ALAMEDA COUNTY Transcribed by: Linda Jackson 5/20/2008
The Ideal Place for Your California Home
by Henry Anderson Lafler
MANY ALAMEDA COUNTY HOUSES, LIKE THIS RESIDENCE,
SHOW SPANISH INFLUENCES IN THEIR ARCHITECTURE.
There is a marked contrast between the spacious villa of Phoebe A. Hearst, a great benefactress, on the hills above Pleasanton, and the humble cottage of Joaquin Miller, a great poet, on the hills above Oakland. But both chose their places of residence for the same reason--beauty, climate, view; in short, ideal conditions of living.
From the porch of Joaquin Miller's cottage a vast panorama is unrolled--fold on fold of hills, deep and dusky canyons, the colored roofs of a great city, the waters of the vast Bay, and blue and distant mountains.
The place where Joaquin Miller lived, wrote his immortal poems, and died, is reached by an hour's walk over a steadily climbing road, from the residence section of Oakland and is within the city limits. Here the poet planted innumerable trees of the many varieties that flourish in California; and took delight in building of native stone a number of quaint monuments--one to Moses, one to Robert Browning, and one to John C. Fremont, who first saw and named the Golden Gate from near this spot. And here also stands the pyre built by the poet, where his ashes were scattered in the flames.
JOAQUIN
MILLER'S HOME
In many of the poems of Joaquin Miller are enshrined hints of the beauty of the landscape about his home. Here is just one of them.
OAKLAND
As Seen from the Hights.
Deep below us lies the valley,
Steep below us lies the town,
Where great sea-ships ride and rally,
And the world walks up and down.
Oh, the sea of lights, far-streaming,
Where the thousand flags are furled,
And the gleaming bay lies dreaming,
As it duplicates the world.
The home of Joaquin Miller is being kept just as he left it, by his widow and his daughter, Juanita, and to that home on the hillside thousands make pilgrimage.
A
CORNER OF OAKLAND LOOKING ACROSS LAKE MERRITT
TO THE PIEDMONT HILLS
The healthfulness of Alameda County is one of the things that make it the ideal place in all the world to live in. There are in the county, despite the warmth and geniality of the climate, no mosquitos of the variety that convey malaria and yellow fever. Hence, these diseases are unknown. Furthermore, the absence of snow and sleet, of ice and piercing wind, insures also the almost complete absence of half a dozen affections that follow upon chill and exposure. Pneumonia in Alameda County is very rare. So are the diarrhoeal diseases which accompany very hot weather. Rheumatism is almost unknown. Hence it is that the City of Alameda with a population of 30,000 claims the proud distinction of being the healthiest community of its size in the United States. The United States Government compiles statistics regarding the death rate in all cities of 100,000 population and over. In this compilation Oakland makes a wonderful record. In 1911, the city had the lowest death rate of any city in the United States of 100,000 population and over. The figure was 12.5 per 1000. In 1912, Oakland was fourth in the long list of 50 cities, being excelled only by Portland (Oregon), Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 1913, Oakland was, with the exception of Portland (Oregon), the healthiest large city in the United States.
Perhaps one of the strongest factors that make for health and the "joy of living" in the balmy climate of Alameda County is the opportunity for outdoor recreation the year round. For example, on the white beaches that fringe the southern shore of the island city of Alameda, a quarter of a million people annually enjoy the delights of surf-bathing. On sunny days, even in December and January, scores may be seen disporting in the waters of the Bay. It is not surprising, therefore, that some of the world's most famous swimmers--especially women swimmers--are natives of Alameda County. Among these are Nell Schmidt, Mrs. Tesch and her daughter.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS YEARLY ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF
SURF BATHING ON THE ALAMEDA BEACHES
To a certain extent, yachting is enjoyed the year round in the open waters of San Francisco Bay, though many boats are laid up for the winter. However, in the enclosed waters, such as Lake Merritt, fine days in the dead of winter see gaily painted canoes, row boats and white-sailed sloops dancing over the blue surface of the water. The boat house on Lake Merritt, in the heart of the City of Oakland, is operated by the municipality and a hundred thousand persons yearly use the boats, for which only a small fee is asked. The boats and boating are in charge of the Playgrounds Department of the City of Oakland.
Oakland has 38 public playgrounds with an aggregated attendance of a million children yearly. Berkeley and Alameda are also famous for their activities in the domain of healthful play. On these playgrounds, in use every day in the year, there are always crowds of happy young people engaged in playing tennis, baseball, basketball or volley-ball.
OAKLAND IS NOTED FOR ITS PLAYGROUNDS, WHICH ARE IN USE
AT EVERY SEASON OF THE YEAR.
Social center buildings in the playgrounds and school houses are available for lectures, club meetings, entertainments and dancing. It is not remarkable to find here, in a climate that permits of outdoor games throughout the year, athletic excellence of a high order. Only one example need be mentioned here. Maurice McLoughlin, the world's greatest tennis player, is a resident of Alameda County, and much of his practice work is done on beautiful private courts in Piedmont, near his home.
It is not alone young people who play outdoors in Alameda County in January the same as June. The golf links of the country clubs all winter long are alive with players, many of the women wearing white duck skirts in winter as well as summer.
NELL SCHMIDT,
FAMOUS SWIMMER OF ALAMEDA
There are two well established country clubs. The Claremont Country Club is an old established organization with a commodious club-house near the end of Broadway, Oakland. On the three asphalt tennis courts are played many of the California State and Pacific Coast tournaments. The club-house is embowered in vines; the grounds are a flower garden, while the golf links, comprising 120 acres, are esteemed one of the most beautiful in California. A little stream lined with alders strikes through one corner of the property of the Club, while the hill above is clothed with pines.