Wednesday, February 29, 2012

upcoming Oakland events

Winter returned last night, but the forecast is for clear weather this weekend. A chance to check out the Art Murmur, help a local group with gardening and cleanup, or otherwise enjoy Oakland outdoors. The big event is the OMCA White Elephant Sale, which will go on rain or shine. If you know of something interesting going on in Oakland that I haven't listed, let me know in the comments.

Pinball Launch Party - Wednesday, February 29. Fun, flipper-filled evening at Vitus to launch the new AC/DC machine. Doors open at 5pm, tournament at 8pm. (free; tournament $5)

Color and Climate: A Vertical Landscape of Sound - Friday, March 2, 6pm. Join Youth Radio to celebrate the unveiling of its soundscape stairwell exhibit, Color and Climate. (free)

White Elephant Sale - Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4, 10am-4pm. The OMCA annual fundraising rummage sale is huge! Find something fun or useful and support the Oakland Museum. Read more at Oakland Mofo. (website; free)

Oakland Voices Open House - Saturday, March 3, 3pm. Learn about the Tribune's community media project. Training East Oakland residents to tell stories that matter to their neighborhoods. (free)

Oakland Running Festival - Sunday, March 25. It's not too late to register to run in the Oakland Running Festival, or to volunteer. Kid's Fun Run, 5K, Half Marathon, Team Relay, and Full Marathon. (website)

looking further ahead:

Explore Oakmore with Oakland Urban Paths - Saturday, March 10, 10am-12:30pm. Join Oakland Urban Paths to check out how local pathways connect to watershed and regional trail systems. (free)

Volunteer for Oakland! - Saturday, March 10, 1-4pm. Like Oakland? Help make it better. Learn about volunteering at organizations already making a different in Oakland: Oakland Literacy Coalition • Oakland Mentoring Forum • Oakland Community Gardens • Oakland Parks Coalition • Oakland Public Library • Friends of Sausal Creek • Friends of Oakland Public School Libraries • Garber Park Stewards • Oakland Dogowners Group • Oakland Ballet • Oakland Zoo • CORE • Oakland Public Library • Chabot Space & Science Center • Children’s Fairyland • Oakland Museum of California • Peralta Hacienda Historical Park • Reading Partners • Writer Coach Connection (free)

Creative Growth Fundraiser - Friday, March 16, 6-9pm. "Beyond Trend". A gala fundraiser for the Center for Creative Growth, with DJ music, a silent auction, and great-sounding food. (more info)

Oakland Running Festival - Sunday, March 25. Whether you're running the 5K or the full marathon, or (like me) just volunteering, the Oakland Running Festival is a fun blast of Oakland love. The marathon and relay go all over Oakland, so check it out. (website)

Beyond Emancipation fundraiser Wednesday, March 28, 5-9pm Dine out and help foster youth succeed and thrive. Italian Colors will generously donate a percentage of your dinner bill to support Beyond Emancipation's programs for current and former foster youth in Alameda County.

Oakland Veg Week - April 15-21. Thought about eating vegetarian? Oakland Veg Week will have a variety of events to introduce people to the idea. (website)

plus the usual events:
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Mountain View Cemetery: Black History


Saturday, the walking tour at Mountain View Cemetery focused on Black History Month. This tour covered spots around entire cemetery, which is quite large, so we carpooled rather than walked for most of it. Our docents were Gaye Lenahan and Sarah Calhoun, who are both very knowledgeable about the cemetery and its occupants.

First we heard about Frederick Law Olmstead who designed Mountain View Cemetery. He's best known as a landscape architect, but was also a journalist. He was hired by what is now the New York Times to research the slave economy. After touring Texas, Olmstead realized that not only was slavery morally wrong, but he believed it was expensive and economically inefficient. His subsequent writings helped inform and galvanize antislavery sentiment in the north.

Shorey plot

The first grave we visited was one I visited recently, the grave of Captain William Shorey, the 'Black Ahab'. He was the first black captain operating on the west coast back in the 1880s. He died during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1919, and is buried with his wife Julia Ann (1944) and daughter Zenobia Pearl (1909).

Then we went to an unmarked grave for Isaac and Elizabeth Flood. Isaac was born into slavery in South Carolina, but somehow made his way to California.

Elizabeth Flood
photo: BlackPast.org

Elizabeth Thorn was born a free woman in 1828 and educated in Massachusetts. When her son by her late first husband, Joseph Scott, was not allowed into a school in Sacramento, she opened a private school for black children. Elizabeth and Isaac married in 1855 and moved to Brooklyn, just outside of Oakland (the neighborhood near Highland Hospital is also known as Lynn), where she started another school in their home on East 15th. Elizabeth and Isaac went on to help found the First African Methodist Episcopal church, which eventually took over the school. Isaac helped challenge segregation laws, and their daughter, Lydia Flood, became the first black student to attend John Swett School in Oakland in 1872. Lydia went on to become active in the movement for women's voting rights. The plot is unmarked, but a docent discovered it when she noticed the name Isaac Flood on an old plot map of the cemetery and did some investigation.
more about Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood
more about Lydia Flood Jackson

Nearby, on what is now a plot with mostly Elks Club members buried there, is another unmarked grave. This one is the final resting place of Jenny Prentiss and her children. You may remember her from the New Era, New Politics walking tour downtown—she was a former slave who was Jack London's foster mother. Her husband Alonzo is buried separately in the veterans plot, but he knew Captain Shorey and played cribbage with him.

Our next stop was a long way up the hill. Unfortunately one of the docents fell ill during the drive, and we spent some time figuring things out, then shuffling amongst cars while another docent who was along took Gaye to get checked out.

Glenn Burke

We eventually found the next marker, the grave for major league baseball player Glenn Burke. He was the first and only openly gay player in baseball, and suffered discrimination both for his homosexuality and his race. When he was with the LA Dodgers, he drew the wrath of manager Tommy Lasorda for befriending his estranged gay son, Tommy Lasorda, Jr. But he's also known for having invented the 'high five' with then teammate Dusty Baker. Burke had a rough time after a shortened baseball career, but his former teammates and the Oakland A's came to his assistance when they found out he was suffering from AIDS. Glenn Burke died in 1995 at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro. His mother Alice died in 1999 and is buried nearby.

The next scheduled stop was for the grave of Byron Rumford, another name you may remember from the New Era, New Politics walking tour. He was the first black elected to public office in Northern California, and has a section of highway 24 named after him. Unfortunately the remaining docent didn't know the exact location of the grave, so I didn't find it until later. William Byron Rumford died in 1986, and his wife, Elsie Rebecca Rumford died in 2002.

Lil' Bobby Hutton

The grave we did find next was for Lil' Bobby Hutton, the first to join the Black Panthers. He was born in Arkansas, but his family moved to Oakland when he was three years old, after nightriders began intimidating blacks in the area. At age 16, he was the first member to join and the first treasurer of the Black Panther Party. He died April 6, 1968, when he and other Black Panthers were surrounded in a house in West Oakland. Eldridge Cleaver said Bobby stripped to his underwear to show he was unarmed, but police shot him more than dozen times. Police maintained that Hutton attempted to run away and ignored orders to stop, but one Oakland police officer who witnessed the shootout later told Cleaver that, "What they did was first degree murder." Bobby Hutton was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, but didn't get a gravestone until 2003, 35 years after his death.

Marcus Foster

Then it was back around the hill to the grave of Marcus Foster, who was the first black superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District. He was murdered by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA; of Patty Hearst fame) because they believed he supported student ID cards and police in schools. He and his deputy, Robert Blackburn were shot by SLA gunmen with bullets dipped in cyanide, but Blackburn survived. His wife Albertine (Abbe) died recently on December 27, 2011, and is buried alongside him.

We went past the Grand Army of the Republic plot which I visited a couple of weeks ago, and saw the grave of Obediah Summers. He was born into slavery, and his master paid for him to take his place in the Confederate army. Obediah was captured, and then enlisted in the Union army. He later became a minister, and served as the California State Legislature as its first black chaplain. He wasn't originally buried in the GAR plot, but Obediah's granddaughter Myrna Adams petitioned to have his remains moved.

Ida Louise Jackson

Nearby is the grave of Ida Louise Jackson. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1922, and was the first black teacher in Oakland (the only one until 1934). Ida was also active in public health, working on the Mississippi Health Project which brought medical care to rural Mississippi. As international president of her sorority (the 8th supreme basileus reference on her marker), she also started a program to train rural teachers during the Great Depression in 1934. Ida Jackson died in 1996 at the age of 93.

Our last stop was an unmarked grave in the veterans plot, for Alonzo Prentiss, the husband of Jenny Prentiss. It was a long, but very interesting tour—highly recommended.

more pictures from the tour:


More Taphophile Tragics from around the world,

Monday, February 27, 2012

signs: Hotel Milton

Hotel Milton

Not a great sign, but notable because the tubes are still intact and it's a sign I hadn't seen before, despite having passed it many times. It's on a corner near the brass EBMUD fire hydrant, at 11th and Webster. What other interesting signs are still out there in Oakland for me to discover? (see the signs map for ones I know about)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

tall ships visit Oakland

The other week two tall ships visited Oakland. The Hawaiian Chieftain and the Lady Washington cruise up and down the west coast, teaching kids and adults about sailing and history. Both ships belong to the Historical Seaport which runs the educational programs. The Hawaiian Chieftain is designed similar to an 1800s sailing ship, but was built to haul cargo in Hawaii, and so has a steel hull with three keels and a very shallow draft. The Lady Washington is based on an actual ship design from the 1700s. There were designs drawn up for two, but they couldn't afford to have the second one built. Instead, the larger sister ship was built and now sails around Tom Sawyer Island in Disneyland.

more pictures:

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

upcoming Oakland events

Awide variety of events, as usual. Please note the marrow registry drives—you could help save a life! If you know of something interesting going on in Oakland that I haven't listed, let me know in the comments.

First 2012 WOBO Volunteer Meeting - Thursday, February 23, 6-7:30pm. Learn the many ways to get involved in building a more accessible and safer community with Walk Oakland Bike Oakland. (web page)

Second Start Adult Literacy Program Thursday, February 23, 6-7:30pm, Grand Opening, celebrating with good food, good music and good company. Free books will be given to kids. At the main library. (free)

art: A Woman’s Perspective - Thursday, February 23, 6-8:30pm. Opening reception for Nancy Hom's new show, with images of women, mothers & children. At the Oakland Asian Cultural Center on 388 9th Street #290. The show runs from February 8 - April 29. (free)

ComicCon: ImageExpo Friday-Sunday, February 24-26. A comic book convention of independent comic book creators. (website)

Oakland Walking Tour: New Era, New Politics - Saturday, February 25, 10am-12p. In celebration of Black History Month. I've been on all of the walking tours, and they're a great way to learn about Oakland and its history. This one focuses on more recent Oakland history and politics. (free)

marrow registry drives - Saturday, February 25. A simple cheek swab can tell if you're a potential match for leukemia patient Janet Liang. She has until April to find a match, and you could help save her life. There's a marrow drive Saturday at 525 4th Street in Oakland from 10am-4pm. Other nearby drives are at Paddy’s Café Union City 10am-1pm, and E&O Trading Co Restaurant San Francisco, 11-3. Can't make a drive? Get a test kit from Be the Match. Find other drives on the Asian American Donor Program website.

Monthly News Cafe - Tuesday, February 28, 8-10am. Join Oakland Local in a discussion about the economy and how social media is a powerful tool for connecting people, causes and local events. Panelists include Oakland local staff, local leaders, and neighbors. (website; admission $4-$7)

Oakland Home Energy Workshop - Tuesday, February 28, 6pm-7pm. Learn how to get up to $4,000 in rebates on a home energy efficiency upgrades. At the Dimond Library. (free)

looking further ahead:

Color and Climate: A Vertical Landscape of Sound - Friday, March 2, 6pm. Join Youth Radio to celebrate the unveiling of its soundscape stairwell exhibit, Color and Climate. (free)

Explore Oakmore with Oakland Urban Paths - Saturday, March 10, 10am-12:30pm. Join Oakland Urban Paths to check out how local pathways connect to watershed and regional trail systems. (free)

Creative Growth Fundraiser - Friday, March 16, 6-9pm. "Beyond Trend". A gala fundraiser for the Center for Creative Growth, with DJ music, a silent auction, and great-sounding food. (more info)

Beyond Emancipation fundraiser Wednesday, March 28, 5-9pm Dine out and help foster youth succeed and thrive. Italian Colors will generously donate a percentage of your dinner bill to support Beyond Emancipation's programs for current and former foster youth in Alameda County.

Oakland Veg Week - April 15-21. Thought about eating vegetarian? Oakland Veg Week will have a variety of events to introduce people to the idea. (website)

plus the usual events:
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

black history month: Captain William T. Shorey

William and Julia Ann Shorey

When most people think about early black history in Oakland, they think of the Pullman Porters. Less well known is William T. Shorey, who was captain of a whaling ship in the 1880s, the only black captain operating on the west coast at that time. He was known to his whaling crews as the 'Black Ahab'.

William was born in Barbados in 1859, went to sea as a teenager, and made his first whaling voyage in 1876. Whaling brought him to California, and he married Julia Ann Shelton, the daughter of a leading African American family in San Francisco. He was a skilled captain and navigator, earning his masters license which allowed him to command any size vessel anywhere in the world. He and Julia Ann had 5 children, living in West Oakland at 1782 8th Street. William retired from the sea in 1908, as the whaling industry was winding down as petroleum was discovered.


Active in politics before and after his retirement, William hosted a dinner in 1903 honor of Booker T. Washington, who spoke to raise funds for his school at Tuskegee. William died in 1919, one of many victims of the Spanish flu pandemic. Some of the influenza victims from Oakland are buried in plot 53 in Mountain View Cemetery, but William is in plot 14B. Julia Ann (-1944) and their daughter Zenobia Pearl (-1909) were also buried there. Their grave is prominently marked on the maps the cemetery provides. Nearby is a marker for William T. Shorey, Jr. (1902-1969), presumably their son.

Following his death, Shorey Street in West Oakland was named after him. He was the first black resident in Oakland to be honored by the city fathers.

more on Captain William T. Shorey:
Historical photo from the Oakland History Room at the Oakland Public Library.

More Tapophile Tragics from around the world.

Monday, February 20, 2012

detain the rain with low cost rain barrels

CM Jane Brunner and
homeowner Terry Galloway

Anyone who's lived in the Bay Area for more than a few years knows we generally have dry summers and wet winters (this winter notwithstanding). But what newer residents may not know about are the occasional fires in the urban/rural interface of the hills. The immediate event is devastating, but the longer-term effects can be devastating, too. Denuded hillsides don't hold the rain, leading to mudslides, and roads and homes destroyed.

Hiller Highlands in the north Oakland hills has experienced all this, and resident Terry Galloway knows first-hand about the effects. He lost his home in the 1991 Oakland Firestorm that killed 25 people and destroyed almost 3,800 homes, apartments and condominiums. Then he watched mudslides when the rains began that winter. But even in years when there hasn't been a recent fire, normal rains can cause mudslides which damage property and roads. It's a difficult problem.

One answer is to build a network of storm drains and storage tanks, but Oakland doesn't have the estimated $200 million+ needed for it. A much more economical solution is to detain the rain on individual properties, and make the peak water flow lower by spreading it out. Or as Lesley Estes, the city's Watershed Program Supervisor said, "to control the firehose effect." Galloway already had two 65 gallon 'Moby' rain barrels, and Estes, council member Jane Brunner, and Matt Freiberg of the Watershed Project came to see more storage installed.

Matt Freiberg of
the Watershed Project

Much of the prep work for this install was done by two interns in Merritt College's Environmental Science program, but Freiberg described how simple a typical install can be. It does require some plastic pipes and fittings, and usually cutting the existing downspout, but overall it's fairly easy. Galloway said the hardest part was getting the new 305 gallon tank from the street to its final location behind his house.

The city has a federal grant which significantly reduces the cost of the rain barrels. The 65 gallon barrel retails for $219, but is available through the city program for $48.50. There are larger tanks like the 305 gallon tank installed at the Galloway residence, all the way up to a 620 gallons. Buying one is as easy as going to the city's rain barrel program website and placing your order. You can either pick up the barrels or arrange to have them delivered. I bought two of the 65 gallon barrels a couple of years ago.

BUT (you knew there was a 'but' coming), the federal funding for the program runs out at the end of 2012. Which means to get the barrels for the lower cost, you need to order and take delivery before then.

There are benefits besides erosion control. If you have any sort of garden or plants, you can use the collected rain to water them and reduce your water bill. Galloway has a drip system connected to his existing barrels, and uses rainwater to provide water for the small greenhouse built behind his home. The new tank will be used to water six fruit trees. I was also impressed because he has a solar hot water system for providing hot water in the house and heating the small pool in the backyard, as well as photo voltaic panels to generate electricity.

more pictures from the install:


For more information about the program, see www.oaklandpw.com/rainbarrel

Also check out the coverage at Oakland North.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

bikes + beer + benefit = fun!

This past Sunday was a great event combining several of my favorite things: beer, bikes and Oakland. It was the Tour de Bière 2012, led by The Grand Cru, as a fundraiser for the East Bay Bike Coalition. With a full day of biking and beer tasting, plus discounts at several destinations, it was a bargain at $25 per person. So it was unsurprising when tickets sold out for it in 4 days.

We met at Trumer in Berkeley to sign in and start off with some coffee and snacks. The group split into two for a tour around Trumer's brewery. Outside are a number of large silos for grain, and giant temperature-controller fermenters. Trumer Pils is known for being a 'bright', clear beer, so they've got an amazing filtration system, but because EBMUD water is so good, they don't need to filter or treat the water. I worked at a brew on premises / brewpub for a while, and was interested in beer before that, so I'm familiar with the brewing process. That said, I still found the tour at Trumer interesting and informative.

Linden Street Brewery

From there we headed down to Linden Street Brewery in Jack London Square. I'm a huge fan of Linden Street, not just because founder Adam Lamoreaux is incredibly supportive of different non-profits around Oakland, but also because Linden Street Beers are incredibly tasty (love the Burning Oak Black Lager and the Urban Peoples' Common Lager). LSB has been growing at a healthy pace, and Adam is hoping to outgrow the space in Jack London Square. But even if that happens, he plans to keep the Linden Street location going forward, as a 'brewery incubator'. Currently LSB hosts Dying Vines Brewing, but going forward they'd love to host more.

Triple Rock

The group again split in two. Most people headed for Elevation 66 in El Cerrito and the rest of us headed for Triple Rock in Berkeley. Triple Rock is the granddaddy, one of the oldest operating brewpubs in the U.S., and opened when I was in college in 1986. They were having their 'Sour Sunday' which drew a lot of fans, so the brewpub was packed. I had some of their IIMax DIPA, a big, hoppy beer.

We then headed over to Elevation 66 in El Cerrito. It's the new kid on the block, having just opened in 2011. I'm not in El Cerrito very often, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for future visits.

To finish off the evening, we rode down to Pyramid in Berkeley, not far from where we started. Our ranks had thinned a bit by then, but those remaining happily toured the large brew house and sampled a variety of Pyramid's beers.

The tour was about 20 miles, plus I had another 6 miles each way to and from BART, so about 32 miles of riding for me. Despite that, I only used the electric assist on my ride home; the rest of the ride was flat and slow enough I didn't need it.

It was a long day with a lot of riding, but hella fun. Thanks to The Grand Cru for organizing the Tour de Bière and to Trumer, Linden Street, Triple Rock, Elevation 66, and Pyramid for hosting us and supporting the East Bay Bike Coalition!

lots more pictures from the ride:


More pictures from The Grand Cru.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Tamales y Vino

Last Friday was a fun little event with Tina Tamale at Urban Legend Cellars called "Tamales y Vino". It was a thank-you for the crowd source funders of Tina's new tamale truck and cart, as well as a change of pace for folks coming to Urban Legend for wine tasting. It was a lot of fun, with live music from Carlos Godinez, sweets from Semita Dulce, and of course, Urban Legends wines to taste and Tina's tasty tamales, sopas, and salads to eat.

pictures from the event:


Also check out Paula Wirth's great photos from the event, including a couple with me in them.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

upcoming Oakland events

As usual, there's a variety of things to do in Oakland. Celebrate and explore Oakland! If none of the listed events appeal, maybe it's time for you to try one of the regular events, like the Saturday Art Stroll, or gardening at Wood Park, Lakeside Park or the Montclair Railroad Trail. And as always, if you know of something interesting going on that I haven't listed, let me know in the comments.

Oakland Walking Tour: New Era, New Politics - Wednesday, February 15, 10am-12pm, and Saturday, February 25. In celebration of Black History Month. I've been on all of the walking tours, and they're a great way to learn about Oakland and its history. This one focuses on more recent Oakland history and politics. (free)

Paramount movie classics: The Sting - Friday, February 17, 7-10pm. A fun con-man movie set during the Depression. It won 7 Oscars in 1974, and stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw. ($5)

Rooftop Garden at E.C. Reems Academy - Saturday, February 18, 9am-1pm. Join Ella Baker Center's Soul of the City and Oakland Food Connection for a day of service in East Oakland. Repair garden beds, paint barrels, and prepare the soil for growing. (more info)

Montclair RR Trail Work - Saturday, February 18, 9-11am. Friends of the Montclair RR Trail do monthly maintenance, but they could use an extra hand this Saturday spreading wood chips from the city. (more info)

Tea Tasting Mixer - Saturday, February 18, 2-4pm, At the AAMLO. A collaboration between AAMLO, FAAMLO and Take Your Sister To Lunch, Inc., the mixer encourages women to come together, share their experiences and make a difference.

Tall Ships return to Oakland - February 10 - February 22. Tours, sailing trips, and more. Read more at Oakland North.

looking further ahead:

First 2012 WOBO Volunteer Meeting - Thursday, February 23, 6-7:30pm. Learn the many ways to get involved in building a more accessible and safer community with Walk Oakland Bike Oakland. (web page)

Explore Oakmore with Oakland Urban Paths - Saturday, March 10, 10am-12:30pm. Join Oakland Urban Paths to check out how local pathways connect to watershed and regional trail systems. (free)

Creative Growth Fundraiser - Friday, March 16, 6-9pm. "Beyond Trend". A gala fundraiser for the Center for Creative Growth, with DJ music, a silent auction, and great-sounding food. (more info)

Oakland Veg Week - April 15-21. Thought about eating vegetarian? Oakland Veg Week will have a variety of events to introduce people to the idea. (website)

plus the usual events:
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Mountain View Cemetery: Grand Army of the Republic

Grand Army of
the Republic plot

Asection at the Mountain View Cemetery is set aside for members of the Grand Army of the Republic, or put more plainly, veterans of the Union forces in the American Civil War (1861–1865). The GAR was the first veterans' organization in the United States, and was one of the first advocacy groups supporting voting rights for black veterans.

This past weekend after the Oakland Urban Paths walk with geologist Andrew Alden, I stopped by Mountain View Cemetery to do some more exploring and take some new pictures for the Taphophile Tragics meme. I knew that Mountain View Cemetery had a section for Union veterans of the Civil War, but I'd never seen it except at a distance, so that was my goal.

The plot was set aside for Union veterans in 1880 and burials began that fall. In 1893 the GAR dedicated a monument topped with shroud-draped urn (a symbol dating back to Roman times). Just in time for Memorial Day 1897, the plot was given a makeover, ringing it with 750 cannonballs and placing howitzers at the corners. The GAR organization was dissolved in 1956 when the last member died, and as time will do, things slowly wore down after that.

Then in 2003, Eric Kos and Dennis Evanosky gave it another makeover. Working with the cemetery staff and the Department of Veterans Affairs, they mapped the plot and replaced the broken and missing stones. Even the howitzers were restored.

Obediah Summers

What I found particularly noteworthy was the marker for Obediah Summers. He was born into slavery in 1844 in Clay County, Missouri. At age 20 in 1864, he enlisted in Company A, 18th Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry (USCI). After the war he became a Methodist preacher, and eventually moved to Oakland. He later served the California State Legislature as its first African-American chaplain. But he wasn't originally buried in the GAR plot. During the 2003 makeover, Eric and Dennis, working with Mt. View staff, discovered Obediah's grave. Obediah's granddaughter Myrna Adams petitioned to have his remains moved to the GAR lot, a request that was granted in 2005, when Obediah was able to join his fellow veterans.



See other Taphophile Tragic entries from around the world.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Oakland Urban Paths: Rock and Walk

Saturday morning there was a great turnout for the Oakland Urban Paths "Rock and Walk", led by Oakland geologist and blogger Andrew Alden. Forty people (and two dogs) gathered to learn about four former quarries in Oakland and Piedmont over the course of a 5 mile walk.

To begin the walk we met at the first quarry, which is now the Rockridge Shopping Center. It was the former Bilger quarry, which produced crushed stone for use in construction. One interesting thing is that the neighboring Treadwell estate didn't sell their land to the quarry, but later sold it to the California College of the Arts, which explains why there's an unusually steep hill between the campus at one level and the shopping center below. Another nearby estate became the Claremont Country Club. The Rockridge branch of Glen Echo Creek traverses the country club, and brings most of the water that fills the quarry pit. Read more about the quarry in Andrew's post from a couple years ago.

From there, we walked around the end of Mountain View Cemetery into Piedmont for quarry #2. It's now Dracena Quarry Park, which is tucked away in a man-made canyon between Moraga Avenue and Oakland Avenue. It also was used to produce crushed stone and aggregate for construction. It's a beautiful little park, surrounded with large redwoods and with play structures for kids. But the hillsides have been left in a somewhat unstable condition—fences around the edge keep park users away from the fallen rock at the base of hills. Read more about Dracena Park in Andrew's post.

Then it was a winding walk over to quarry #3, Davie Tennis Stadium. Unfortunately the park was closed because of a furlough day, but Andrew told us some of the history and geology. The Davie Recreation Stadium was a "gift of the Davie family to the children of Oakland and the East Bay" in 1931. John Davie was a five term mayor of Oakland, first in 1895 then again from 1915-1931. William Davie was a treasurer, and Fred Davie a secretary to the mayor. The quarry provided aggregate for the Alameda Macadam Company and later the Piedmont Paving Company for road paving. You can see an aerial photo of the tennis courts at the park in Google maps.

Morcom Rose Garden

From there we walked across Grand Avenue over to quarry #4, the Morcom Rose Garden. Unlike the other three, Andrew hasn't yet found a record of its history as a quarry, but the geological / topographical features strongly indicate that it was. The land was acquired by the city around 1911-1915, but the first rose wasn't planted until 1933, by then former Mayor Frank Morcom.

We cut back across part of Piedmont, crossed Piedmont Avenue, and returned to our starting point. By this point a few people had dropped out (5 miles is a long walk if you're not used to it), but a few of the remaining folks joined Andrew for a brief walk around the shipping center to view the rocks of quarry #1. Another great urban paths walk, with some stairways that were new to me, and some interesting history and geology to learn about along the way.

Lots more pictures:


For more about Saturday's walk, check out Andrew's post about the walk.

more links:

Friday, February 10, 2012

signs: Alcatraz Shade Shop

Alcatraz Shade Shop

Alcatraz Shade Shop sits on the not-quite-square corner of Telegraph and Alcatraz. The signage for the name of the shop is nothing special, but they've got a lovely neon-bordered clock advertising their wares.

You may have noticed several vintage neon-bordered clocks from my visit to Neon Works with the Oakland Heritage Alliance in January. I've also seen a number of them around Oakland before, but this was the first I've seen lit.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

upcoming Oakland events

Lots of interesting stuff coming up, including geology, tamales, tall ships and more. There's also another New Era, New Politics walking tour, and various Oakland library branches are having exhibits and events in honor of Black History Month.

Urban Geology Lecture with OHA - Thursday, February 9, 7-9pm. Learn about Oakland's geology with the Oakland Heritage Alliance and Oakland geologist Andrew Alden of Oakland Geology. ($10-$15)

Meet My Town, Montclair photographer - Thursday, February 9, 7-9pm. Join Reenie Raschke for a slideshow, discussion and book signing of her photo book, My Town Montclair. At A Great, Good Place for Books. (free)

Tamales y Vino - Friday, February 10, 6-9pm. A popup at Urban Legend Cellars, with wine tasting, tamales by Tina Tamale, live music, an art show, and more. ($40-$100)

art: Love Show - Friday, February 10, 6-9pm. An art show at Gray Loft Gallery in Jingletown. Art in a variety of mediums about love and its various incarnations, it's "not a Hallmark Valentine show". Features the work of 25+ artists. (free; note: contains mature content)

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir - Friday, February 10, 8-9:30pm at the Cathedral of Christ the Light. More info. ($20-$25)

Tall Ships return to Oakland - February 10 - February 22. Tours, sailing trips, and more. Read more at Piedmont Patch.

Oakland Urban Paths geology walk - Saturday, February 11. Rock and Walk! Explore Oakland's geology and urban walkways with Oakland geologist Andrew Alden of Oakland Geology and Oakland Urban Paths. (free)

Tour de Bière 2012 - Sunday, February 12. Take a bicycle tour of breweries in Oakland and Berkeley, and raise money for the East Bay Bike Coalition. Limited tickets, so order quickly. Sold out, but waiting list available. ($25, 21+)

Oakland Walking Tour: New Era, New Politics - Wednesday, February 15, 10am-12pm. In celebration of Black History Month. I've been on all of the walking tours, and they're a great way to learn about Oakland and its history. This one focuses on more recent Oakland history and politics. (free)

looking further ahead:
Paramount movie classics: The Sting - Friday, February 17, 7-10pm. A fun con-man movie set during the Depression. It won 7 Oscars in 1974, and stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw. ($5)

Tea Tasting Mixer, Saturday, February 18, 2-4pm, At the AAMLO. A collaboration between AAMLO, FAAMLO and Take Your Sister To Lunch, Inc., the mixer encourages women to come together, share their experiences and make a difference.

Oakland Veg Week - April 15-21. Thought about eating vegetarian? Oakland Veg Week will have a variety of events to introduce people to the idea. (website)

plus the usual events:
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

taphophile tragics #7

Ididn't have time to shoot new images for this week's Taphophile Tragics post, so I picked one from my first visit to Mountain View Cemetery back in October.

our Little Ralph
only an armor bearer
& his loving sister Nellie
I have no idea how old the marker is, nor how old Ralph or Nellie were when they died. The dove on top with the olive branch is a symbol of peace. The weathering, the style of the marker, and position near other older markers suggest the grave is fairly old.

Monday, February 6, 2012

walking tour: New Era, New Politics

Saturday was a specially scheduled walking tour as part of the celebration of Black History Month in Oakland. It's the "New Era, New Politics" tour, and focuses on the more recent history of Oakland.

There was a great turnout, 23 people plus our guide, Renate. As when I took the tour last summer, it starts a little slow, with a lot of names and facts in front of the African American Museum and Library of Oakland (AAMLO). But I did learn some new things, such as the identity of the young boy pictured on one of the banners at the museum.

The banner shows Royal Townes, who became the first African American firefighter in Oakland, and was instrumental in helping desegregate the fire department. Royal was born in Oakland in 1899, and when denied union membership in his factory job because of his race, went to work as a railroad porter. He took the fire department application test and easily passed (he was an intelligent young man, and spoke three languages), but because of his race, his application needed a nudge from his former employer. He helped train many other black applicants to pass the test, and was scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop that included Sam Golden, who went on to become the first African American fire chief in Oakland. There's an interesting paper at UC Berkeley about the desegregation of the Oakland Fire Department (.doc)

There was lots more we heard about, including people that should be familiar to Oaklanders, including: Delilah Beasley, C.L. Dellums, Lionel Wilson, Elihu Harris, Henry Gardner, Morrie Turner, Byron Rumford, and judge Donald McCullum. To read more about some of these names, click the links, and see my post from last year's New Era, New Politics walking tour.

more pictures:


some of the books referenced:

Special shoutout to @kenyaw who was there with lots of friends celebrating his birthday. Happy Birthday, Kenya! And a reminder to support the Oakland walking tours program—it's one of the things possibly on the budget chopping block.

Friday, February 3, 2012

show some local love for local food

Along-time part of the Oakland food scene is La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen, which you probably better know through Tina Ramos' alter ego, Tina Tamale. And by long-time, I mean pushing 70 years in the business—her grandmother and mother both operated it before her.

I've eaten Tina's food at numerous Oakland events, from the Vintage Christmas Popup to the Passport to the East Bay Wine Trail and countless street festivals in between, and in the past it's always been a table and canopy. But you may have read a while back that Tina purchased a food cart and transporter truck, to simplify taking her tasty tamales on the road and making them available around more places in Oakland.

And that's where you come in. Tina is doing crowd-sourced funding to help with the costs of acquiring the food cart, truck and associated permits. The campaign ends Monday, so you can still contribute. There are a variety of perks available as a thank-you for your contribution, including gift certificates, a limited edition t-shirt featuring artwork by Oakland artists, Joaquin Alejandro Newman & Eduardo Pineda of Forrealism, a special Underground Canvas dinner, up to a chance to name the cart!

One of the potential perks, and a fundraiser in its own right is "Tamales y Vino". The folks at Urban Legend Cellars and Tina did some careful tastings to find wines that pair well with different tamales. You can come taste the pairings; hear live, original music from Oakland Latin jazz group Carlos Godinez Duet; view an art show from Marlene White of the Hive Studios; and hang out with some cool people in Oakland.

The crowd-sourced funding campaign ends Monday, February 6, so act quickly. "Tamales y Vino" at Urban Legend is Friday, February 10, so you've got a little more time, but not much.

Show some local love for local food!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

upcoming Oakland events

Aspecial request—if at all possible, please show up for the Oakland Walking Tour on Saturday. Support for it is one of the many things being considered for the chopping block in the latest Oakland budget, and it's only a 1/2 time position. Losing these amazing, free walking tours that tell so much Oakland history would be a big loss. The same program also gives educational walking tours to school children in Oakland.

Art Murmur - Friday, February 3, 6-9pm. It's the Art Murmur, the second of 2012. It's also a chance to check out the space that The New Parkway Theater will be using. But wait, there's more! The folks behind the Art Murmur are also starting a special curated art tour on the 3rd Saturdays. (free)

Oakland Walking Tour: New Era, New Politics - Saturday, February 4, 10am-12pm. The first of the city-sponsored walking tours downtown for 2012, and if we're not careful, the last. I've been on all of the walking tours, and they're a great way to learn about Oakland and its history. This one focuses on more recent Oakland history and politics. Show your support this Saturday, or there may not be tours in the future. (free)

Victorian Valentines at CSH - Saturday, February 4, 10:30am-12:30pm. Join Camron-Stanford House for the first of their new Decorative Arts Workshops and create Victorian-inspired works of art. ($20-$25, 12+)

Jingletown cleanup - Sunday, February 5, 10am-11am. A quick but needed cleanup around the Peterson Art Wall in Jingletown. (free)

looking further ahead:
Urban Geology Lecture with OHA - Thursday, February 9. Hear about Oakland's geology with the Oakland Heritage Alliance and Oakland geologist Andrew Alden of Oakland Geology. ($10-$15)

Tamales y Vino - Friday, February 10, 6-9pm. A popup at Urban Legend Cellars, with wine tasting, tamales by Tina Tamale, live music, an art show, and more. ($40-$100)

Tall Ships return to Oakland - February 10 - February 22. Tours, sailing trips, and more. Read more at Piedmont Patch.

Oakland Urban Paths geology walk - Saturday, February 11. Explore Oakland's geology and urban walkways with Oakland geologist Andrew Alden of Oakland Geology and Oakland Urban Paths. (free)

Tour de Bière 2012 - Sunday, February 12. Take a bicycle tour of breweries in Oakland and Berkeley, and raise money for the East Bay Bike Coalition. Limited tickets, so order quickly. Sold out, but waiting list available. ($25, 21+)

plus the usual events:
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)