ALAMEDA COUNTY Transcribed by: Linda Jackson 5/21/2008
The Ideal Place for Your California Home
by Henry Anderson Lafler
ST.
MARY'S COLLEGE, OAKLAND
Besides public schools, the University of California and schools for the deaf and dumb and for the blind, Alameda County has a number of noted private schools. Mills College, the only woman's college on the Pacific Coast, is secluded among the beautiful hills of the suburbs of Oakland, near the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay. This college has an ideal climate throughout the entire year. Its grounds comprise 150 acres. Much of this area is delightfully wooded, giving the aspect of a lovely private park. Special attention is given to the teaching of music and painting. Other notable schools for girls are Miss Ransom's School in Piedmont and Miss Head's School and Wellesly School in Berkeley. The California School of Arts and Crafts, in Berkeley, is recognized as one of the leading art schools of the country. In Oakland is situated St. Mary's College, a Catholic institution, as well as a convent school for girls.
Living in Alameda County is no more expensive than in the Eastern part of the United States. In fact, in many respects, it is less expensive. Fresh fruits are in the market the year round. Strawberries are gathered from the fields near Niles and other Alameda County communities during nine months of the year. The richness of the soil surrounding the cities makes for a profusion of vegetables of the best quality at very moderate prices.
It costs considerably less to build a home in Alameda County than in the East. Fir from the forests of Oregon and from Northern California reaches the wharves of Berkeley, Oakland and Alameda directly by water--that is to say, with a minimum charge for transportation. Hence lumber is cheap. A delightful California bungalow of five rooms and sleeping porch, hardwood floors, built-in buffet, fireplace, etc., may be completed at a cost of from $2000 to $2500. Bungalow lots in Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda, with 5-cent street car transportation, and also close to the interurban lines to San Francisco, may be purchased for from $400 up. On the gentle slopes of the foothills of Oakland and Berkeley, in sightly situations, with a sweeping view of the mountains and the Bay--100 square miles of land and water--in the most glorious climate in the world, building sites may be purchased at from $35 to $80 a front foot.
LISSER
HALL, ONE OF THE BUILDINGS OF MILLS COLLEGE FOR
YOUNG WOMEN PICTURESQUELY SITUATED
IN THE FOOTHILLS OF OAKLAND
The climate permits of the building of lighter, slighter and more airy dwellings than are possible in the East. There is no snow-load to consider. Water pipes never freeze. Frost does not affect exposed plaster. The walls of dwellings do not have to be designed for zero weather and blizzards. Hence the typical California house in Alameda County has usually an attractiveness unknown to colder climates.
So come to Alameda County, in sight of blue and smiling waters of San Francisco Bay, and make your "ultimate home." Watch with us through the Golden Gate the sun slowly sink into the bosom of the broad Pacific. See from your westward windows, hung in flowers, the ships sailing for the Seven Seas or homeward bound with the treasures of the Orient and the Spice Islands. Wander among the richly laden orchards. Play golf on green links on Christmas day and tennis on New Year's. Drive out in your touring car every day in the year. Bring home the limit bag of trout from the streams, quail from the fields, deer from the hills and hollow, and duck from the tidelands. "Loaf and invite your soul" in the sunshine. Or send your yacht skimming over January waters in the air of June. We offer you the open hand of hospitality. Come and live in Alameda County, and be happy.
For additional information concerning Alameda County, address the Board of Supervisors, Oakland, California. Members of the Board: D. J. Murphy (Chairman), F. W. Foss, C. W. Heyer, Joseph M. Kelly, John F. Mullins.
(stamped) DEC 13 1917