Missing from Chabot Canyon – 1953 Update

April 8, 1953. All is quiet in Chabot Canyon. In the sky that day was Clyde Sunderland or a colleague based on the clock signature in this northeast view looking up Broadway in Oakland. They had been contracted by the California Department of Public Works, Division of Highways to provide views to assist in the placement of future highways 580 and 24. A detail is next.

L174-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3300-41, (Image 1 of 27)

They ended their flight with a comprehensive documentation of Chabot Canyon, seen in this northeast detail from Apr. 8, 1953. This update will cover the period from 1935 through 1953, when home construction in the area was at its height. First, some background information.

L174-10-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3300-41, Detail , (Image 2 of 27)

The last update on this subject, “Missing From Chabot Canyon - The Blossers and the Claremont-Chabot Tract”, ended with this summary using as background an image from Sunderland. 1935 was was a critical moment, as it marked the second incursion into the canyon. But unlike the construction of the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern right-of-way circa 1911, the action was to the south and east of this image.

L174-15-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy E. Bay Regional Park Distri, (Image 3 of 27)

Having extensively reviewed the homes to the north of Temescal Creek, this diagram from 1924 shows the area to the south, that being between the creek and upper Rockridge. This was where the extension of Broadway to the Low Level Broadway Tunnel in the mid-1930s was taking place.

L174-20-Thomas Block Book of Oakland, Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 4 of 27)

With a 1923 map, right, as a starting point, the 1935 map, left, shows the path of the extension of Broadway to the tunnel. This resulted in the loss of a few homes and street reconfiguration southwest of Golden Gate Ave., to be presented at another time. The canyon to the northeast was minimally impacted. No information has been found to document if creek dynamics changed due to the loss of the exposed spillway from Lake Temescal.

L174-25-Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 5 of 27)

This northeast view also from Sunderland in 1935 shows the construction of the extension of Broadway up to the level of Lake Temescal. Golden Gate Ave. is marked with the black arrow for reference. All the features of L174-15 are present here.

L174-30-HJW Geospatial Inc, Pacific Aerial Surveys, Oakland CA, Courtesy East Bay Regional Park Dist, (Image 6 of 27)

When the new tunnel opened in December 1937, all was quiet for two decades from the point of view of major public works projects in the canyon. Here in a northeast view is the extension of Broadway or Alameda 75 from Oct. 1946, with a large wall of Eucalyptus trees shielding the canyon from the road.

L174-35-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 1175-2, (Image 7 of 27)

A north-oriented aerial from 1939 further supports the insulation of the canyon from the new road to the tunnel. Note that there are no homes on the roads designated in L-174-20 as Laurel Rd. or Laurel Cr. Rd. Ref: BUT-BUU-289-66 8/2/39

L174-40-USDA AAA Western Division Photo, Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, (Image 8 of 27)

Home construction started picking up during the war in the canyon, particularly around Marie Way, as seen in this north view from Broadway of SN 1014 as Train 6 on the second to the last day of passenger service on the SN.

L174-45-Richard Jenevein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 129062sn , (Image 9 of 27)

One more north view from Broadway showing the homes around Marie Way in the canyon, and a SN ‘wrecker’ on a derailment assignment, Apr. 2, 1942.

L174-50-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 77083sn, (Image 10 of 27)

More construction continued through the early 1950s as evidenced by this list from the reverse telephone directory of 1953 relative to the 1936 version, particularly for homes on Chabot Rd. with numbers smaller than no. 7024. This is not merely the result of more telephone users as will be shown next. Some adjacent Berkeley addresses have been included for interest related to images that will follow.

L174-55-Courtesy Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, (Image 11 of 27)

The previous conclusions about home additions between 1936 and 1952 are supported by this Sanborn map from circa 1952 with some updated lots added. Homes are now placed along Chabot Rd. and Severance Ave. to the west, and the Heimbold property to the northeast of the SN right-of-way has been subdivided. The addresses contained on this document will guide the next journey.

L174-60-Courtesy Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, Oakland City Planning Department , (Image 12 of 27)

From the cockpit, Apr. 8, 1953, the survey of Chabot Canyon begins with this southeast view. From this point forward, every image detail shown is maximally enlarged.

L174-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-23 , (Image 13 of 27)

The west part of the canyon features Golden Gate Ave. along the right edge, and, going across right to left, the main features are Broadway, Chabot Rd., the SN right-of-way, Roble Ct. and Roble Rd.

L174-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-23, Detail, (Image 14 of 27)

Next, the east section of the canyon, bordered by Broadway on the right and Tunnel Rd. on the left, with Lake Temescal at the top border.

L174-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-23, Detail, (Image 15 of 27)

Passing over Lake Temescal, the plane makes a 180 degree turn and the canyon is approached with northwest views, Apr. 8, 1953.

L174-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-19 , (Image 16 of 27)

This time starting from the east, Broadway is seen descending from the the top of the image, passing over the SN right-of-way and under Landvale Rd. A slice of Tunnel Rd. occupies the lower right corner of the image.

L174-85-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-19, Detail , (Image 17 of 27)

Inching to the west, Broadway occupies the lower left corner of the image, and to the right features Marie Way and homes to the east of the intersection of Roble Rd. with Chabot Rd. Fix your eye on the SN grade crossing with Roble Rd. in the upper right corner with no. 111 Roble Rd. just to the right or north as the camera lens turns further north next.

L174-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-19, Detail, (Image 18 of 27)

The SN grade crossing with Roble Rd. and no. 111 Roble Rd. have now shifted to the left as the remainder of the center of what had been the Heimbold property comes into partial view. The take-off of Tunnel Rd. from Landvale Rd. can be seen in the lower right quadrant.

L174-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-19, Detail, (Image 19 of 27)

Continuing west, this image captures central pre-1936 Chabot Rd. Possibly the first glimpse ever posted of the Logan home at 7117 Chabot Rd., the roof peaking out of the trees just to the upper left or southwest of the SN grade crossing with Roble Rd.

L174-100-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-19, Detail, (Image 20 of 27)

The plane has passed over the canyon, turned, and heads back to the east. The first detail shows Golden Gate Ave. along the bottom of the image. The left side of Chabot Rd. in the upper left quadrant reflects the old, and the right side, along with Severance Ave., reflects the new since the review pre-1936. The fate of these homes relative to Highway 24 and BART construction come into play in a future presentation.

L174-105-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-18, Detail, (Image 21 of 27)

Moving slightly to the south, an east view shows Broadway dividing the canyon from Upper Rockridge. While only the homes in the very upper right corner on Buena Vista Rd. in this image of Upper Rockridge will be lost to fire, only one home in the canyon in this image will survive BART, Highway 24 and the fire, although 7101 Chabot Rd. did partially burn.

L174-110-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-17, Detail , (Image 22 of 27)

Further to the northeast, this northeast view provides a second and more informative view of the Logan home at no. 7117 Roble Rd., red arrow, a casualty of the 1991 firestorm. This image has all the 1991 Oakland firestorm survivors in the canyon built by this date - no. 7101 Chabot Rd., purple arrow; no. 7133 Chabot Rd., green arrow; and 75 Roble Rd., orange arrow.

L174-115-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-18, Detail, (Image 23 of 27)

Further east into the canyon, Tunnel Rd. is seen across the top, Broadway in the lower right. Newer construction contrasts with the old.

L174-120-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-18, Detail , (Image 24 of 27)

A slight turn to the north yields this view with more of the area along Tunnel Rd. revealed.

L174-125-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-17, Detail, (Image 25 of 27)

A final detail of the east end of the canyon. This aerial journey appears to have captured all the homes built by 1953. Next to determine their ultimate fate - BART construction, Highway 24 construction, the 1991 firestorm or survival.

L174-130-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-22, Detail , (Image 26 of 27)

The job done, the plane turns and heads back to Oakland airport, the canyon in view as a last over-the-shoulder look is taken. A very special appreciation to the California Department of Transportation, and to Gail Lombardi, Betty Marvin and Dorothy Lazard for last minute help with the details.

L174-135-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3301-15, Detail , (Image 27 of 27)