Before the Freeway – Campi House and Broadway Terrace 1941

July 23, 1941. East View. Entry into WWII is approaching, as are plans to construct a freeway connecting Broadway Terrace to Moraga Avenue. A closer look at Campi House with valuable research by Gail Lombardi of the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey.

L21-05-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 1 of 13)

6401 Broadway Terrace was built in 1926 for Eugene S. Campomenosi, a contractor, and his wife Rena, the daughter of famous engineer, scientist, and author Albert Van Der Naillen. Page 1744 of the 1924 block confirms ownership of the lot at Broadway Terrace and Sheridan Road.

L21-10-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library , (Image 2 of 13)

The two-story, seven-room house took several years to build and cost $10,000. Rena died in August 1945. The family name appeared as Campi at 6401 Broadway Terrace in the 1947 telephone directory, thus the name by which the house is known, Campi House. July 23, 1941, east view.

L21-15-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, Detail , (Image 3 of 13)

A similar view of Campi House, with the bottom of Erba Path to Contra Costa Road. John Accacian of Sheaff's Garage fame grew up on Sheridan Road and claims that the house was used by sea captains to navigate their ships through the Bay. July 23, 1941, east view.

L21-20-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 4 of 13)

The garage was built with the house for $850, and the room above was added later. At some point after he sold the main house, Eugene lived above the garage. The address of the garage was either 6423 or 6401 1/2 Broadway Terrace. Southeast view, July 23, 1941.

L21-25-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 5 of 13)

In 1949, O.W. Johnson built a house across the street at 6422 Broadway Terrace that was purchased by Les Krames' father. Les lived in the house from about 1949 to 1964 before moving to Moraga. He would have the same view of the garage. July 23, 1941.

L21-30-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, Detail, (Image 6 of 13)

A view looking west up Broadway Terrace from a point east of the garage documents the presence of only one house opposite the garage in 1941. This was confirmed by Historicaerials.com to be the only house east of Erba Path in 1946 as well, at the present site of 6440, one house to the east of 6422.

L21-35-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 7 of 13)

The Campis had two children, Charlotte and Eugene Jr. Eugene Jr. was also a contractor and lived next door at 22 Sheridan Road. The telephone directory indicates Eugene Sr. also lived in the home at some point prior to 1960. East view, July 23, 1941.

L21-40-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 8 of 13)

Tragically, Campi House and the other homes in this scene vanished in the Oakland Hills fire in 1991. East view, July 23, 1941.

L21-45-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, Detail , (Image 9 of 13)

The view along the south side of Broadway Terrace west of Florence Avenue looks much like it does today as seen from this west view down Broadway Terrace from Sheridan. July 23, 1941.

L21-50-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 10 of 13)

Closer views of the homes west of Florence Avenue. West view, July 23, 1941.

L21-55-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, Detail, (Image 11 of 13)

A southwest view from Broadway Terrace, this time up Florence Avenue. July 23, 1941.

L21-60-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, (Image 12 of 13)

Closer view of L21-60, July 23, 1941. Time to check this all out on maps.google.com. Someday the link will be built into the website.

L21-65-Photo by Jenkins, Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department, Detail, (Image 13 of 13)