USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 46
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
of the United States Government; it had just received an empire from Mexico. On his camp-site, within a short time Blair erected a one- room cabin. This later formed the central portion of the Blair home- stead, often denominated in after years "the house of mystery," and occupied until March 4, 1924, by the pioneer's daughter, Mrs. Edward Roberts, who was known to the community only by her maiden name of "Miss Blair." Blair engaged in the dairy business, supplying milk and butter to the surrounding community. He also opened a quarry from which was taken much of the rock for paving the streets of Oak- land in early days. Chinese coolies worked in this quarry; for years their foreman was a Spaniard by the name of Antone Schuman.
A COMMUNITY OF RANCHES
In the '60s this was a community of ranches, with farmhouses nestled among the hills. Adjoining the Blair ranch on the northeast was the Reed place, now Crocker Highlands. What is now Trestle Glen was the Beard ranch, while the Biglow and Gladding ranches we know today as Pleasant Valley and Vernon Heights. The ranch of Gerhardt Medeau stretched over what is now Merriwood and Montclair ; to the north and adjoining the Medeau place was the ranch owned by Col. Jack Hayes, a picturesque figure who had been a member of the Texas rangers. Where the Fernwood dairy, conducted by Hammond and Hall on the Hayes ranch stood, about 1877, the Oakland, Antioch, or Sacra- mento Short Line trestle is now built at Thornhill and Moraga Road. That section is now known as Fernwood. John Hayes Hammond, later prominent in South African affairs, was of the Hammond family men- tioned above.
The history of Piedmont runs so closely alongside that of Oakland that it is difficult to speak of one without reference to the other. The dividing line between Oakland and the county was at Twenty-sixth Street, better known in early days as Charter Street. All the land to the hills, north of Charter Street, and east of Broadway to Dimond Can- yon, was known as Piedmont, a word meaning foot-hill, borrowed from the Italian, and most descriptive of this hilly region.
Stock and grain were the principal products of these hilly ranches, which were barren of shade trees save for scrub-oak and buck-eye. In the '70s, when certain individuals in California conceived the idea of importing the picturesque eucalyptus from Australia, William H. Blair, brother of Walter Blair, introduced some of these trees into the East
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Bay. The introduction of the eucalyptus to California is one of the most remarkable arboricultural activities in the history of the state. Of up- wards of two hundred varieties of this tree found in Australia, many have been planted with success in California. Among the pioneer planters was Elwood Cooper, California's first commissioner of horti- culture, who set out many thousands on his ranch near Santa Barbara. So well has this beautiful tree, especially the "globulus," or blue gum species, thriven in California, that the stranger unversed in tree lore might well conclude that the eucalyptus were indigenous. Many a bar- ren landscape has been made a pleasing prospect by these huge trees, with their straight trunks and glossy green leaves.
Blair planted not only eucalyptus, which the ranchers of Piedmont discovered made an excellent windbreak, but also the Monterey cypress, seeds of the latter having been sent him by a friend in the south. The trees served to fill the barren spots in the hills; they were also useful for fire-wood, especially the eucalyptus, which when cut soon sends out shoots and is ready to supply a fresh lot of fuel within a few years. Many of these trees still stand today ; and in the heart of the civic center of Piedmont the visitor can see a lone eucalyptus, planted by Blair in 1878.
A PLEASURE RESORT
In the '70s and thereafter, the East Bay was regarded by San Fran- ciscans as a summer resort of easy access. The milder climate of the east coast of the Bay appealed to many residents of that fog and wind- swept city. About 1876 an organization which called itself the Pied- mont Springs Company, purchased from the Blair family approxi- mately sixty acres of land. By good fortune a sulphur spring was dis- covered on the newly acquired tract, and the owners decided to erect a hotel. They knew that the establishment would be well patronized by San Franciscans. Accordingly before long, crowds from "the City" spent their leisure hours in the three-story frame building with its four adjacent cottages known as the Piedmont Springs Hotel. The beautiful gate to the Piedmont civic center now stands on ground oc- cupied by this early structure. The hotel was supplied with fresh fruit and green vegetables from an orchard and garden which were planted on ground now occupied by the Piedmont High School. Elaborate stables were maintained by the hotel on the site of the Interdenomina- tional Church of today. For years the hotel was the resort of horse
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
fanciers, and in their prime the stables housed some of the finest steeds in the world. From the days of the Spanish to the close of the race- tracks, fine horses were bred in California. The hotel in the old days also was the terminus of the telegraph line between the East Bay and Walnut Creek.
As the years went on, other settlers, with smaller holdings, came to Piedmont. In 1863 the cemetery was moved from Nineteenth and Har- rison streets to its present site. About 1875 Montgomery Howe and Walter Blair built the first street railway in Piedmont from Seventh and Washington streets to Mountain View Cemetery. These cars were drawn by horses.
THE FIRST SCHOOL
With the growth of the community came the demand for school facilities. No school had yet been established in the Piedmont dis- trict, when in 1878 W. W. Blair drew up a petition for which he ob- tained the names of George W. Hume, Jonathan Hunt, Weston and Welsh, Montgomery and Samuel Howe, Col. Jack Hayes, and a cer- tain Walker whose initials have not been recorded. The petition, ask- ing for the services of a teacher, was presented to the Alameda County Board of Education. Piedmont's first teacher was Miss Zylphia Ray- mond, a sister of Mrs. George Hume. The first classes were conducted in a one-room annex to the Hume residence, with Lizzie and Frank Hume, the Hume children; Al and Fred Walker, and Jean and Will Blair as scholars. The district was growing, and in the course of three years there was need of a larger school. The County Board of Edu- cation accordingly bought from Montgomery Howe a frontage of one hundred feet on the county road, now Piedmont Avenue, opposite Pleasant Valley. A building forty feet by forty square was erected, and at the time was considered a good sized building. All the grades were housed in the building, from the eighth to the first, the eighth in those days being the beginner's class. Miss Amy Horton constituted the entire faculty, serving as both principal and teacher of all grades, with from three to five pupils in each class. In addition to those already mentioned in attendance at the first school, there were under Miss Horton's direction the following children in 1881 : Betty Hayes, Hiram Morrell, Charles Weston, Will and Nellie Little, Henry Geisham; Sam, Dollie, and Minnie Howe; Louita Booth; Tod, Edith, and Guy Lilien- crantz; Charles Comstock, Charles Hubbard; Frank, Marie, and James
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Gamble; Hortense Rasett; John Maschio; Kate and Timothy Mullen; Norman Grace, Edith Livermore, Murray Orrick, and Fred Whitney, whose father was proprietor of the Piedmont Springs Hotel. Most of the children rode to school on horseback, tethering their animals in a shed at the rear of the schoolhouse.
THE FIRST RAILWAY
In 1880 the Blairs deemed that it would be profitable to construct a railroad into the Piedmont district. In that year they built a pri- vate road through the Blair Ranch to the Piedmont Springs Hotel; the road was owned exclusively by the Blair family. In 1888, respond- ing to the demand for more adequate transportation facilities, the citi- zens of the Piedmont district called a meeting to discuss the proposal for constructing a cable railway. Cable cars had been operated with success in the hilly city across the Bay. The project was approved and the Piedmont cable line was built and completed in 1890. The cars were operated along a cable 3,600 feet long. On the opening day, more than twenty thousand persons journeyed from points throughout the Bay re- gion to see the new line in operation and to view the beautiful panorama of land and water which still lures homeseekers to the Piedmont region. In 1893 the cable was replaced by an electric line and the so-called "Bob- tailed Car Line" was a thing of the past.
The electric line proved to be the harbinger of great growth for Piedmont. From the beginning it had been a home community and with the subdivision of some of the great estates of the old days Pied- mont grew into a city of beautiful homes. Among the first to settle with their families in this period were the following: A. W. Bowman, Isaac L. Requa, L. A. Booth, Hugh Craig, James Gamble, a certain Randall, Captain Wing, Doctor Abbott, J. B. Richardson, and Dr. Woster, a clergyman.
Many pleasure-seekers were attracted to Piedmont in the days of the cable railway by Piedmont Springs and Blair Park, where balloon ascensions took place every Sunday. The Parachute drop of the avia- tors was a never-failing drawing card. Another interesting feature was the band concert; while many a romance had its culmination after a hike to Inspiration Point, or during a stroll through the shaded lanes of Blair Park. A favorite amusement was to take the gravity car from the point at which it left the cable for a thrilling ride down Highland Avenue and through Blair Ranch to the cable at Oakland Avenue.
OVERHEAD CABLE CAR, ONE OF THE FIRST STREET CARS IN PIEDMONT This picture was taken in 1887 between Moraga Road and Bonita Avenue. Walter Blair is wearing the silk hat and Mark Requa is sitting near him
THE PIEDMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT AS IT APPEARED IN 1912 WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE ENGINE The crew shows, left to right, Former Chief Davis, Fireman Joaquin, Unknown, Christiansen and Hansen. In the background the old City Hall, which has since been remodeled, is also shown
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Piedmont boys had a large swimming hole in the old quarry at the corner of Dracena and Blair avenues.
THE "SILK FARM"
One of the unusual features of the Piedmont district during the '90s was the "silk farm," situated at the head of Oakland Avenue. This later became the home of Harmon Bell. The mulberry trees upon which the silkworms fed were transplanted from Oakland. The silk farm was later the site of the Tompkins School. W. W. Blair, of the Street De- partment of the City of Oakland, when a small boy earned his first $25 in transporting the first load of silkworms for the United States Gov- ernment from Oakland to the silk farm. The farm was abandoned when it was found that silk culture would not be profitable. This was one of the first attempts to produce silk in the United States.
In 1907 Piedmont had grown sufficiently large to be incorporated as a town. Although completely surrounded by the great City of Oak- land, which has annexed all neighboring districts, the little community of Piedmont has declined to be absorbed by its metropolitan neighbor. In 1911, four years after incorporation, the City of Piedmont boasted a substantial new civic headquarters which was a combined fire-house and city hall. It also had erected a fine new schoolhouse. The single teacher of the '80s had grown to seven instructors, while instead of a handful of children, the Piedmont School District claimed 200 boys and girls. The new school building was erected at a cost of more than forty-five thousand dollars, the land alone being valued at $27,500. In 1910 the handsome concrete Oakland Avenue viaduct was constructed.
A CITY OF HOMES
The City of Piedmont in 1915 was a unique community in that it was entirely residential. By that time some of the most palatial homes in the East Bay district had been constructed on its eucalyptus dotted hills. The magnificent marine view appealed to many, as well as the mild climate. In 1915 Piedmont was said to have thirty-two millionaires among its residents and it had the highest per capita wealth of any community in the United States. One captain of industry had made his money in petroleum, another in Nevada mines; another owned a huge slice of the yellow pine forests of the Sierra Nevada mountains; the city represented a variety of professions and interests.
In 1928 Piedmont had a population of 9,000, and its low hills were still attracting homeseekers.
CHAPTER XVII THE NEW COUNTY CHARTER
COUNTY CHARTER PROPONENTS BECOME ACTIVE-CHARTER ADOPTED AT GENERAL ELECTION-NAME AND RIGHTS OF THE COUNTY-BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-GENERAL POWERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -COUNTY OFFICERS OTHER THAN SUPERVISORS-TOWNSHIP OFFI- CERS-DUTIES OF OFFICERS-ROADS AND HIGHWAYS-CIVIL SERVICE -LABOR-BUDGET-ANNUAL AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS-APPRAISAL OF PROPERTY-MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS-RECALL-MISCELLANEOUS- CHARTER BECOMES OPERATIVE.
COUNTY CHARTER PROPONENTS BECOME ACTIVE
Numerous civic leaders and organizations become active in 1926 to place Alameda County under a charter government as provided by Section 712 of Article 11 of the state constitution. Four counties of the state were already operating under the charter system. These counties were Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Tehama and Butte, the first mentioned having adopted a charter about thirteen years previ- ously. At the general primary election held on August 31, 1926, fifteen freeholders representing every section of the county were chosen to draft a charter. These freeholders were Leon A. Clark, Livermore; Edward K. Taylor, Alameda; Fred B. Mellmann, Oakland; Manley J. Clark, Pleasanton; Clarence M. Cooper, Oakland; F. V. Jones, Niles ; Crawford Letham, Pleasanton; J. Sherman McDowell, Alameda ; Orrin K. McMurray, Berkeley; Isaac B. Parsons, Haywood; F. M. Ray, Oakland; Aurelia H. Reinhardt, Oakland; William Spooner, Oakland; Frank D. Stringham, Berkeley; and Frank H. Thatcher, Berkeley. When these freeholders organized for their labors they chose Leon A. Clark as chairman ; Edward K. Taylor, vice chairman ; and Fred M. Mellmann, secretary. They completed their labors on Setpember 21, 1926, and on the following day filed their finished draft of the charter, every member signing the instrument and thus giving his or her indorsement of it.
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CHARTER ADOPTED AT GENERAL ELECTION
To avoid the cost of a special election, estimated at from thirty to fifty thousand dollars, the supervisors immediately decided to place the charter proposition on the general election ballots of November 2. This action brought forth one of the main issues of the charter cam- paign, for those leading the fight against its adoption contended that there was not sufficient time in which to thoroughly consider the instru- ment. Organized labor took an important part in opposition to its rati- fication. However, political leaders throughout the county and various civic organizations made a determined effort to win sufficient votes to carry the plan; and although the charter was somewhat lost sight of in the heat of a warm state and county election, it was adopted by a safe majority. The vote was 41,463 in its favor, to 34,520 opposed.
It was pointed out by those who favored the adoption of the charter that the county would exercise more home rule and be less subservient to the State Legislature-that it would be enabled to decide many ques- tions affecting the welfare of the county through its board of super- visors, rather than by depending upon members of the Legislature who might know but little about the needs of the county. The charter ex- tended the powers and responsibilities of the county supervisors, and also provided for an increase in their salary of $100 each per month. Among the added duties and powers of the board was that of deciding the number of employees and deputies to be used in the various county offices and departments, and the salaries to be paid. The charter also makes the coroner, county clerk, public administrator, recorder, sur- veyor and tax collector appointive officers, instead of elective, as previ- ously existed. This provision, however, did not apply to those offices for the election of November, 1926. Among the arguments advanced in favor of the charter were the provisions relative to the budget system, the civil service system, the recall of officers, and to the reappraisal of all real property.
The charter is not long, and it is of such importance in a historical way that it is herewith given in full:
COUNTY CHARTER Name and Rights of the County
Sec. 1: The County of Alameda as it now exists is a body corporate and politic, and as such has an shall have all the powers which are now or may be hereafter specified by the Constitution and laws of the State of California, and by this Charter and such other powers as are necessarily implied.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Sec. 2: The powers mentioned in the preceding section can be exercised onl. by a Board of Supervisors, or by agents and officers acting under their authority, or by authority of law or of this Charter.
Sec. 3: The corporate name shall be "County of Alameda," which must be thus designated in all actions and proceedings touching its corporate rights, proper- ties and duties. Its boundaries and county seat shall remain the same as they are now, until otherwise changed by law.
Board of Supervisors
Sec. 4: The County of Alameda shall have a Board of Supervisors consisting of five members. Each member must be an elector of the district which he repre- sents, must reside therein during his incumbency, must have been such an elector for at least one year immediately preceding his election, and shall be elected by such district. Supervisors shall be nominated and elected at the times and in the manner and for the terms now or hereafter provided by general law.
Sec. 5: Each supervisor shall receive a salary of $350 per month, payable monthly.
Sec. 6: The County of Alameda is hereby divided into five supervisor districts, the boundaries and designations of which shall be and remain as they now are until otherwise changed as provided in this Charter.
Sec. 7: The Board of Supervisors may by a two-thirds vote of its members, change the boundaries of any supervisor district. No such boundaries shall ever be so changed as to affect the incumbency in office of any supervisor. Any change in the boundaries of any supervisor district must be made within one year after a general election.
Sec. 8: Whenever a vacancy occurs in the Board of Supervisors the Governor shall fill the vacancy, and the appointee shall hold office until the election and quali- fication of his successor. In such case there shall be elected at the next general election a supervisor to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term, unless such term expires on the first Monday after the first day of January succeeding said election.
Sec. 9: No supervisor shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, or for one year thereafter, be eligible for appointment to any office or position carrying compensation and created by this Charter or by ordinance.
Sec. 10: The Board of Supervisors shall elect a Chairman, who shall pre- side at all meetings. In case of his absence or inability to act, the members present must select one of their number to act as Chairman pro tem. Any mem- ber of the Board may administer oaths when necessary in the performance of his official duties. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, and no act of the Board shall be valid or binding unless a majority of the members concur therein.
General Powers of the Board of Supervisors
Sec. 11: The Board of Supervisors shall have all the jurisdiction and powers which are now or which may be hereafter granted by the Constitution and laws of the State of California, or by this Charter.
Sec. 12: It shall be the duty of the Board of Supervisors :
(a) To appoint all county officers other than elective officers, and all officers, assistants, deputies, clerks, attaches and employees whose appointment is not otherwise provided for by this Charter. Except in the cases of appointees to the unclassified service, all appointments by the Board shall be made from the eligible civic service list.
(b) To provide, by ordinance, for the compensation of elective and ap- pointive officers, assistants, deputies, clerks, attaches and employees unless such compensation is otherwise fixed by this Charter. The compensation of elective officers shall be fixed at least six months prior to the election of such officer. The compensation of elective officers shall not be increased or diminished after the elec-
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tion of such officer or during his term of office; provided, however, that the Board of Supervisors may allow such additional deputies or assistants as may be necessary and proper to elective and appointive officers during their terms of office, and that the Board of Supervisors may also increase the compensation of such deputies or assistants during the term of office of such officers.
(c) To provide, by ordinance, for the number of Justices of the Peace and Constables in each township. The Board may also provide by ordinance for the number and fix the compensation of such other judges and officers of such inferior courts as are now, or may be hereafter, provided by the Constitution or by general law.
(d) To provide, by ordinance, for the number of assistants, deputies, clerks, attaches and other persons to be employed from time to time in the several offices and institutions of the County.
(e) To provide, by ordinance, for the creation of offices, boards and commissions other than those required by the Constitution and laws of the State, and for the appointment of persons to fill such offices, boards and commissions, and to prescribe their powers and duties and fix their compensation.
(f) To require any county or township officer or employee to give bond for the faithful performance of the duties of his office, in such penal sum as may be fixed by the Board. The premium for such bond shall be paid by the County.
(g) To provide, publish and enforce a complete code of rules not inconsistent with general laws or this Charter, prescribing in detail the duties and the systems of office and institutional management, accounts, and reports for each of the offices. institutions and departments of the County.
(h) To provide, by ordinance, for the consolidation and segregation of county offices.
(i) To let all contracts for any public work in accordance with the laws of the State of California; provided, that if the estimated cost of such work is $2,000 or less, the Board may secure from at least three responsible bidders estimates of the cost of such work. Such estimates must be secured from contractors actually en- gaged in the type of work required, and must be submitted in writing and filed with the Clerk of the Board, and if any such estimate of cost is less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), the Board may thereupon let a contract for such work to the lowest responsible bidder so submitting an estimate.
(j) To provide in every contract for the performance of labor, that eight hours shall constitute a day's work; that the contractor and all sub-contractors under him shall pay their employees on said work a salary or wage at least equal to the pre- vailing salary or wage for the same quality of service rendered to private persons, firms or corporations under similar employment : and that preference shall be given in the employment of labor to persons who shall have resided in Alameda County for at least six months prior to employment.
Sec. 13: The Board of Supervisors may create a County Institutions Commis- sion, a Welfare Council, and a Public Health Center, and provide for the appoint- ment of the members thereof to serve without compensation; fix their terms of office, prescribe their duties, and may consolidate any two or more of said Com- missions.
Sec. 14: The Board of Supervisors, if deemed expedient, may provide, after acturial investigation, by ordinance adopted by a four-fifths vote, for the purchase of annuities or insurance for County employees, or for an annuity or insurance fund, the basis of which in whole or in part, shall be contribution by the employees to be benefited; provided, however, such ordinance shall not take effect until it shall have been submitted to the electors of the County at a general election, and two- thirds of the electors voting on said ordinance at said election shall have voted in favor thereof.
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