Emerson class photo 1960

Description:
Fifth grade class portrait from 1960, Emerson Elementary School, 385 49th Street, Temescal district, Oakland, Calif. Sandra Izatt, who attended Emerson 1953-1960, is in the top row, 6th person from left. Sandra's father owned a shoe repair business in the vicinity of Broadway and 40th Street in Temescal. His first shop (circa 1957 to 1960) was on the north side of 40th Street, just east of Broadway. "Somewhere on the block was a friendly black shoe shine man who sat on his throne waiting for customers. There was also a barbershop with the traditional red and white pole. . . . The opposite corner of the block, nearer to us, was a vacant lot with a billboard sign. Behind the sign was a platform us kids climbed up on and spent many happy hours." His second shop was around the corner, on Broadway. "On Broadway next to the corner pharmacy was a small market owned by Japanese, I believe. I don't remember what was in the next shop, but the place north of our shoe repair was a Chinese Restuarant." [Sandra Izatt note]

Date of Document:
May-60

Document Author:
George Selland (whose wife was the president of the sponsoring organization at the time)

Geographic Location:
385 49th Street, Oakland, Calif.

Context:
There had been a public elementary school at a different location in Temescal prior to the completion in 1913 of this facility on the block bounded by 45th Street, Shafter Avenue, 49th Street, and Lawton Avenue. The Oakland School District paid a total of $212,260 for the land ($49,016) and construction of the building ($163,244). The school was designed by architect John Galen Howard and supervising architect, John J. Donovan (architect of the Board of Education). The building was demolished in 1978, and a new school and children's center were erected that year on the former playground. The contract for the new school, totaling $1,928,400, was part of the Oakland school district s earthquake safety program. The plan included 13 new classrooms, a multi-purpose room, library, teachers lounge, administrative offices, playground, and a kitchen. An attached children s center was to include four classrooms, a dining area, and offices.