Oakland Heritage Alliance

Our History

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:39:00 -0800

“This is our inheritance. What we do with it is our choice”

Oakland Heritage Alliance is a non-profit organization that serves as a bridge connecting Oakland’s past to its present and future. We work to protect, preserve and revitalize Oakland’s architectural, historic, and cultural resources by providing programs and services that inform Oakland’s diverse population about the importance of these resources and, through our advocacy and educational programs, to encourage them to do the same.

OHA began in 1980 when a small group of people decided that it was time to stem the tide of urban renewal projects that were paving over, plowing under, and otherwise obliterating Oakland’s unique and irreplaceable historic architectural buildings. Whole blocks of Victorians had been lost and many of downtown Oakland’s handsome early 20th century commercial buildings were being knocked down to make way for dreary expanses of paved parking lots.

Armed with only $150 but a fierce determination to protect the precious historic, architectural and cultural legacy of Oakland, a small group of citizen activists began to throw their energy and time into preservation action. The first step was to form a citizen advisory committee, some of whom had helped preserve the historic Camron-Stanford House on the shores of Lake Merritt, to initiate one of Oakland’s most important preservation tools: the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey. Those involved in the first phase of the survey, completed in 1980, went on to form the Oakland Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit organization which currently has over 600 members.

From the beginning, OHA engaged residents, policymakers, elected officials and others in exploring strategies to preserve Oakland’s irreplaceable cultural and architectural heritage. Activities sponsored by the organization focus largely on educational, outreach and advocacy programs. Each summer our popular walking tours introduce hundreds of people to Oakland’s diverse architectural, cultural and natural heritage. These tours bring history alive and help people explore Oakland’s vibrant and history-filled neighborhoods.

Each year, to honor those who are helping preserve Oakland’s history—whether it is the restoration of homes and commercial buildings, serving as preservation advocates, or preserving an important cultural heritage—OHA presents its annual Partners in Preservation Awards. Our monthly lectures series brings outstanding preservationists, historians, architects and cultural leaders to discuss important preservation issues with members and the public. One of the key roles OHA plays in the city is to voice citizen support the protection of Oakland’s historic resources.

The words of Beth Bagwell, one of the founders of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, ring as true today as they did when first published in our inaugural 1981 newsletter:

“OHA cares about the Oakland of yesterday because we care about the Oakland of tomorrow. The environment we live in today has been given to us from the past: the buildings that remain, the layout of the streets, the ethnic character of our neighborhoods, the forgotten creeks, and the lake that still forms the centerpiece of our city. The Oakland of today is the result of what Oaklanders of yesterday built or demolished, fostered or neglected. This is our inheritance. What we do with it is our choice.”

Oakland Heritage Alliance Board of Directors

Dea Bacchetti, Michael Crowe, Joan Dark, Doug Dove, Kevin Dwyer, Alison Finlay, Rachel Force, Kathryn Hughes, Alex Rood, Naomi Schiff

Officers 2009

President, Dea Bacchetti

Vice President, Doug Dove

Secretary Joan Dark

Treasurer Doug Dove

Staff

Administrative Director, Chela Zitani

Our Mission

Oakland Heritage Alliance is a non-profit membership organization which advocates the protection, preservation, and revitalization of Oakland’s architectural, historic, cultural and natural resources through publications, education, and direct action.

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OHA Board Member Kevin Dwyer has created a short video, which...

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:36:00 -0800

OHA Board Member Kevin Dwyer has created a short video, which appears on YouTube, to celebrate the completion of the Key System Mural Project. SKS Investments and the Oakland Heritage Alliance commissioned Rocky Rische-Baird, a talented local artist to design and paint the temporary mural which will stay in place until the restoration of the historic Key System at 1100 Broadway is complete. The theme of the mural relates to the history of the Key System (the Bay Area’s first mass public transportation system and the former owner of the historic 1100 Broadway building). Stop by and take a look at this beautiful, dynamic mural when you are downtown!

Action.

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:31:00 -0800

How Old is My House?

By Betty Marvin, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey and William Sturm, Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library

Have you ever asked yourself this question, but haven’t known where to go to find the answer? If so, the following information will help guide you.

The challenge of finding information on the history of your house (or any building in Oakland) may be easy or complex, depending on a number of factors: the age of the building, the number of times it has changed ownership or been altered, and how tenacious you are. To accommodate the most challenging of situations, this brochure provides a detailed description of how to use the resources in the Public Library’s Oakland History Room (OHR) and the Planning Department’s Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey (OCHS). If what follows seems a bit daunting, don’t lose heart. OHR and OCHS staff will help you through the process.

Step 1: Observation

How old does the building look? Is it an 1890s Victorian, a 1920s bungalow, a 1940s ranch house? The City Planning Department’s Rehab Right (available at the library and bookstores), among other books, can help identify styles. In general, if your building appears older than about 1910, start at the OHR, which has early tax records; if later, head for OCHS, for building permits.

Where is the building located? If it is in Central or West Oakland or Adams Point or certain other neighborhood centers, you can usually save work by consulting OCHS, which has researched and evaluated all buildings in these study areas. Over 34 completed volumes of the Survey, available for reference at the OHR and OCHS, contain State Historic Resources Inventory forms on the most notable buildings and districts. You may have found your answer here. If not, continue to step 2.

Step 2: Sanborn Maps

Look at the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Oakland, held by the OHR for approximately 1882 to 1951 and by OCHS for 1912 to the present. Each Sanborn map page depicts an area of about six blocks, giving the location of buildings and some structural information. Sanborn maps were updated periodically after their initial printings. The updates are pasted over the printed page and indicate a new structure, alteration, or change of use. This is also the easiest place to find a building’s pre-1911 address. Make sure that you are looking at the right building, and note its orientation and its distance from the nearest cross streets. You will need this information for the next step.

Step 3: Construction Date

Is the building pre-1925? Consult the Oakland City Tax Assessment Block Books, which the OHR has for 1877 to 1925 (plus tax rolls earlier). The block books contain maps showing property ownership on each block. By comparing assessment figures on a given lot from one year to the next, you can determine when a building was built. A marked rise in the assessment for improvements (often marked “#” or “Imps”) indicates construction activity. It is usually easiest to start in 1925 to determine volume block and lot, and work backwards.

Is it post-1905? Except in areas not annexed until later, every building from late 1905 on should have a City Building Permit. Permits are on microfiche at the City’s Building Department (1330 Broadway, 2nd floor): ask to see your Address Fiche. For buildings older than about 1930, however, this fiche is likely to have the permits for alterations but not for the original construction. OCHS (one floor up) has permit finding aids and the Permit Ledger Books which give date, names of owner and builder and sometimes architect, description, and construction cost. For buildings later than about 1914 you can then return to the Building Department to see if there is additional information filed by permit number in Fiche Tray 7. OCHS also has Contract Notices with permit-like information for some pre-1905 buildings, and information about architects and builders.

Was it built between 1905-1925? For buildings from the years when building permits and block books overlap, it is a good idea to check both, to verify your conclusions. Permits will also document alterations to earlier buildings, and give additional owners’ names.

Step 4: Biography

With owners’ names from the block books and building permits, go to the Oakland City Directories, containing names, addresses, and occupations of the adult (employed, male, householding: varies by year) inhabitants of the city. Published from 1869 to 1943 (plus 1967 and 1969), the directories can establish date and duration of residency. The OHR has a complete set; OCHS has a few at roughly 5-year intervals.

The OHR also offers other biographical data. Through newspaper clippings, obituaries, indexes to county and city histories, and voting registers, profiles of the residents can be formed.

Additional Sources of Information

* U.S. Censuses are available at the Main Library’s Newspaper Room and at other sites including the Mormon Temple, Bancroft Library, Sutro Library, and the California Geneological Society.

* Photographs of Oakland buildings and their occupants can occasionally be found at the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO; 510-597-5053), the Oakland Museum History Department (510-238-3842), U.C. Berkeley’s Bancroft Library (510-642-6481) and Environmental Design Library (510-642-4818), the California Historical Society in San Francisco (415/357-1848), and other public and private collections.

House Search – Oakland History Room

The OHR staff will assist you in filling out this form.

Address of property _____________________________

Estimated date __________________________________

Annexation date ________________________________

Sanborn page ___________________________________

Old address ____________________________________

Block number: pre-1906 _________________________

Block number: post-1906 ________________________

Tract name(s) ___________________________________

Block books: Vol. ________________________________

Lot number(s) __________________________________

Year __________________________________

Owner ________________________________

Land (if shown) $______________________

Improvements $________________________

Personal property $______________________

Reverse directories: 1936_______ 1967_______ 1969______

City Directories__________________________________

Indexes:___Local History Catalog___Vertical Files___Donogh Real Estate Files ___Photo collection___California Architect & Building News___Architect & Engineer

House Search – Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey/Building Department

Existing OCHS forms/files_______________________________

Building permits ______________________________________

Please note that due to budget closures, the below facilities may be closed on some days. Please call ahead.

Oakland History Room, Main Library: 125 14th St., 2nd floor; 510-238-3222. Hours: M-T 10-5:30, W-Th 12-8, F 12-5:30, Sat 10-5:30, Sun 1-5

Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey: 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 3330; 510-238-6879. Hours: M-F 1-5, variable

Building Permits: 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 2nd floor; 510-238-3443. Hours: M-T, Th-F 8-4, W 9-4

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Become a Member.

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:24:00 -0800

There are many benefits of membership to OHA. The first and foremost is the knowledge that you are supporting a non-profit organization committed “to preserving Oakland’s architectural, historic, cultural and natural resources”. In addition, you will receive the OHA News, a quarterly publication on the architectural and social history of Oakland. Other benefits include discounted admission to the house tours, lectures, and book publications, as well as invitations and announcements to special events such as films and performances.

Oakland Heritage Alliance 2008/09 Membership Rates

$45* – INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

Includes subscription to OHA newsletter, periodic e-bulletins, advance notice and discounted pricing on all OHA programs events and tours (one person only).

$65 – DUAL/HOUSEHOLD

Same as above but discounts apply to entire household (up to four persons in same household).

$110 – ORGANIZATION/CORPORATE

$250 - $499 – DORIC LEVEL

$500-$999 – IONIC LEVEL

$1,000+ CORINTHIAN LEVEL

Please use the following link to make your donation and/or purchase a membership.
Donate Now through Network for Good

* Some discounted memberships are available for those unable to afford basic individual membership.

Please contact OHA for more information.

Telephone (510) 763-9218 FAX (510) 763-0014
Mailing Address:
446 17th Street, Suite 301, Oakland, CA 94612
Drop us Email: General Information

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Current Events

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:55:00 -0700

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Lecture Series - Second Thursdays at Chapel of the Chimes

December 10: OHA ANNUAL MEETING, 7:00pm

Join us for the election of Directors of the corporation of the Oakland Heritage Alliance to serve until the annual meeting of members in 2011 and until their respective successors shall be elected. Official ballots will be formally mailed out to all current OHA members. Lecture immediately following the Annual Meeting.

December 10: JAMES MARTIN, 7:30pm

James Martin discusses Islands of San Francisco Bay, from Alcatraz to Angel to the Sisters and the Brothers, join photographer James Martin for an illustrated talk on the islands in San Francisco Bay. James Martin’s extraordinary photographs will bring to life the fascinating story of San Francisco Bay and its many islands. During the last Ice Age, these islands were hills rising from a broad wooded basin. As the earth’s temperature rose, the great ice sheets melted and the sea level rose 300 feet. The broad valley filled from the Pacific to become a great bay, and many of the hills became islands. James began his outdoor adventures rock climbing in Yosemite. He soon developed a passion for exploring and photographing exotic locations, and in the early 1990s he began to shoot professionally for various publications, including the National Geographic, Outdoor and Climbing magazines. Join us as James guides us to the islands of the Bay through his outstanding photographs as he narrates their unique histories, ecology and wildlife.
A book signing will follow.

Lectures are held at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. in Oakland. Admission: $10 OHA Members/$15 Non-members

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OHA Walking Tour Leader Bios

Our tour leaders are enthusiastic and dedicated. For the first time we invite you to read a bit more about them. We thank you for your interest and hope this page inspires you to join us this summer as we further explore our diverse city!

Annalee Allen

20 Years Later: Loma Prieta and Oakland’s Downtown, August 2, 11am

Oakland’s Historic Town Squares, co-leader, September 19, 11am

Annalee Allen is a weekly columnist with the Oakland Tribune, writing on topics relating to landmarks, tours, and local history. The author of two books on Oakland, she is deeply involved in area historic preservation, serving on the boards of the Alameda County Historical Society, and the Pardee Home Museum, among others. As coordinator of the city sponsored Oakland Tours Program, Annalee promotes the work of volunteer guides who lead walking tours of Oakland’s downtown. A past president of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, she also served for several years on the city’s Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board. Annalee has been a resident of Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood since 1978.

Phil Bellman

F. M. “Borax” Smith Estate, 7/18

Phil Bellman is a longtime East Oakland resident with interests in history, architecture and historic preservation. He served as an early member of the OHA Board of Directors and edited the OHA News for several years. He has led tours relating to Borax Smith both in Oakland and the Nevada desert for many years. Professionally, Phil works with Kaiser Permanente in the field of medical education.

Chris Buckley

Rezoning: Facing Oakland’s Future, co-leader, August 1, 10 am

An Oakland native, Chris Buckley retired in 2005 from the Oakland City Planning Department after 30 years as city planner. Duties included Landmarks Board Secretary, major drafter of the Historic Preservation Element of the Oakland General Plan and Design Review Supervisor. He is currently a city planning consultant and has been assisting Oakland Heritage Alliance through the thickets of the Downtown rezoning. He is also an OHA representative on the Commercial Technical Advisory Committee for the Citywide rezoning. His technical knowledge of city planning, zoning and historic preservation methodology is combined with great familiarity with Oakland’s architecture and neighborhoods.

Ernie Chann

Chinatown Oakland, August 9, 10 am* (*optional lunch group after)

Ernest Chann retired as office manager of the Earle Alexander Company. He is a past President of the Chinese Historical Society of America, a Board member of the Alameda County Historical Society, the Camron-Stanford House, the Oakland Asian Culture Center and Oakland Asian branch library. In addition to leading this tour for OHA, Ernie is also an active docent with Oakland Museum History Division, the Chabot Science Center and the Oakland Zoo.

Michael Crowe

Mountain View Cemetery, co-leader, July 11, 10 am

The Fox Theatre and Uptown Art Deco, July 25, (Resevation needed).

Michael Crowe is recently retired from the National Park Service, after 20 years of federal service. He coordinated the National Historic Landmark program, Federal Surplus Property Transfer program, and the income tax rehabilitation program. Michael is founder and former president of the Art Deco Society of California. He is currently a board member of Oakland Heritage Alliance. He is the former president of the California Preservation Foundation and has served as President of the San Francisco Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board. He gives walking tours of Mountain View Cemetery, and Art Deco architectural tours of Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley and Alameda. He holds a Masters in Art History from the University of Cincinnati. He has written numerous articles on preservation topics for national publications and is author of Deco by the Bay: The Art Deco Architecture of the San Francisco Bay Area, and with Bob Bowen, San Francisco Art Deco.

Patricia Dedikian

The Fox Theatre and Uptown Art Deco, July 25, (Resevation needed).

Patricia Dedekian has been a member of Oakland Heritage Alliance since 1982, joining after OHA helped her neighborhood successfully stop a large condominium project that would have culverted a creek and towered above the surrounding craftsman homes. She then helped lead an OHA walking tour of that neighborhood, Richmond Boulevard, several times before moving to the Upper Rockridge area of Oakland.

Patricia joined the OHA Board of Directors in 1998 and began chairing the Fox Theater subcommittee that OHA had formed to help find a way to preserve the Fox. The committee went on to form its own 501c(3) Corporation, Friends of the Oakland Fox, and she served as president of that organization until the restored Fox finally reopened earlier this year.

Patricia continues to live and work in Oakland, and enjoys doing what she can to help make Oakland a cool place to be.

Kathleen diGiovanni

Montclair Village: Oakland’s Early Hill Town, August 23, 1pm

Kathleen Leles DiGiovanni is a long-time Oakland Heritage Association walking tour leader and a regular contributor to the OHA News. A librarian at the Oakland Public Library, Kathleen has logged thousands of hours working in the Oakland History Room, promoting and guiding exploration of Oakland’s history through the library’s rich resources. She thinks it’s the best job in the world. In addition to this year’s Montclair Village tour, Kathleen has also led walking tours for OHA in Glenview and Lakeside Park.

Bruce Douglas and Sue Mark

Oakland’s Historic Town Squares, 9/19

marksearch, an Oakland wife-husband team (Bruce Douglas + Sue Mark), has been creating community art projects since 2000. In their unique brand of interdisciplinary art, marksearch creates interactive projects inviting people to reflect upon their communities and increase their awareness of the natural environment within the urban fabric. Their methodology synthesizes their varied backgrounds: Bruce Douglas, a Professional Mechanical Engineer, brings green-building skills, extensive knowledge of local creek and environmental issues and community-building activities; Sue Mark, with a BA in philosophy and linguistics and an MFA from the California College of the Arts, has created national and international community-based public art projects about local history and community collaboration since 1996.

Their ecologically and socially-based projects rely on daily life experience, weaving the needs and views of local agencies and the public with the specific qualities of local history, the built environment, and the ecosystem. Using kinetic vehicles, traveling signage, unconventional surveys, and official logos, they craft a conversational commons, pushing the boundaries of how community-based art can influence public policy. The OHA walking tour is part of their current project, 10,000 Steps, a community driven parks awareness effort focusing on building stewardship for downtown Oakland’s historic squares. 10,000 Steps will result in a self-guided walking tour that will lead people to these four parks. To learn more about the project, visit www.10000stepsoakland.org

Dennis Evanosky

Laurel: Dairies, Cherries and Bungalows, July 19, 10 am

Scaling Leona Heights, August 16, 10 am

The Civil War at Mountain View, September 20, 10 am

Dennis Evanosky is the city editor at the Alameda Sun and a free-lance writer with five published books: East Bay Then and Now; San Francisco in Photographs; San Francisco Then and Now; Oakland’s Laurel District; Mountain View Cemetery and Alameda’s Architectural Treasure Chest. He is currently the editor of the Alameda County Historical Society’s newsletter. Dennis served the Oakland Heritage Alliance as its newsletter editor for two years. He has received several Partners in Preservation Awards, with Steve Mix and Eric Turowski for a calendar featuring the Oakland Laurel district’s history; for restoring the Civil War section of Mountain View Cemetery; and for assisting Bill Caldwell with Oakland: A Photographic Journey. He has since teamed with Eric J. Kos to create 11 more history calendars featuring both Oakland and Alameda. Eric and Dennis also created the web site www.oaklandhistory.com.Dennis leads tours for Oakland Heritage Alliance that include the Laurel and Dimond Districts, Leona Heights, the Estuary, Preservation Park and the Pardee Home Museum; the Redwoods and Mountain View Cemetery’s connection to the Civil War.

Karen Fiene

Mills College Campus, September 13, 2 pm

I have a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee and have been practicing architecture in the Bay Area since ’82 (27 years). I spent 13 years with the firm of EHDD Architects where I served the last 3 years as President – (they have done many of the buildings on the Mills campus including Aron Arts Center, Olin Library, Mills Hall Restoration, Natural Sciences Building and most recently, the Music Building Renovation.) I’ve been the Campus Architect for the last 3 ½ years and have overseen our new capital projects including: Courtyard Townhouses, Natural Sciences Building, Music Building Renovation and currently the new Graduate School of Business. This is a dream job for me to be surrounded by such rich historic architecture and landscape design and to be able to work with an institution whose goal is that of educating women to become leaders of the 21^st century!

Bert Gordon

Mills College Campus, September 13, 2 pm

Professor of European History – Mills College
Dr. Gordon has great breadth of experience at Mills from 1969 to the present, both in administrative and teaching capacities. He has been Acting Provost and Dean of Faculty, and taught courses as varied as “The History of Mills College: From Seminary to Sesquicentennial”, “Eastern Europe, the Russian Revolution, and the Evolution of the European Union”, “History of Travel and Tourism in the Western World”, and “Modern French History”. He is on the editorial board, Journal of Tourism History, and co-editor, H-Travel network, part of H-Net (Electronic History Network). He edited “Historical Dictionary of World War II France: The Occupation, Vichy and the Resistance, 1938-1946”, and authored “Collaborationism in France during the Second World War”. Dr. Gordon co-leads the Mills College tour with architect Karen Feine.

Sara Fetterly

Stroll a Transformed Shoreline, August 29, 10 am

Sara Fetterly began working as a naturalist for the East Bay Regional Park District in 2001 and has recently moved from Ardenwood Historic Farm to Crab Cove. Prior to her work with EBRPD, she spent several years as a Peace Corps volunteer, did field research as both a wildlife biologist and a marine biologist, and was the school programs director for Coyote Point Museum. Sara holds a B.A. degree in Environmental Geography from San Diego State University as well as a Masters of Education from the University of San Francisco. In her spare time she loves traveling, hiking, camping, snowboarding, and spending time with her family.

Daniel Levy

Walking the Key System’s C Line, August 15, 10 am* (*optional extension)

I cannot remember a time when I did not love trains. In my Trestle Glen home, I used to go exploring in my backyard, fantasizing that I would find some old Key System track. When I got older, I explored old streetcar right of ways with my dad and created a website with the photos I took (www.oberail.org). For my Eagle Scout project, I wanted to share my love and knowledge of the Sacramento Northern Railway, so I researched, designed and installed informational signs on the Temescal and Montclair bike paths, where the trains ran. My love of transportation turned to love of cities as I continued to explore and as I worked at AC Transit last summer. I am interested in bringing Oakland to its full potential and making public transportation an attractive alternative to the automobile.

Ruby Long

Piedmont Avenue, August 8, 10am

Ruby Long has lived in the Piedmont Avenue area of Oakland and studied its history for more than 15 years. She has led local walking tours for the Oakland Heritage Alliance, the Sierra Club and Pleasant Valley Adult School. In addition, she has taken classes and done independent research in Oakland and Berkeley history. She is a docent at the UC Botanical Garden, where she leads tours and is part of the Fall docent class at Mountain View Cemetery.

Pamela Magnuson-Peddle

Jingletown: Industry to Art, July 26, 10 am

Pamela Magnuson-Peddle loves the stories old buildings tell. She is an active member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, including six years on the board and one year as President, and leads walking tours of both the Fruitvale and Laurel districts. Her published histories include articles for the Oakland Heritage Alliance Newsletter, MacArthur Metro, and the Alameda County Historical Society newsletter. She has also written two self-guided walking tours of Oakland neighborhoods: Waterfront Warehouse District and Fruitvale on Foot.

Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas (see Bruce Douglas and Sue Mark, above)

Oakland’s Historic Town Squares, 9/19

Betty Marvin

Oakland Point and the West Oakland Marsh, August 30, 10 am

Betty Marvin studies local history and buildings in the Oakland City Planning Department’s Cultural Heritage Survey project.

Celia McCarthy

Rail Meets Water: Then and Now, August 22 10 am

Celia McCarthy has been working as an Environmental Planner at the Port of Oakland for twelve years. She has been responsible for implementation of many cultural resources mitigation measures, including developing interpretive materials at several locations, publishing Pacific Gateway: An Illustrated History of the Port of Oakland, by Woodruff Minor, completing Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation of the Oaklalnd Harbor Training Walls and the Todd Shipyard, and establishing the Port’s photographic archives. Celia is a graduate of the Master’s Program in Cultural Resources Management at Sonoma State University.

Woody Minor

Amelia’s Airport: Oakland’s Historic North Field, 7/12

Woodruff Minor is a consultant and writer specializing in history and architecture. His books include On the Bay: A Centennial History of the Encinal Yacht Club, Pacific Gateway: An Illustrated History of the Port of Oakland, The Architecture of Ratcliff, and the recently published A Home in Alameda.

Jane Powell

The Bungalows of Fairview Park, July 25, 2 pm

Labeled “the bad girl of bungalow writing”, Jane Powell is a restoration consultant, house restorer, lecturer, and author of six books, including Bungalow Kitchens, Bungalow Bathrooms, Bungalow Details: Exterior, Bungalow Details: Interior, Bungalow: The Ultimate Arts and Crafts Home, and Linoleum. She has written for magazines including Old House Journal, Style 1900, and American Bungalow, and many local publications including oaklandnews.com. She has also appeared on HGTV’s Curb Appeal and Food Network’s Ultimate Kitchens.A popular and entertaining speaker, Jane has lectured at conferences including Pasadena’s Craftsman Weekend, Seattle’s Bungalow Fair, and many others. She has also spoken for preservation organizations, home builders groups, and retail businesses across the country.As a hands-on restorer, she has brought ten vintage homes back to life and sold them to appreciative buyers, and continues the ongoing restoration of her own home, the 1905 Jesse Matteson house.

Ray Raineri

Temescal: A Bit of Old Italy, September 12, 10 am

Veteran tour leader-historic photo archivist and Oakland native, Raymond Raineri grew up in the Temescal district and graduated from Oakland Tech High School with the June graduating class of 1957. Along with anecdotes of his youth and Italian-American experience in Oakland, he shares stories of the settlers, the work of Italian immigrants and their early enterprises, and photos from his personal historical photo collection. Some of his photos of Temescal history are posted on Oakland Tech’s history page: http://oaklandtech.com/staff/about-tech/photos-history Don’t miss the ‘Notable Alumni’ link, also at the Oakland Tech site. Ray graduated from San Francisco State with a BA in Sociology, worked for 30 years for the Alameda County probation department, and has been retired for 20 years. He is an active member of many organizations; among those are the Oakland Heritage Alliance, the Alameda County Historical Society, The Piedmont Historical Society, The Emeryville Historical Society, The Sons of Italy, and the Colombo Club.

Naomi Schiff

Rezoning: Facing Oakland’s Future, co-leader, August 1, 10 am

Naomi Schiff, board member and former OHA president, has been advocating historic preservation in Oakland since 1980. During the current zoning update, she has been working to secure increased protection for historic resources in the downtown area. She was a founding board member of Friends of the Oakland Fox. She is currently serving on the technical advisory committee for the citywide residential zoning update. In its third historic location in downtown Oakland, her small business is located in the Press Building on 12th Street. Favorite project: helping to convince the school district to preserve 550 wooden windows at Oakland Tech.

Barbara Smith

Barbara Smith comes from a long line of East Bay natives; her two grandmothers were born in Oakland in the 1860’s. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, she was one of the original history docents at the Oakland Museum of California. She is the founder of the docent program at Oakland’s historic Mountain View Cemetery where she has led history tours since the 1970’s.

Long active in the community, she is president of Contra Costa for Every Generation, a county-wide nonprofit organization with the mission to make Contra Costa’s communities good places to age. She and her husband, Heber Smith, live in Alamo and are the parents of three daughters and have seven grandchildren and one great grandson.

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Ongoing Meetings.

Oakland City Planning Commission

Alternate Wednesdays, time varies, City Hall
Call (510) 238-3941

Oakland City Council
Tuesdays at 7:30pm City Hall, Council Chambers

Call (510) 238-3941 or check www.oaklandnet.com for dates.

Oakland Heritage Alliance
Board of Directors, first Tuesday 6-8pm, 444 17th Street
PGA building, Call (510) 763-9218

Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
2nd Monday, 4-8pm, City Hall, Hearing Room
Call (510) 238-3941

OHA will list events, activities and meetings related to history and preservation that may be of interest to our members. To submit items: Event Information

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

Oakland Heritage Alliance Postcard Collection Protected Images,...

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:38:00 -0700

Oakland Heritage Alliance Postcard Collection

Protected Images, Copyright OHA 2009

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

Lecture Series.

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:55:00 -0700

Thursday, March 12, 2009

On March 12, Bill Essert, president and CEO of Wooden Window, an Oakland company that specializes in constructing and restoring wooden windows and doors, will discuss “Why the Green Movement is Good for Restoration.”

Bill will illuminate aspects of the Green Movement and how related trends are impacting individuals and municipalities. He will give us examples of changing habits by home owners, and changing policies of cities, those who own historic buildings and how this relates to fenestration (windows).

Folks will also have a chance to meet “Betsey” —a 10-ton, 16 by 25-foot computerized woodworking machine, tour the plant, and learn about how new technology is changing the nature of doors and windows, as well as their fabrication and restoration. Bill will offer some predictions about home improvement projects and restoration, vis-à-vis the Green movement. A question and answer period will follow to allow people the opportunity to ask specific questions about window care and restoration. Lecture and tour starts at 7:30 p.m., Wooden Window, 849 29^th Street (1/2 block off San Pablo). OHA members $8; general $10.

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OHA will list events, activities and meetings related to history and preservation that may be of interest to our members. To submit items: Event Information

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

OHA Sponsors.

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:10:00 -0700

The Oakland Heritage Alliance depends on the generous support of its members, government grants and corporate and individual donors which include:

Lifemark Group/Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland
www.lifemarkgroup.com Providing Premier End of Life Services for the Bay Region

The Clorox Company Foundation

Mo Mashoon, Mash Petroleum Inc.

Wycliffe DeLong, DeLong Sweet Foundation

Steven Wolmark, SKS Investments

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

MAPS & GUIDES Walk Oakland! / Map and Local Guides,...

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:29:00 -0700

MAPS & GUIDES

Walk Oakland! / Map and Local Guides, Walkways, Neighborhoods, Landmarks, including Bike Routes and Street Grades. Published by the City of Oakland. For a copy, please send $4.50 (which includes postage and sales tax) to address below.

Fruitvale on Foot / Three Historic Walking Tours of Oakland’s Fruitvale Neighborhood. The Oakland Heritage Alliance has just published a new walking guide to the Fruitvale neighborhood that includes the Fruitvale Commercial District, Jingletown, and the Peralta Hacienda neighborhood. For a copy, please send $6.50 (which includes postage and sales tax) to address below.

Oakland Heritage Alliance, 446 17th St., Suite 301, Oakland, CA 94612.

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

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We Love Volunteers!

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:43:00 -0700

Volunteers will be involved in the coordination of a “Welcome Table” prior to each tour. Tours take place Saturdays and Sundays. This position will schedule additional walking tour volunteers, and provide a welcoming meeting place at each tour where participants can check-in and/or purchase tickets. The Volunteer Community Outreach Worker will encourage community engagement by promoting membership in OHA.

Drop us an email for more information: Volunteer Information

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

Weekly Meetings.

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:52:00 -0700

Oakland City Planning Commission
Alternate Wednesdays, time varies, City Hall
Call (510) 238-3941

Oakland City Council
Every Tuesday 7:30pm City Hall, Council Chambers
Call (510) 238-3941

Oakland Heritage Alliance
Board of Directors, first Tuesday 6-8pm, 444 17th Street
PGA building, Call (510) 763-9218

Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
2nd Monday, 4-8pm, City Hall, Hearing Room
Call (510) 238-3941

OHA will list events, activities and meetings related to history and preservation that may be of interest to our members. Submit items, Call (510) 763-9218 or Email.

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

Partners in Preservation

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:20:00 -0700

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2009 Partners in Preservation awards event. It was a huge success! Please click the link below to watch a stunning slideshow of the night’s winners.

2009 PIP Winners

2008 PIP Winners

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

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Contact & Resources.

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:27:00 -0700

OHA contact information.

Telephone (510) 763-9218 FAX (510) 763-0014
Mailing Address:
446 17th Street, Suite 301, Oakland, CA 94612
Drop us Email: General Information

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

__________________________________

OTHER RESOURCES

OHA LANDMARKS LIST - Download PDF

City of Oakland

Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau

Oaklandexplorer.com CEDA-sponsored website for economic development opportunities, available real estate, development sites and print outs of demographic reports (requires Autodesk Mapviewer).

Oakland Tours Program

Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board

Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey (please contact Oakland City Directory)

Oakland Main Library History Room (Special Collections)

Oakland Shines (Volunteer Network)

Community & Economic Development Agency (CEDA)

Other Organizations

Alameda County Historical Society

American Institute of Architects

American Society of Landscape Architects

Architecture Research Institute

California Historical Society

California Heritage Collection

California Mission Studies Association

Chamber of Commerce

Society of Architectural Historians

Other Preservation Organizations

California

Architectural Heritage Association of Monterey County

Art Deco Society of California

Alameda Architectural Preservation Association

Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association

California Preservation Foundation

Carmel Heritage Society

Contra Costa Historical Society

Friends of the Oakland Fox

Los Angeles Conservancy

Monterey County Historical Resources

Monterey County Historical Society

Pacific Grove Heritage Society

Preservation Action Council of San Jose

The Presidio Trust

The Potomac Organization (U.S.S. Potomac)

San Francisco Architectural Heritage

Victorian Alliance of San Francisco

Victorian Preservation Association of Santa Clara Valley

National

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

America the Beautiful Fund

Heritage Preservation

National Main Street Center

National Preservation Institute

National Register of Historic Places

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation Library - University of Maryland

Preservation Action

Other Resources

Bancroft Library - University of Calif. at Berkeley

California Office of Historic Preservation

California State Historical Landmarks

National Building Museum

National Center for Preservation Technology

Oakland on the Move (Children’s History of Oakland)

Preservation Directory

www.oaklandhistory.com

U.C. Berkeley Environmental Design Library - Resources

Local Museums

Alameda Museum

Ebony Museum of Art 1034 14th Street. 510-763-0141. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mills College Art Museum

The Museum of African American Technology Science Village

The Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA)

Oakland Museum

U.S.S. Hornet Museum

Western Aerospace Museum

Historic Houses & Buildings Open to the Public

The following houses of historical interest are open to the public on an ongoing basis. Please call for days and hours of operation.

Oakland

African-American Museum and Library (the renovated Charles Greene Library) 659 14th Street. Tuesday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m www.oaklandlibrary.org/AAMLO/index.html

Camron-Stanford House: an 1876 Italianate house on Lake Merritt. 1418 Lakeshore Drive. Tours 11 a.m-4 p.m. on Wednesdays and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. $4/$2 (free first Sunday). (510)444-1876. www.cshouse.org

Chapel of the Chimes: Oakland Landmark, Mausoleum and Columbarium offers free docent tours at 10 a.m. on third Saturdays. 4499 Piedmont Ave. (510) 228-3207 www.lifemarkgroup.com/oakland/index.html

Cohen-Bray House: an 1884 Stick Eastlake with original interiors. 1440 29th Street. Tours at 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday or by appointment. $5. (510)532-0704. www.cohen-brayhouse.info

Dunsmuir House & Gardens: Neo-classical Revival mansion offers free access to its grounds 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 2960 Peralta Oaks Court. For more information on the grounds and on mansion tours (charge), 2960 Peralta Oaks Court. (510)615-5555 www.dunsmuir.org

Mountain View Cemetery offers free docent tours at 10 a.m. on second Saturdays. 5000 Piedmont Ave. (510) 658-2588. www.mountainviewcemetery.org

Paramount Theatre, a restored Art Deco movie palace, offers $1 tours of areas not usually open to the public. Learn the theater’s history, at 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturday. 2025 Broadway. (510) 893-2300. www.paramounttheatre.com

Pardee Home Museum: For tour information please call (510)444-2187. www.pardeehome.org

Peralta House: an 1870 Italianate Victorian house, sits on the original hacienda site of the 1820 Peralta land grant. This building which has been described as the “heart and soul of Oakland” is is a city and state landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 2465 34th Avenue and open every Wednesday - Friday 1-3pm. Please call for more information (510)532-9142. www.peraltahacienda.org

Preservation Park: an enclave of historic buildings, comprised of five in their original location, and eleven that were moved to the site and saved from demolition. The buildings date from 1870 to 1911. Currently a center for non-profit organizations and small businesses. Available for meetings, performances, and festivities. 1233 Preservation Parkway, between 12th and 13th. Please call for more information (510)874-7580. www.preservationpark.com

East Bay

Ardenwood Historic Farm: a living working 205 acre farm with buildings from 1870’s to 1920’s. Call for information on hours and operation. 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont. (510) 562-PARK. www.fremont.gov/Recreation/ArdenwoodPark/default.htm

Alvarado Adobe and Blume House: 1848 Spanish adobe and 1905 farmhouse. Call for information on hours and operation. 1 Alvarado Square, San Pablo. (510)215-3205. www.ci.san-pablo.ca.us/main/historicalsociety.htm

Joel Clayton House: rural 1860 farmhouse. Call for information on hours and operation. 6101 Main Street, Clayton. (925)672-0240.

John Muir House: 1882 Italianate Victorian with . Home of John Muir from 1890-1914, now part of the National Park Service. Call for information on hours and operation. 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez. (925)228-8860. www.nps.gov/jomu

McConaghy Estate: 1886 Victorian farmhouse. For more information on events and hours, contact the Hayward Area Historical Society. 18701 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. (510)581-0223. www.haywardareahistory.org/mcconaghyhouse.asp

Shadelands: 1902 Colonial Revival farmhouse. Call for information on hours and operation. 2660 Ignacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. (925)935-7871. www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/header.asp?genericId=1&CatID=3&SubCatID=159

Shinn House: 1876 farmhouse and 4 1/2 acre park. Call for information on hours and operation. 1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, (510)581-0223. www.museumoflocalhistory.org/pages/shinn.htm

Tao House: Eugene O’Neil’s house on 13 acres. Built in 1937 in the Spanish Mediterranean style. Now part of the National Park Service. Call for information on hours and operation (925)838-0249. www.nps.gov/euon

South Bay

Harris-Lass House: 1865 Italianate house with barn and tank house. Call for information on hours and operation. 1889 Market Street, Santa Clara. (408)249-7905. www.geocities.com/SoHo/Veranda/4103/index.html

San Jose History Park: 19th century hotel, stable, bank, farmhouse, post office and fire house. Call for information on hours and operation. 1600 Center Road, San Jose. (408)249-7905. www.historysanjose.org

Peninsula

Filoli: 1915 Willis Polk designed Georgian style mansion with additional elements on 654 acres. Call for information on hours and operation. 86 Canada Road, Woodside. (650)364-8300. www.filoli.org

Kohl Mansion: 1914 English Tudor home on 40 acre grounds. Call for information on hours and operation. 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame. (650)992-4668. www.dakan.net/kohl_mansion.htm

Lathrop House: 1863 Gothic Revival with a restored interior and exterior. Call for information on hours and operation. 627 Hamilton, Street, Redwood City. (650)365-5564. www.lathrophouse.org

Los Altos History House and Museum: 1930’s Shingle style farmhouse. Call for information on hours and operation. 51 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos. (650)948-9427. www.losaltoshistory.org

Ralston Hall: 1860’s Italian villa style mansion located on the grounds of the College of Notre Dame. Originally built for William Ralston, mining baron (Comstock), banker (Bank of California), and hotelier (S.F. Palace Hotel). Call for information on hours and operation. 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont. (650)508-3501. www.ralstonhall.com

Sanchez Adobe: 1846 Spanish adobe used as a hotel, speakeasy and artichoke storage shed. Call for information on hours and operation. 1000 Linda Mar, Pacifica. (650)359-4462. www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/home/0„5556687_12313319_12368212,00.html

San Francisco

Haas-Lilienthal House: 1886 Queen Anne with original interiors. 2007 Franklin Street, San Francisco. Call for information on hours and operation (415)441-3004. www.sfheritage.org/house.html

Octagon House: 1861 cupola topped eight-sided house. 2645 Gough Street, San Francisco. Call for information on hours and operation (415)441-7512. www.nscda.org/museums/california.htm

San Francisco Maritime National Museum

Victorian Englander House: 1880 Italianate Victorian. 807 Franklin Street, San Francisco. www.victorianenglanderhouse.com

Out of the Area

Tor House Foundation - Robinson Jeffers House, Carmel, CA

Neighborhood Links, Regional Resources and other Non-profit Organizations

44th Street & Shafter Group

511 Transit (Comprehensive Transit Information for the Bay Area)

Bay Area Rapid Transit

Dimond Neighborhood

East Bay Bicycle Coalition

East Bay Municipal Utility District

East Bay Regional Park District

Fruitvale Mainstreet Program (Unity Council)

Glenview Neighborhood Organization

Lakeside Apartment Neighborhood Association

League of Women’s Voters of Oakland

Millsmount Neighborhood

North Lake Neighborhood Group

North Hills Phoenix Association

Piedmont Avenue Neighborhood Improvement League

Piedmont Pines Club, Inc.

Redwood Heights Improvement Association

Rockridge Community Planning Council

San Antonio Community Development Corporation

Splashpad Neighborhood Forum

Sequoyah Hills Homeowners Association

Sierra Club - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

Uptown Chinatown Organization

Waterfront Action

Walking Tours

Black Panther Legacy Tour conducted by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation. Eighteen sites significant in the history of the Black Panther Party, last Saturday of each month, noon-2:30 p.m. Advance tickets: $20 adults, $15 students. Day of tour: $25. Departs from West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Ave. (510) 986-0660. www.blackpanthertours.com

Mountain View Cemetery offers free docent tours at 10 a.m. on second Saturdays. 5000 Piedmont Ave. (510) 658-2588. www.mountainviewcemetery.org

Oakland Tours Program: Free Admission. Discover Oakland’s changing skyline, landmarks, churches and highrises on one of the free city-sponsored downtown guided walking tours. For a tour schedule, call (510) 238-3234 or visit http://www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours.

School Tours: please see the Oakland Tours Program above.

Miscellaneous

Beat Museum

Berkeley Path Wanderers

Books on Oakland (Wikipedia)

California Genealogical Society

Cinema Treasures

Harbor Tug “City of Oakland”

Berkeley Hillside Club

Noehill

Oakland Cleveland Cascades Restoration Project

Oaklandish

Oakland Oaks of 1948

Oakland Yellowjackets

Weloveoakland.com

Action / Volunteer / Resources / Archives / Partners in Preservation

Postcard Collection / Store / Sponsors / Contact

OHA Archives.

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:12:00 -0700

2009 ARCHIVES

Lecture Series

November 12: ANNALEE ALLEN, 7:30pm

Commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Ms. Allen will recall how this disaster impacted Oakland and how preservationists rallied
to successfully save some of the city’s most treasured historic buildings, slated for demolition. Allen is a chairwoman of the Alameda County Historical Commission, an Alameda County Historical Society board member and coordinator of the city-sponsored Oakland Tours Program. She also writes a weekly column on local landmarks and history for the Oakland Tribune.

2009 House and Garden Tour -Storybook Houses of FERNWOOD

Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Please join us for a self-guided tour of nine picturesque and charming 1920s homes in the hidden Fernwood neighborhood, in the Montclair District of Oakland. House styles reflect the Period Revival architecture of the Twenties, with Tudoresque, Norman, Mission Revival, and First Bay Area Tradition examples. The historic setting remains intact, with its bridges over Temescal Creek, beautiful trees and gardens, a unique and romantic hideaway.

Summer Walking Tours

Donation: $10 OHA members, $15 general for most tours. Members may purchase a 5-tour pass for $40. Sign up or renew your membership on the day of the tour, and the tour is free.

Please meet 15 minutes before listed time for registration. Comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen are recommended. Bring water. In case of rain, the tour will be cancelled. We encourage the use of public transportation; call BART at 510-465-2278 or AC Transit at 510-839-2882 for information.

Saturday, September 12, 10 am–1:00 pm

Temescal: A Bit Of Old Italy

• In front of Genova Delicatessen, 5095 Telegraph Ave. (in Temescal Shopping Plaza)

Explore the commercial district that developed around the Oakland Street Railway car barn, built in 1870. Visit the sites of pioneering enterprises, including a hotel, a brewery, the old Senator Theater, the original Home for the Deaf and Blind and the second Hickory Pit Restaurant. See early 20th century stores, which are still in use. Discover residential streets with period homes, though close to the commercial bustle their setting is remarkably tranquil. A level walk. —Ray Raineri

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Sunday, September 13, 2 pm–4 pm

Mills College Campus

• In front of Mills Hall on the Mills College Campus

A walking tour of the eucalyptus tree-lined Mills College campus. Stops include Mills Hall, one of California’s earliest buildings to have gas lights, the Susan Mills room, furnished with artifacts from one of the founders of the college, the President’s house, dating to the 1860s, and Julia Morgan structures including the Campanile, which withstood the 1906 earthquake, and the Margaret Carnegie library. Architectural and historical commentary by specialists, moderate walking, wheelchair accessible. A level walk. —Karen Fiene & Bert Gordon

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Saturday, September 19, 11 am–1:30 pm

Oakland’s Historic Town Squares

• Corner of 9th St. and Jackson St., next to Madison Square Park

New! In 1853, town surveyor Julius Kellersberger mapped out Oakland using a grid. That early map included seven squares set aside for public use. This walk will explore four of those squares and see how they are used today and visit a gallery to view relevant historic maps, exhibits and materials. Parks conservers Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas, from the nonprofit www.10000stepsOakland.org, will share future plans for these 19th century gems. Refreshments graciously provided by Whole Foods Market. A level walk. —Annalee Allen, Sue Mark & Bruce Douglas

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Sunday, September 20, 10 am–1:30 pm

The Civil War at Mountain View Cemetery

• Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave.

Get to know Civil War-era denizens at Mountain View. Meet Senator William McKendree Gwin, David Doughty Colton and Jack Hayes. Learn about their involvement in an 1859 duel. We’ll also meet “drummer boy” Annie Glud, Dr. Chloe Buckel and other veterans from both sides of the conflict. The 31⁄2 hour tour highlights the restored Grand Army of the Republic plot, final resting place for over 200 veterans. A hilly walk. —Dennis Evanosky

**Final Walking Tour of the season**

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Saturday, July 11, 10 am–12:30 pm

Mountain View Cemetery

• Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave.

Walk into the past in California’s most historic cemetery to meet some of our state’s early movers and shakers along with the monuments that preserve their memory. Charles Crocker, Domingo Ghirardelli and Samuel Merritt are among those you will encounter. A hilly walk.—Barbara Smith and Michael Crowe

Sunday, July 12, 10 am–12:30 pm

Amelia’s Airport: Oakland’s Historic North Field

• Business Jet Center, 9351 Earhart Rd. (west on Hegenberger Rd. from 880, cross Doolittle. Immediately turn right on Earhart). Park in lot across from the building; assemble under the trees.

Old Oakland Airport (North Field), dedicated by Charles Lindbergh and often visited by Amelia Earhart, is one of our most historic aviation sites. Its original five hangars, administration building, and hotel—built between 1927 and 1929—are largely intact. A level walk. You may add a visit to the Western Aerospace Museum (adults $9, seniors $8, children $5).—Woody Minor

Saturday, July 18, 10 am–12 pm

F. M. “Borax” Smith Estate

• Redwood tree, corner of McKinley Ave. and Home Place East (1 block off Park Blvd.)

Visit remnants of Arbor Villa, Francis Marion “Borax” Smith’s palatial estate. Smith founded an international industry (“20-Mule Team Borax”), established the Key Route System, and became a famous and colorful entrepreneur. The tour visits the 9th Avenue palm trees, the Mary R. Smith Cottages, and historic houses, with examples by Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan. A hilly walk. —Phil Bellman

Sunday, July 19, 10 am–12:30 pm

Laurel: Cherries,Dairies, and Bungalows

• Lucky’s parking lot, 4055 MacArthur Blvd.

Once an area of dairies and vegetable gardens, the Laurel district emerged in 1909 when local streetcars extended service to 38th Ave. and Hopkins (now MacArthur). With growing industry in East Oakland, homes and businesses sprouted by the 1920s. The tour highlights Laurel’s history and architecture—with fine examples of ’20s brick and tile commercial buildings. A level walk. —Dennis Evanosky

Saturday, July 25, 10 am–12:00 pm

The Fox Oakland Theater And Uptown Art Deco

• By Reservation Only! Limited to 50 people - SOLD OUT!!!!

NEW! Oakland’s distinctive 1920s–30s retail and entertainment district has one of the finest collections of Art Deco and terra cotta buildings on the West Coast. The tour includes the Floral Depot, (Flora restaurant), Paramount Theatre, I. Magnin building, and a peek inside the restored Fox Oakland Theater, shuttered for nearly 40 years. After much effort by many, the Fox shines. Enjoy its splendor! A level walk. —Michael Crowe & Patricia Dedekian

Saturday, July 25, 2:00 pm–4:30 pm

The Bungalows Of Fairview Park

• Northwest corner of College Ave. and Alcatraz

NEW! The homes now known as craftsman bungalows originated in California around the turn of the 20th-century. Descended from a house type in India, here they took on a distinctive flavor before being exported to the rest of the U.S. as California Bungalows. With renowned Arts and Crafts expert Jane Powell, explore the bungalows and brown shingles along Alcatraz, Benvenue, Hillegass, and other streets of Fairview Park, a typical early 20th-century tract where architect-designed houses and plan book bungalows mingle. A level walk. —Jane Powell

Sunday, July 26, 10 am–12:30 pm

Jingletown: Industry To Art

• Corner of Lancaster and Glascock Streets

Explore Jingletown’s shoreline. An early Oakland industrial center—home to mills, canneries and war-time industry—its factories were some of the earliest converted to artists lofts. This eclectic neighborhood is now home to Oakland Museum’s White Elephant Sale and has recently exploded with residential “loft style” development. A level walk. —Pamela Magnuson-Peddle

Saturday, August 1, 10 am–12:30 pm

Rezoning: Facing Oakland’s Future

• At the Key System Mural, 11th and Broadway (northeast corner), near BART 12th Street Station

NEW! Density, height, views and historic preservation issues make for contentious dialogue about how Oakland will grow. We’ll walk for about 60 minutes and review the city’s proposed height maps, OHA ideas for historic areas, look at some of our downtown historic resources, and discuss how zoning presents opportunities to safeguard historic areas while still allowing for future development. A level walk. —Chris Buckley & Naomi Schiff

Sunday, August 2, 11 am–1 pm

20 Years Later: Loma Prieta And Oakland’s Downtown

• African American Museum and Library, 659 14th Street

On October 17, 1989, a 7.1earthquake struck and changed our Bay Area forever. Many of Oakland’s important landmarks, including City Hall, the Broadway Building, and The Rotunda, suffered significant structural damage and risked demolition. Find out how these buildings were saved and restored, and how preservation became the key to Oakland downtown’s rebirth. A level walk. —Annalee Allen

Saturday, August 8, 10 pm - 12 pm

Piedmont Avenue - UPDATE!

• Piedmont Avenue Elementary School, 4314 Piedmont Ave. at John St.

Changed tour info: This area, now densely residential, with a mix of single-family houses and condos, with its well-known dining district, was once rolling hills with creeks running through small farms and the large holdings of wealthy landowners. This tour begins in the 1860’s, at Piedmont Avenue School. From there, we’ll take a steep uphill route to the Piedmont/Oakland border, with estate-like homes on one side and apartment multi-plexes on the other. We’ll discover an Art Deco beauty with a secret, and a tiny park as we cross Glen Echo Creek. On Piedmont Avenue, we’ll pass establishments, such as Long’s Drugs and Piedmont Market, which anchored the district in the early 20^th century and our route will follow that of the horse car and streetcar lines, past the old Key Route depot, to Mountain View Cemetery. Some steep uphill. —Ruby Long

Sunday, August 9, 10 am–12:30 pm*

Chinatown Oakland

• At the fountain of Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 9th St. between Webster and Franklin Streets

San Francisco’s Chinatown may be a tourist attraction, but Oakland’s is a vital, vibrant economic force, ever changing in social dynamics—and culturally diverse. Learn about this fascinating neighborhood and its evolution to “Asiatown” with many recent immigrants from different countries in Southeast Asia. Parking under Pacific Renaissance Plaza. *Optional lunch group after. A brisk, level walk. —Ernie Chann

Saturday, August 15, 10 am–12:00 noon*

Walking The Key System’s C Line

• MacArthur BART Station underpass on 40th Street. Tour does not loop.

NEW! Follow early day Key System commuters on their way to the Key ferries. Walk past the train yard, through the Key System 40th Street Cut, and over to the old Key System station and mural at Piedmont Avenue. Learn about the Key System’s plan to build a line though Piedmont and Oakland to San Jose. Tour ends on Piedmont Avenue, walk or bus back to BART. *Optional extension after lunch. A level walk. —Daniel Levy

Sunday, August 16, 10 am–1:30 pm

Scaling Leona Heights

• McDonell Ave. and Mountain Boulevard

Hike the woods and fire trails of the Leona Greenbelt in East Oakland to see Leona Mine, Leona Creek, Leona Hotel site, Leona trolley line end point and relics of industrial activity and redwood lumbering in early days. Hike has its ups and downs, but rewards with breathtaking views. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, a snack and binoculars or a camera. Moderately difficult walk. —Dennis Evanosky

Saturday, August 22, 10 am–12:30 pm

Rail Meets Water: Then And Now

• Follow 7th St. west to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. Meet in the parking lot.

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park preserves a wealth of Oakland history. Moles and wharves met passengers and freight riding the transcontinental railroads. See the wall that “trained” the Oakland estuary for ship traffic. Walk the footprint of the Oakland Naval Supply Center, the largest facility of its kind in the world. See the Hanjin container terminal, today’s meeting of rail and water in Oakland. Hear front-line staff talk about preservation of history as well as the challenges of the present and future. A mostly level walk.—Celia McCarthy

Sunday, August 23, 1pm–3:30 pm

Montclair Village: Oakland’s Early Hill Town

• Corner of Thornhill Drive and Mountain Blvd., across from the Montclair Women’s Club Building

Explore the history and architecture of Montclair Village, a vibrant hill community. From the early toll road to the freeways, learn about Montclair’s social, residential and commercial development. Montclair’s distinctive buildings—the fire station, women’s club, recreation center, library and more will be featured on this walk. A gently sloping walk. —Kathleen diGiovanni

Saturday, August 29, 10 am–12 noon

Stroll ALONG A Transformed Shoreline

• Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park, Arrowhead Marsh Parking Lot (Follow Doolittle Drive; turn on Swan Way near airport. Turn left at first driveway into park. Travel to furthest parking area.)

NEW! A hidden oasis in the heart of the East Bay, MLK Jr. Shoreline Park and environs are rich in cultural history. This tour brings to life activities of past centuries. Learn of verdant historic salt marshes, creation of the Oakland tidal canal, making Alameda an island, 19th-century history from oysters to channeled creeks, and visit a recent art installation inspired by the natural wonders of this site. 2 mile roundtrip. Bring binoculars or call (510) 521-6887 to reserve tours. A level walk. —Nancy Krebs

Sunday, August 30, 10 am–12:30 pm

Oakland Point And The West Oakland Marsh

• In front of the Southern Pacific Train Station, 16th and Wood Streets

In the 19th century, proximity to the Bay made Oakland Point the prosperous, populous terminus of the transcontinental railroad, “where rail and water meet.” The meeting of land and water was gradual, however, and the Point neighborhood was embraced all around by the West Oakland Marsh. The marsh has been filled, drained, landlocked, and built upon, but it lives on in the land uses, lot sizes, and neighborhood names of West Oakland. A level walk. —Betty Marvin

These tours are based in part on the research of the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, a project of the City of Oakland Strategic Planning Division, and on the resources of the Oakland History Room, Oakland Main Library.

Thank you: to Another Planet Entertainment for hosting us at the Fox Oakland Theater, to Whole Foods for providing food for the Historic Tour Squares walk, and to Seventeenth Street Studios for graphic design.

Proceeds from these walking tours sustain Oakland Heritage Alliance. Begun in 1980, OHA seeks to promote adaptive reuse of Oakland’s most historic buildings and counts among its preservation successes City Hall, Floral Depot, Fox Theater, Hotel Oakland, The Rotunda, Preservation Park, and Tribune Tower.

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Oakland Heritage Alliance Lecture Series

*June 11: Joint AIA/OHA lecture.

Pierluigi Serraino discusses his book NorCalMod: Icons of Northern California Modernist Architecture. Lecture also includes a wine and cheese reception and book signing. Location: AIA, 1405 Clay Street (NW Corner of 14th and Clay Streets). Taking BART? Exit at the 12th Street/City Center Station. Parking: Clay Street Garage between 14th and 15th Streets.ADVANCED RESERVATION REQUIRED. Please visit www.aiaeb or call (510) 464-3600.

September 10: TOM DEBLEY

Author Tom Debley will draw from his book, The Story of Dr. Sidney R. Garfield, The Visionary who Turned Sick Care into Health Care. Dr. Garfield co-founded Kaiser Permanente with industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. The lecture will focus on Dr. Garfield and his persistence over five decades, in the face of strong opposition to new ideas or any involvement of government, to broaden access to health care. Dr. Garfield died with his dream of health care as a right in the U.S. unfulfilled.

October 8: WOODY MINOR

Architectural Historian Woody Minor will talk about two Victorian
homebuilders based in Alameda in the 1890s, the subject of his new book, A Home in Alameda. The firms of Marcuse & Remmel and Joseph A. Leonard designed and built hundreds of houses in the East Bay and San Francisco. This lecture will shed light on their business practices and varied architectural approaches.

Partners in Preservation Recap

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2009 Partners in Preservation awards event. It was a huge success! If you missed the action, you can see the night’s winners by clicking HERE for a slide show and HERE for the narrative.

2009 Partners in Preservation Event and Guidelines

2008

Lecture by Richard Moe - Sustainable Stewardship:

Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change

- sponsored by BAHA and OHA

2007

OHA 2007 Walking Tours

Partners in Preservation 2007

Chapel of the Chimes Lecture Series

2006

Chapel of the Chimes Lecture Series

OHA 2006 House Tour