Water in the 20th Century – Private-to-Public, Part III – More on Temescal Creek and Water Rights

This update will complete the survey of Temescal Creek from College Ave. and Shafter Ave. as shown by the yellow arrow in the 1903 map, until it empties into the bay. For a later discussion, note where Harwood and Temescal Creeks join at Forrest St., today Forest St., blue arrow.

L193-05-Woodward, Watson and Co. Map of Oakland, John Bosko Collection, Courtesy John Bosko, (Image 1 of 38)

This aerial from Aug. 2, 1939 marks the College Ave. and Shafter Ave. intersection with the yellow arrow, and allows the creek to be followed east to west via the tree line, right to left. Ref.: BUT-BUU-289-66

L193-10-USDA AAA Western Division Laboratories, Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, Detail, (Image 2 of 38)

The path of Temescal Creek follows the trees in these aerial views from College Ave. from Apr. 8, 1953 viewed to the northeast, left, and southwest, right.

L193-15-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-14 Detail, l, 3301-16, r, (Image 3 of 38)

The area bounded by College Ave., bottom, Shafter Ave., left, Forest St., top, and Miles Ave., right in this southwest aerial from Apr. 8, 1953 is occupied today by Highway 24, BART and the latter’s parking lot. This construction forced Shafter Ave. to be reconfigured to line up with Keith Ave. seen on the lower left.

L193-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-16 Detail , (Image 4 of 38)

The same area in a north-oriented 1956 aerial with College Ave. oriented top to bottom. Robin and Tom Wolf in their book “Rockridge”, Arcadia Publishing 2007, note on page 15 that Temescal Creek was “put under ground in 1917. Temescal Creek joined Harwood Creek west of College Ave. behind the current Market Hall at Forrest St., where its width sometimes reached 100 feet from bank to bank”.

L193-25-RM Towill Photo, Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 5 of 38)

Temescal Creek still flowed freely through the area in Aug. 1962 by the complex of structures at 5635-5637-5639-5641 Shafter Ave. With on exception, no. 37A, these structures were built 50 years previously.

L193-30-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5701 , (Image 6 of 38)

Water in the creek can be appreciated running below 5637A Shafter Ave. in Aug. 1962. The structure shown was 42 years old when this photo was taken.

L193-35-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5701 , (Image 7 of 38)

Back to a northeast view from Apr. 8, 1953 showing the area just reviewed in the center, and the next section of interest along Forest St. where Oakgrove Ave. ends. For easier navigation, go to the annotated version that follows.

L193-40-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-14 4:8:53 Detail , (Image 8 of 38)

An annotated version of L193-40, a northeast view from Apr. 8, 1953. The area just covered is bound by the orange border. Those homeowners lost their homes to the freeway-BART. The area to be discussed next is bound by the turquoise border. Those homeowners lost their water rights, but retained their homes.

L193-41-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-14 4:8:53 Detail, (Image 9 of 38)

Now turning 180 degrees to the southwest on Apr. 8, 1953, starting left to right, the three homes fronting Forest St. that today sit in the shadow of Highway 24, and the two structures on a single property accessed via Claremont Ave.

L193-45-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-16 Detail, (Image 10 of 38)

The description of the issue of water rights is spelled out in the Highway District 4 files from data obtained in late 1965. Note that the general information includes description of homes not in this category.

L193-50-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998 , (Image 11 of 38)

The four homes accessible from the street and targeted for their water rights are shown here from 1965.

L193-55-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 12 of 38)

What follows are images from 1965 of the creek-facing backyards of these properties followed by other comments of water rights and other related topics starting with no. 493 Forest St. seen here.

L193-60-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998 , (Image 13 of 38)

The parcel appraisal for no. 493 Forest St. is shown here.

L193-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 14 of 38)

The evaluation of the parcel for no. 493 Forest St. is presented here.

L193-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 15 of 38)

Pictured is the creek-facing backyard of no. 497 Forest St. seen here.

L193-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 16 of 38)

The parcel appraisal for no. 497 Forest St. is shown here.

L193-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 17 of 38)

The evaluation of the parcel for no. 497 Forest St. is presented here.

L193-85-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998 , (Image 18 of 38)

Seen here is the backyard for the two family home at nos. 501 and 503 Forest St.

L193-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998 , (Image 19 of 38)

The parcel appraisal and evaluation of nos. 501 and 503 Forest St. are provided.

L193-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 20 of 38)

A creekside view along nos. 5556 and 5558 Claremont Ave. is presented here.

L193-100-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998 , (Image 21 of 38)

Shown is the appraisal for nos. 5556 and 5558 Claremont Ave.

L193-105-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 22 of 38)

The drainage easement and evaluation of findings nos. 5556 and 5558 Claremont Ave. are shown above.

L193-110-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5998, (Image 23 of 38)

The red arrow points to a lot along the creek behind no. 486 Clifton Ave. in this northeast view from Apr. 8, 1953. This property was unaffected by the freeway-BART construction and is being presented to show the creek to the north and culvert to the south of Clifton St.

L193-115-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-14 Detail, (Image 24 of 38)

The lot identified in the previous image is shown in detail in 1961, left and 1964, right.

L193-120-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Binder 5851, r, Binder 5651, l , (Image 25 of 38)

Now turning 180 degrees to the southwest on Apr. 8, 1953, the red arrow now points to where the culvert empties south of Clifton St. Note the Key E train in the cut connecting Claremont Ave. with 55th St.

L193-125-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-16 Detail, (Image 26 of 38)

Continuing to the southwest, the meeting of Telegraph Ave. with Claremont Ave. and 51st St. can be appreciated in the Apr. 8, 1953 aerial. The tower in the center of the image is Vern’s Shopping Center, a mainstay of the neighborhood from 1952 until 1985.

L193-130-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-16 Detail, (Image 27 of 38)

This northeast view from Apr. 8, 1953 shows the intersection of Claremont Ave., coming in from the top, center, and Telegraph Ave., entering the frame from the middle left. Scanning the top provides the last view of Temescal Creek in this sector. To the south of Telegraph Ave., the creek played a very important function in the 19th century.

L193-135-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-14 Detail, (Image 28 of 38)

This late 19th century southwest view down Telegraph Ave. shows the boards of the wooden bridge over Temescal Creek in the foreground. Note the tracks in front of Oakland Railroad Co. locomotive no. 3 entering the building on the right.

L193-140-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 81591, (Image 29 of 38)

This northeast view from Apr. 8. 1953 shows Vern’s sitting along 51st St., between Telegraph Ave., top, and Shattack Ave., bottom left. This building served as the Key System Western Carbarn until November of 1948.

L193-145-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-14 Detail, (Image 30 of 38)

In the 19th century, the railway redirected the flow of Temescal Creek to cool their power plant. Commercial power replaced the need for the plant, so the creek was redirected in early 1923, top east views. The lower left panel shows when the culvert was covered on July 19, 1923, and the lower right figure is the appearance of the southwest portion of the building in 1946, two years before the local streetcar system was abandoned. Ref: l to r, top to bottom: 80783Key, 80746Key, 78790Key, and 142837key.

L193-150-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 31 of 38)

The final segment covers the creek’s path from Shattuck southwest of 51st., green arrow, to the Bay, lower left corner. Note before ending its path under the Southern Pacific tracks and out into the bay, the creek flowed through Oakland Trotting Park, orange arrow, noted in Oakland LocalWiki as in Emeryville from 1871 to 1911, having been demolished in 1915.

L193-155-Woodward, Watson and Co. Map of Oakland, John Bosko Collection, Courtesy John Bosko, (Image 32 of 38)

George Russell’s northeast aerial circa 1930 shows the southern Pacific wrapping around the former track. A detail follows. Ref: API 642_2_BOX 92

L193-160-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 33 of 38)

A detail of the northeast aerial circa 1930 shows the culverted Temescal Creek passing through the area to the Bay, most of it still exposed. Ref: API 642_2_BOX 92

L193-165-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 34 of 38)

For many reasons, Nick Pon’s 2019 east view at Bay Street in Emeryville of the culverted creek is a perfect way to end the survey of Temescal Creek. Appreciation to Nick for sharing his photo.

L193-170-Nick Pon Photo, Courtesy Nick Pon, (Image 35 of 38)

There are many more creeks that start in the East Bay Hills that have gained notoriety in area history. In this east view circa 1935, Peralta Creek dominates the entire left or north side of the image, while the joining of Lion and Horseshoe Creeks occupy the next position south in the hills. Ref: USNPS-14-C

L193-175-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy E. Bay Regional Park Dist., (Image 36 of 38)

Sausal Creek is seen here within Dimond Canyon and to the south of Park Blvd. in this circa 1935 east view. It is formed by the joining of Shepherd Creek to the north and Palo Seco Creek to the south.

L193-180-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy E. Bay Regional Park Dist., (Image 37 of 38)

While Park Blvd. was being extended into Shepherd Canyon circa 1925, Shepherd Creek was diverted by a flume across and then along the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad right-of-way. Tents to the south were set up to house the road builders. Next to catch the next train for the next segment on Water and Agriculture.

L193-185-L96-35-Cheney Photo H2149, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Dept., D, (Image 38 of 38)