Trail, was named in his honor.^[1] Other places named in his honor are Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach and Muir Glacier.
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Favorite images of California History-black and white, sepia and hand-tinted, convenient and economical web galleries - full custom framing services - shipping everywhere
WORLDWIDE Archive : California-History

Oakland's Theater, historical jewel of the City

2011-12-27T18:41:00.000-08:00

Fox Oakland Theater, Oakland, c.1935

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This fanciful “Brahmanian Temple” movie palace opened in 1928. One of the
largest theaters on the Pacific Coast with more than 3,400 seats, it was designed by
San Francisco firm Weeks & Day, and constructed by Oakland builder Maury I. Diggs. The architecture was described as Indian, Moorish, Medieval and Baghdadian. On opening day, West Coast Theaters bought the entire Key System line for an hour, allowing patrons to ride inbound trains for free, resulting in the turnout of 20,000.

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Redevelopment Story - from Theater Fox Website

History of Fox Theater - from the Fox Oakland Website

Timeline of the Fox slideshow (unfortunately only small thumbnails and no captions)

Boy scout troop assembled in from of the Fox Theater awaiting the Eddie Peabody
"KING OF THE BANJO"show - c1935

Support the Fox Theater Endowment

Articles and stories in this post are © Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images / Business Image Group
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Source: Unless otherwise indicated, these images were sourced from the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, and have been digitally mastered by San Francisco Images / Business Image Group. You can acquire copies of these images framed and unframed through our World Wide Archive Web Galleries. A portion of all sales will be donated to the History Room to assist them with their work preserving local history and to maintain their collections.

Note: If you like what you see and would like to help support local history, please become a member of the Oakland Public Library History Room.(Oakland History Room)
I will post more on how to do this shortly - stay tuned - or send me an email with your interest - they need our help!!

Chaplin rehearsing in the archway: Essanay Studios Interior, Niles California

2011-12-25T15:48:00.001-08:00

Essanay Studios Interior, Niles California, originally uploaded by bennetthall.

Charlie Chaplin passed away Christmas Day 34 years ago

This studio in Niles, built from the ground up, was the 2nd west of Chicago, featuring a glass roof for extended shooting schedules. Chaplin is in the archway rehearsing a scene

hand-tinted by Bennett Hall
Collection of David Keihn

Slideshow of the Port and Waterfront in Oakland

2011-12-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Celebrating Oakland's rich Waterfront Heritage

2011-12-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

In view of the upcoming Occupy event on 12-12-2011 at the Port of Oakland, I am sharing a series of images and stories about the history of the Oakland waterfront development, the Port, and its importance in the Regions economic development. Regardless of your perceptive on Occupy, the vitality of our communities development owes a great debt of gratitude to the men and women who have dedicated their lives and careers here. This series is for them. Our future in a multitude of ways depends on success of our Port.

Ships Loading Lumber, Oakland Estuary, c.1870
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The Oakland hills were covered with a vast redwood forest known as the San Antonio Redwood, which had some of the largest trees on earth. Between 1842 and 1853 this
forest was logged extensively to supply San Francisco with lumber. The area’s first
steam sawmill was built on the edge of Montclair in 1850. A logging road from the mill,
later Park Blvd., connecting to the wharf at the foot of 13th Avenue, where ships
transported lumber to San Francisco from this estuary. This forest was gone by 1860.

–courtesy of Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library

Long Wharf, Oakland
Yerba Buena Island in background c.1870

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This massive railroad wharf and ferry pier, located at the foot of Seventh Street, was acquired and extended by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1868 to transport freight to San Francisco. It served as the western terminus of the first Transcontinental railroad when it was completed in 1869. The Long Wharf connected to ferries that carried commuters and cargo
to and from San Francisco. Local commuter trains also used the pier, while trains of the Pacific Railroad (aka the "First Transcontinental Railroad") used another wharf in Alameda
for briefly in 1869, after which the Oakland Long Wharf became the western terminus of
the Pacific Railroad as well. Part of the wharf was filled in between 1879 and 1882,
creating a mole. It remained in service until 1958.

–courtesy of Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library

Brooklyn Basin, Oakland Harbor, Viewing North
from Alameda, c.1890

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Booming commerce in the late 19th century led to the need for the expansion of shipping facilities in both Oakland and Alameda. A shipping and tidal channel was dredged between them in 1902, extending and deepening the natural estuary joining Oakland’s harbor with the San Leandro Bay. Consequently, Alameda became an “island” as well as an important shipping port. Most of the excavated soil was used to fill sections of the nearby marsh land.

–courtesy of Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library

“San Francisco” Ferry at Oakland Mole &
Key Route Pier, c.1920
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–collection of California Images

Paul Robeson Sings National Anthem
Moore Dry Dock Co., 1942

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Moore Dry Dock Co. was an Oakland shipbuilding and repair company which boomed
during WWII, building over 100 ships for the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marines. The yard
was noted for employing several thousand African Americans in both skilled and unskilled
positions. Paul Robeson (1898-1976) was an internationally renowned actor and singer,
and a forerunner of the civil rights movement.

–Courtesy of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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Articles and stories in this post are © Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images / Business Image Group
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Note: If you like what you see here and would like to help support local history, please become a member of the Oakland Public Library History Room.(Oakland History Room)
I will post more on how to do this shortly - stay tuned - or send me an email with your interest - they need our help!!

Like to buy a 6-room home in the Oakland Hills for $4,750 ?

2011-12-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

OK. Time travel is required. But, what of the ratio of affordability? income to price of real estate? The Oakland Hills in 1940 were largely undeveloped. Gradually building up by district, many factors encouraged growth, the new Bay Bridge, the East Bay's exceptional commerce position from rail and water transportation, excitement following the 1939 Golden Gate Exhibition, a celebration of Peace in the Pacific ironically given the events of 1941, and rapidly developing industry throughout the area. It did not hurt that you could buy a view lot for $400 view lots or a finished home for $4,750. Interestingly, this Realtor is pitching his properties with a tag line that you will "Not have to mortgage your car" to buy a home.
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Real Estate Office, Oakland, California
Photograph by Russell Lee, 1903-1986
U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information

Abandoned Plymount, Oakland Fire • October 23, 1991

2011-10-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

Oakland FIre Department video on progress since 1991

2011-10-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hillside with car, Hiller Highlands, the Day After the Oakland Fire

2011-10-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

The sky had turned orange, this was not a good sign

2011-10-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is really close the color as I recall the moment, unseasonably hot day, and suddenly a 'mushroom cloud' headed across the bay from Oakland. The sunset was a color that I had never seen before. No questions that something was really really wrong. Again, no cell phone, no iPad, rushing now to get to a television and find out what was going on... no one knew.

First View of the Fire, Day one • October 20, 1991

2011-10-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

This was the first time I saw the fire, just after I walked out of a meeting. I had never seen anything like this before, fires yes, but this had the look of Armageddon. I had no idea what it was. No one looking at it at that moment had any idea what this was. I did not have a cell phone, there was no such thing. There was no internet to look this up on. There was only astonished passersby rambling theories about exploding tankers. It turned out to be far worse as we would learn later in the evening

The Day After, Oakland Fire 1991

2011-10-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

October 23, 1991

PGE crew at sunset on the top crest of Hiller Highlands
Sunset on the day the Oakland Firestorm was declared under control

one of my favorite images - we were in the middle of what was once a neighborhood of thousands of homes - eerie beyond words. This photo was made at the moment the sun crested below the City skyline- an extraordinary moment; the air was thick, warm and acrid, you could cut it with a knife.

6x7cm high resolution shot -

Chinese in Parade, Chinatown, Oakland July 4th, 1907

2011-02-03T23:28:00.000-08:00

-Courtesy of Ed Clausen Collection

Initially settling in shrimp camps on the Oakland estuary in the 1850s, Chinese arrived en masse to help build the Transcontinental Railroad during the 1860s, and later to build Temescal and Lake Chabot Dams. Local exclusion laws forced the Chinese to resettle to the area of 8th and Webster Streets in the 1870s. After the 1906 Earthquake and Fire destroyed most of San Francisco’s Chinatown, over 4,000 Chinese survivors found refuge in Oakland.

Reference: Wikipedia

This amazing atmospheric view from our private collection transports me back to another era - it almost looks like a scene out of Deadwood, yet it is real. Can you hear the wagons wheel percussion as they traverse the cobblestone street of the booming young City by the Bay?
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"Chinaman" Carrying Supplies, San Francisco, c.1860

Gold Rush lured many Chinese to California who later migrated to urban areas in the 1860’s and ‘70’s. They became a dominant work force in industries of canning, cigars, woolen mills, shoes, and sewing, and in restaurants and laundries. They were such hard workers they were perceived as a labor threat which led to many conflicts and regretul incidents prejudice, violence and injustice.

For the Chinese women it was worse - often brought here in slavery or under a variety of false pretenses, foot-binding and prostitution were common, suffering by Chinese woman was the norm, as immigration problems, drugs, corruption intertwined with the times and the 'powers that be' made life difficult to say the best.

Digital remastered from vintage 'snap shot', on permanent exhibit at the U.S. District Courts, San Francisco 450 Golden Gate Ave

Lower Image available through our World Wide Archive web galleries

The Sierras Collection

2010-11-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Historical and contemporary images of the Sierras.
Also see California Images

East Bay Railroad History slideshow

2010-10-04T15:22:00.001-07:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Alameda County History Slideshow

2010-09-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Web Galleries for framed and unframed digital giclee prints

Article in Tribune/Montclairian about local history exhibits

2010-08-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

Contra Costa times / Montclairian
http://www.contracostatimes.com/montclarion/ci_15828606?nclick_check=1

Go to Court, Learn about local history?

That' right. Thanks to an innovative program started by Hon. Judge Breyer of the U.S. District Courts' 9th District in San Francisco, their jury room rooms, public corridors and selected chambers areas are adorned with restored historical photographs with educational narratives telling colorful stories of Bay Area History. The project began in 2002, and culminated this summer with the an installation covering three floors of the Oakland Federal building featuring Oakland, Alameda and Contra Costa County history. Lawyers, their clients, jurors, and visitors will learn about the transcontinental railroad, the Key system, University of Berkeley, development of agriculture, coal, logging and other industries, dynamite in Hercules, the "Detroit of the West", Liberty Ships, the Cyclotron, Lake Merritt, waterfront development, water systems, bridges, tunnels, warships, the Mission system and even Charlie Chaplin in Niles.

The program is located in the Bay Area's primary Federal Buildings, Clay Street Oakland, 2nd Street San Jose and 450 Golden Gate, San Francisco - showcasing a total of nearly 1,000 framed photographs. Each photograph was digitally restored from vintage materials from dozens of sources. Each view includes a caption and story illuminating aspects of our local heritage, providing an education experience with the Court experience. THe program was designed and produced by San Francisco photographer and artist, Bennett Hall and Helen Rischbieth of Business image Group, who worked in concert with the US District Court Judges in their respective areas, Hon. Judge Breyer, San Francisco, Hon. Judge Lloyd and Hon. Judge Seeborg, San Jose, and Hon. Judge Jensen in Oakland. Production was all done locally, including custom framing made in their San Francisco shop Eco Framing, the latest project employing U.S. grown and manufactured solid Cherry wood frame moulding made using FSC certified methods. An emphasis of producing this project in most 'carbon neutral manner possible was combined with using materials that were all made in America - two fundamentals advocated by Hall and Rischbieth's company.
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Blog: US District Courts - Oakland Federal Building
http://businessimagegroup.blogspot.com/2010/08/bay-area-wide-local-history-program-for.html

Website - overview of Bay Area US Courts Program
US District Courts, San Francisco Bay Area • Community History exhibits, 2002-2010
http://www.businessimagegroup.com/USCourts.html

Stanford University could have been in Fremont?

2010-08-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Lake at Warm Springs, Mission Peak in background c.1880

Warm Springs Resort and Spa, featuring hot springs of mineral water was established in the early 1850s by French pioneer, Clemente Columbet. At its peak it accommodated up to 200 people and offered recreational activities including boating on its artificial lake, gambling and hunting. A “Hospital” provided private bathing in its warm medicinal waters. The Resort flourished until the 1868 earthquake, after which it was acquired by Leland Stanford for his winery, which operated there until 1923.

not far from the future plant of the Tesla Motor Company

From Exhibit at Oakland Federal Building for US District Courts
this image hand-tinted © Bennett Hall
Source file: Oakland Public Libary
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reference from Wiki
Warm Springs is located on Rancho Agua Caliente and is so named for the springs that are located there.^[21] In early times, there was a settlement called Harrisburgh (also, Harrisburg and Peacock's) a short distance east from the small settlement of Warm Springs.^[21] A post office opened in Harrisburgh in 1865 and changed its name to Warm Springs in 1885.^[21] The name Harrisburgh commemorated Abram Harris, who settled there in 1858.^[21] The name Peacock's commemorated George W. Peacock, its first postmaster.^[21] The post office name changed to Warmsprings in 1895 and reverted to Warm Springs in 1950.^[21]

"God Speed" on the new Bore! Caldecott Expands connection to Coco County

2010-08-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Caldecott Tunnel is currently a three bore east-west highway tunnel that connects Oakland to communities in Contra Costa County, through the Berkeley Hills. The idea of a tunnel through the hills was first conceived in 1860, and an early tunnel was built in 1903. Later, the first two modern bores were completed in 1937, named after Thomas Caldecott, mayor of Berkeley 1930-1932) and president of Joint Highway District 13. The third bore was completed in 1964.

The Fourth Bore is currently underway with an anticipated completion of 2013, funded in large part by US Government "stimulus" funds

____________________learn more:

Wikipedia

The Fourth Bore Project

You Tube video on history of Project

Youtube on the old Train tunnel c1911, closed in 1959

Image above available through California Images Web Galleries

background from Wiki...

History

In the 19th century, traffic over the Berkeley Hills in this area went up Harwood Canyon, now known as Claremont Canyon (behind the Claremont Hotel). The road leading up the canyon from the west was initially called Harwood's Road, later changed to Telegraph Road, and finally, Claremont. The road on the other side of the hills was, and remains Fish Ranch Road. An inn once existed at the summit.
The idea of a tunnel through the hills began as early as 1860. In that year, the idea was proposed and rejected by the citizens of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. It was revived in 1871 with a proposal which described a route running from the end of Broadway, similar to the actual routing of today's Caldecott Tunnel although it isn't clear from the description exactly which canyon was being referred to. The proposed tunnel would be only some 500 feet long and would have its outlet in the San Pablo Creek watershed with a road leading into Lafayette. A franchise was granted to a group of developers who passed the franchise onto another group. The proposal languished until the turn of the century.^[3]
In 1903, a tunnel was finally built above the present location of the Caldecott Tunnel, in the next canyon south of Claremont Canyon. This tunnel was approached by a new road dubbed "Tunnel Road" which started at the top of Ashby Avenue in Berkeley.^[4]
In 1929, construction of the first two bores of the Caldecott Tunnel began. They were completed in 1937, and were originally known as the Broadway Low Level Tunnel as the approach was from the top of Broadway in Oakland, and was below the portal of the old tunnel. However, access from Ashby Avenue was retained as it was designated the connecting thoroughfare from the Eastshore Highway (now Freeway) and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, and dubbed State Highway 24. The approach to the east portal on the other side of the Berkeley Hills was via Mount Diablo Blvd., also at that time part of State Highway 24.
The third bore was opened in 1964. In the late 1960s, the Grove-Shafter Freeway was completed and replaced Broadway as the main access route to the Caldecott Tunnel from Oakland as well as replacing Ashby as the principal connector for traffic coming from San Francisco. Ashby Avenue and Tunnel Road were redesignated State Highway 13 and aligned with the new Warren Freeway through the Montclair District of Oakland. The Grove-Shafter Freeway was then designated State Highway 24.

“San Francisco” Ferry at Oakland Mole & Key Route Pier, c.1920

2010-07-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Mole was a dock halfway out Oakland’s Long Wharf used by Southern Pacific ferries to
connect with the Key System. The Key System, formed in 1903, was a network of commuter rail and bus lines connecting cities and neighborhoods in the East Bay to San Francisco by way of the Mole.After completion of the Bay Bridge, use of the Mole declined but continued until about 1957. It was demolished in the mid-1960s to allow for an expansion of the Port of Oakland cargo facilities.

From Exhibit at Oakland Federal Building on Transportation - US District Courts

to obtain this print from World Wide Archive Galleries: http://bit.ly/a0ySvD
this image from the Collection of California Images

full story and links from wikipedia:
The pier began as a smaller landing called Gibbon's Wharf extending from Gibbons Point, later re-named Oakland Point, westward into San Francisco Bay. In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad acquired this pier and immediately began extending and improving it and renamed it the Oakland Long Wharf. This wharf was used by the CPRR for transporting freight cars over to San Francisco starting in 1871. Part of the wharf was filled in between 1879 and 1882, thus creating a mole. Local commuter trains also used the pier, while the first transcontinental railroad trains used another wharf in nearby Alameda for about two months in 1869 (September 6 - November 7). On November 8, 1869, the Oakland Long Wharf became the western terminus of the first transcontinental railroad. Thereafter, ferries carrying both commuters and long distance travelers operated between the Long Wharf and San Francisco. After the Central Pacific's operations were consolidated under the Southern Pacific in the 1880s, the Long Wharf was improved and the terminal buildings at the end of the pier rebuilt.Beginning on January 15, 1939, electric commuter trains no longer ran to the Long Wharf (by then known as the SP Mole or, officially by the Southern Pacific, as Oakland Pier). Instead, they operated over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco. However, regular passenger trains continued to run to Oakland Pier until 1958, when the last Southern Pacific ferryboat service from the Ferry Building in San Francisco to Oakland Pier was discontinued. After that, service to San Francisco was by bus over the Bay Bridge from Oakland's 16th Street Station.
Throughout the pier's existence, progressively greater portions of the bayshore tidelands were filled in. It was demolished in the 1960s to make way for an expansion of the burgeoning Port of Oakland's container ship facilities. Today, the only thing that remains of the SP Mole is the pier's switchman's tower which was restored as part of Middle Harbor Shoreline Park.

The mole in its latter years can be seen at the beginning of the 1957 movie Pal Joey as Frank Sinatra's character makes his way to the ferry.

United States District Courts-local history Exhibits - Oakland Federal Building

2010-07-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce the installation of a permanent local history exhibit in the public areas of the US District Court's Oakland facilities. This is culmination of a program that began in 2002, and now includes encompasses the US Courts' Bay Area facilities— San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. The work is installed in public space, jury rooms and selected chambers areas - a total of about 1,000 pieces.

The Oakland phase was overseen by nationally known Judge Jensen, whose illustrious career has centered on the East Bay Community. He worked with us on the storyboard, outlining the milestones of Alameda and Contra Costa's History, curatorial selection of individual pictures, and senior review of the storytelling. Judge Breyer continued to play a lead role in program direction.

Using the "storyboard" as a foundation for the work, the educational value of the program was enhanced.

Images were scanned restored from vintage materials scanned at the highest practical level, from the best possible print available. Final prints are made using HP's new 12-color pigmented ink archival fine art printer, rated by Wilhelm Imaging Research for 200 years.

Content was drawn from a variety of local sources including the Oakland History Room, Contra Costa Historical Society, Port of Oakland, the Bancroft Library, Cargill Salt, Clorox, California Images and Marge Callow Collection.

Green Best Practices: Our approach to production centered on "going green" using local 100% Bay Area artisan framing by our San Francisco-based studio Eco-framing. Frame moulding is solid American Cherry wood, grown sustainably and milled and finished according to FSC certified methods, conservation were used throughout.

The program is located on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floors of he US courts West Tower of the Ronald Dellums Federal Building, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00pm - security access is required with picture ID
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San Francisco local History Program, 450 Golden Gate Ave completed 2006

Article for Mercury News, 2008: San Jose Program with interview with Judge Breyer

Overview of US district Courts Local History Program

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More stories on California History are in this blog -
visit San Francisco Images Blog for stories on San Francisco History

Web Galleries: Selected images available from the programs

History shows Oakland Political problems are over 150 years old

2010-06-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

A History of Corruption in Oakland Politics

1854: Oakland incorporated and Horace W. Carpentier elected the first mayor; his 364 votes out-numbered the voting population of the town. ( hmmmm interesting point!)

Thirteen days later, Mayor Carpentier obtains exclusive use of the Waterfront for a period of thirty years.

1855: In reaction to Carpentier's land grab, he is expelled from office. A lengthy court battle ensues over ownership of the Waterfront.

1868: The possibility that Oakland might be selected as the western terminus for the transcontinental railroad brings the dispute with Carpentier to a head. Carpentier agrees to deed his rights to the Oakland Waterfront Company. Later it is learned that Carpentier is President of the Oakland Waterfront Company!

Is there something in the water?

What Has Happened to Oakland?

2010-06-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

"Hi, I used to be your mayor. I was the last mayor of Oakland. Oakland could use a mayor, it hasn't had one since I left office," Brown said.

Chip Johnson of SF Gate on Dellums and the State of the Union in Oakland

Real Estate office and Observatory overlooking Montclair c.1920

2010-06-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sign on the building at the bluff proclaims, "Oakland, the Greatest City on the West Coast" - an Overlook in apparently a Real Estate sales office with observatory with sweeping panoramic views of Oakland, San Francisco and the Golden Gate

HISTORY

Prior to the Spanish Mission era, native Huchiun and Jalquin tribes of Ohlone Indians populated the general area. The Ohlone by tradition gathered nuts, seeds, roots and fruit, hunted small animals and fished local waterways and the bay. Later, the Mission system centered around Mission San Jose introduced Christianity, a lifestyle in farming, cattle raising, and unfortunately disease and other problems that led to the native inhabitants being largely eliminated.

In the early 1800's - the hills here had great Redwood forests - among the tallest on Earth - up to 31' in diameter. The Redwoods were in fact so high they were depicted on the navigation maps of the time to aide ships entering the San Francisco Bay find their bearings. By around 1860 the first growth was gone, many brought down what is not Park Ave to the wharves in the vicinity of 14th, and use to build San Francisco - many via the first steam saw mill owned by a pioneer named Thorn - hence the name "Thornhill"

In 1820, Montclair and Dimond Canyon were part of the land from El Cerrito to San Leandro, which was granted to Luis Maria Peralta. In 1842, Peralta divided his land among his sons and the San Antonio section including Montclair and Dimond Canyon went to his son Antonio Maria Peralta.

Prior to modern development, Montclair was geographically demarcated by two creek valleys, one on the northwest, and one on the southeast end of the Hayward Fault rift. The upper reaches of Temescal Creek ran through the northwest valley, and remains visible above ground today in the upper sections along Thornhill and Pinehaven Roads. The creek has two branches that join at the intersection of Thornhill and Pinehaven. From there, the creek flows down then south side Thornhill Dr. until Thornhill Elementary School were it then undergrounds. Then it flows underground down the remainder of Thornhilll and then down Mountain Blvd. to Broadway Terrace, before draining into Lake Temescal.

In the northern creek valley, Thornhill Road dates back to some of the earliest development history of Montclair. This was an old 19th century logging road built by and named after Hiram Thorn. Thorn's road brought redwood logs to Oakland out of the vast forest known as the Moraga Redwoods, where he ran a lumber mill at Pinehurst Road near Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, west of the community of Canyon. Thornhill later became a toll road to Contra Costa County.

On the southeast end of Montclair, the north fork of Sausal Creek (also called Shepherd Creek) runs down Shepherd Canyon. At the freeway, near the parking lot of the Montclair Golf Course, the north fork of Sausal Creek has its confluence with the south fork (also called Palo Seco Creek) running from the eastern hills (encompassing Joaquin Miller Park). The creek then runs down through Dimond Canyon and across the flatlands (mostly in culverts) to San Francisco Bay.

From Shepherd Canyon extending toward the southeast, the Bayside hills were covered in a vast redwood forest known as the San Antonio Redwoods. Around 1847, Europeans started logging the San Antonio redwood forest. In 1850, the area's first steam sawmill was built on the edge of Montclair, at Palo Seco Creek in the head of Dimond Canyon ^[1]. A logging road to the mill was built high up along the side of Dimond Canyon, and later became Park Boulevard. This logging road connected to a wharf at the foot of 13th Avenue and was used to transport the logs down Dimond Canyon to the Bay. By 1860, the San Antonio forest was logged completely.

After the logging period, Caspar Hopkins, an early settler of the Fruitvale District, formed the Sausal Creek Water Company and built a dam and reservoir at the upper end of Dimond Canyon near the current Highway 13 at Montclair. The reservoir later became part of the East Bay Water Company and remained until the early 1920s. Early maps show a road passing the reservoir along the current Waterhouse Road, and extending up toward the dam in the direction of Bridgeview Drive along what is currently the Upper Dimond Canyon Trail. In 1867, Hugh Dimond purchased the canyon. ^[2]
In the first half of the 20th century, the main line of the Sacramento Northern Railroad ran through Montclair. The tracks ran southward from Lake Temescal and crossed into Montclair over a trestle at Moraga Ave. and Thornhill Dr. Thre is now a "pocket park" located at this location in remembrance of this crossing. Then the route ran along a high berm between Montclair Recreation Center and Montclair Elementary School, before crossing Mountain Blvd. and Snake Road via trestle, and continuing up Shepherd Canyon to a tunnel, the west portal of which was located immediately below Saroni Drive. Today, much of the old right-of-way above the village and in Shepherd Canyon is a pedestrian and bicycle path. Although the old railroad trestles throughout Montclair were all removed decades ago, in recent years a pedestrian bridge was built in the same location of one of them, across Snake Road, to connect the two major sections of the pedestrian pathway. The trail was paved as well at the same time.

One of the first schools located in Montclair was at the current site of the now-closed Moraga Avenue firehouse, and was named in honor of John Coffee Hays, one of the founders of the city of Oakland. The Hays school was closed in 1913. Though already sparsely populated since the logging days, major residential subdivision of the village and hills began in the 1920s.

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Viewing up towards Skyline and the new road leading to the Observation Tower - perhaps the "first Real Estate Sign" in Montclair on the left
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The 1927 ^[3] Montclair firehouse was designed in the Hansel and Gretel style ^[4] by famed regional architect Julia Morgan. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Oakland Fire Department built a new station house on Shepherd Canyon Road, and upon completion, vacated the 1927 structure.
In March 1930, the Montclair branch of the Oakland Public Library was opened on Mountain Blvd. near Thornhill Dr. to serve the growing village. The small building was built in the English cottage-style, and remains in use today. After 1965, additions were completed for the children's room and patio at the rear of the original building. ^[5]

Today, a new debate is emerging due to the fiscal crisis in California and the City of Oakland that is stirring interest in the possibility of Montclair incorporating as its own City. (KPIX CHannel 5 coverage - 6-21-2010 )

LINKS OF NOTE RELATED TO MONTCLAIR:

Flickr Collection on Alameda-Coco Country History

reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montclair,_Oakland,_California

Order prints of Oakland Historical Photographs for your home of office

Today in Montclair Blog

Monclair Independence - on Facebook

Overlooking UC Berkeley, c1880 towards SF & Golden Gate

2010-04-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

University of California, Berkeley Campus, c. 1900

In 1853 a group of missionaries sent west by the American Home Missionary Society of New York founded Contra Costa Academy in Oakland, and in 1855 it was transferred to the state and incorporated as the College of California. Congressional action in 1853 and the Morrill Act of 1862 brought gifts of public lands for colleges of agriculture and the mechanical arts, and California responded by establishing an Agricultural Mining and Mechanical Arts College in 1866. Governor Haight signed a new act in 1868 creating the University of California out of the combined resources of the College of California and the Agricultural College.

UC Berkeley was formed in 1869 by merging these two fledgling institutions - the private College of California, in Oakland, and a state land-grant institution, the Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. Initially Oakland-based, UC moved to Berkeley in 1873, and became a catalyst of economic growth and social innovation.

The roots of the University of California go back to the mid 19th century, when hundreds of thousands of fortune seekers came west in the gold rush, California became a state, and farsighted drafters of the 1849 State Constitution dreamed of creating a university that "would contribute even more than California's gold to the glory and happiness of advancing generations."

The "seat of learning" they envisioned was born nearly two decades later, through a merger of two fledgling institutions — the private College of California, in Oakland, and a new state land-grant institution, the Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College.

The former, led by former clergyman Henry Durant and modeled after Yale and Harvard, featured core courses in Latin, Greek, history, English, mathematics, and natural history, with the addition of modern languages. Though it had little funding, it had land — both in Oakland and four miles north at a town site eventually named for George Berkeley, an 18th-century Irish philosopher and bishop.

Meanwhile the state college, created by the state legislature under federal land-grant legislation, had funding but as-yet no campus. Leaders of the two institutions decided to join the two schools to their mutual advantage, blending their curricula to form a "complete university." On March 23, 1868, the state governor signed into law the Organic Act, "to Create and Organize the University of California."

Defining the university's mission

A "tiny band of scholars" — 10 faculty members and nearly 40 students — made up the new University of California when it opened in Oakland in 1869. Construction of South Hall and North Hall on the northern site was promptly begun. In September 1873, the University and close to 200 students, led by UC President Henry Durant, moved to the new campus in Berkeley on land adjoining Strawberry Creek.

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From collection of the Oakland Public Library

this image is available through our web galleries:
http://worldwidearchive.imagekind.com/California-History

Chevy Plant, Oakland, 1917-reflecting on today's closing of NUMMI in Fremont

2010-04-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

\With today's closing of the last auto manufacturing plant in the Bay Area, I felt compelled to share this view of the Chevrolet plant located near what is now Eastmont Town center in Oakland. NUMMI is now in the rear view, the shift locally from an area once made more ships than anywhere else on the planet during World War Two (Kaiser / Liberty Ship operations), is remarkable. Perhaps Tesla will give a rebirth of this tradition someday soon. Tesla Motors
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CAPTION: One day's output of 1917 Chevrolet trucks at their major West Coast plant, now the location of Eastmont Town Center
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In 1916, General Motors opened a major Chevrolet automobile factory in Oakland at 73rd Avenue and Foothill, which is the current location of Eastmont Town Center, making cars and then trucks there until its closure in 1963. The 1920s were economic boom years in the United States as a whole, and in California especially. Economic growth was fueled by the general post-war recovery, as well as oil discoveries in Los Angeles and most notably the widespread introduction of the automobile. The 1920s were economic boom years in the United States as a whole, and in California especially. Economic growth was fueled by the general post-war recovery, as well as oil discoveries in Los Angeles and most notably the widespread introduction of the automobile. In 1916, General Motors opened a major Chevrolet automobile factory in Oakland at 73rd Avenue and Foothill, which is the current location of Eastmont Town Center, making cars and then trucks there until its closure in 1963.

this image digitally mastered from the collection of the Oakland History Room

California Images Web galleries

Hunting party in Drawbridge 1922

2010-03-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

In the 1920’s, Drawbridge was a paradise for both hunters and fishermen, attracted to the area’s abundance of wetland fish and fowl. Weekend cabins were built on stilts alongside the railway tracks, with pier-like walkways that extended to the railway. By 1926 there were 90 cabins, two hotels and several gun-clubs. On weekends during duck hunting season, as many as 500 people visited. -from collection of Marge Callow

Article on Drawbridge on SF Gate

Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, March 25, 2010

This image is Part of the local history exhibit program at Washinghton West, Washingtopn Hospital, 2500 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA

Washington Hospital • Community exhibits of the Fremont Tri-city area 1998-2009
http://www.businessimagegroup.com/Healthcare_WHHS.html

Grand Lake Theater c1920

2009-08-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

original from Oakland Public Library history room

Historical photos make courthouses more welcoming

2009-07-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

Santa Cruz c1900

San Jose Mercury Article on Courtroom Historical exhibits
Open Monday through Friday -- you can now learn about Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterrey and San Benito County history touring the public space at the US District Court. Each image has a detailed narrative that explain the image and the story of the local history it is depicting

This is part of a Bay Area wide program of local history exhibits produced by Business Image Groups which began in 2002. The exhibit is culminated in May at the Oakland Federal building

BIG website on Projects: US District Courts

Northern San Jose - California Images

Web Galleries

Oakland History Selection

2009-04-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

these are our favorite images of Oakland history, digitally mastered, and many on display at the Alta Bank Headquarters in downtown Oakland, and to be installed in early 2010 at the US District Courts in the Oakland Federal building floors 2,3,4

"Silicon Valley" Historical Image Collections

2009-04-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorites from our digitally mastered views of the Valley...These are on display in the public space of the U.S. District Courts in San Jose - 4th and 5th Floors.

California Images Website

San Jose History - Slideshow and overview

2009-04-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Collection of digital mastered historical images of San Jose, on permanent exhibit at the US District Courts in San Jose, public space 4th and 5th floors. The intent was to express the integration of Courts with the community, providing education heritage content, foregoing conventional decorative art for the interior walls.

Content includes the history of San Jose proper, Mt Hamilton, development of agriculture and industry, education, and surrounding areas such as Saratoga, Santa Cruz, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto

California Images Website

See our Web galleries—
San Jose History Web Gallery
http://worldwidearchive.imagekind.com/Silicon-Valley-history

John Muir in Yosemite Valley

2009-02-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

“Everybody needs beauty... places to play and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike,” wrote Muir (c. 1902).

Hand-colored by Bennett Hall, California
Buy prints from our web galleries worldwidearchive.imagekind.com/California-History >

Services for businesses - art programs, exhibits, marketingwww.businessimagegroup.com, Visual branding for your buildings

El Capitan and its ReflectionYosemite National Park

2009-02-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

This view was created with an 8 x 10" view camera fitted with a 75mm Super Angulon lens - the circular image shows the entire image resolved on the film by this lens on the 8 x 10 film. This lens is more traditionally used on a 4 x 5" view camera. This 'fisheye' style approach allowed me to capture the entire peak and its reflection in the Merced River. The final print was made in my former darkroom about 1984 to 20 x 24 fiber paper and then hand-tinted. Bennett Hall

Thinking of Tahoe Summer

2009-02-24T15:23:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be nice right now - feet off the edge of the pier, the soft sound of the water tickling the shore, far away and peaceful again

Golden Hills of Fremont

2009-02-23T18:18:00.000-08:00