Alameda County

History

Past and Present of Alameda County, California - S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

CHAPTER XV
AMUSEMENTS, LODGES, SOCIETIES, GAMES, ETC.

        Amusements are sought by everybody to soften and assuage the cares, responsibilities and hardships of life. Recreation is as necessary as food or sleep. The earliest settlers had their hours of diversion and relaxation. The earliest sports of this country were the bullfights, horse races and fandangoes of the old Spanish and Mexican residents. There were at least three bullpens in Alameda county—in Brooklyn, near Livermore and near Mission San Jose. The law of 1854 prohibited bullfights but did not wholly stop the sport until several years later. Hunting in early times was, of course, excellent, all kinds of animals of this habitat being found along the bay, on the level open grazing tracts, in the canyons, hollows and valleys and on the beetling hills and mountains. The rapid settlement by the Americans and their sporting proclivities soon stripped the county of the larger specimens of wild game. The organization of lodges and clubs for recreation and amusement was so common and rapid that soon every town and city had its organizations of all the secret and social clubs, lodges and societies.

        Beginning about the time of the Civil war numerous secret and benevolent societies were established in the cities and towns of Alameda county. Previous to 1860 few existed, among them being Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, American Mechanics, Druids, Lameth Heth Tau and a few others. By 1883 Oakland had lodges of the following: Chosen Friends, United Workmen, Odd Fellows, American Legion of Honor, Knights of Honor, Masons, Good Templars, B'Nai B'Rith, Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of America, Knights of Pythias, Good Samaritans, Pacific Turn Bezirk, Workman's Guarantee Fund Association, and Order of Foresters. Alameda had the Masons, Odd Fellows, Good Templars and others at an early date. The Masons and Odd Fellows were also at San Leandro, Haywards, Alvarado, and other places in the county back in the sixties.

        On August 11, 1870, a meeting of those who settled in this county prior to 1859 was held in the council room of the city hall for the purpose of organizing a society of Alameda County Pioneers. William Van Voorhies served as president of the meeting. The society was duly organized with the following officers: Col. Jack Hayes, president; T. W. Miller and William Van Voorhies, vice-presidents; J. E. Whitcher, secretary; A. D. Pryal, marshal. Other business was deferred until a subsequent meeting.     

        In 1873 baseball was played in Oakland by the Wide Awake, Grand Central and Oakland nines. The Grand Central proved the best club; its players were: E. J. Simmons, pitcher; C. P. Eells, catcher; John M. Poston, first; W. B. Hamilton, second; Charles D. Havens, third; E. B. Pomroy, short; George Reed, center; J. J. Lynch, right; Peter Bellingall, left. At one time John R. Glascock and James H. Budd were members of the Wide Awakes. George E. De Golia was an early member of one of the clubs. In 1874 the Oakland Baseball Club won the pennant, defeating the Grand Centrals three times and the Mutuals and Athletics respectively twice each. Two local baseball clubs in 1875 were the Elaines and the Silver Stars. In a match game in August the latter won by a score of 61 to 17.     The Silver Stars were Givens, Morton, Morse, Davis, Howell, Harrington, Stewart, Melone and Butler; the Elaines were Harris, Havens, Tuttle, G. Simmons, F. Simmons, Wilson, Mickerson, Wickersham and Harding. The Oakland Baseball Club was represented at the Pacific baseball convention which met in room 18, city hall, San Francisco, on February 9, 1875; five clubs, a majority, were represented. A series of championship games was agreed upon.

        The Dublin races were a feature in the southeastern section of the county; Rattleweed, a well known local horse, won a big running race in November, 1874. At this time a mile race track was opened at Pleasanton on the land of A. Bernal; it was about a half mile from the town. The old race track was in the suburbs of Oakland; near it was the famous Shell Mound. It was on the farm of Mr. Wiard about two miles northwest of the city hall. At the races in January, 1875, the horse Chinaman won the three-quarter mile dash in 1:15¼; said to be the fastest time on record up to that date. Katy Pease was second, very close and coming fast. At the races in April Dan Rice won the trotting match in 2 :30½.

        Leland Stanford's particular pride was the well known and famous trotting horse Occident, which in 1875 was trained by the famous Budd Doble; it was finally concluded to take him East and pit him against Goldsmith Maid and other fast equines. At the Oakland race course in March in a running race between Blanche Hull, Billy Baker, Blue Cloud, and Sorrel Ned, Blanche. Hull was the favorite and won the first heat, Blue Cloud the second, and Blanche Hull the third; the half mile was made in 52½ seconds best time; the purse was $100. In the trotting race were Henry, Marysville Queen, and Uncle Sam, the first being favorite. He won the first and second heats, best time being a mile in 2:39. The race track was then called Athens; the San Pablo cars ran to the track.

        The Thespian Dramatic Society gave several interesting entertainments early in 1875 that were well attended by enthusiastic audiences. Among the actors were F. E. Brooks, T. G. Hogan, A. M. Campbell, W. Chamberlain, H. J. H. Dam, H. H. Goff, W. H. Richards, Barrett Hall, Roscoe Havens; actresses—Miss Rosa Ickart, Mrs. T. G. Hogan and Miss Charlington.

        Captain Badger's park in East Oakland had a dancing pavilion and amphitheatre for games, races, etc., also a windmill to raise water. The first regatta of the Oakland Regatta Club occurred early in May, 1875. Three boats contested over a distance of two miles and return. The boat J. W. Coleman won the race; it was manned by Hallihan and Lambert. The other contestants were the William Burling and the E. C. Keene. In 1875 John Jordan of Pleasanton became the champion shot of the state by defeating Mr. Taylor of San Francisco, killing 49 out of 50 birds to 43 by Mr. Taylor, for $250 a side; distance 21 yards on the fly and 80 yards boundary.

        The race in 1875 given under the auspices of the Jockey Club was profitable but put the club in hot water. The receipts from the sale of tickets were about $18,000; entrance fee of eight horses, $19,000; bar and other privileges, $3,000; admittance to grand stand, $5,000. Total about $45,000. The amount of money on the pools was about $100,000. The club's profit was estimated at over $20,000 in this one scrub race. It was asserted that the club should gather its assets

together, declare a dividend and retire, as it was bankrupt in reputation and would disappear amid the groans and hisses of a bilked community. Nearly all who attended the race were disgusted and many were indignant. In January, 1875, at Sunol, occurred the long expected foot race between Burbridge and Lively; the latter, won by two feet; time and distance not given and probably not kept.

        Previous to 1875 Oakland citizens were forced to go to San Francisco to enjoy high-class dramatic entertainments, but in that year a large theatre was contemplated by Gen. T. H. Williams on his newly purchased property on Fourteenth street nearly opposite the city hall. The city had a population of nearly 20,000 and a floating population of between 3,000 and 4,000; nearly all of the latter consisting of wealthy people who came here to enjoy the salubrious climate, brought usually plenty of money to spend and wanted amusement. Nearly every other town of 10,000 people in the state had fine theaters and why not Oakland?, it was asked. Brayton Hall could not be called a first-class theatrical room and had become nearly obsolete. Visitors who came here to spend the winters and their money were forced to cross to San Francisco to enjoy renditions of the highest forms of dramatic art. A fine theatre was previously projected here, but the projector lost courage and abandoned the enterprise.

        A grand masked ball was given by Alameda Harmonie in March, 1876, at their hall on Peru street. In February Alice Kingsbury appeared in Wode's Opera House in Fanchon the Cricket and in Little Barefoot. Wode's Opera House was on Mission street between Third and Fourth.

        In August the race for $10,000 one mile in harness, best three in five, was trotted at Oakland park in the presence of a large crowd. O. A. Hickock drove St. Julian and C. DuBois drove Dan Voorhies. The latter won the first heat but the former took the next three; best time was 2:25¾. In a pacing race at the Trotting park in October Dan Rice won three straight heats from Hiram Tracy, John Schonchin and Lady St. Clair. The best time was 2:22.

        W. H. Eyre and Mr. Robinson had a pigeon shooting contest in Alameda in February, the former winning the prize. Robinson and Kennedy also held a similar contest and the former was again defeated. In the first match Eyre killed all of his single birds-16, and 12 out of 16 in pairs. Robinson made the same score on the pairs, but missed three more of the single birds. In December the famous wing shots, Doctor Carver, Craig, Whitney, Mackey and Melone contested for supremacy and prizes at the Trotting park. Captain Bogardus was present and gave an exhibition of his skill. He shot a match with Robinson; the latter won by six birds.

        The Union Club of Oakland was organized in February, 1877, and first met in the old Masonic lodge rooms. A. C. Henry was president. It was composed entirely of business men.

        At Oakland Trotting park, in March, before a large gathering of people, the trotting race between Rants and Bodine came off. Rants won the first heat in 2:23 ; the second was a dead heat in 2:20½ ; Rarus won the third in 2 :22¼ and the race and purse of $1,000. John Splann owned Rarus and Budd Doble owned Bodine. In the second race Lady St. Clair won from John Schonchin in 2 :26―pacing.

        Mr. Randlett, owner of the racing park, offered a purse of $1,500 for a trotting race between Rants, Bodine and Oakland Maid in March, 1877.

        In a fifty-mile mustang race at the track in April, Mr. Smith of San Jose won in two hours and minutes. In a trotting race at the track on April 5, Lady Emma, Frank and Controller contended for a purse of $100; Frank won in three straight heats; best time 2:40. In the pacing race for $200 Lady St. Clair won from Gray Dick, Schonchin and Simcoe, the best time being 2:28½ . In April, 1877, the University Baseball Club played the Golden Gate Club of the academy of that name and defeated them by the score of 24 to 8.

        The cornerstone of Germania hall at Webster near Sixth was laid with due ceremony early in May. There was a large procession through the streets by the members of about half a dozen societies. William Sohst delivered an address, as did Mr. Schuenemann-Pott, speaker of the society of Free Thinkers, of San Francisco. Other speakers were Messrs. Denicke, Herzer, Mau, Boone and Goewnberg.

        It was asserted by the newspapers in June, that inasmuch as Oakland had at the least calculation a population of 35,000, and probably nearer 45,000, it should cease going to San Francisco to celebrate the holidays; that the city should stop clinging to its old village and suburban practice of falling back upon San Francisco for almost everything and branch out along independent lines for itself. It was declared that this city should outvie even San Francisco in the exuberance of holiday celebrations. When 10,000 people left here, it was noted, to observe the holidays in San Francisco, they took over there $10,000 in cash and left it when it should have gone into the pockets of the Oakland business men and houses.

        W. G. Dinsmore, the Broadway druggist, and Mrs. Soderer, originated the idea of the Tuolumne annual reunions and organization. The scattered pioneers of that old county were the first to inaugurate the practice of meeting annually in Oakland to talk over old times. Oakland was selected by common consent as the most desirable place for the reunions. The first picnic was held here on June 17, 1868, and about one hundred persons were present. The second was held at Postwick's garden, Alameda, with 400 persons present; the third at Humboldt park, Temescal, with nearly 2,000 present; the fourth, at Martinez with fully 3,000 present; the fifth, at Badger's park, East Oakland, attendance 3,500; sixth, same place, attendance, 4,000; seventh, same place, attendance, 5,000; eighth, same place, attendance about 8,500; ninth, same place, attendance fully 10,000; tenth, same place, attendance estimated at about 20,000. The steamer from Stockton brought down about 1,200 of the "old boys." Rev. Mr. Hamilton's address was almost wholly extemporaneous and was one of the most eloquent and fiery ever delivered in the city; he reviewed with great power the old times and kindled the flame in his hearer's hearts by his tender and touching references to the olden and golden days. The poem by Miss Pittsinger was one of unusual merit and of superior beauty. Col. R. G. Ingersoll delivered an oration at Badger's park before an audience so large that those on the outskirts could barely hear his voice.

        A fine pack of greyhounds was kept at Livermore; one, Connaught Rouger, was the best dog in the state; it was poisoned at Merced. In July, 1883, there was instituted here the first division of the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, being the fourth in the state. The ceremonies were conducted by Herman Schaffner, representative of the supreme chancellor.

        The Olympic and Emerson Baseball Clubs played a match game in July; the former won by the score of 14 to 3. They played at Twelfth and Center streets. Numerous shooting contests took place at Shell Mound and Schuetzen parks. A pigeon shooting contest took place at the Oakland race track. The Alameda Sportsman's Club took part in these contests; also the Pacific Gun Club. One contest was between Burbank, Harrison and Williams, the two former tying with twenty-one birds each. The Oakland Athletic Club was organized in August; their first gymnasium was under Germania hall. Their officers were L. A. Mitchell, president; C. R. Yates, secretary-treasurer and E. E. Potter, W. G. Renshaw and H. B. Houghton, directors. The Oakland Bicycle Club under Captain Strong made long runs through the suburbs in the fall; often over fifty wheelmen were in line. They held speed trials and tests at Trotting park. A Mosquito Boat Club was organized in September by W. W. Blow, Charles Yale, Captain Moody and G. Evans. The fleet consisted of canvas and other small boats rigged with very small sails.

        By October 1 the Oakland Athletic Club had fifty members; they met three nights per week at Germania hall; Louis Gerichton taught fencing and boxing and Mr. Lawton of the Olympic Club was instructor in gymnastics. Over one hundred hunters left Oakland on October 6th to hunt quail in the fields of Alameda county; the season had opened. The fall meeting of the California Rifle Association was held at Shell Mound park October 28th. The prizes were as follows: (1) Perkins medal with ten cash prizes ranging from $1 to $10; (2) the 200-yard ring target with cash prizes; (3) California Powder Works medal—200 and 500 yards; (4) Foreman team match―200 and 500 yards, cash prizes; (5) National Guard team match―200 and 500 yards, cash prizes; (6) the Ludwig Siebe trophy—200 yards; (7) Collier trophy―200 yards; (8) Centennial trophy―200 and 500 yards; (9) Pistol match―30 yards, cash prizes.

        In November "Taken from Life" was rendered at Dietz theatre; Black Crook at the People's (formerly the Colosseum); Emerson's minstrels at the Standard; McGowan the Millionaire at Bush Street theatre. Dion Boucicault's Company had recently been here in various Irish dramas.

        An aquatic bicycle was launched on Lake Merritt on November 18th. A glove fight between James Slattery and the negro Bill Williams at the stockyards in February, 1884, resulted in a victory for Slattery on a foul; the negro was the better man but was taunted into making the foul after he had whipped Slattery. In 1884 a joint stock company was organized to purchase the Oakland Trotting park from E. Wiard, the owner, the consideration being $80,000, but it failed to raise the money. A six days' racing program was given at the Oakland Trotting park in March; the prizes and stakes aggregating $3,050, exclusive of the large entrance money.

        In 1884 the Colosseum seated 1,500 people; Dietz Opera House, 700; Germania hall (main) 1,800, lower hall 900, upper hall 350; Armory hall (cavalry) 1,000; Oakland Guard hall, 1,000; Hancock Rifles hall, 900; Masonic hall, 500. The opera "L'Elisir d' Amore" was rendered in the Grand Opera House here in March. Madame Etelka Gerster represented Adina; Signor Vicini, Memorino; Signor Caracciolo, Dulcamasa; Signor Lombardelli, Belcore. The next night Madame Adelina Patti appeared in "La Traviata." The house was crowded to the doors and tickets sold for high premiums.

        The first cross country run after the English sport called "hare and hounds" took place in May, 1884, under the auspices of the Merion Cricket Club. The start was from Berkeley. Stud poker was such a ruling game and so pernicious that public steps to stop it were taken in 1884. Hundreds of young men spent all their money at this game.

        In 1885 a baseball club called the Nightingales was the champion club of Oakland. On April 28th they played the Yosemite Club on the San Pablo avenue grounds and were defeated by the score of 42 to 7. The Yosemite battery, Broderick and Traynor, did excellent and effective work. The game was played for $12 a side. In the third inning the Yosemites made thirteen runs and in the seventh, fifteen. The Greenhood and Moran nines combined on May 3d, but were defeated by the Knickerbockers of Sacramento by a score of 6 to 5. Van Haltren, afterward prominent member of the Chicago and other clubs, caught for the Oakland team. In 1885 Oakland had no regular and professional ball club, but had many local clubs which fought desperately in the summer and fall for city supremacy. Grounds much used were at Fourteenth and Center streets. A game was played there in June between the Oaklands and the Haverlys of San Francisco. The Oakland Club was composed of the best players of the various local clubs.

        In November Moses Hopkins was granted a decree of foreclosure against E. Wiard for $79,394.91 and $2,500 counsel fees on the property known as the Oakland Trotting park. The great actress Janauschek appeared at Oakland theatre with a large company in repertoire in September. They rendered "Zillah the Fortune Teller," "My Life," "Mary Stuart," "Countess of Mansfield" and others. The theatre was packed every night. The opera "The Mikado" was presented here in November, by the Carliton Opera Company and met a warm reception.

        At the game between the Greenhood and Morans and the Pioneers at Alameda on August 1, 1886, there were present 7,000 people; the score was 3 to 0 in favor of the former. Other clubs here were the Troubadours, Clevelands, Oaklands, Maroons and Franklins.

        Early in 1886 Alameda prepared a fine baseball park in the West End. It was 494 x 337 feet and seated 1,500 people. The grandstand was 170 feet long. The grounds were prepared under the supervision of Charles S. Neal of the Narrow Gauge Railroad Company. The fourteen inning game of ball played August 9th, between the Haverlys and Altas on the Alameda grounds was the most exciting ever played on the east side up to that date. Every seat was taken and 2,000 people stood up during the game. The Altas belonged to Sacramento and the Haverlys to San Francisco. The Haverlys finally won by the score of 7 to 3. The Haverly players were as follows: Donahue, third; Hardie, catcher; Hanley, right; Sweeney, first; Incell, pitcher; Levy, center; Stein, second; Bernutt, short; Lawton, center. A spectator who shouted, "Go it, you've got Incell rattled," was put out of the grounds; nearly eight thousand people were present. James Madison umpired the game. In 1885 the receipts of the baseball games were sufficient to pay the players only $2 or $3 a game. In one game played by the Greenhood and Moran Club in San Francisco, each received $3.50. In 1886 the California League agreed to play at Alameda and Eugene Van Court was engaged to umpire for $2 a game. The Mullane-Star game was so rank that the latter was expelled from the league and the Greenhood and Morans were accepted to fill the gap. The Haverlys and Pioneers were the veteran clubs and they expected that the Greenhood and Morans would be easy victories. The latter were credited with one game won and two lost by the Stars. They began by beating the Haverlys of San Francisco and astonished the baseball wise men. Then they defeated the Altas of Sacramento. Again July 25, 1886, on the Alameda grounds they defeated the Haverlys before 8,000 people. The Greenhood and Morans were called the "Oakland Kids." Thus far the receipts per game averaged over one thousand dollars in 1886, while in 1883 the average was about one hundred dollars. Instead of receiving $2 or $3 a game the players each in 1886 received from $20 to $50. The Greenhood and Moran players were as follows: Fisher, third; Brown, catcher; Cahalan, left  Long, right; Van Haltren, pitcher; Dolan, first; Cussick, short; Gurnett, second; Donovan, center. The percentage on July 27, 1886, was as follows: Haverlys, 769; Greenhood and Morans, 538; Atlas, 437; Pioneers, 285. But a little later the Greenhood and Morans began to lose and in the end finished near the foot.

        At Germania hall, in March, James C. Daly and Thomas D. Carrol gave an interesting exhibition of Greco-Roman wrestling that was witnessed by a large audience. The Costello-Cleary prize fight came off in the Colosseum on Twelfth street in July, and resulted in the defeat of the latter in the second round. The police immediately arrested all concerned in the "mill." The price of admission was $10. All movements had been kept secret from the police. The winner took all—about five hundred and twenty dollars. Dan Haley acted as referee. Albert Keicheff, known as the "Strong Al of Oakland," was challenged to wrestle a mixed match, best two out of three: 1st, Greco-Roman; 2nd, catch as catch can; 3rd, to be decided by toss of a coin, for $250 a side, by James Slattery, champion heavy­weight of the Pacific coast. John Dugan of Newark prepared his coursing park in Washington township for 2,500 hares which he had ordered trapped up the country. The coursing season opened about June 15th.

        During the summer of 1887 over one hundred and fifty thousand persons attended the baseball games at the Alameda grounds. All the crowds were orderly. It was different with the hoodlum gangs which visited Schuetzen park. Often their conduct was disgraceful and sometimes criminal. O. M. Sanford said he had lived in Alameda when the much detested coyote roamed at will up and down the peninsula, but its cries were music to the demoniacal yells of the hoodlums. This park was owned by Captain Cantus who died from heart disease after hearing his park denounced and learning that steps to close it might be taken.

        The year 1888 was very lively in all branches of athletics. There were many wheeling clubs. Baseball was very popular, particularly at the university, and was attended by vast crowds. Every gymnasium had a membership that overtaxed its rooms. The field sports were likewise patronized by many enthusiasts—coursing, racing, shooting, rowing, sailing.

        Previous to July, 1888, the Pioneer Society had been in existence for two years and three months. In that time eighteen meetings were held. There were 15 honorary members, 46 first class members, 32 adjunct members, 58 second class members, and 15 third class members; total membership, 166; William T. Gibbs was president.

        In April, the Choral Society of Alameda rendered the "Pirates of Penzance" in the Park Opera House to a large audience. On March 22d, George Van Haltren and Fred Lange, two Oakland baseball players, left for the East under contracts to play with other clubs—the former with the Chicagos and the latter with the Chicago Westerns. Early in November Spalding's baseball combination arrived from the East and were met by a party of twenty Oakland and San Francisco baseball men at Port Costa and escorted to the latter city. This was the greatest excursion of baseball players ever undertaken in America up to date. On November 4th a match game was played at Haight Street park between the All Americans and the Chicagos. Jerry Dennry, who lived in Oakland, but who belonged to the national league, arrived home at this time; he was famous as a third baseman. While in the West the All Americans were defeated by the Pioneers—score 9 to 4; and the Chicagos and Stocktons tied at Stockton with two each. Van Haltren, the old Oakland player, was short stop of All Americans. The latter were defeated by the Greenhood and Morans also. The All Americans defeated the Stocktons, score 16 to 1, Van Haltren playing center field. The result at the end of the season of 1888, was as follows :

        The Acme Athletic Club gave an interesting entertainment at their rooms in July. Harry F. Gordon was club president at this date. The exhibition consisted in exercises on the horizontal bar, boxing, tumbling, club swinging, high jumping, tugging, etc.

        The Oakland players in 1889 were as follows: Long, center; Dailey, left; Hardie, catcher; Smalley, third; O'Neil, short; Veach, first; McDonald, second; Stallings, right; Coughlin, pitcher. This was the usual order of batting. The last game between the Oaklands and San Franciscans was witnessed by 20,000 people and resulted in the score of 5 to 4 in favor of the former. The standing on November 11, 1889, was as follows:

        William Smalley of Haywards became a baseball player of the great leagues in 1890. The German Turn Verein celebration of four days in June was the most important local event in the history of that organization. The Oakland Turn Verein was organized January 20, 1867, with a charter roll of twelve members. An excellent race track of half a mile was built on J. H. Strobridge's place near Haywards in 1891. Mr: Strobridge himself owned a fine herd of young colts which he trained for speed in all its phases.

        The labor organizations of Oakland and vicinity held a big reunion or celebration early in September, 1891. It was one of the first observances here of Labor Day. Trades unionism began in Alameda county about 1888 at which time four organizations were already in existence, viz.: Carpenters' Protective Union, Cigarmakers' Union, Typographical Union and Clerks' Association. On May 1, 1888, the first meeting of the Alameda county federation was held and O. A. Smith became first president. Later organizations of the bakers, plumbers, painters, mill machine men, tailors, plasterers, carpenters, horseshoers, musicians, bricklayers, lumber and longshoremen, farmers' alliance, citizens' alliance, and others joined the movement. The parade of September 6, 1891, was one of the largest ever seen in this city. All business was temporarily suspended while the cheering and bedecorated clubs and lodges marched through the packed streets. The mayor and city officials reviewed the parade from a stand at the city hall. The day closed with a ball at Germania hall.

        The members of the Oakland Baseball Club in 1892 were as follows in batting order: Smith, left; O'Brien, second; Hardie, center; Carrall, first; Wilson, catcher; Bushman, third; Hutchinson, short;. Lohman, right; German, pitcher. Enthusiasm for baseball was never more tense and preponderating than in 1892. Col. T. P. Robinson owned the franchise of the Oakland Baseball Club. The new grounds were at Piedmont. The Cook stock farm became the Oakland park stock farm. It sold twenty-four high bred colts—all registered. Many were by Steinway, the famous thoroughbred. The Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club gave a series of races on their grounds in July.

        The Charity Club consisted of young men who distinguished themselves in legitimate drama, modern society drama and minstrelsy and young ladies who supplemented their literary attainments by post graduate courses in Delsarte, oratory and the art of physical expression. Both men and women were among the most talented, charming and beautiful in the city. They had no desire to embrace the drama or the stage as a profession, but mastered "Lady Macbeth," "Hamlet," and other plays and historic stage characters. In 1891-92 they presented "Damon and Pythias," "Darkest Oakland," "Held by the Enemy," "A Russian Honeymoon," "Rosedale" and other difficult plays to large houses with great success. Louis Imhaus was director. Among the actors were the following: J. C. Wilson, Jr., H. A. Melvin, Lester Herrick, J. F. J. Archibald, A. J. Rosborough, P. H. Remillard, Marion Albright, Minnie G. Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth Beck, Maud Morrill, Lucy D. Novan and Mary Hanlon. Wilson was leading man and began his career many years before in San Francisco. In their earlier presentations they styled themselves the Jackson Street Minstrels, were assisted by the Alice Street Quartette Club and held forth at the Oakland theatre. Late in 1892 they appeared in the fine new Macdonough theatre.

        Among the assets left by Court Ginlio Valensin on his famous Pleasanton stock ranch was the stallion Sidney. This horse was sold at auction in Cleveland, Ohio, for $27,000. His value had been placed by experienced horsemen at $75,000. The animal had been under lease for $20,000 a year. His colts sold for several years at over $25,000 annually. Late in October, 1896, the new Oakland race track was opened and the winter racing meeting was inaugurated. The new track was located on the old site, but many additions and improvements appeared. In all there were ninety-three acres under lease. Thomas H. Williams, Jr., was president of the California Jockey Club at this time.

        In April, 1898, Joe Lavique and Mike McCormick fought eight rounds before the Oakland Athletic Club. De Witt Van Court refereed the fight; McCormick won the battle.   

        The racing at Pleasanton in the spring of 1898 was unusually good and attracted a large crowd. Pacing, trotting and running were the leading events, but the harness road races attracted great interest. At this time high grade roadsters were in great demand. The principal stakes at this meeting were called Hop, Merrira and Mercantile. The Pleasanton race track was well known to horsemen all over the United States and Canada. The stables of high grade and thoroughbred animals there were famous almost from the start. Many of the fastest horses and most skillful drivers of the country hailed from that unpretentious place. Among the fast and famous horses reared there were Coney 2:01½, Anaconda 2:02½, Alix 2:03¼, Directly 2:03¾, Azate 2:04, Searchlight 2:04, Klatasch 2:04¾, Directum 2:05¼, Dally Dillon 2:07½, Diablo 2:09¼, and Jamie 2:09½. Among the distinguished drivers who received their first valuable experiences at this track were Budd Doble, Andrew McDowell, Thomas Keating, George Staars, William Geers, J. Kelly and Messrs. McHenry, Durfee, Murry and Sanders.

        In the '90s as never before all kinds of athletics came into existence and into great popularity and favor, cycling, baseball, .football, hunting, rowing, boxing, racing and mountain climbing seemed all at once to take possession of every class and sex here. Never before had women come into such dazzling light in the field of outdoor sports as at this eventful and changeful era. In fact the tendency to put women forward at this time, was one of the chief factors which contributed a little later to her success at the polls.

        Athletics in the most modern form is imparted by the Reliance and Acme Clubs. The equipment of both supplies every facility needed for the complete development of the human system, and the instruction is not surpassed in any city on the coast. Exercises and exhibitions showing what they can do and have accomplished are given at stated periods. Already the athletes of this club have distinguished themselves in many fields.

        The Athenian Club was modeled on the same plan as a similar one in San Francisco. It is Bohemian in the broadest sense, devoted to sociability, and its members are among the best men of the community. The Nile Club is also social in its objects and operations. Both the Nile and the Athenian Clubs, while in the main brotherly and fraternal, nevertheless informally consider many subjects which outside eventuate into public movements for the betterment of the community.

The old Shell Mound park where racing took place as early as the '60s and where the shooting clubs usually practiced and gave exhibitions, was later called the Oakland race track, which was in reality an extension of the old grounds. Judge Mee finally purchased the property, leased it, and it passed to a syndicate which carried matters farther than the people desired and an act of the Legislature checked its operations.

        In September, 1907, the Orpheum theatre was first opened to the public. During the first year over 800,000 persons were patrons. Oakland had become the second leading theatrical center of the Pacific coast. In September, 1908, Leonard Lane of Berkeley, in an air ship of his own invention and construction, secretly sailed in a successful flight over that city. S. S. Baley, the millionaire horseman of Pleasanton, leased the pacing mare Leata J. to W. Jones of Sacramento for the season of 1913; her record in 1913 was 2:03 and she earned for the lessee about $25,000.

        On February 22, 1911, occurred the automobile races over the scenic boulevard; it was estimated that 100,000 persons witnessed the races. An Amplex car ran down and seriously injured several persons. An Apperson car, skidded, turned turtle and was destroyed by fire, both occupants escaping. The throng was not properly policed and crowded the tracks in many places. The Mercer won the light car race, the National, the heavy car race and the Pope-Hartford the free-for-all race. In recent years baseball, rugby and soccer football, yachting, rowing, shooting, hunting, coursing, racing, boxing, golfing, tennis, swimming, athletics, track meetings, motoring, bowling, cricket, etc., are the leading sports.

        The scientific development of athletics at the-university in the '8os and '90s was one of the most important recreation and health forward movements in the state and in the country. The games of baseball there have ever been interesting; but football soon led all other outdoor manly sports. The great games between the two universities—Stanford and California—are invariably attended by immense and enthusiastic audiences. The following is the result of their contests year by year.

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.