Beyond Montclair to Joaquin Miller Road

Although south of Montclair, several Mountain Boulevard Freeway-related projects at Joaquin Miller Road occurred prior to the Oct. 1956 opening of the Unit 2 1.28-mile link between Thornhill Dr. and Ascot Dr., seen here in a north view from Feb. 18, 1963. The Unit 3 section to include Joaquin Miller was to be 1.4 miles long.

L117-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 9500-2, (Image 1 of 30)

By 1900, County Rd. 2509, purple box, was already an important link from Montclair, intersection of Moraga Ave. and Snake Rd. in green box, to Redwood Rd., orange box. 2509 passed by the estate of Cincinnatus Heine Miller, better known by his pen name of Joaquin. Ref: G4363_A3_1900_A5_NW_sheeta

L117-10-Courtesy of the Earth Sciences and Map Library, UC Berkeley, (Image 2 of 30)

County Rd. 2509 became an important link for new roads as housing development accelerated in the 1920s, left map. By 1933, 2509 is now Joaquin Miller Rd. and the private road intersection from the east in the 1921 map is now Skyline Blvd. Refs: Left, Central Savings Bank and Central National Bank Map 83537; Right, Highways Alameda County, California, George A. Posey, County Surveyor, G4363.A3P2 1933 .A5

L117-15-Courtesy BAERA, left, and Earth Sciences and Map Library, UC Berkeley, right, (Image 3 of 30)

This northeast view aerial from 1935 shows the area between Park Blvd. progressing along Mountain Blvd toward the south. See detail next.

L117-20-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, (Image 4 of 30)

A view of the section from the intersection of Park Blvd. and Mountain Blvd., yellow box, to the level of the intersection of the latter with Ascot Dr., blue arrow, marks the end of Unit 2 of the freeway completed in Oct. 1956.

L117-25-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, Detail, (Image 5 of 30)

Now a north view from 1935 showing the area of the future Unit 3 section of the freeway. Gail Lombardi of the OCHS noted that the very prominent riding rink of Werner Ranch is in the center of the image. Undated maps show the property as a “Riding Academy.” It will be gone by 1939. See detail next.

L117-30-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, (Image 6 of 30)

A detail from L117-30 showing the intersection of Park Blvd. and Mountain Blvd., yellow box, the intersection of Mountain Blvd. and Joaquin Miller Rd., purple box, and the latter road, red arrow, heading to its intersection with Skyline Dr. The land above the arrow, the former estate of Joaquin Miller, had already been in the hands of the City of Oakland since 1919.

L117-35-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, Detail, (Image 7 of 30)

This east view from 1935 shows the same area, this time with a dramatic backdrop of Contra Costa County and Mount Diablo. See detail next.

L117-40-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, (Image 8 of 30)

This east view, also from 1935, zeros in on the intersection of Mountain Blvd. and Joaquin Miller Rd., purple box. Note that there is no evidence as yet of the Woodminster Amphitheater and Cascades.

L117-45-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, Detail, (Image 9 of 30)

By Aug. 2, 1939, the almost completed amphitheater and cascades are in full view. As reference points, the intersection of Park Blvd. and Mountain Blvd., yellow box, the intersection of Mountain Blvd. and Joaquin Miller Rd., purple box, have been added. Ref: BUT BUU-289-45.

L117-50-USDA AAA Western Division, Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, Detail, (Image 10 of 30)

As reference points, the intersection of Park Blvd. and Mountain Blvd., yellow box, the intersection of Mountain Blvd. and Joaquin Miller Rd., purple box, have been added to this March 3, 1950 aerial view. The amphitheater and cascades were completed and ready in 1941. See synopsis at https://localwiki.org/oakland/Woodminster_Amphitheater. Note the addition of the U-shaped Kearney Ave., Argyle St., Dublin Ave. neighborhood, center. Ref: BUT-8G-82.

L117-55-USDA AAA Western Division, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, Detail , (Image 11 of 30)

Detailed comparison, 1939 versus 1950, along Joaquin Miller Rd., from the intersection with Mountain Blvd., left, heading east passed Joaquin Miller Park, right. Reference details for the USDA AAA Western Division aerials are in L117-50 and -55, respectively.

L117-60 Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District and East Bay Regional Park District, Details , (Image 12 of 30)

Now to the construction of the freeway interchange at Joaquin Miller Rd., all from Aug. 30, 1955 starting with this northwest view down Mountain Blvd. just south of Werner Ct. Note that comparable images of the westside or Lincoln Ave. side of the freeway interchange have not been found.

L117-65-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 13 of 30)

Next, a southeast view of Mountain Blvd. taken along the side of the Woodminster Market, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-70-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 14 of 30)

A west view just north of the Mountain Blvd.-Joaquin Miller Rd. intersection, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-75-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 15 of 30)

Excavation had progressed just south of the intersection, southeast view, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-80-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 16 of 30)

The same southeast view, but taken more to the north at the level of Joaquin Miller Rd., Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-85-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 17 of 30)

Next, five consecutive images starting with a southeast view and finishing with a northwest view. Image number one, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-90-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 18 of 30)

Image number two, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-95-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 19 of 30)

Image number three, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-100-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 20 of 30)

Great view of the Woodminster Market, image number four, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-105-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 21 of 30)

Image number five, Aug. 30, 1955.

L117-110-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 22 of 30)

Creation of the freeway intersection also created a need to widen and upgrade Joaquin Miller Rd. Credit and thanks to Steve Kline for realizing the original image was reversed, and pointing out that the house next to the fire station is at no. 2801 Butters Dr. and the two Redwood trees in front of their house are really big in 2023, a section of the bottom portion of the Woodminster Cascades is visible, and seen between the two eucalyptus trees on the right is the knoll that has been flattened in preparation for the construction of the Mormon temple. The following images were all taken on May 11, 1956, starting here with a west view from the highest point.

L117-115-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 23 of 30)

A northeast view of the intersection of Joaquin Miller Rd. and Butters Dr., May 11, 1956.

L117-120-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 24 of 30)

Joaquin Miller Rd. and Crane Way, east view, May 11, 1956.

L117-125-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 25 of 30)

At the west intersection of Butters Dr., southeast view, May 11, 1956. Appreciation to John Bosko for the identification.

L117-130-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 26 of 30)

Panoramic from two southeast views at Joaquin Miller Rd. and Crane Way, May 11, 1956.

L117-135-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 27 of 30)

Joaquin Miller Rd. at the level of the east entrance to Crane Way, west view, May 11, 1956.

L117-140-Frank E Johnson Photo, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 28 of 30)

Then ahead to Mar. 10, 1957, the upgrade of Joaquin Miller Rd. is compete, west view.

L117-145-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 5398-3 , (Image 29 of 30)

The completion of the building of the Warren Freeway or Highway 13 will require further images. Appropriate to the task is this east view from 1935. Joaquin Miller Park is adjacent to the upper portion of the wing of the plane. Thirty-fifth Ave. and its transition to Redwood Rd. is the major road heading east, just south or to the right of Peralta Creek.

L117-150-Pacific Aerial Surveys, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park District, USNPS-14-C, (Image 30 of 30)