USA > California > Alameda County > Washington Township > History of Washington Township, Alameda County, California > Part 10
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The raising of early vegetables in our foothills for the San Francisco market commenced in the early 70's, this business be- ing carried on almost entirely by the Portuguese. The first Italian
*John Rock, who became one of the foremost nurserymen of the state and who was connected with the .California Nursery Company for twenty years, died August 8, 1904.
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vegetable garden was started in 1876 by Mr. Manuel Dominici, who with his wife and two small sons is still in the business. There are three or four other Italian vegetable gardens, each sending its wagons out every morning laden with fresh vegetables to make the rounds of the township.
The first store for general merchandise was kept by Mr. Victor Nuttman and Mr. Lowell; succeeding them were Thomas Scott and Wm. Insell. In 1858, Mr. Scott brought to Niles its first piano, manufactured by Miller & Curtis.
Miss Incarnacion Vallejo, daughter of J. J. Vallejo, was the first teacher of music, Mr. Scott's daughters being among her first pupils. In the winter of 1862 and 1863, Mr. Scott was sent to the Legislature as the first representative from this section. In 1898, Mr. James Clark represented the same section as Assembly- man.
The birth of Wm. Henry Tyson, on November 2, 1850, is the first record of a white child born in Niles.
In 1869, Lew McDole came to Niles and established himself as a cobbler, in the building he now occupies. He declares that more people in this township owe their soles to him than will now admit it. Alex. Scott established a warehouse and lumber yard in the early 70's and later sold the business to Mortimer & Wams- ley.
The Farwell stone quarry was opened in 1879 and operated quite extensively for several years. The stone is light brown and gray, does not take a polish, but stands all kinds of weather. The Unitarian Church, of Oakland, and the Rosenthal Building, of San Francisco, are made of this stone. The property is now in litigation, consequently the quarry is not worked.
Niles claims the first gravel pit utilized in the State, situ- ated in the creek bottom, on the Shinn property. It is a crop that never fails, as the rains of each winter replace what has been excavated during the season. In building the new amphi- theatre on the State University grounds, in Berkeley, one order was for seventy-five carloads of this gravel.
In the spring of 1894 the Niles Co-Operative Fruit Association was organized, with Judge Tilden as president; it was run success- fully for several years. A few years later Edward A. Ellsworth started a dryer in the home orchard, and recently he has bought the entire plant of the Co-Operative Association and handles a large portion of the fruit dried in this vicinity.
Niles has three well-conducted general merchandise stores; a drug store; a meat market, with necessary wagon route, and two blacksmith and wagon shops.
In May, 1897, the first issue of the Niles Herald appeared, with
OLD ADOBE ALAMEDA CANYON.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Mr. F. G. Vivian as editor. The following year the Waters Bros. (A. R. and H. J.) bought the paper and edited it until February, 1904, when it was sold to F. E. Adams, of Pleasanton, who consoli- dated it with the Washington Press, E. B. Thompson, editor.
The flood of '61 and '62 is well remembered by the old resi- dents. The rains commenced the last of December and continued for six weeks, with heavy falls of snow in the hills. The creek was booming and continued to rise rapidly. In February the peo- ple became so anxious that they considered it necessary for the safety of the residents to set a watch at night. An alarm came early in the morning and people awoke to find themselves surround- ed by water as if in the middle of a lake. What few cellars there were had filled with water, which gradually came up over the door sills, and people took to the second stories, tearing up carpets and moving up what furniture they could. One family, named Phelps, left their house and took refuge on an island and soon saw their house with all their belongings swept down the stream. A Mr. Smith removed his family to a place of safety only the day before, but stayed himself in the house. Before morning he was obliged by the rising waters to leave the house; he climbed a tree and lighted a lantern, and when his wife saw the light she said he was all right, he had "gone to roost."
The roar of the waters as they came rushing down the canyon was deafening and could be heard for miles as the flood swept on through the valley on its errand of destruction, washing away houses, fences, trees and everything in its path. The water stood three and four feet deep on the lower parts of the Ellsworth, Sanborn, Clough and Nichols places. As far as the eye could see, "water, water everywhere." A remarkable feature of this severe flood was that there was no loss of life.
The first hotel in Niles was located on the site now occupied by the Congregational parsonage and was run by a man named Sam Bonner.
L. M. Hinckley had a blacksmith shop on the Mayhew place. Mr. Robert Beeching also had a blacksmith shop in the north corner of the property now owned by Ed. A. Ellsworth.
In 1869, the first express office was established in the old Scott store and Wm. Snyder was appointed agent, at a salary of $25.00 per month. After two years the express office was moved to the railway depot.
The first through railway train to Oakland was on November 8, 1869. The year before this, however, the trains came down through the canyon and ran to San Jose.
In 1872, the Supervisors succeeded in getting an Act passed by the legislature to bridge Alameda Creek at Niles. The bridge was
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built and accepted in October of the same year. The cost was $12,000; county bonds being secured through the personal efforts of Mr. H. Overacker, who was supervisor at that time from this district.
The first Sunday School was held during the summer of 1873 in the wareroom of the old mill, with Mrs. Sarah E. King as super- intendent, assisted by Mesdames Snyder, Woodward, Clough, Henion and Plummer.
In November, 1873, the first post office was opened in Niles, with Wm. Snyder as postmaster; there were two mails a day and the salary was $12.00 per year.
In 1890, with a change of administration, W. T. Dickey was appointed postmaster and the office was moved to his store near the depot. J. E. Briscoe succeeded Mr. Dickey, and in '98 Mr. Snyder again received the appointment and has held the office up to the present time. From two mails a day the office has increased to eleven, and is now a money order office. Rural free delivery was established early in 1904.
In 1852, Mr. Harvey Green taught school for a few months in the adobe on the Overacker place, and the same year Miss Sarah Scott taught a private school for a short time in her father's house. After this the nearest school was at Centreville, which for years the children were obliged to attend. The need of a public school in Niles was greatly felt, therefore, people clubbed together and gave a great ball in the old mill's warehouse, and all worked to make it a success. They realized from the ball $320.00; the school house was built and the balance needed was raised by subscription. In October, 1875, the first public school opened with Miss Wat- kins as teacher. Mr. B. D. T. Clough, M. J. Overacker and Wm. Snyder acting as trustees; the first two held office until removed by death. Mr. Snyder is still a trustee, having been a member of the board since the school district was formed. In 1889, it was found that a new school house was necessary, so the present build- was erected, and school opened in October of the same year in the new building. Mrs. J. E. Thane, Mr. Snyder and H. A. May- hew constituted the Board of Trustees. The Hon. Eli Dennison presented the school with a flag, which is the largest school flag in the county. This flag has the distinction and the honor of having been unfurled at two of the Presidential nominating conventions held at Chicago.
The old school building was sold to the Congregational Society, and was moved and remodeled into a very pretty little church; The railway company kindly donated the lot where the church now stands. Regular church services commenced on June 16, 1889, with Mr. Frederic Maar as pastor. The first church wedding was
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solemnized on February 4, 1891, when the pastor, Mr. Frederic Maar, was married to Miss May Tyler; Rev. J. K. McLean, of Oak- land, officiating.
The Roman Catholic Church was established January 25, 1892; and the Episcopal Church the same year.
The first May Day picnic was held in '54, on Ellsworth's Island, then owned by Daniel and Osmond Sanborn and planted to grain ; they cut a few acres and, after the picnic, regretted that the en- tire field had not been cut. Invitations were sent out to every- body in the township. It is estimated that there were present fifty women, one hundred and fifty men and about fifty boys and girls. The Rev. Mr. Brier and Noble Hamilton, afterwards made judge, were the speakers of the day. These picnics sometimes lasted for several days and preparations were commenced months before for these great social events. A May Queen was always chosen. They were continued until the floods of 1861 and 1862; but after that they were usually held at Dry Creek.
The first public picnic grounds in Niles canyon were conducted by John Meyer.
In March, 1891. L. H. Cutler opened the first drug store. Dr. Ray was the first resident physician.
The first hall was built and owned by Solomon Easterday and was opened March, 1888.
About the year 1890, a Parmelee Circulating Library, of 145 volumes, was selected, bought, by the citizens of Niles, and placed in Mr. Dickey's store. In 1895, these books were moved to the "Open Door," reading room which was then under the management of the Christian Endeavor Society. From time to time additions were made to the original library until there were 500 volumes, and in January, 1900, the Niles Free Library was incorporated. A lot was purchased and the railroad company presented the cor- poration with a building.
On March 17, 1893, Niles Lodge of Odd Fellows was organized. On November 15 of the same year the Court of Foresters of America was organized.
In 1894 the Niles Band came into existence, numbering twelve members. They practiced faithfully for some months and appeared in public on several occasions, but on account of the removal of several of the members the interest died out and the organization ceased.
In 1896, the Athletic Club was organized. Considerable work and some little expense was put into a bicycle track, which was never used.
On January 6, 1897, the Social Assembly of the United Arti- sans was organized. The Niles Improvement Club was formed in
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April, 1898, with Mr: Jos. Shinn as president. On March 20, 1900, the Niles Camp of Modern Woodmen of America was organized.
On March 16, 1901, the Niles Encampment of I. O. O. F. was organized.
In June, 1901, the Suburban Electric Company brought their lines through Niles.
There are living in our midst two ladies who have the distinc- tion of having "crossed the plains," Mrs. Emmeline Tyson and Mrs. Kate Overacker.
There are a few Niles people of whom the citizens should be justly proud as having acquired prominence in different circles: Dr. Millicent Shinn and Mr. Charles Shinn, in the literary world ; Miss Ida Curtis, in the ministry ; Miss Sybil Easterday, in sculpture ; Miss Estelle Heartt, in vocal music.
MASONIC HOME AT DECOTO.
Decoto, Town and District.
HIS part of the township was originally a portion of the Val_ lejo grant and was later owned by J. G. Clark.
Evidences of residence by the Indians have been found on the farms around by J. C. Whipple and on the I. B. Haines estate. Mortars and human bones having been exhumed in several places on their lands.
A squatter known by the name of "Euchre John," who lived on the land now owned by Mr. Reese, planted the first fruit trees in the district, which bore fruit in 1862.
The first storehouse was built in 1850 by Vallejo. It stood on the right bank of Segunda Creek, commonly called Dry Creek, on the land owned in 1853 by Frank Frietas and was not entirely destroyed until a few years since.
Previous to July 2, 1868, the Decoto School District was a part of the Alvarado, Alviso and Centreville districts. At that time this district was formed and called Cosmopolitan School Dis- trict. The first school house was built on land donated for school purposes by J. G. Clark, who then owned the land. The buildings and furnishings when ready for use had cost the district $1,307.92, all of which was raised by subscription. The first term of the school was taught by J. T. James, in 1869. The total number of pupils enrolled was twenty, with an average daily attendance of seventeen. The district has been taken from several times till now the area is not more than half what it was originally. Parts of the Niles and Valle Vista districts having been formed by the divisions. The present enrollment of pupils is 168, with a good daily attendance ; four teachers are employed. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1883 within the town limits. The old building was sold and is now a part of the residence of H. May. The land was returned to the present owners of the Clark estate.
The Dry Creek picnic grounds, so well known to all old residents of the township, are in this district. The grounds were first used as a pleasure resort in 1854 or 1855. The season usually opened on the 26th of April, the Odd Fellows having charge of the festiv- vities. May-day was considered the great holiday and was looked forward to with the livliest pleasure from one season to another, and elaborate preparations were made in the way of dress and en- tertainment. Refreshments were planned many weeks in advance.
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A Glimpse of Dry Creek Picnic Grounds
As the years advanced and the county became more thickly settled, one day was not enough to satisfy the ardor of the pleas- ure seekers, and for several years the festivities of the May season were kept up for three days. A good floor was laid and excellent music was in attendance, dancing being the principal amusement.
During the early '70's pleasure seekers came from the city to enjoy the day, but this continued only for a few years, the distance from the station being too great for the convenience of pedestrians.
For more than twelve years the grounds have not been used as a public pleasure resort.
During the years 1851-53, about 300 acres of land on the Ala- meda Creek was farmed by Don J. J. de Vallejo and Mr. James Hawley (who is now living in the Alviso district). This tract was called the Bell Ranch, from the fact that a large bell, given by J. J. Vallejo, was hung by Mr. Hawley in 1852 in a sycamore tree which stood on the bank of the creek. The original tree was washed away by the floods; but another has grown in the same place. Later the bell was hung on a frame erected for it nearer the house and it remained there for many years. It was used as a signal for calling the laborers to and from their work. It is reported
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on pretty good authority that the bell was one of the five Mission church bells, and that some time in the late '60's it was returned to its place in the old church.
The ranch house, which is still standing and used as a residence, was built in 1852. The bridge which now spans the Alameda Creek is called the "Bell Ranch Bridge," from the name given the ranch.
In 1870, 284 acres of land were purchased from the three De- coto brothers by the railroad company and the Decoto Land Com- pany was formed; the town was surveyed and called Decoto. Streets were laid out, named, and during the winter of 1870 and 1871, 27,000 trees of various kinds were set out, eucalyptus being the most prominent. Several large warehouses have been built in which great quantities of grain and hay are stored every year and from thence shipped to the markets. During the year 1902, 9187 tons of freight were shipped from the Decoto Station, for which the railroad company received as freight charges, $8682.99.
Molders' sand is found on the land owned by E. A. Bush, and many carloads are shipped annually to the Union Iron Works in San Francisco.
In 1873, quite a large tract of land was set out in hops on the property owned by J. B. Shirk. For several years the crops were quite profitable; but about 1885 the yield began to decrease, and a few years later this industry was given up entirely.
Fruits, grain, and sugar-beets are successfully raised in the valley, while the hill land produces good crops of grapes and is famed for the production of early vegetables for home and eastern markets.
There are but three houses of the early days remaining in the district, all of them still serving as residences.
Mr. Gresel, who is a successful farmer in this district, worked for Mr. James Hawley on the Bell Ranch as early as 1851, and has made his home in the vicinity since that time.
Decoto was separated from Alvarado as a voting precinct in 1896. The number of registered voters in 1902 was 116; therefore the population of the district is about 580.
In 1873, the Cypress Cemetery Association was formed with the following named trustees: J. C. Whipple, F. B. Granger, Sr., E. Dyer, John Hall, Wm. Hayes and J. M. Ingalls, all of whom, except the last named, were pioneers. The first officers were: Wm. Hayes, Pres .; J. C. Whipple, Vice-Pres .; J. M. Ingalls, Sec. and Treas. Ten acres of land were purchased from Sanford Taylor. The tract was fenced and soon after Mr. Whipple, at his own expense, set cypress trees on three sides of the grounds, many of which are still standing.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
In 1874 or 1875, W. M. Moserve organized the first Sabbath School; Miss Alvena Meyer (now Mrs. C. C. Crane) was chosen superintendent. The school was presented with a small library, some bibles and song books by one of the Presbyterian churches of Oakland. This school was abandoned after a time and it was not till after the new public school house was built that another Sunday school, with Alvina Decoto in charge, was regularly or- ganized by Rev. Mr. Wirt in the early 80's. From this grew the organization of the Congregational Church on December 9, 1893, through the efforts of Rev. F. H. Maar; and through his efforts also the Christian Endeavor societies of the State raised the funds for erecting a neat building on a lot loaned for church purposes. This, the only "Christian Endeavor Church" in the state, was dedicated September 23, 1898.
The corner stone of the Masonic Home was laid October 14, 1896. The main building was dedicated October 12, 1898, and opened to inmates March 1, 1899. The property consists of 267.46 acres of land, all under cultivation. The principal building is an imposing brick structure (the bricks being made on the grounds as needed), four stories in height, situated on an eminence com- manding a magnificent view of the southern end of Alameda County of the Bay and of the mountains of the Coast range both on the east and west. At the present time there are more than 125 in- mates, and forty children are attending the grammar and high schools.
The Home is supported by a per capita tax of $1.00 paid each year by the subordinate lodges of the State to the Grand Lodge.
Seminoff Temple, the corner stone of which was laid April 22, 1903, is the gift of S. Seminoff, of San Francisco, and is a very handsome and commodious building, with lodge rooms, library and offices, which are to be devoted to the uses of those Free Masons who are inmates of the Home.
A new enterprise on rather a large scale has lately been launched just west of the town of Decoto. Here a model dairy is being conducted by D. Jackson and F. B. Granger, two well known business men of Alvarado. The business is being conducted under the name of the Jackson-Granger Dairy Co.
The ranch of 340 acres has been fenced and cross fenced, al- lowing of the pasturing of their 240 milch cows and the raising of hay. Fourteen men are employed at the dairy. each having his special work to do.
The buildings, which are very large, contain eight "strings" of thirty-three cows each and are models of neatness, as one of the main rules is "Keep the place clean to the utmost degree." The buildings are all lighted by electricity, as are the wash-room, grist mill, and all out buildings.
The full output of this model dairy is sent to Oakland, the milk bringing the highest price paid in that market.
Several new improvements are about to be commenced, and when completed will make this plant equal to any in the State.
CENTRAL HOTEL
FIRST RAILROAD TRAIN IN NEWARK
Newark.
HE town of Newark is situated near the northern border of the Rancho Mission, San Jose, the branch of the Alameda Creek (called by the Spaniards the Big Ditch), on the Mun- yan place, at present the property of Mr. F. Brown, being the boundary.
On the other side of the creek, now owned by Mr. Andrew Ross, stood the homestead of Don Augustine Alviso, owner of the Rancho Potrero de Los Cerritos (pasture of the low hills).
In 1852 the valley was crowded with herds of wild cattle in charge of Indian vaqueros. Portions of the ranchos were enclosed with willow and raw-hide fencing, and some wheat, barley, and oats were grown. There were usually a few fruit trees near the houses. Each rancho had a great many Indian and half breed retainers who did the work and for whom a steer was killed every few days.
From 1850 on, numerous Americans arrived and obtained pos- session of land in various ways, by squatting and by purchase. Messrs. E. Lyman Beard and John M. Horner bought a large part of the Mission tract. Titles were unsettled until 1866, when the government at Washington granted a patent on payment of $1.25 per acre by each holder. Mr. Beard was instrumental in getting the farmers to assess themselves sixty cents per acre and to send Judge A. M. Crane on to Washington to have the matter settled. To adjust the affair an Act of Congress was necessary and as the hour for the adjournment of the House approached, on the night of March 3, 1866, two bills of great moment to the settlers of this valley remained to be disposed of. One was to confirm the owners in their holdings, and the other gave to the Western Pacific Rail- way Company every alternate section within twenty miles of its road from San Jose to Sacramento.
Through the efforts of Senator John Conners, of California, the bill giving the land to those in possession was passed first, thus saving endless litigation with the railroad, and perhaps a tragedy like that of Mussel Slough, of which Mr. Norris wrote in the "Octopus."
The first settlers of what is now the town of Newark were two farmers, named Clarke and Thomas, who took possession of 160 acres, fenced it and built a house where the ranch-house of the Fair property stands. Lumber for fencing was very scarce and
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expensive, so they dug a ditch, and throwing up the earth, built the fence on the top of the embankment thus made. Traces of this ditch still remain. The next owner was Capt. Joseph May- hew, who built the present house, one of the finest in the county at that time, and who had a stock-ranch of more than a thousand acres. He was a most enterprising, popular man, who after a time moved to San Leandro and was elected Sheriff of the County in 1861 and 1863. A. B. Forbes, of San Francisco, was the next owner of the place; he spent many thousands in improv- ing it, but, after a few years, sold to Perrin Bros., who established the Green Point Dairy and laid out a town which they called New- ark; half way between the present town and the bay. They ad- vertised extensively, built a road across the marsh at great ex- pense and chartered a steamer to bring excursionists from San Francisco to Alviso Slough. The town project was not a success, although they sold some lots, and in 1876 they disposed of their holdings to the Pacific Land Improvement Co who carried on the dairy business for a time. On coming into possession the Com- pany, consisting of Flood & O'Brien, A. E. Davis and others, built a railroad to Dumbarton Point, connecting there with the steamer "Newark" for San Francisco. San Jose was the terminus of the road. The line to Dumbarton Point was abandoned when the Company acquired the right of way through Alameda. In March, 1878, trains ran from Alameda to Los Gatos, and on May 15, 1880, the first passenger train for Santa Cruz went over the road. On May 23d there was an excursion on the new road, flat-cars being crowded with people, and when rounding a curve overlooking the powder mill in the Santa Cruz mountains one was overturned and seventeen persons killed. On the completion of the road the round- house and repair shops were located here, and Carter Bros.' car shops gave employment to many. The Company built houses for its employees and two stores were opened, one by Mr. Albert Falk and one by Mr. George Thom. A post office was established, Mr. Martin Carter being the first postmaster, who soon resigned in favor of Mr. Thom. For several years before this the nearest postoffice was at Centreville. In 1852, settlers of this valley had to go to San Jose for the monthly mail, letter postage being thirty cents. After a time there was a semi-monthly mail and an office was established at Mission San Jose, then one at Alvarado and later at Centreville. We have had rural delivery in this neigh- borhood since September, 1903.
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