USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 14
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The Berkeley Gymnasium gained considerable prestige during the '80s as a leading private school of the Pacific Coast. The Harmon Seminary was also opened in Berkeley, on August 3, 1882, under the charge of Rev. S. S. Harmon. In 1878, the Rev. Mother Mary Teresa Comerford, of the Order of Presentation, founded St. Joseph's Pre- sentation Convent, in Berkeley.
PIONEER CHURCHES AND LODGES OF BERKELEY
The West Berkeley Presbyterian Church was organized March 18, 1877, by Rev. James Currie. Their church building was dedicated October 26, 1879. The West Berkeley Methodist Episcopal Church took steps to organize in 1878, after services had been held for some time previously. In July, 1881, a building was purchased and moved upon a lot owned by the congregation. This building was occupied by them as a church in 1883, after having held services in the Presbyterian
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Church for some time. The church organization was perfected Sep- tember 14, 1882, by Rev. T. H. Sinex, presiding elder, and Rev. G. D. Pnieo, in charge.
Berkeley Lodge, No. 270, I. O. O. F., secured its charter February 20, 1878. Hearts of Oak Lodge, No. 61, A. O. U. W., of West Berke- ley, was organized October 25, 1878. Berkeley Lodge, No. 10, A. O. U. W., preceeded the West Berkeley lodge, being organized on October 23, 1877. A third A. O. U. W. lodge, University Lodge, No. 88, dates from March 20, 1879. West Berkeley Lodge, No. 206, I. O. G. T., had twenty charter members when organized February 5, 1880. Berkeley Council, No. 73, I. O. C. F., was organized at West Berkeley, April 25, 1882, with eighteen charter members. Le Conte Lodge, No. 945, A. L. of H., was instituted in May, 1882, with sixteen members. Within a year it had nearly two hundred members. Tahoe Lodge, No. 1876, K. of H., received its charter November 28, 1878.
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Berkeley, now the home of many manufacturing concerns, had a number of firms and plants in the '70s and '80s. The West Berkeley Planing Mill was started by J. H. Everding in 1874. In 1876 Schuster & Niehaus purchased the plant. The Hofburg Brewery, built by Neller & Co., in 1883, stood at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Uni- versity Avenue. The West Berkeley Brewery was also started during the same year. The Stockyards Tannery was started in 1876 by Cook & Corder, at the Oakland Stockyards. These stockyards were located on the bay nearly to West Berkeley, and were established during 1876 by H. M. Ames. Several firms located there to engage in the slaughter- ing business, including Grayson, Harrell & Co .; Morris & Crow; Stew- art & Co .; and Avery & Watkins. In November, 1882, J. H. Wheeler started a carbon-bisulphide works for the manufacture of squirrel poi- son. In June, 1881, F. H. Wheelan began the manufacture of flour in his mill at West Berkeley. The Pioneer Starch Works moved to West Berkeley in 1855, from San Francisco, where business had been started the previous year. J. Everding & Co., was the name of the firm. The Berkeley Lubricating Oil Works was originated by A. C. Deitz & Co. in October, 1880. The Standard Soap Works was one of the largest on the Pacific Coast. It was launched in 1875 by R. P. Thomas on a five-acre tract near the ferry landing in West Berkeley, and a main building 150 feet by 250 feet and three stories high was erected. This company
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF BERKELEY, 1898
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BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF BERKELEY, 1898-Continued
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owned a steam ferry. The Wentworth Boot and Shoe Company began operations in April, 1879, in the old Cornell Watch Factory in West Berkeley. One hundred and fifty men were employed there. The com- pany erected a four-story building 50 feet wide by 250 feet long. The pioneer newspaper of the city was the Advocate, established in March, 1877 by H. N. Marquand.
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Oakland township contained two pioneer parks of interest-the Shell-Mound Park and the Oakland Trotting Park. The former was situated between "Emery Station" and the Oakland Trotting Park, on the Berkeley Railroad, and was reached every thirty minutes via the Oakland Ferry from San Francisco. It derived its name from one of the ancient Indian shell-mounds which rose to the height of sixty feet, its summit being crowned with a dancing pavilion. This park was opened in 1876 by E. Wiard, and in 1880 Capt. Ludwig Siebe leased it for a period of ten years, and made extensive improvements. The park contained two large dancing pavilions, and near by was the Oakland Trotting Park, also conducted by Wiard. It was on this famous old race track of Emeryville that St. Julian lowered the world's trotting record over the mile course in the time of two minutes, twelve and one- quarter seconds.
Over in East Oakland George R. Bailey established the Dwight Way Park Nursery in 1868. It was located a block west of the old Tubbs' Hotel on Twelfth Street and Third Avenue.
Temescal was the name applied to the settlement which grew up in the vicinity of the old Vincente Peralta homestead. In the early '80s it was just outside the corporate limits of Oakland, but it boasted of many brick buildings, the St. Lawrence Parochial School, and several lodges. The Piedmont Land Company was then just beginning to de- velop Piedmont Park or Piedmont Springs. There had been erected a fine hotel, and tracts had been subdivided for sale. One of the notable mansions there at the time was that of I. L. Requa.
Berkeley was incorporated as a town in 1878.
ALAMEDA, CITY AND TOWNSHIP
Alameda township, the smallest in the county, consists of an island about four miles long and from three-fourths to one and one-half miles
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in width. It was originally known as the Encinal de San Antonio. Like the Encinal de Temescal, in 1850 it was a wilderness. Its name was de- rived from its beautiful forest of oak trees, forming a network of avenues upon which has grown up and flourished as beautiful a city as graces any portion of the United States. Alameda was embraced in that portion of the original Peralta estate which, upon its division among the four sons, fell to the lot of Antonio Maria Peralta, who maintained his residence at Fruitvale. We have mentioned Colonel Fitch's attempt to buy land now included in Oakland, and upon the failure of that idea, he entered into a bargain with Antonio Maria Peralta for the pur- chase of Alameda for the sum of $7,000. But before the deal was com- pleted in 1851, Peralta made a deal with W. W. Chipman and Gideon Aughenbaugh for the sale of the 2,300 acres for the sum of $14,000. The matter was compromised with Fitch by giving him a one-fourth interest in the tract for $3,000; and the latter's portion set aside to him was later known as the "Fitch Tract." Colonel Fitch soon sold his tract to his brother, Charles L. Fitch.
At the time Chipman, Aughenbaugh and Fitch became interested as owners there were quite a few "squatters" who had settled there, and possession was taken from them. Colonel Fitch then drew a survey of the tract into lots and blocks. He was an auctioneer in San Francisco, and after the first ground was plotted held the first auction in Alameda County, at which lots were disposed of. These were five-acre tracts in the original town, on each side of High Street, and belonged to Chip- man and Aughenbaugh. Before the sale, however, they had sold one- fourteenth interests to Messrs. Hays, Caperton, J. J. Foley, J. J. McMurty, H. S. Fitch, and William Sharon; a one-third interest to B. F. Hibbard and C. Minturn; and 150 acres to C. C. Bowman. The auction was held in September, 1852, and the average price obtained for the tracts was $80 each. And thus did Alameda get its start as a town. Among the purchasers were Harvey Taylor and his brother, the Rev. William Taylor; and Rev. A. H. Myers. Louis Ettebleau erected the first hotel there. A levee was commenced soon after the sale, across the slough between the peninsula and the point. Among other settlers of 1852 were John D. Brower, Franklin Pancoast, Henry and Russell M. Rogers, Mason and Wickware, Dr. B. F. Hibbard; and in 1853 the new arrivals included Thomas A. Smith, A. S. Barber, H. S. Barlow and N. W. Palmer.
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ALAMEDA INCORPORATED
The first attempt to incorporate was made in April, 1854, when the population of the township was not over one hundred. No election, however, was held under the legislative act; and the action was per- mitted to lapse for want of further attention. During that year Dr. Hibbard laid out his tract in the town, and built his wharf. The town of Woodstock was platted not long afterwards, but this settlement was gradually absorbed by the growth of the parent city. Zeno Kelly started the first store in 1854, at the corner of High Street and Central Avenue, and A. B. Webster started the first lumber yard. C. C. Mason had started a livery stable in 1853.
Among the early settlers of Alameda were such persons as Dr. W. P. Gibbons, Dr. Henry Haile, the attorney, A. A. Cohen (who was the moving spirit later in the establishment of the Alameda and Hay- ward railroad) ; Henry H. Haight, governor of California from 1867 to 1871; E. B. Mastick, Hon. Henry Robinson, Nathan Porter, Gen. M. G. Cobb, R. H. Magill.
The first school was opened in a small, (16 by 20-foot), building in 1855. Nine years later the district, which had comprised the entire township previous to that time, was divided and a new building erected on the site of the old building, the cost, $2,626 being raised by a special tax levy. The women of the town conducted a festival to raise the money required to furnish the building.
Alameda's first newspaper made its appearance on September 16, 1869, when F. K. Krauth began the publication of the Encinal. The town became the terminus of the Western Pacific Railroad, and con- tinued as such until the deal of 1869 was made whereby the Western Pacific, later the Southern Pacific, took possession of the Oakland Rail- road and Ferry Company's line, which thereafter was made the passen- ger line of the company. The old wharf at Alameda Point was used for some time as a place for landing freight, but was afterwards permitted to decay. In 1871 the bridge over the estuary and a highway across the marsh were constructed, establishing direct communication be- tween Oakland and Alameda.
An effort to incorporate was again made in 1870, but it was per- mitted to die in the legislature. On March 7, 1872, however, an act was approved providing for its incorporation, and on March 30th the county supervisors ordered an election to be held on May 6th. The first trustees chosen were H. H. Haight, E. B. Mastick, Fritz Boehmer, Jabish Cle-
CITY HALL AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS, ALAMEDA, 1898
3. Wilson School
4. City Hall
6. Longfellow School
5. Encinal School
1. Porter School
2. High School
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ment, and Henry Robinson. Haight was elected as the first president of the board. The school directors chosen were Dr. W. P. Gibbons, William Holtz, Cyrus Wilson, Nathan Porter, Fred Hess, and F. K. Krauth. Thomas A. Smith was chosen town treasurer; and E. Minor Smith, assessor. The first meeting of the town trustees was held on May 13, 1872, in Smith's Hall, at the corner of Park Street and Pacific Avenue. W. H. Porter was chosen town clerk.
The election of 1873 resulted in the choice of E. B. Mastick, Henry Robinson, Jabish Clement, Eppes Ellery and Alonzo Green as town trustees. Thomas A. Smith was again elected treasurer; E. Minor Smith, assessor; and W. H. Porter, clerk. In November O. W. Briggs succeeded Porter as clerk. Jabish Clement died in April, 1874, before his second term of office was completed. Another change took place in the board upon the resignation of Mastick, who was succeeded by Nathaniel Page.
The 1874 election resulted in the choice of Henry Robinson, E. B. Mastick, Alonzo Green, Eppes Ellery, and William H. Wenck as trus- tees. Thomas A. Smith was reelected treasurer; and E. Minor Smith was returned to the office of assessor. John Ellsworth was elected clerk, but was succeeded by Lyttleton Price in September. The railroad bridge was built during that year. The old town records contain an in- teresting resolution, under date of March 9, 1875, which stated "That habitual intemperance on the part of any employe of this board shall be deemed sufficient cause for dismissal. Drinking of intoxicating liquors, 'treating,' or being 'treated' at any bar or saloon by any policeman, regular or special, while on duty, shall be deemed sufficient cause for removal from office."
The officers elected at the 1875 election were Henry Robinson, E. B. Mastick, William H. Wenck, Eppes Ellery and Alonzo Green, as trustees; Thomas A. Smith, treasurer; E. Minor Smith, assessor; and Lyttleton Price, clerk. On September 7th of that year a franchise was granted to Littledale and Goldthwaite to erect a wharf at the foot of Peach Street. In October the name of Euclid Street was changed to its present name, Webster Street. Two of the important events of the year were the arrival of the first car of the Alameda, Oakland and Piedmont Railroad, and the dedication of the first Alameda High School on October 30th.
A fire department was organized in 1876, and in January, 1877, a site secured for an engine-house. During 1876 the post office was es- tablished at West End, the official name being Encinal, and J. W. Clark
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was named postmaster. This year saw the incorporation of the Ala- meda Loan and Building Association, by F. Boehmer, P. W. Barton, J. H. Hardman, D. L. Munson, H. A. W. Nahl, A. Newberg, Dennis Straub, A. Schroeder and A. Volberg. The Alameda Water Company was also organized by B. R. Norton, O. J. Preston, C. D. Wheat, F. Boehmer and Theodore Bradley. The town election of this year re- sulted in the choice of Henry Robinson, E. B. Mastick, W. H. Wenck, Eppes Ellery, and Alonzo Green, trustees; Thomas A. Smith, treas- urer; and E. Minor Smith, assessor.
During the early part of 1877 the laying of the first sewers was started. During February a franchise was also granted to Theodore Meetz, Louis Fassking, Thad S. Fitch and associates to lay railroad tracks commencing at Railroad Avenue, on Park Street, thence along Park Street to Central Avenue, then along Central Avenue and Harri- son Street to High Street, and then southeasterly to the town line. A town hall and engine-house was also ordered built during the year, at a cost not exceeding two thousand eight hundred dollars. The narrow- gauge railroad was also started during the year. The city enjoyed a building boom during the year, a great many residences being erected in the southern and middle portions of the Encinal. At the town elec- tion of May 1, 1877, Henry Robinson, J. M. Gray, Alonzo Green, Con- rad Liese, and Charles Volberg were elected trustees: N. W. Palmer, treasurer; and E. Minor Smith, assessor. John Ellsworth was chosen clerk and town attorney.
A free reading room was established February 20, 1878, in the Park Opera House, and with G. H. Stipp as librarian. It remained there until 1878, when it was turned over to the city. The town trus- tees elected at the May election of 1878 were B. F. Baker, Henry Mohns, W. B. Clement, J. B. Vosburg, and G. N. Williams. The Park Opera House was opened in February of that year, built by the Ala- meda Hall Association.
The Kohlmoos Hotel was opened March 30, 1879. The town elec- tion of May 5th resulted in the selection of D. T. Sullivan, J. M. Gray, William Whidden, W. B. Clement, and Joseph Lancaster, trustees; E. Minor Smith, assessor; N. W. Palmer, treasurer. Ellsworth was named clerk and attorney.
The 1880 city election was held on May 3rd, when H. B. Herbert, Joseph Lancaster, William Whidden, J. M. Gray and C. A. Edson were elected trustees; E. Minor Smith, assessor; and N. W. Palmer, treas- urer. A Board of Health was created in July.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
On May 2, 1881, the following officers were chosen : trustees, W. G. Marcy, Joseph Lancaster, J. M. Gray, William Whidden, and C. A. Edson ; assessor, E. Minor Smith; and treasurer, N. W. Palmer. John Ellsworth was again named clerk and town attorney.
The 1882 election resulted in the choice of William Simpson, J. M. Gray, C. A. Edson, William Whidden, and Louis Meyer, trustees; E. Minor Smith, assessor; and N. W. Palmer, treasurer. John Ells- worth was named by the board in his dual capacity as clerk and attor- ney.
PIONEER CHURCHES, LODGES AND BUSINESS FIRMS
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Alameda was organized by Rev. James McGowan, at his residence, services being held in a tent at first. In 1854 Rev. William Taylor bought a lot at the corner of Mound and Jackson streets, and a church was built during the summer. When this structure became too small for the congregation, a new church was built at the corner of Park Street and Central Avenue. The First Presbyterian Church was organized November 5, 1865. Their first church was dedicated March 8, 1868.
Garden City Lodge, No. 1745, K. of H., was instituted August 29, 1879, with sixteen members. West End Lodge, No. 175, A. O. U. W., was organized June 21, 1880. Alameda Council, No. 192, A. L. of H., received its charter March 24, 1881.
The pioneer manufacturing concerns were the Alameda Oil Works, the Pacific Coast Oil Company, and the Alameda Planing Mill. The pio- neer lumber yard was called the Encinal Lumber Yard, owned by Ren- ton, Holmes & Company. During the late '60s and in the '70s, several baths and parks were opened in Alameda. These included the Schutzen Park, the Newport Swimming Baths, the Terrace Baths, and the Long Branch Swimming Baths.
CHAPTER IV THE COUNTY'S EARLY HISTORY
THE ACT CREATING ALAMEDA COUNTY - THE FIRST ELECTION - PIO- NEERS OF THE TIME-COURT OF SESSIONS MEETS-ALVARADO LOSES COUNTY SEAT-THE FIRST COUNTY SUPERVISORS-FINED FOR BULL- FIGHTING-THE LARGEST TAXPAYERS OF 1859-THE CIVIL WAR PE- RIOD-THE CENTRAL PACIFIC ENTERS OAKLAND OAKLAND SE- CURES THE COUNTY SEAT-FIRST LOCAL OPTION FIGHT-EARLY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS-EARLY-DAY LEGISLATORS-OTHER COUNTY OFFICERS OF PIONEER DAYS-NOTARIES PUBLIC OF PIONEER DAYS- POSTMASTERS OF COUNTY, 1870 AND 1875.
ACT CREATING ALAMEDA COUNTY
California became a state on September 9, 1850, but it was not until March 25, 1853, that the bill creating Alameda County was approved. The county derived its name from Alameda Creek, its principal stream, and which had been the dividing line between Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. The creek, lined with trees through the otherwise sparcely wooded plains, gave it the resemblance of a shady walk or road, which in Spanish is called an alameda. When the Mexican pio- neers discovered this section of the state they knew it by name of the place of the alameda. It is not known exactly what the population of the county was at the time of its creation. In 1852 a second census was taken of Contra Costa County, and its entire population, including the portion secured by Alameda County in 1853, was but 2,750. However, William Halley, who wrote his history of the county in 1876, estimated the population of Alameda County in 1853 at about three thousand, which, he admits, was a considerable increase over the population of two years previous, when it was credited with 752. The act creating the county reads as follows :
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"SECTION 1. The following shall constitute the boundaries and seat of justice of Alameda County: Beginning at a point at the head of a slough, which is an arm of the Bay of San Francisco, making into the mainland in front of the Gegara ranches; thence to a lone sycamore tree that stands in a ravine between the dwellings of Fluhencia and Valentine Gegara; thence up said ravine to the top of the mountains; thence in a direct line easterly to the junction of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Counties; thence northwestwardly to the west line of San Joaquin County to the slough known as the Piscadero; thence westwardly in a straight line until it strikes the dividing ridge in the direction of the house of Joel Harlan, in Amador Valley; thence westwardly along the middle of said ridge, crossing the gulch one-half mile below Prince's mill; thence to and running upon the dividing ridge between the redwoods, known as San Antonio and Prince's woods; thence along the top of said ridge to the head of the gulch or creek that divides the ranches of Peraltas from those known as the San Pablo ranches; thence down the middle of said gulch to its mouth; thence westwardly to the eastern line of the county of San Francisco; thence along said last mentioned line to the place of beginning. Seat of justice, Alvarado.
"SEC. 2. There shall be held an election for county officers in the county of Alameda, on the second Monday of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty- three, at which election the qualified voters of said county shall choose one county judge, one district attorney, one county clerk, who shall ex officio be county re- corder, one sheriff, one county surveyor, one county assessor, one coroner, and one county treasurer.
"SEC. 3. James B. Larue, Michael Murray, J. S. Watkins, J. S. Marston, and Gustavus Harper are hereby appointed commissioners to designate the necessary election precincts in the county of Alameda for said election, and to appoint the judges and inspectors of election at the several precincts designated; to receive the returns, and to issue certificates of election to the parties receiving the highest num- ber of legal votes, and in all other respects said election shall be conducted ac- cording to the provisions of the 'Act to regulate elections,' passed March 23, 1850.
"SEC. 4. For the purpose of designating the several precincts in said county, said commissioners shall meet on the Monday two weeks previous to the day of election, and at said meeting shall designate the judges and inspectors of election for such precincts. The commissioners shall appoint one of their number as presi- dent and one as clerk, who shall keep a record of their proceedings in a book to be provided for that purpose, which record shall be deposited in the clerk's office after the commissioners shall have closed their labors. A majority of said commissioners shall at all times constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
"SEC. 5. The commissioners shall, immediately after designating the pre- cincts and appointing the proper officers to conduct said election, give notice of such election, and the names of the officers appointed to conduct the same, by written or printed notices to be posted at each of the precincts, and said notices shall be thus posted at least ten days before the election.
"SEC. 6. Sealed returns from the officers of election may be delivered to any member of said board.
"The commissioners shall meet in the town of New Haven, on the tenth day
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subsequent to the day of election, and the returns shall then be opened by said commissioners and canvassed, and the persons having the highest number of legal votes for the several offices to be filled shall be declared elected, and the president shall immediately make out and send or deliver to each person chosen a certificate of election, signed by him as president of the commission, and attested by the clerk.
"SEC. 7. Each person chosen shall qualify and enter upon the discharge of the duties of his office within ten days after the receipt of his certificate of election. The person elected as county judge shall qualify before the president of commis- sioners. Persons elected to the other offices may qualify before the county judge, or before said president.
"SEC. 8. The president of the commissioners shall transmit without delay an abstract of said election returns to the Secretary of State, and retain the original returns until the clerk shall qualify, when he shall file the same in the clerk's office.
"SEC. 9. The county judge shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor is chosen and qualified. The other officers shall hold their offices for two years, and until their successors are chosen and qualified pursuant to law.
"SEC. 10. The county judge and two associate justices, to be chosen from among the justices of the peace that may be elected from among themselves, shall form a court of sessions for the transaction of all county business authorized to be transacted by boards of supervisors in other counties of the State.
"SEC. 11. At the first term of the court of sessions of said county of Alameda, said court shall appoint two commissioners, to meet a corresponding number of commissioners to be appointed on the part of the county of Santa Clara, and the like number on the part of the county of Contra Costa, for the purpose of ascertain- ing and settling the amount of indebtedness said county of Alameda shall assume of said counties ; and when so ascertained and ratified by said commissioners, or a majority of them, the court of sessions of Alameda County shall issue a warrant in favor of the county treasurer of each of said counties for the sum awarded to each respectively, payable out of any funds that may come into the treasury of Alameda County. The said commissioners shall meet in the town of Alvarado, on the first Monday of July, A. D. 1853, which shall be known as the seat of justice of Alameda County.
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