USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 37
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In 1885 a baseball club called the Nightingales was the champion club of Oakland. On April 28th they played the Yosemite Club on the San Pablo avenue grounds and were defeated by the score of 42 to 7. The Yosemite bat- tery, Broderick and Traynor, did excellent and effective work. The game was played for $12 a side. In the third inning the Yosemites made thirteen runs and in the seventh, fifteen. The Greenhood and Moran nines combined on May 3d. but were defeated by the Knickerbockers of Sacramento by a score of 6 to 5. Van Haltren, afterward prominent member of the Chicago and other clubs, caught for the Oakland team. In 1885 Oakland had no regular and profes- sional ball club, but had many local clubs which fought desperately in the sum- mer and fall for city supremacy. Grounds much used were at Fourteenth and Center streets. A game was played there in June between the Oaklands and the Haverlys of San Francisco. The Oakland Club was composed of the best play- ers of the various local clubs.
In November Moses Hopkins was granted a decree of foreclosure against E. Wiard for $79,394.91 and $2,500 counsel fees on the property known as the Oakland Trotting park. The great actress Janauschek appeared at Oakland theatre with a large company in repertoire in September. They rendered "Zil- lah the Fortune Teller," "My Life," "Mary Stuart," "Countess of Mansfield" and others. The theatre was packed every night. The opera "The Mikado" was presented here in November, by the Carliton Opera Company and met a warm reception.
At the game between the Greenhood and Morans and the Pioneers at Alameda on August 1, 1886, there were present 7,000 people ; the score was 3 to o in favor of the ยท former. Other clubs here were the Troubadours, Clevelands, Oaklands, Maroons and Franklins.
Early in 1886 Alameda prepared a fine baseball park in the West End. It was 494 x 337 feet and seated 1,500 people. The grandstand was 170 feet long. The grounds were prepared under the supervision of Charles S. Neal of the Narrow Gauge Railroad Company. The fourteen inning game of ball played August 9th, between the Haverlys and Altas on the Alameda grounds was the most exciting ever played on the east side up to that date. Every seat was taken and 2,000 people stood up during the game. The Altas belonged to Sacramento and the Haverlys to San Francisco. The Haverlys finally won by the score of 7 to 3. The Haverly players were as follows : Donahue, third; Hardie, catcher ; Hanley, right ; Sweeney, first ; Incell, pitcher; Levy, center ; Stein, second; Bernutt, short ; Lawton, center. A spectator who shouted, "Go it, you've got Incell rattled," was put out of the grounds; nearly eight thousand people were present. James Madison umpired the game. In 1885 the receipts of the baseball games were sufficient to pay the players only $2 or $3 a game. In one game played by the Greenhood and Moran Club in San Francisco, each received $3.50. In 1886 the California League agreed to play at Alameda and Eugene Van Court was engaged to umpire for $2 a game. The Mullane-Star game was so rank that the latter
281
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
was expelled from the league and the Greenhood and Morans were accepted to fill the gap. The Haverlys and Pioneers were the veteran clubs and they expected that the Greenhood and Morans would be easy victories. The latter were credited with one game won and two lost by the Stars. They began by beating the Hav- erlys of San Francisco and astonished the baseball wise men. Then they defeated the Altas of Sacramento. Again July 25, 1886, on the Alameda grounds they defeated the Haverlys before 8,000 people. The Greenhood and Morans were called the "Oakland Kids." Thus far the receipts per game averaged over one thousand dollars in 1886, while in 1883 the average was about one hundred dollars. Instead of receiving $2 or $3 a game the players each in 1886 received from $20 to $50. The Greenhood and Moran players were as follows: Fisher, third; Brown, catcher; Cahalan, left ; Long, right; Van Haltren, pitcher ; Dolan, first; Cussick, short ; Gurnett, second; Donovan, center. The percentage on July 27, 1886, was as follows : Haverlys, 769; Greenhood and Morans, 538; Atlas, 437; Pioneers, 285. But a little later the Greenhood and Morans began to lose and in the end finished near the foot.
At Germania hall, in March, James C. Daly and Thomas D. Carrol gave an interesting exhibition of Greco-Roman wrestling that was witnessed by a large audience. The Costello-Cleary prize fight came off in the Colosseum on Twelfth street in July, and resulted in the defeat of the latter in the second round. The police immediately arrested all concerned in the "mill." The price of admission was $10. All movements had been kept secret from the police. The winner took all-about five hundred and twenty dollars. Dan Haley acted as referee. Albert Keicheff, known as the "Strong Al of Oakland," was challenged to wrestle a mixed match, best two out of three: Ist, Greco-Roman; 2nd, catch as catch can; 3rd, to be decided by toss of a coin, for $250 a side, by James Slattery, champion heavy- weight of the Pacific coast. John Dugan of Newark prepared his coursing park in Washington township for 2,500 hares which he had ordered trapped up the country. The coursing season opened about June 15th.
During the summer of 1887 over one hundred and fifty thousand persons attended the baseball games at the Alameda grounds. All the crowds were orderly. It was different with the hoodlum gangs which visited Schuetzen park. Often their conduct was disgraceful and sometimes criminal. O. M. Sanford said he had lived in Alameda when the much detested coyote roamed at will up and down the peninsula, but its cries were music to the demoniacal yells of the hoodlums. This park was owned by Captain Cantus who died from heart disease after hearing his park denounced and learning that steps to close it might be taken.
The year 1888 was very lively in all branches of athletics. There were many wheeling clubs. Baseball was very popular, particularly at the university, and was attended by vast crowds. Every gymnasium had a membership that over- taxed its rooms. The field sports were likewise patronized by many enthusiasts- coursing, racing, shooting, rowing, sailing.
Previous to July, 1888, the Pioneer Society had been in existence for two years and three months. In that time eighteen meetings were held. There were 15 honorary members, 46 first class members, 32 adjunct members, 58 second class members, and 15 third class members ; total membership, 166; William T. Gibbs was president.
282
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
In April, the Choral Society of Alameda rendered the "Pirates of Penzance" in the Park Opera House to a large audience. On March 22d, George Van Halt- ren and Fred Lange, two Oakland baseball players, left for the East under con- tracts to play with other clubs-the former with the Chicagos and the latter with the Chicago Westerns. Early in November Spalding's baseball combination arrived from the East and were met by a party of twenty Oakland and San Francisco baseball men at Port Costa and escorted to the latter city. This was the greatest excursion of baseball players ever undertaken in America up to date. On Novem- ber 4th a match game was played at Haight Street park between the All Americans and the Chicagos. Jerry Dennry, who lived in Oakland, but who belonged to the national league, arrived home at this time; he was famous as a third baseman. While in the West the All Americans were defeated by the Pioneers-score 9 to 4; and the Chicagos and Stocktons tied at Stockton with two each. Van Haltren, the old Oakland player, was short stop of All Americans. The latter were defeated by the Greenhood and Morans also. The All Americans defeated the Stocktons, score 16 to 1, Van Haltren playing center field. The result at the end of the season of 1888, was as follows :
CLUBS
PER CENT
WON
LOST
Stocktons
.615
40
25
Haverlys
542
36
30
Pioneers
455
31
37
Greenhood and Morans.
388
26
41
The Acme Athletic Club gave an interesting entertainment at their rooms in July. Harry F. Gordon was club president at this date. The exhibition consisted in exercises on the horizontal bar, boxing, tumbling, club swinging, high jumping, tugging, etc.
The Oakland players in 1889 were as follows: Long, center ; Dailey, left : Hardie, catcher ; Smalley, third; O'Neil, short; Veach, first; McDonald, second; Stallings, right; Coughlin, pitcher. This was the usual order of batting. The last game between the Oaklands and San Franciscans was witnessed by 20,000 people and resulted in the score of 5 to 4 in favor of the former. The standing on November 1I, 1889, was as follows:
CLUBS
PER CENT
WON
LOST
San Francisco
577
51
37
Oakland
602
53
35
Stockton
443
39
49
Sacramento
372
32
54
William Smalley of Haywards became a baseball player of the great leagues in 1890. The German Turn Verein celebration of four days in June was the most important local event in the history of that organization. The Oakland Turn Verein was organized January 20, 1867, with a charter roll of twelve members. An excellent race track of half a mile was built on J. H. Strobridge's place near Haywards in 1891. Mr. Strobridge himself owned a fine herd of young colts which he trained for speed in all its phases.
283
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The labor organizations of Oakland and vicinity held a big reunion or cele- bration early in September, 1891. It was one of the first observances here of Labor Day. Trades unionism began in Alameda county about 1888 at which time four organizations were already in existence, viz .: Carpenters' Protective Union, Cigarmakers' Union, Typographical Union and Clerks' Association. On May 1, 1888, the first meeting of the Alameda county federation was held and O. A. Smith became first president. Later organizations of the bakers, plumbers, painters, mill machine men, tailors, plasterers, carpenters, horseshoers, musicians, bricklayers, lumber and longshoremen, farmers' alliance, citizens' alliance, and others joined the movement. The parade of September 6, 1891, was one of the largest ever seen in this city. All business was temporarily suspended while the cheering and bedecorated clubs and lodges marched through the packed streets. The mayor and city officials reviewed the parade from a stand at the city hall. The day closed with a ball at Germania hall.
The members of the Oakland Baseball Club in 1892 were as follows in batting order : Smith, left; O'Brien, second; Hardie, center; Carrall, first; Wilson, catcher ; Bushman, third; Hutchinson, short; Lohman, right; German, pitcher. Enthusiasm for baseball was never more tense and preponderating than in 1892. Col. T. P. Robinson owned the franchise of the Oakland Baseball Club. The new grounds were at Piedmont. The Cook stock farm became the Oakland park stock farm. It sold twenty-four high bred colts-all registered. Many were by Steinway, the famous thoroughbred. The Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club gave a series of races on their grounds in July.
The Charity Club consisted of young men who distinguished themselves in legitimate drama, modern society drama and minstrelsy and young ladies who supplemented their literary attainments by post graduate courses in Delsarte, oratory and the art of physical expression. Both men and women were among the most talented, charming and beautiful in the city. They had no desire to embrace the drama or the stage as a profession, but mastered "Lady Macbeth,"
"Hamlet," and other plays and historic stage characters. In 1891-92 they pre- sented "Damon and Pythias," "Darkest Oakland," "Held by the Enemy," "A Russian Honeymoon," "Rosedale" and other difficult plays to large houses with great success. Louis Imhaus was director. Among the actors were the follow- ing: J. C. Wilson, Jr., H. A. Melvin, Lester Herrick, J. F. J. Archibald, A. J. Rosborough, P. H. Remillard, Marion Albright, Minnie G. Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth Beck, Maud Morrill, Lucy D. Novan and Mary Hanlon. Wilson was leading man and began his career many years before in San Francisco. In their earlier presentations they styled themselves the Jackson Street Minstrels, were assisted by the Alice Street Quartette Club and held forth at the Oakland theatre. Late in 1892 they appeared in the fine new Macdonough theatre.
Among the assets left by Court Ginlio Valensin on his famous Pleasanton stock ranch was the stallion Sidney. This horse was sold at auction in Cleve- land, Ohio, for $27,000. His value had been placed by experienced horsemen at $75,000. The animal had been under lease for $20,000 a year. His colts sold for several years at over $25,000 annually. Late in October, 1896, the new Oak- land race track was opened and the winter racing meeting was inaugurated. The new track was located on the old site, but many additions and improvements
284
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
appeared. In all there were ninety-three acres under lease. Thomas H. Wil- liams, Jr., was president of the California Jockey Club at this time.
In April, 1898, Joe Lavique and Mike McCormick fought eight rounds before the Oakland Athletic Club. De Witt Van Court refereed the fight; McCormick won the battle.
The racing at Pleasanton in the spring of 1898 was unusually good and attracted a large crowd. Pacing, trotting and running were the leading events, but the harness road races attracted great interest. At this time high grade roadsters were in great demand. The principal stakes at this meeting were called Hop, Merrira and Mercantile. The Pleasanton race track was well known to horsemen all over the United States and Canada. The stables of high grade and thoroughbred animals there were famous almost from the start. Many of the fastest horses and most skillful drivers of the country hailed from that unpretentious place. Among the fast and famous horses reared there were Coney 2:011/2, Anaconda 2:0212, Alix 2:031/4, Directly 2:0334, Azate 2:04, Searchlight 2:04, Klatasch 2:0434, Directum 2:0574, Dally Dillon 2:071/2, Diablo 2:091/4, and Jamie 2:0912. Among the distinguished drivers who received their first valuable experiences at this track were Budd Doble, Andrew McDowell, Thomas Keating, George Staars, William Geers, J. Kelly and Messrs. McHenry, Durfee, Murry and Sanders.
In the '90s as never before all kinds of athletics came into existence and into great popularity and favor, cycling, baseball, football, hunting, rowing, boxing, racing and mountain climbing seemed all at once to take possession of every class and sex here. Never before had women come into such dazzling light in the field of outdoor sports as at this eventful and changeful era. In fact the tendency to put women forward at this time, was one of the chief factors which contributed a little later to her success at the polls.
Athletics in the most modern form is imparted by the Reliance and Acme Clubs. The equipment of both supplies every facility needed for the complete development of the human system, and the instruction is not surpassed in any city on the coast. Exercises and exhibitions showing what they can do and have accomplished are given at stated periods. Already the athletes of this club have distinguished themselves in many fields.
The Athenian Club was modeled on the same plan as a similar one in San Francisco. It is Bohemian in the broadest sense, devoted to sociability, and its members are among the best men of the community. The Nile Club is also social in its objects and operations. Both the Nile and the Athenian Clubs, while in the main brotherly and fraternal, nevertheless informally consider many subjects which outside eventuate into public movements for the betterment of the community.
The old Shell Mound park where racing took place as early as the '6os and where the shooting clubs usually practiced and gave exhibitions, was later called the Oakland race track, which was in reality an extension of the old grounds. Judge Mee finally purchased the property, leased it, and it passed to a syndicate which carried matters farther than the people desired and an act of the Legis- lature checked its operations.
In September, 1907, the Orpheum theatre was first opened to the public. During the first year over 800,000 persons were patrons. Oakland had become
285
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
the second leading theatrical center of the Pacific coast. In September, 1908, Leonard Lane of Berkeley, in an air ship of his own invention and construc- tion, secretly sailed in a successful flight over that city. S. S. Baley, the mil- lionaire horseman of Pleasanton, leased the pacing mare Leata J, to W. Jones of Sacramento for the season of 1913; her record in 1913 was 2:03 and she earned for the lessee about $25,000.
On February 22, 1911, occurred the automobile races over the scenic boule- vard; it was estimated that 100,000 persons witnessed the races. An Amplex car ran down and seriously injured several persons. An Apperson car, skidded, turned turtle and was destroyed by fire, both occupants escaping. The throng was not properly policed and crowded the tracks in many places. The Mercer won the light car race, the National, the heavy car race and the Pope-Hartford the free-for-all race. In recent years baseball, rugby and soccer football, yacht- ing, rowing, shooting, hunting, coursing, racing, boxing, golfing, tennis, swim- ming, athletics, track meetings, motoring, bowling, cricket, etc., are the leading sports.
The scientific development of athletics at the university in the '8os and 'gos was one of the most important recreation and health forward movements in the state and in the country. The games of baseball there have ever been interest- ing; but football soon led all other outdoor manly sports. The great games between the two universities-Stanford and California -- are invariably attended by immense and enthusiastic audiences. The following is the result of their contests year by year.
FOOTBALL
Stanford California
1891
14
IO
1892
66
6
1894
6
O
1895.
6
6
1896
20
0
1897
28
0
1898
O
22
1899
0
30
1900.
5
0
I90I
o
2
1902.
0
16
1903
6
6
1904.
18
0
1905
12
5
RUGBY
Year
Stanford
California
1906
6
3
1907
21
II
Year
IO
IO
1893
286
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Stanford California
Year
1908
12
3
1909.
13
19
1910.
6
25
1911
3
21
1912.
-
-
1913.
-
-
CHAPTER XVI
EDUCATION
The first schoolhouse in Oakland was built in July, 1853, on a lot deeded to the town by H. W. Carpentier at Fourth and Clay streets. It was subsequently moved to the corner of West and Seventh streets and was still later used by the colored people as a church. It was the only schoolhouse the town had for nine years. When erected it was referred to as "a substantial, elegant and com- modious schoolhouse." In 1862 a large one-story schoolhouse was erected at the corner of Eleventh and Grove streets. Two years later a third building was erected at Fifth and Alice streets. Miss Hannah Jayne opened the first school in 1853 and continued to teach-was the only teacher-until January, 1855, when, two teachers being required, Franklin Warner became principal and Miss Jayne assistant. At first there was but one room and one teacher, but there were ninety pupils enrolled. They continued until February 21, 1856, in a building with two rooms at Fifth and Broadway. They received no pay until later, because Mr. Hogan, the city marshal, decamped with the school funds. In February, 1856, Mr. Warner secured a position in the Oakland College school and there remained until 1860. In 1856 R. A. Morse was employed as a teacher and held forth in the Carpentier schoolhouse. Mr. Goble taught both in 1856 and 1857. In 1860 the pupils became so numerous that a new and larger build- ing was necessary, whereupon the high school block was bought for $900 and a two-room building was erected thereon and was called the Lafayette school. Afterward when the first high school building was erected the old building was called "Little Lafayette." Soon afterward came the Lincoln, Prescott, Cole, Durant, Tompkins and other schools. By 1867 Oakland schools had six teach- ers who were paid $510 a month. In 1868 school bonds to the amount of $62,- 000 were issued and much of the money was invested in school sites, a very wise measure. In 1868 there were 547 pupils and in 1873 there were 2,011. In 1878, 4,695 pupils attended the public schools; in 1883, 6,040; in 1888, 6,329; in 1891, 8,07I.
On November 8, 1858, the Oakland Seminary was commenced by Mrs. G. M. Blake in a private parlor on Broadway and Sixth streets, with a class of four young ladies. April 1, 1859, the school required a larger room and was removed to the corner of Broadway and Eighth streets. It remained there until March 1, 1860, when it changed its locality to the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets, where it remained four years. A new building known as the Blake House was commenced on Washington street between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, in June, 1863, and completed on the 24th of October, where the school was perma- nently established.
As early as the year 1855 the attention of Alameda was called to the necessity of providing means of education for the children. In 1864 the school district,
Voi. I-19
287
288
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
which then comprised the whole peninsula, was divided, and the main structure of the Alameda schoolhouse was built by contract for the sum of $2,626, which was raised by a special tax. The furniture was purchased with the proceeds of a festival, given by the ladies of the town, among them being Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. J. N. Webster, Mrs. A. S. Barber, Mrs. Millington, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. W. B. Clement and others. The old schoolhouse was sold at auction to H. S. Barlow and by him moved to Park street, where it constituted the original Loyal Oak hotel. Later it was occupied as a dwelling.
In July, 1855, C. C. Breyfogle, the first county superintendent of public instruc- tion, appointed James Millington, E. M. Taft and James T. Stratton, commission- ers of Alameda school district. The board organized July 16th and made arrange- ments for the purchase of a building and lot from A. Schermerhorn, for the sum of $150. On the 27th of the same month Mrs. A. S. Page was engaged to teach the school at a monthly salary of $75 and board. This engagement continued until October 31, when the pay was fixed at $100, without board. On July 21, 1859, W. W. Brier, county superintendent, appointed as trustees C. L. Fitch, Jas. Milling- ton and Dr. Henry Gibbons, who engaged as teacher W. W. Holder, who occu- pied the position until January 9, 1860, when he was removed and M. A. Lynde substituted. Funds being low, it was found necessary, in order to pay the teach- er's salary, to establish rates of tuition, as follows: Children under ten years of age, $1 per month ; under fourteen years, $1.50; over fourteen, $2.
From the organization of the first public school in Oakland in July, 1853, to July, 1865, the census enumeration included children between the ages of four and eighteen. From July, 1865, to July, 1873, from five to fifteen, and from that date to the present, from five to seventeen. In 1883 the schools were as follows:
High, corner Twelfth and Market streets; Prescott, Campbell street, Seward and Taylor; Cole, Tenth street, Union and Poplar; Tompkins, Fifth street, Chestnut and Linden; Lincoln, Alice street, Tenth and Eleventh ; Durant, Twenty- eighth street, Grove and West; Franklin, Tenth avenue, East Fifteenth and East Sixteenth streets ; Lafayette, Jefferson street, Eleventh and Twelfth; Grove Street, Grove street, Fourth and Fifth; Harrison Street, corner Harrison and Sixth streets; Swett, East Twentieth street, Twelfth and Thirteenth avenues; Court House, corner East Fourteenth street and Twentieth avenue ; Lynn, Lynn ; Broad- way and Twenty-fifth Street, corner Broadway and Twenty-fifth streets; Ply- mouth Avenue, corner Elm street and Plymouth avenue; Watts' Tract, corner Magnolia and Thirty-second streets; Evening, Ninth street, between Washington and Clay Corner; Carpenter Shop, East Fourteenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues.
They were erected as follows: High, 1870; Prescott, 1869; Cole, 1877; Tompkins, 1877; Lincoln, 1872; Durant, 1874; Franklin, 1875; Lafayette, 1862; Grove Street, 1869; Harrison Street, 1865.
The Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was located in a picturesque position at the head of Lake Merritt, commanding a fine view of the city of Oakland and its environments, including the bay and Golden Gate. This con- vent was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, in 1868, under the patronage of Rev. Father M. King, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church in Oakland.
289
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Mills College was founded early in the history of the county and has ever maintained a high rank among the institutions of the United States devoted to the education and culture of women, standing in the same class as Vassar Col- lege. There is no higher institution of the kind on the Pacific coast.
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