The San Francisco call., 1896-11-15


Oakland, when she opened her pioneer
school.
This was before Oakland was adorned
with any brick buildings; before the
streets of the village had any sidewalks
before there were any streets which had
been improved; when sanddunes and oak
trees were all that could be seen north of
Eighth street, and when the only school
house in town was a shanty which was
given by Carpenter to the city as part
payment of the water front which has
been so much in evidence in the State and
Federal courts for the past twenty .yeara.
At the anniversary exercises the invoca-
tion was given by Professor George Mooar,
who blessed the institution nearly four de-
cades ago. when the cornerstone was laid.
Mrs. Blake read very interesting paper OF
"reminiscences, and drew vivid picture of
Oakland in 1852, when there were only
three dwelling-houses on the site of large
city. Six years later with four pupils, she
commenced the work which she has had
In hand ever since.
In the parlor OF little house on Broad
way, near Sixth street. which al this
time is the least fashionable quarter in
the city, she established a seminary. AL
though there were no railroads in the
State till several years later, pupils came
, to the Oakland seminary from all parts
of California, and, to great extent. Mrs
Blake early efforts resulted in Oakland
being named tie Athens of the Pacific.
Not until the seminary had made State
reputation were grammar or high schools
established.
In early days the laying of a foundation
stone of large building was an event of
more moment than it is now, and this is
proved by the fact that in June of 1868 the
Live Oak Masonic lodge. over which Che
Rev. DR.. Akerly presided, officiated at the
ceremony of laying the cornerstone OF
Mrs. BIake's present building. As usual
on such occasions, within the stone was
deposited a tin box containing souvenirs
of the times. The first graduating class
from the new house was contemporan eous
with that OF the Oakland College, since
merged into the State University.
For the benefit of Oakland Seminary
thirty years ago Mrs. Blake imported
teachers from Eastern universities and
centers of learning, and these teachers
either came around the Horn or via Pana-
ma, because there was no other way to
come in those days. One of these teach
ers was Miss Harriet n. Field, and after
fourteen years with Mrs. Blake the semi
nary passed into her hands and she moved
TO other quarters and changed the name
to FIELDS seminary. In the course of a
few wears death called that honest teacher
from ner sphere of usefulness, and after
the seminary had been in charge of Mrs.
Hyde for some time Mrs. Blake decided to
re-establish the Oakland Seminary under
Its old alma mater.
IN her own graceful way Mrs. Carrie
Stevens Walter told about the old school
and the many faces, then young, which
were familiar in those early times. Pro-
lessor Adams and Rev. DR.. Mclean had
few words to say, after which there was
an informal reception of alumni, pupils
and friends of the old and present Oak
land seminaries.
At banquet which followed, Mrs. Car
re Stevens Walter was toast mistress.
Hon. William r. DAVIS paid high tribute
TO the Pioneers of Oakland" Mrs. Rosa
Hillebrand Hohfeld responded 10 "The
Alumni OF Oakland Seminary" Professor
George Mooar spoke of "The Pioneer
Christians of Oakland" and referred TO
them as 1.-THE voice of one crying in the
wilderness" "Our Teachers of Auld Lang
Syne," was prettiIy and tenderly handled
ny n RS. Lottie Hoag Hooper. Hon. Fred
~. Campbell spoke of ''Tpe Oakland Col
iege School" He compared the college
poys and seminary girls of thirty years
ago as being one and inseparable in the
memory and in after life useless each with
OUT @ tne other. 1.-THE Days OF Aud Lang
oyne called forth from Mrs. Mary Ind
wig Wllnams many interesting anecdotes