Fong Wan Herb Co.

Fong Wan was an herbalist in the early and mid 1900s. Fong’s business was investigated by state and federal officials for his advertising claims for his herbs, but he was never convicted. Satisfied customers testified on his behalf in a 1932 trial. Some of his later advertisements would detail attacks by the federal government on …

Oakland High School

Today Oakland High School is on Park Blvd. at MacArthur, but from 1895 until 1928 it was here across from Lafayette Square. Constructed of bricks from the Remillard Brick Company (the Remillards lived nearby), the building stood until 1940 when it was demolished. Some of the bricks were used to construct the clubhouse in Lincoln …

Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square is one of Oakland’s seven original squares, laid out on an 1853 map. Today, only five of the seven still exist. Oakland was shaped by seven green squaresDowntown’s living rooms, now, only five‘Parks bring out the goodness of good people’ Beginning in 1883, the square was home to the first Chabot Observatory. The …

Mother Mary Ann Wright

“Mother” Mary Ann Wright fed those in need in Oakland and beyond, starting with one meal a week. That was all she could afford with food purchased from her Social Security checks. She melded dedication, faith and goodwill into a foundation, which fed more than 450 people a day on a shoestring budget of $137,000 …

Pardee Home

The Pardee Home was built in 1868-1869 for Dr. Enoch Pardee and his family. Pardee would later serve as mayor of Oakland. His son, Dr. George Pardee later lived here with his family, and served as mayor of Oakland, and as governor of California. Notable during Pardee’s time as governor was the 1906 earthquake, which …

10,000 Steps #1

The 10,000 Steps project explored Oakland’s city squares, past and present. It culminated in a permanent meandering neighborhood narrative, ‘Walking the Invisible City’. This looped walk, marked with permanent conversational sidewalk stepping stones, reveals the city within the city: hidden local lore, architectural and cultural history, and points of urban transformation all centered around these historic …

La Borinqueña Mexicatessen

La Borinqueña Mexicatessen was a small, family-run Mexican delicatessen, spanning 71 years and three generations. Forced to relocate twice because of freeways, it was a mainstay in the neighborhood until 2015. Famous for their tamales, people would return to buy them even after they had moved from the area. Oakland’s first Latino BarrioTina Tamale: Guardian …

Swan’s Market

Swan’s Market is newer than many of the other buildings in Old Oakland, but has been no less important to the fabric of the neighborhood. The building was constructed in phases from 1917 to 1940, and encompasses most of the entire block. Originally a “supermarket” of shops in an age of separate stores, it now …