USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 18
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When the present plan of administration and organization of Fairmont hospi- tal was initiated the plant consisted of about one hundred and twenty buildings, most of which were but little better than shacks, all of the buildings being unsani- tary and the equipment obsolete. Although favored with a beautiful natural lo- cation, overlooking San Francisco bay, no effort had been made to beautify the grounds and the appearance of the place was anything but attractive. It was de- cided to reconstruct as many of the old buildings as possible and at the same time arrange for the future permanent grouping of the buildings. The main hospital building was remodeled and furnished with modern hospital equipment, while the professional care of patients was raised to the standard required by the American College of Surgeons and the American Medical Association. The wards for tuber- cular patients were removed to a better location and remodeled and the standard of equipment, organization and care raised to meet the requirements of the tuber-
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culosis bureau of the state board of health, while the isolation hospital was rebuilt and equipped to meet the standard of a modern hospital for the treatment of com- municable diseases. Wards were built for the proper care of chronic patients and the buildings for the housing of ambulatory inmates were remodeled and put in sanitary condition. A new service building was erected, providing an adequate kitchen and bakery for the entire institution and dining rooms for the staff, em- ployees and inmates. An employees' home was provided, a power plant and laun- dry built, and a number of the old buildings were remodeled. A dairy, situated on an adjoining property, was purchased, and the old dairy barn, a well constructed building, was converted into a storehouse. The poultry plant and other farm ac- tivities were moved to the new dairy and water mains, sewers and steam lines were installed.
Because of the fact that the building program of Highland Hospital required several years to complete, it became necessary to develop at Fairmont a medical organization that would not only meet present needs, but would develop into a nucleus for Highland. To this end a visiting staff of forty medical men was ap- pointed and a resident medical staff, composed of a resident physician with twelve internes, was developed. A nurses' training school was also established, developing into a first-class school of fifty pupils, and this was transferred to Highland Hospi- tal when it was opened in September, 1926. These two hospitals coordinate in every possible way, practically all laboratory work being done at Highland, while all laundry and baking is done at Fairmont. Fairmont now has seven hundred and fifty patients and inmates, and there are one hundred and seventy employees. The operation of the hospital is divided into two divisions, that of hospital care for the chronic and convalescent sick, and that of home care for the aged and infirm. Pa- tients treated in Highland who cannot be cared for in their own homes during convalescence are transferred to Fairmont, where all hospital wards are supervised by graduate nurses. A very important and beneficient feature of the operation of Fairmont is the occupational therapy given patients through employment, when prescribed by the physician in charge, those who are physically able being assigned to work, taking into consideration their former occupations, personal preferences and physical and mental handicaps. A two-fold purpose is back of this plan, first, that every inmate needs employment to give him an interest in life, and, second, that no person should be cared for at public expense if he is able to earn his own living in whole or in part, and many of the inmates have thus been able to do this in the institution who would not otherwise be able to do so. Those who work are happier than if idle and are really accomplishing something worth while, and those whose work justifies it are paid small sums. The grounds are cared for by inmates, under the direction of a head gardener, as is also the large greenhouse. The mat- tress shop, shoe shop, tailor shop, blacksmith, tin and machine shops, carpenter, plumbing and paint shops, the laundry and the power and refrigerating plants are all operated by inmates, under proper supervision, the laundry work amounting to over two hundred thousand pieces a month. Another valuable department of the hospital work is the "community shoppe," in which, under a trained occupational therapy teacher, inmates are taught basketry, weaving, matting, brush making and various kinds of hand work. The articles made are sold, one-half of the sale price being given to the inmates for this labor, and the other half paying for the mate-
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rials and time of the instructor. The response of the patients has been fine and in many cases their attitude has been changed from one of complaint and dissatisfac- tion to one of cooperation and satisfaction. The patients sleep in dormitories, but during the day most of their time is spent outdoors, while for evening and bad weather they have a living room adjoining each ward and a pleasant library in which to gather. Recreation is provided by weekly pictures and other entertain- ments and religious services. Fairmont Hospital is thus designed to provide for the poor who are suffering from chronic illness a hospital where they can be given the necessary physical and medical care at proper cost ; for the indigent aged and handi- capped a home with pleasant surroundings, clean, comfortable living quarters, good food and care, as well as an interest in life and means of earning their maintenance.
The present site of Fairmont Hospital was, before the Civil war, an ordinary "poor farm," for which purpose it was, in 1861, leased for two years. About 1865 the tract of land was bought by the county for sixteen hundred dollars and at that time provision was also made for the establishment of a county hospital. Dr. William Clark was superintendent of the institution for a number of years and now resides in Oakland. Prior to the World war the superintendent was Dr. C. A. Wills, now of Berkeley, and whose daughter, Miss Helen Wills, is now the world's foremost tennis player. Since January 1, 1920, A. C. Jensen has filled the position of super- intendent, in which capacity he is rendering capable and efficient service, having entire charge of the administration of the institution, involving the disbursement of three hundred and sixty thousand dollars a year.
LOUIS GONSALVES
Louis Gonsalves has long been recognized as one of the leading members of the Alameda county bar, his outstanding success in the practice of law standing in evidence of his thorough knowledge of the basic principles of jurisprudence, his keen powers of analysis and his ability as a trial lawyer, as well as his soundness as an office counselor.
Mr. Gonsalves was born on a farm in Mendocino county, California, on the 18th of June, 1884, and is a son of Louis and Anna Gonsalves, both of whom were natives of Portugal. The father came to this country in 1863 and soon afterward engaged in the timber and lumber business, which he followed during his remain- ing active years. Both parents are now deceased, the mother dying in 1907 and the father in 1915.
Louis Gonsalves, Jr., secured his preliminary education in the public and high schools and then entered Leland Stanford Junior University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1905. He continued his studies in the law school of that university, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1906, and then located at Fort Bragg, California, where he practiced his profession for three years, serving also during that period as city attorney. In 1910 Mr. Gonsalves came to Oakland and has been engaged in the practice of law continuously since, during which time he has built up a large and representative clientele.
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Mr. Gonsalves was united in marriage to Miss Leora Kingsbury, a native of Lassen county, this state. He has a son, Donald, by a former marriage. Mr. Gon- salves is a stanch republican in his political views and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has received the degrees of the chapter. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose. Though a busy man professionally, Mr. Gonsalves has never neglected his duty to his community and has been active in his support of all measures for the advancement of the general welfare and is numbered among the progressive and public-spirited men of Oakland.
SORENSEN BROTHERS
The leading undertaking firm in central Alameda county is that of Sorensen Brothers, at Hayward, where for seventeen years they have demonstrated their ability as funeral directors, and have gained an excellent reputation for reliability and efficiency. Lawrence Thorwald Sorensen, senior member of the firm, was born at Dublin, California, on the 18th of October, 1884, and is a son of Hans and Katie (Larsen) Sorensen, both of whom were born in Denmark. The father came to the United States in 1883 and settled in Alameda county, California, buying the ranch at which he stopped the first night after arriving in this county, and is still living on that place, being one of the most highly esteemed citizens of his locality.
Lawrence T. Sorensen spent his boyhood at Hayward and Mt. Eden, acquiring his early education in the public schools, after which he attended the Polytechnic Business College in Oakland. He lived on the home ranch for several years and then went to Humboldt county, this state, where he was connected with the cream- ery business for six years. On his return to Hayward he became associated with John C. Geary and George E. Grindell, undertakers and livery owners, who were located where Mr. Sorensen is now operating, and remained with that concern about a year and a half. He then went back to Humboldt county, where for two years he was engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. In 1911 he re- turned to Hayward and, forming a partnership with his brother, Henry M. Soren- sen, bought John Geary's livery and undertaking business. In 1920 they dis- continued the livery business and in the following year remodeled and rearranged their building, so that they now have one of the finest and best equipped mortuary establishments in northern California. They have two hearses, one Hudson and one Studebaker, and two Lincoln sedans, as well as an up-to-date ambulance, which is called into frequent service in the community.
On January 1, 1914, Mr. Sorensen was united in marriage to Miss Inge Ass- mussen, who was born and reared in Hayward and is a daughter of Peter and Anna (Schmidt) Assmussen, natives of Denmark, whence they came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood, their marriage occurring here. The father settled in the Castro valley, where he followed ranching and fruit raising until 1913, when he sold out and thereafter resided at Haven Court, near Oak- land, until his death, in 1919. His widow, who is eighty-two years of age, now
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makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Sorensen, in Hayward. Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen have five children, Howard, James, Charles, Albert and Ruth. The re- publican party has always claimed Mr. Sorensen's support and fraternally he is a member of Eucalyptus Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M .; Oakland Consistory, A. A. S. R. ; Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Oakland ; Sycamore Lodge No. 129, I. O. O. F .; Eden Parlor, No. 115, N. S. G. W .; the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S. Mr. Sorensen has been loyal to his responsibilities of citizenship and true to his ideals in every relation of life, his record having been such as has gained for him the respect and esteem of all who know him, and he is regarded as one of Hayward's representative and dependable citizens.
Henry M. Sorensen, of the firm of Sorensen Brothers, was born in Mount Eden, Alameda county, September 2, 1885, and was educated in the Mount Eden and Hayward schools. He then assisted his father on the ranch and later worked for Kavanaugh Rosenberg Company in the feed business, while subsequently he was with George Jackson for two years in all. In 1911 he entered into his pres- ent partnership with his brother and the firm is doing an excellent business.
Henry M. Sorensen was married to Miss Emma Sandholdt, who died in 1923, leaving five children : Elmer, who is now assisting his father in the business ; Gladys, Henry Jr., Christine Irene and Ruby. For his second wife he chose Myrtle D. Pumya, a teacher in the grammar school of Hayward, who had a child by a for- mer marriage, Jean Gloria.
Henry M. Sorensen is a republican in his political views and fraternally is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Hayward lodge, in which he has passed through the chairs. He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World and has filled all the offices in the local organization. He likewise belongs to Dania Society No. 9, the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Lions Club. He is fond of hunt- ing and fishing, finding his recreation in those sports.
PHILIP W. MOODY
Philip W. Moody, who has for a number of years been engaged in mercantile affairs in Hayward, is also widely known as an artistic and competent interior decorator, in which line he has enjoyed the patronage of the representative people of the community. He was born at Falmouth, Maine, in 1872, and is a son of Benjamin and Francina (Pope) Moody, also natives of the old Pine Tree state, the father having been born at Falmouth and the mother at Kennebunkport. In 1870 they were married in Boston, Massachusetts, where the father followed the millwright's trade. They lived in that city until 1901, when they came to Califor- nia, locating first in Oakland, but later moving to Hayward, where the father lived retired until his death. Mr. Moody's paternal grandfather was a seafaring man and had made a number of voyages to California. In 1852 he came around the Horn and, quitting the sea, engaged in the hotel business at Gold Lake and Donner- ville, but later returned east and died in Maine. Both of the parents are deceased, the father dying in 1912 and the mother in 1918. Both the Moody and Pope families are descended from old Revolutionary stock. Philip W. Moody spent his
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boyhood in and near Boston, Massachusetts, and secured his education in the public schools. He first worked in a clothing store in Boston, after which he was em- ployed in a hardware store. Later he learned the trade of interior decorating, which line he followed there until 1901, when he came with his parents to California. After a short stay in Oakland, he came to Hayward, where he has resided contin- uously to the present time. For awhile he worked for C. P. VanDyke, the pio- neer painter of this locality, and then bought out his employer and has since carried the business on under his own name. He is painstaking and methodical in every- thing he undertakes and his reputation as a skillful and reliable painter and dec- orator extends beyond the confines of his home community, for his patronage covers a wide territory, and he is regarded as one of the leaders in his line here.
In 1914 Mr. Moody was united in marriage to Miss Esther Breese, who was born in Jackson, Amador county, California, and is a daughter of Raymond and Mary (Gibson) Breese, the former of whom served as county clerk of Amador county. Mr. Moody has always given his support to the republican party and is interested in public affairs, particularly such as related to the prosperity and wel- fare of his home community. He is secretary of the board of library trustees. He served as a member of the fire department for seven years, being secretary, and also foreman for a time, and he is a member of the Lone Tree Cemetery Associa- tion. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Woodmen of the World. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he has served on its official board for a number of years. He is a wide-awake and progressive man in his business affairs, in which he has been rewarded with a very fair measure of success, and his rec- ord since coming to Hayward has gained for him the unqualified respect and con- fidence of his fellow citizens.
FRED B. PERU
The record of Fred B. Peru has been one of faithful and efficient performance of duty in various lines of work and now, as chief license inspector of the city of Oakland, he is rendering a service which has gained for him the commendation of all who know him. Mr. Peru was born in San Francisco, California, on the 6th of July, 1873, and is a son of William and Louise (Bowers) Peru. His father, who came to California in young manhood, was for many years engaged in theatri- cal business and also conducted a hotel in Oakland. Both parents are deceased, the mother's death occurring in 1885.
Fred B. Peru received his education in the public schools of Oakland, to which city the family had moved in his early boyhood. After graduating from high school, he entered the employ of the Hayward Car Company, with which he con- tinued several years, and then became an engineer for the Redland Electric Light and Power Company. Later he entered the employ of the Oakland Traction Company, with which he remained for twenty-five years, and on August 1, 1927, was appointed to his present position as chief license inspector.
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Mr. Peru was united in marriage to Miss Annie May Fraser, a native of Can- ada, who was reared and educated in California. They are the parents of a daugh- ter, Myrtle Louise, who received a good education and taught school prior to her marriage to E. L. Glazier. Mr. Peru is an active supporter of the republican party and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Carmen's Union, of which he was secretary for eighteen years. A man of alert mentality and good judgment in practical affairs, he is discharging the duties of his position with a thoroughness that has commended him to the good opinion of all who are familiar with his work, while throughout the community he commands the respect of his fellowmen.
JOSEPH A. FREITAS
The leading contracting plumber of Oakland is Joseph A. Freitas, whose high- class work in this community has been his best advertisement. He commands a large and representative patronage, and his marked success is but the result of his sound business methods and his square dealing.
Mr. Freitas was born in Oakland on the 16th of October, 1889, and is a son of Joseph R. and Marie A. (King) Freitas, both of whom were natives of Azores islands. They were brought to California in childhood, the father in 1857, when fifteen years of age, and the mother when six years old. They were married here and Mr. Freitas engaged in farming in Monroe valley, Alameda county. He also farmed back of Lake Merritt, near Oakland, and there his death occurred in 1914. The mother is still living in this county.
Joseph A. Freitas received his educational training in the public schools of Olinda and Redwood Canyon and in the Garfield school. When fifteen years of age he was apprenticed to the plumbing trade, serving four years, and then, when twenty years old, he bought the shop in which he worked from the widow of his former employer. It was at that time located in a basement on Fruitvale boulevard, but his business steadily increased, so that he was compelled to seek other quar- ters, and, with sound judgment, he erected his present building, twenty-five by two hundred feet in size, at 2815 East Tenth street. Here he has plenty of room and has a full equipment of up-to-date machinery and tools, so that he is fully prepared to take care of any kind of a contract in his line. His business has grown until now it averages about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. Among the more important contracts which he has successfully handled in this vicinity are the University high school building, the Amora Hospital, the Armory at Twenty-fourth and Broadway streets, St. Cyril's school building, the Lakeview school, and many large apartment houses in various parts of northern California.
Mr. Freitas was united in marriage to Miss Florence King, a native of this state, and they are the parents of a daughter, Laverne. Mr. Freitas gives his politi- cal support to the republican party and is a member of the Knights of the Macca- bees, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Druids, the Portuguese Lusatan, the Native Sons of the Golden West, the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C. He also belongs to the Kiwanis Club, the Young Men's Institute, the. Merchants Exchange, the Builders Exchange, the Chamber of Commerce and the
JOSEPH A. FREITAS
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National Plumbers Association. He is a past supreme president of the U. P. E. C. and during his official supervision of that order he broke all the records of its forty- seven years' history in the increasing of its membership. To this end, he traveled all over the state, stimulating the societies to renewed efforts, and his incumbency of the office was marked by an unexampled period of prosperity in the order. He is now a member of its board of directors. He is president of the Portuguese Colon, the largest Portuguese paper in the state.
In addition to his various interests, already referred to, Mr. Freitas has shown himself deeply concerned with the progress and prosperity of his own community and is an earnest advocate of all measures calculated to advance its best interests. He is regarded as one of Oakland's representative business men and public-spirited citizens and commands the respect of all who know him.
JESSE B. HOLLY
Jesse B. Holly is widely recognized as one of the ablest and most reliable civil engineers in Alameda county and as city engineer of Hayward and San Leandro is rendering valuable service to those communities. Mr. Holly was born in Solano county, California, in 1884, and is a son of Amos and Valora (Cornell) Holly, the former born in Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, in 1836, and the latter in Erie, Penn- sylvania, in 1850. The father was educated in his native state and soon after at- taining his majority started across the plains, with ox team and covered wagon, his destination being California. However, he stopped in Nevada, where he was engaged in mining for a few years, and then came to California. He took up a homestead in Solano county, which he improved and developed into a good farm, and there spent his remaining years, his death occurring in 1904, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, who was brought to this state, by way of the isthmus of Panama, in her young girlhood, became the wife of Mr. Holly in 1868, and is now living at Dixon, Solano county. They became the parents of six children, namely: Archibald, who is engaged in farming at Dixon; Blanche and Wallace, twins; Ernest D., who is chief deputy superintendent of banking of California ; Earl, who is farming at Dixon ; and Jesse B.
Jesse B. Holly secured a good preliminary education in the public schools of his native county, graduating from high school, and then entered Leland Stanford University, from which he was graduated in civil engineering in 1908. He next became connected with the California debris commission, which had in charge the improvement of river navigation, under the war department. After following that line of work a number of years, he entered the employ of the Stone & Webster Corporation, and was engaged in the investigation of hydro-electric power. Later he joined Jones, Hanscom & Reddick, engineers, with whom he was employed on hydro-electric and irrigation projects, and in 1913 he bought Mr. Hanscom's interest in the company, which then became Jones, Reddick & Holly. He was identified with that concern until 1917, when he sold his interest and, coming to Hayward, accepted the position of city engineer, in which capacity he is still serving. In connection with his other duties, Mr. Holly has looked after the improvement of
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the streets of this city, and has been advisor on a number of outside projects. Since May, 1927, he has also served as city engineer of San Leandro.
In 1919 Mr. Holly was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Kollmyer, who was born in Alameda, California, and is a daughter of William and Jessie (Shauf) Kollmyer, and they are the parents of a son, David B. Mr. Holly is a repub- lican in politics and takes a deep interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, to which order he has belonged since 1910; is a director of the Rotary Club and belongs to the American Society of Civil Engineers. In other directions than his professional work he has given of his time and ability towards the furtherance of projects calculated to elevate and advance the welfare of the community and is regarded as one of its most progressive and public spirited citizens, commanding the respect and confidence of all who know him.
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