USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 50
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On March 6 the Southern Pacific launched its new electric and all- steel auto ferry boat, the Stockton. It has a capacity of 100 automo- biles, and was built at the Bethlehem shipyards in San Francisco. It is a sister ship of the Fresno and Tahoe. Prominent citizens of Stockton came to Oakland to participate in the ceremonies of the launching.
§
An item appeared in the local press on March 17 which called to mind the remarkable growth of Oakland and the East Bay region in the past forty years. It recorded the retirement of George F. Collyer, known as "The Deacon," from the Oakland post office force, after a service of forty years, three months and seventeen days. He joined the Fruitvale force in 1885, when all of Oakland east of Lake Merritt was served by only three mail carriers, and when there were only twelve in all the East Bay region. He was the only one of the twelve remaining on the force when he was placed on the retirement list. There were over three hundred and fifty mail carriers serving the residents last year.
The ferry-boat Peralta, launched October 14, 1926, was given its trial voyage on March 19, and attained a speed of fifteen knots. Mrs. Herminia Peralta Dargie, who sponsored the vessel when launched, and one hundred and fifty students from McClymonds, Roosevelt and Technical High schools, were among the guests on board during this first trip.
The last gap in the Carquinez Straits bridge was closed March 19.
575
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
COST OF SCHOOLING
State officials in March gave out some interesting statistics relative to the cost per year per pupil in elementary and high schools in the principal cities of the state. They were as follows:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
HIGH SCHOOLS
City Cost per year per pupil $131.81
City
Cost per year per pupil $219.10
Long Beach
Pasadena
Pasadena
123.13
San Francisco
204.83
San Francisco
117.18
Long Beach
194.46
Los Angeles
114.19
Los Angeles
192.97
Berkeley
105.43
Stockton
179.00
Sacramento
100.35
Sacramento 174.50
San Diego
97.56
Oakland
149.57
Stockton
87.64
Berkeley
145.44
Oakland
84.18
San Diego
144.08
Fresno
78.40
Fresno
125.75
Average $103.98
Average $170.97
William Crowhurst, reputed to have been the first teacher in the Alameda schools, died on March 15, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a native of London, England, but came to California when a boy of nineteen. He opened the Alameda School in January, 1867. It is related that the day before he opened his school, he had walked to Centerville, then the county seat, to take his examination; completed the test, and walked home, arriving at Alameda at 4 o'clock in the morning. Four hours later he was on duty at the schoolhouse.
Two hundred savings bank executives from eleven western states gathered at the Hotel Oakland on March 17 and 18 for the annual western conference of the savings division of the American Bankers' Association. Among the speakers were A. W. Moore, vice president of the Oakland Bank; and W. D. Ellis, president of the Federal Land Bank, Berkeley. C. D. Bowman, assistant cashier of the Central Sav- ings Bank of Oakland, acted as chairman of the conference.
The Northwestern Pacific ferry boat Santa Rosa was launched at the General Engineering and Drydock Company's plant in Alameda on March 17. It was built for the San Francisco-Sausalito run, and has a capacity for ninety-five automobiles and five hundred passengers.
574
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
come under the ruling of the board. Those ordered to take the tests announced that they would retain an attorney and fight the order.
The second annual California City Planning Conference was held at the Hotel Oakland on March 4 and 5; several hundred delegates at- tending, including city and county officials, city planners, members of women's clubs, property owners, realty men, architects, builders, busi- ness men, and members of commercial bodies from two hundred Cali- fornia cities and towns. It was held under the joint auspices of the California Real Estate Association and the League of California Muni- cipalities. Harry C. Knight was chairman of the executive committee in charge of arrangements; and Bruce McCollum was chairman of the Oakland reception committee.
On March 6 the Southern Pacific launched its new electric and all- steel auto ferry boat, the Stockton. It has a capacity of 100 automo- biles, and was built at the Bethlehem shipyards in San Francisco. It is a sister ship of the Fresno and Tahoe. Prominent citizens of Stockton came to Oakland to participate in the ceremonies of the launching.
§
An item appeared in the local press on March 17 which called to mind the remarkable growth of Oakland and the East Bay region in the past forty years. It recorded the retirement of George F. Collyer, known as "The Deacon," from the Oakland post office force, after a service of forty years, three months and seventeen days. He joined the Fruitvale force in 1885, when all of Oakland east of Lake Merritt was served by only three mail carriers, and when there were only twelve in all the East Bay region. He was the only one of the twelve remaining on the force when he was placed on the retirement list. There were over three hundred and fifty mail carriers serving the residents last year.
The ferry-boat Peralta, launched October 14, 1926, was given its trial voyage on March 19, and attained a speed of fifteen knots. Mrs. Herminia Peralta Dargie, who sponsored the vessel when launched, and one hundred and fifty students from McClymonds, Roosevelt and Technical High schools, were among the guests on board during this first trip.
The last gap in the Carquinez Straits bridge was closed March 19.
575
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
COST OF SCHOOLING
State officials in March gave out some interesting statistics relative to the cost per year per pupil in elementary and high schools in the principal cities of the state. They were as follows:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
HIGH SCHOOLS
City
Cost per year per pupil $131.81
City
Cost per year per pupil $219.10
Long Beach
123.13
San Francisco
204.83
San Francisco
117.18
Long Beach
194.46
Los Angeles
114.19
Los Angeles 192.97
Berkeley
105.43
Stockton
179.00
Sacramento
100.35
Sacramento 174.50
San Diego
97.56
Oakland
149.57
Stockton
87.64
Berkeley
145.44
Oakland
84.18
San Diego
144.08
Fresno
78.40
Fresno
125.75
Average $103.98 Average $170.97
William Crowhurst, reputed to have been the first teacher in the Alameda schools, died on March 15, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a native of London, England, but came to California when a boy of nineteen. He opened the Alameda School in January, 1867. It is related that the day before he opened his school, he had walked to Centerville, then the county seat, to take his examination; completed the test, and walked home, arriving at Alameda at 4 o'clock in the morning. Four hours later he was on duty at the schoolhouse.
Two hundred savings bank executives from eleven western states gathered at the Hotel Oakland on March 17 and 18 for the annual western conference of the savings division of the American Bankers' Association. Among the speakers were A. W. Moore, vice president of the Oakland Bank; and W. D. Ellis, president of the Federal Land Bank, Berkeley. C. D. Bowman, assistant cashier of the Central Sav- ings Bank of Oakland, acted as chairman of the conference.
The Northwestern Pacific ferry boat Santa Rosa was launched at the General Engineering and Drydock Company's plant in Alameda on March 17. It was built for the San Francisco-Sausalito run, and has a capacity for ninety-five automobiles and five hundred passengers.
Pasadena
Pasadena
576
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
CAPWELL COMPANY MERGES WITH THE EMPORIUM
The largest department store merger in the history of the Pacific Coast was made known on March 16 with the completion of negotia- tions merging the H. C. Capwell Company of Oakland and The Emporium of San Francisco. H. C. Capwell announced that as a result of this transaction a gigantic department store building would be erected on the block bounded by Broadway, Telegraph Avenue, Nine- teenth and Twentieth streets, to be built in 1928, and to be the largest store of its kind on the Pacific Coast. He also gave out plans for the construction of a large food market on Telegraph Avenue, between Nineteenth and Williams streets, on the old site of the Eastbay Market. This project has already been completed and the market has been in operation for several months. The ceremony of breaking ground for the big department store was observed February 15, 1928, Mayor Davie turning the first shovelful of dirt. The negotiations for the big merger involved some thirty millions of dollars and were carried on over a pe- riod of eleven months. Following the publication of this deal a flurry in real estate occurred in the neighborhood of Broadway and Twentieth streets which involved lots and buildings valued at several million dol- lars. Included in the many deals made in a short period of time was that of the old Providence Hospital, at Broadway and Twenty-sixth street, for $600,000. It was bought in 1902 for a sum reputed to have been $30,000. This property extends four hundred feet on Broadway and one hundred and ninety-three feet on Twenty-sixth. One million dollars were paid for the site for the new market; and three and one- half millions for the sixteen parcels of land for the new department store site.
On April 3 Joseph Leonard was placed on the retired list of the Berkeley police force, after twenty-two years of continuous service. He was the first member to be placed on the retired list of the force. Leonard was one of the half dozen veterans of the force who saw serv- ice under Chief Vollmer when the latter was marshal of Berkeley.
Construction work on Berkeley's new administration building for the Board of Education, at the northeast corner of Durant Avenue and Milvia Street, was commenced April 3. The building cost $60,000, and plans of the structure were prepared by Architect James W. Plachek.
The first installation of officers in the new Elks' home in Oakland was held on April 7, when the 1927 officers were installed by District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Horace Ausphlett. The officers were:
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
O. D. Hamlin, Jr., exalted ruler; L. F. Galbraith, esteemed leading knight; Oliver Kehrlein, esteemed lecturing knight; William P. St. Sure, esteemed loyal knight; E. H. Grandjean, secretary; W. W. Lan- don, treasurer ; Fred J. Johnson, tyler; F. Willis Sharpe, trustee; Fred B. Mellmann, delegate to the grand lodge; William J. Garibaldi, alter- nate; Edward J. Hogarty, esquire; A. I. Smith, inner guard; S. C. Hodgkins, chaplain; and Eugene Blanchard, organist. The retiring officers for 1926 were: Fred B. Mellmann, exalted ruler ; O. D. Ham- lin, Jr., leading knight; L. F. Galbraith, loyal knight; Oliver Kehrlein, lecturing knight; William P. St. Sure, esquire; S. C. Hodgkins, chap- lain; Wayne B. Corbin, inner guard; Fred J. Johnson, tyler ; and Eugene Grandjean, secretary.
Another of the large real estate transactions which marked the year of 1927 and which was given publicity on April 12, was that whereby the University Investment Company, a syndicate of East Bay investors, became the owners of the southwest corner of Washington and Four- teenth streets, the deal including the land and buildings involving $1,000,000. This property has a frontage of 100 feet on each of the two streets mentioned, and is opposite the city hall. It had been given to the University of California by the late Jane K. Sather, donor of Sather Gate and the Sather Campanile on the Berkeley campus, and had been leased from the Board of Regents in 1915 by a group of merchants who organized a holding company known as the University Investment Company. The lease contained a provision that this company could pur- chase the property provided the option was exercised before April 20, 1927. The officers and members of the company at the date of the purchase were Carl Plaut, president; Charles Snook, secretary ; George Lavenson, vice president ; H. C. Capwell, A. S. Lavenson, I. H. Kahn, Mrs. Frederick Kahn and Henry Wieking. The site included the lo- cations of the Goldman Cloak & Suit House, the Wiley B. Allen Com- pany, the Moss Glove House, and other tenants. The proceeds from this sale, according to Comptroller Robert Sproul of the university, were to be re-invested to provide funds for the upkeep of the Sather chair of history and a chair of classical literature at the University.
The sixteenth annual convention of the second district, California Congress of Parents and Teachers, opened its session in the Union High School in Hayward, April 6. Among those who took a promi- nent part were Mrs. E. S. Babue, Alameda; Mrs. L. K. Beever, Oak- land; Mrs. Evan J. Foulds, Berkeley ; Mrs. F. P. Butterfield, Berkeley; Mrs. J. E. Squire, Oakland; and Mrs. H. J. Gute, Berkeley.
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578
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The California 'varsity rowing crew, rated as the strongest in re- cent years, broke a five-year losing streak by sweeping to an impressive victory three lengths ahead of the University of Washington "huskies" in the annual race on the Oakland estuary course on April 9. The Cali- fornia junior 'varsity also won over the northerners by less than half a boat length, in the time of seventeen minutes and forty-three seconds. Washington had to be contented with winning the two-mile freshman race, in the time of eleven minutes, fifteen and four-fifth seconds. The last previous victory for the 'varsity over Washington was in 1921, when Capt. Dan McMillan and his crew came in first.
George C. Schmidt, former marshal, postmaster and city council- man of Berkeley, died April 12 following an operation in Los Angeles. He was a native of Placer County, but had lived all but one of his sixty- five years in Berkeley. The old Schmidt ranch in the north end of the city was a local land-mark. The pioneer home at Sacramento and Rose streets still stands upon the land which was originally acquired for ag- ricultural purposes by the family. He became marshal of Berkeley in 1898; postmaster in 1908; and retired from public life in 1923, after having served for four years as councilman.
§
Two new stores commenced business in Oakland, April 20. These were the National Dollar Store, Eleventh and Washington; and "Fields," at 1538 Broadway, the latter owned by M. R. Fruhman and R. H. Fineman.
On April 21 the Oakland School Board called for bids for three new school buildings, bringing the total number of school structures in the city over the sixty-five mark. Bids were solicited for the new Part Time High School at East Tenth Street and Third Avenue, costing $100,000; for the Toler Heights School at Scott and Ninety-eighth Avenue; and for the Golden Gate School Shop, at Sixty-third and San Pablo. The last named were to cost $35,000 and $30,000 respectively.
Edwin Markham, famous poet who taught school and wrote poetry while a resident of Oakland, addressed the students of Mills College on April 22. The day following was his seventy-fifth birthday, he having been born in Oregon City, Oregon, April 23, 1852.
Berkeley suffered the loss of its fire chief on April 26, when G. Sidney Rose, nationally known, died at the age of forty-nine years fol- lowing a heart attack. Rose joined the old Beacon Company of volun-
579
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
teers at the age of sixteen years, and served in various capacities in the Berkeley fire department. He became a captain in 1906, battalion chief in 1908, deputy chief in 1913, under James Kenny; and when Kenny lost his life in the West Berkeley fire of March 23, 1916, Rose was made chief .*
"TRIBUNE" EXTENDS ITS HOLDINGS
Another important chapter in the successful history of the Oakland Tribune transpired on April 21 with the announcement that this great newspaper had acquired the Hippodrome site for future enlargement and growth. This deal placed the entire eastern half of the block bounded by Broadway, Franklin, Twelfth and Thirteenth under its ownership; and marked an important event in the rapid strides the pub- lication has made since its founding in 1874. The first location of the paper was on Ninth Street, near Washington. In 1875 it moved to 911 Broadway. In 1877 the plant was removed to Twelfth and Franklin. Three years later a new home was obtained on the south side of Eighth Street, between Franklin and Broadway. After sixteen years on that site, the paper was moved to Eighth and Franklin. On March 30, 1918, the plant was moved to Thirteenth and Franklin, in its original site on that corner. The structure then had a frontage of sixty feet on Thir- teenth and 100 feet on Franklin. An additional forty feet was acquired adjoining on Thirteenth Street, and the Tribune tower was erected on that ground. The latest acquisition included a frontage of 100 feet on Franklin and 150 feet on Twelfth.
City Superintendent of Schools Fred M. Hunter announced an im- portant change in the administration of the schools on January 18, in making public the resignation of Lewis B. Avery, who had been assist- ant for fourteen years. The resignation was made at the request of Mr. Avery, to become effective July 1, at which time he assumed the duties of director of adult education in Oakland. Mr. Hunter also announced the selection of William F. Ewing, then principal of the Pasadena schools, to become the successor of Mr. Avery.
AIRPORT ASSURED; PORT COMMISSION NAMED
Oakland's airport on Bay Farm Island became an assured fact on January 5, 1927, when the city commissioners authorized Commissioner Leroy Goodrich to sign the lease contract for the 682-acre tract on San
580
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Leandro Bay, and appropriated $65,000 for the first payment. The land was acquired from F. L. and Mildred Taylor and G. C. and Louise Stephens. The initial payment was taken from the harbor maintenance and improvement fund. The responsibility for managing the airport and for carrying out the city's aviation policy became vested in the new Port Commission, established at the preceeding municipal election. The City Council confirmed their appointments to this commission on January 20, naming Roscoe D. Jones, Dr. George C. Pardee, R. A. Leet, H. C. Capwell and Ben H. Pendleton; and they were sworn into office by City Clerk Frank C. Merritt. Roscoe D. Jones was named chairman; R. A. Leet, vice-chairman; and G. B. Hegardt, port man- ager. The length of terms of the members was determined by lot. Par- dee drew the short term, expiring in 1929; Capwell and Leet drew the terms expiring in 1931; and Pendleton and Jones the long terms, ex- piring in 1933. This commission gave the city another quasi-independ- ent organization of city government, which makes out its annual budget and reports to the council as to its achievements, but which otherwise is not responsible to the City Council. The park, library, playground, and civil service boards are of similar nature. The members of the Port Commission, who serve without pay, are appointed by the Com- missioner of Public Works, and confirmed by the council. Upon organ- ization of the commission named above, they became responsible for carrying out Oakland's harbor building program under the $10,000,000 bond issue; and in the short period of time they have functioned much has been accomplished through their efforts.
According to state reports made during the middle of the month, Alameda County had a total registration of motor vehicles of 119,645 for the year 1926. The San Francisco figures were 128,240.
Seniors to the number of 646 graduated from the Oakland high schools during the third week in January.
The fifth segment of the estuary tube was set by the contractors on January 13. It was then estimated that 83 per cent of the work was ad- vanced, with but 63 per cent of the contract time elapsed. This segment, like the others making up the great engineering feat, was 203 feet in length, forty-seven and one half feet in diameter, and weighed over five thousand tons.
Chief August Vollmer, of Berkeley, announced the first police radio broadcasting station on the Pacific Coast. The department had been carrying on tests over a number of weeks, and Chief Vollmer also gave
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The Owl Dragte
TELEGRAPH AVENUE, BERKELEY
FIRST STREET CARS FROM OAKLAND TO HAYWARD, 1892
582
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
out plans for a motorized department equipped with receiving sets. The station call number was designated as "6PD."
City Clerk Frank C. Merritt on March 7 filed with the county assessor a map of Oakland and all its annexed districts, thus terminat- ing all the formalities for turning the assessing and tax collecting powers of the city over to the county government. City Auditor and Assessor Harry G. Williams thereupon became merely the city auditor. City Treasurer and Tax Collector Frank W. Conard dropped the title of city tax collector. Over fifty persons employed on the staffs of these two officials were taken off the pay roll of the city under the new ar- rangements. Some of those, however, were employed for part time only.
On March 8 the voters of Alameda defeated the proposition of the transfer of Government Island to Oakland in exchange for certain har- bor development. Had the proposition carried, Oakland was pledged to dredge away the entire island to permit the construction of four piers, the dredgings to be used in reclaiming Alameda's proposed naval base and industrial sites.
The Berkeley Baptist Divinity School, in its twenty-second year, became one of the wealthiest religious schools of the west upon the announcement April 28 of an endowment of $1,000,000 from L. H. Sly. The announcement of this news was published by Dr. Clairborne M. Hill, president of the school, and Rev. Elijah A. Hanley, secretary. Sly was formerly a contractor of San Francisco and Oakland, but the gift came from his home in Madera.
Another large building project for Oakland was announced on May 9 with the publication of plans for the $1,000,000 Hillcrest Hospital by Charles D. Bates, president of the Hillcrest Hospital Company. The plans for this modern seven-story institution were prepared by Will G. Corlett, of Reed & Corlett. The officers of the company at this time were Charles D. Bates, president; William Cavalier, vice presi- dent; Stuart Hawley, treasurer; and Leon A. Clark, secretary. The Board of Directors also included Joseph R. Knowland, H. A. Mosher, Frank H. Proctor, Dr. J. Louis Lohse, Dr. W. B. Palamountain, Dr. P. N. Jacobson and Dr. A. Galbraith. Forty prominent physicians of the Bay region are to comprise the medical staff of the hospital.
THE CARQUINEZ BRIDGE DEDICATED
At least two noteworthy events marked May 21, 1927. Captain, now Colonel, Charles A. Lindbergh swooped down on Paris from New
583
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
York to set the peoples of all nations honoring the most popular hero of all ages. The other event was the dedication of the world's highest bridge and largest motor vehicle span, over Carquinez Straits. A large crowd gathered at the bridge from all points in the Bay region and central California to witness the ceremony which marked the comple- tion of a continuous overland highway between British Columbia and Mexico. Governor C. C. Young was present, and had as his guests Governors Fred Balzar of Nevada, Roland H. Hartley of Washington, and T. L. Patterson of Oregon. President Coolidge, aboard the presi- dential yacht Mayflower, on the Potomac River, at the other end of the continent, touched a golden key which telegraphically released Old Glory to the breeze over the highest point of the steel towers. Mrs. A. J. Han- ford, widow of the man who conceived the idea of this bridge years ago, broke the bottle of champagne on the northern main tower. This bridge, costing eight millions of dollars, has a total length of 4,482 feet, and is 135 feet above the water level. The width of the roadway is thirty feet. Work on the structure was commenced in September, 1923, and it was built by the American Toll Bridge Company. It connects Crockett, Contra Costa County, with Vallejo, Solono County. While not in Ala- meda County this bridge brings the Bay region into quicker and closer contact with many portions of the state, and its importance in the growth and development of our county is such that mention of it could not well be overlooked.
The county supervisors on May 19, made their selection of the per- son to have charge of the reappraisal of property values throughout the county as provided under the new county charter. Their selection was James G. Stafford, of Piedmont, an appraisal expert, Supervisor Redmond C. Staats, however, casting a negative vote. Stafford's esti- mated cost of this readjustment was $208,770. He was given a salary of $1,000 a month for a period of nine months under the terms agreed upon; and March 5, 1928, was set for the time limit in which to complete the work. His personal staff, it was stipulated, should come from the civil service list.
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