Missing From Chabot Canyon – The Reyes Property Line

Having established several pre-WWI structures in the Kellersberger Plot 72 in Chabot Canyon, the next review will examine the pre-1936 structures between what is today Golden Gate Ave. to the east property line of the Reyes family. Also included is a portion of the MacDonald’s property to the north due to its relevance to the discussion. None of these homes survive today.

L161-05-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy E. Bay Regional Park Distri, (Image 1 of 24)

Julius G. Kellerberger’s Plot 72 was derived from the surveying efforts of the namesake in 1852 as part of creating the entire street grid and map of Oakland. Land belonging to Edson Adams, one of Oakland’s founders who was involved in commissioning the work, was subdivided in 1886 and purchased within a few years by four families. Note the southern border is Temescal Creek. For more details see https://localwiki.org/oakland/Julius_G._Kellersberger

L161-10-Courtesy Steven Heimbold and Eve Newell, (Image 2 of 24)

This 1892 Block Book map shows the property division: John Reyes, lots 3 and 4; John A. I. MacDonald, lots 5, 6 and 8; Julius Heimbold, lots 7, 9 and 10; and Ellen Chabot, lots 11 and 12. Reyes was mainly involved in cattle and dairy, while MacDonald was a plumber by trade, but known more as an Oakland City Council member. See https://localwiki.org/oakland/John_Archibald_MacDonald

L161-15-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 3 of 24)

The 1892 Block Book map also shows that only Reyes and MacDonald were paying significant improvements indicating they had both built significant structures, but not necessarily homes, on the property by this time. Although not shown, I. M. & N. Clark owned lots 1 and 2 to the west at this time, with a 500 dollar improvement on lot 1.

L161-20-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 4 of 24)

Ahead to 1912, prior to rapid subdivision and the full operation of the Oakland Antioch and Eastern Railway, some important changes are noted. John Reyes has taken possession of lot 6 from the MacDonalds. The latter’s lots are now in wife Mary’s name even though John lived until 1915, and ownership of the Heimbold lots are in Catherine’s name after the death of her husband Julius in 1909. Next a closer look at this image ...

L161-25-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 5 of 24)

By 1912, lot 2 is now owned by businessman, inventor and significant land owner Charles Butter. No homes built on lot 2 or Reyes’ lot 3 were displaced by Highway 24, BART or the 1991 fire. There were no homes built on lot 1, Harry Mitchell’s name listed as an executive of the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Railway. The railway obtained the land from Butters, but the latter kept his pump house, black arrow, to bring water to lot 2.

L161-30-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 6 of 24)

In addition to Reyes now noted to own lot 6 by 1912, a good portion of Heimbold’s lot 7 had been divided. Edgar V. Spiganovicz is shown to own the most western lot indicated by the downward line leading to his name that is very prominent in the lower central portion of L161-25.

L161-35-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 7 of 24)

The eastern most parts of Kellersberger Plot 72 will not be covered until a later review of the area, but is shown here as the north section, left, and south section, right, for completeness of providing detail of the entire image in L161-25.

L161-40-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 8 of 24)

Next to an early-to-mid 1920s northwest view of John Reyes’ land from upper Rockridge. A detail follows.

L161-45-Eston Cheney Photo D-3632, Courtesy John Bosko , (Image 9 of 24)

Two homes delineated the Reyes-MacDonald property line north of Chabot Rd., nos. 6965 and 7073, respectively, and for the ease of discussing this image, two more at the Reyes-Heimbold property line south of Chabot Rd., nos. 7024 and 7034, respectively, these lots owned by this time by Edgar V. Spiganovicz and Herbert L. Kimball, respectively. The building permits have not been found for these four homes. The structures to the left or west of no. 6965 belonged to Reyes, presumably related to his dairy operation, but nothing has been found to verify this.

L161-50-Eston Cheney Photo D-3632, Courtesy John Bosko, Detail , (Image 10 of 24)

Gail Lombardi found that the Queen Anne Victorian at no. 6965 was added to in 1935 and altered again in 1938. In 1912, Reyes is listed at “1 of East of Brookside", and in 1914 at “N. 59th, 1 East of Hayes”. He lived here in 1922 and 1923, but not in 1915 or 1921. In 1924 and 1928 he is listed at no. 5909 Ross St. He was 78 years old in 1930, and David Gowen discovered that his widow Juliet was back at no. 6965 at least through 1943. Northeast view, 1937.

L161-55-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 10039sn , (Image 11 of 24)

As for no. 6973 seen to the right of no. 6965 in this northeast view from July 6, 1938, Polk’s Guide lists that florist William I. MacDonald lived here with his wife, along with his mother, Mary Cavasso MacDonald from 1922-1926. Between at least 1910 and 1921, they had all been living at no. 738 Rand Ave., and in 1900, father John, age 53, mother Mary, age 45, William I., age 20 and sibs Peter and Esther were listed at 1373 Broadway.

L161-60-Charles Savage Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 10040sn, Detail, (Image 12 of 24)

An east view circa 1940 shows the two homes under discussion. Starting in 1926, William and his family moved from no. 6973 to no. 60 Roble Rd., another home with no surviving information prior to 1941. Mary MacDonald lived at Elwood Ave. in 1924, and the date of her death as Sept. 30, 1927 according to the Oakland Tribune. After operating a hardware store in San Francisco for 14 years, he was a florist in Oakland at 1731 Broadway, at 17th St. in 1917, and listed in 1928 as MacDonald and Riley Florists, 17th St. Later he was an insurance broker.

L161-65-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52059sn, (Image 13 of 24)

This detail from L161-05, the initial 1935 north facing aerial, shows no. 60 Roble Rd., within the yellow rectangle, and the 1950 Sanborn map. William MacDonald died at age 58 in 1938 at his home on Roble Rd. The property was lost in the 1991 firestorm except for the studio, red arrow, built by renowned psychologist and Wright Institute founder Nevitt Sanford in 1941, building permit no. A90430, and now addressed as no. 62. Thanks to Daniella Thompson for the Sanborn map.

L161-70-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy E. Bay Regional Park Distri, (Image 14 of 24)

Back to no. 6965, without permit information, this WPA card from 1936 provides additional information, albeit the date of construction is an estimate. Thanks to Betty Marvin for providing and suggesting the use of these cards, and all those that follow.

L161-75-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 15 of 24)

Back to no. 6973, without permit information, this WPA card from 1936 provides other features of the home, albeit the date of construction is an estimate.

L161-80-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 16 of 24)

No. 6965 was built prior to no. 6973 based on this northeast view circa 1913 with unidentified people on Chabot Rd. With John Reyes’ sometime home already built, why did the MacDonalds build so close to that structure, particularly with all the land owned by that family to the east? There is no evidence of any familial relations between the two.

L161-85-Courtesy Richard Perry , (Image 17 of 24)

Based on these two Block Book maps, the MacDonalds were busy during this period dividing portions of lots 5 and 8 situated between the railway and Chabot Rd., right up to the Reyes’ property line to the west.

L161-90-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 18 of 24)

The 1921 Block Book shows the Reyes property, left, undivided with a 1000 dollar improvement covering his property at no. 6965, and the 100 dollar improvement for the structures to the west. By 1923, the MacDonald property, right, is divided to the east, but several of the lots are in William’s name, with only a small section to Mary, possibly as access to the rest of lot 5. William may have built no. 6973 to gain access to utilities or as part of a plan to someday move to no. 60 Roble, and sell this contiguous set of lots. More research is needed.

L161-95-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 19 of 24)

Next, across the way to lot 7 to the homes at the border and to the east of Reyes property, nos. 7024 and 7034, as seen in this early-to-mid 1920s northwest view. The building permits have not been found for these two homes.

L161-100-Eston Cheney Photo D-3632, Courtesy John Bosko, Detail , (Image 20 of 24)

This detail from a circa 1925 southwest view looking down Chabot Rd. shows no. 7024 in the center, and a portion of no. 7034 to the left, most of the latter obscured by the trees. This image shows additional structures to the west, or above in image, of no. 7024 on the Reyes’ property, possibly farm-related structures.

L161-105-Eston Cheney Photo D-1380-C, Courtesy John Bosko, Detail , (Image 21 of 24)

This WPA card from 1936 provides what is known about the home constructed by Edgar V. Spiganovicz at no. 7024. Based on reverse directories, he had a listed phone number there until 1961, but not in 1964. The date of construction is an estimate, but consistent with the evidence shown in the 1912 Block Book entry in L161-35.

L161-110-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 22 of 24)

This WPA card from 1936 provides what is known about the home constructed by HL Kimball, albeit the date of construction is an estimate. It is consistent with the finding of a building permit, no. 55257, indicating the addition of a garage by contractor Frank Smith on Mar. 15, 1920. Kimball’s phone number is also listed in the reverse directories at this address in 1961, but not 1964.

L161-115-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 23 of 24)

Many mysteries remain and areas to research, but with this review the 1935 north-oriented aerial can be updated as shown. Dates are provided only when found in the Block Book building permit ledger. Fred Heimbold’s 65 Roble Rd. is also marked for completeness. No building permit or ground photos of the original structure have been found, and the original structure was consumed by fire in the mid-1970s. Appreciation to John Bosko for images provided and all mentioned in the review for their contributions.

L161-120-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy E. Bay Regional Park Distr, (Image 24 of 24)