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Melrose Baptist Church was a Baptist church in Melrose, founded in 1896. Its best known location was 1652 - 47th Avenue (at the corner of Bond Street), which was dedicated in 1930. The church moved to Campus Drive in 1975, and they changed the name to East Hills Community Church in 1987.

History

The congregation was founded in 1896. 1 According to a 1927 article, the original meeting place was destroyed in a 1898 explosion of a fuse factory. After that, they found a new meeting location. 15 In 1903, they were meeting at Harrison (45th Avenue) and East 12th. 17

A new building at Bryant (47th Avenue) and Bond was dedicated in 1907. F.L. Stannard was the acting pastor of the church. 3

1924 ad; drawing of 1907 building1925 Sanborn excerpt

November 7, 1908 sermon topicsIn 1908, Walter E. Tanner was the pastor. He spoke out about reform, both against vices, like racetracks, and political corruption. Apparently this annoyed some of the people he was speaking out against, because they arranged a vote to say the congregation didn't want him to return for another term. 4 It was quickly pointed out that this hadn't been vote of the full congregation, and Rev. Tanner continued as pastor and continued speaking out against corruption. 5,6,7 He felt he wasn't getting enough support, though, and resigned in February, 1909. 8 An editorial in the Oakland Tribune was scathing, concluding with: "Perhaps he is only a cheap and noisy pharisee seeking notoriety by preaching the gospel of detraction and malediction, and mistaking the instincts of the showman for the promptings of God's words." 9

After some supply pastors, Francis M. Archer became pastor. But things were not smooth there, either. By the end of 1913, the church had asked him to resign, but he refused. The deacons of the church said he had refused to cooperate with evangelists that were hired, "opposed the expulsion of a certain member of the congregation who had incurred the enmity of others," and a had a list of other offenses. It was said that the majority of the church supported him, but about 40 members (out of about 190) including the deacons did not. 10 After a vote, the church elected to keep Archer as pastor. 11 But the writing was on the wall; by the end of 1914, they had another pastor, Rev. Britton Ross.

Beginning sometime around 1917, Rev. H.D. Zimmerman was pastor through the end of 1923. D.M. Dawson, formerly of the Central Baptist Church of San Francisco accepted the call in January, 1924. 11 Dawson began delivering sermons on radio in 1925, on KFUS Radio. 13

New Building

1927 rendering of proposed new campus 15In 1926, the congregation began raising funds for a new building, as they had outgrown the current one. 14 Planning for the new church campus was begun in 1927, with Wythe, Blaine and Olson, architects. 15

The church had planned to begin construction in the summer of 1927, but decided to wait until they had acquired more land. 15

Dawson resigned in the summer of 1928, and Rev. Carlton Lewis Kirk took over. 16 Dawson returned a number of times as a supply pastor.

Ground was broken in 1929. Finally, in March, 1930, the new church building was dedicated. 18 The other buildings on the campus were added later as more money was raised. Construction was done by C.H. Lawrence. The design was largely the same as the 1927 rendering, but now it was just Wythe and Olson, architects.

Kirk was broadcasting sermons on KROW Radio in 1935.

In 1937, Kirk retired to become pastor emeritus, and Rev. Henry E. Burke took over. 19 In 1938, Melrose Baptist was said to be one of the fastest-growing congregations on the West Coast. 20

The church broke ground for a new educational building in 1940. 21

Burke left Melrose in 1943 to become director of evangelism for the San Francisco-Bay Cities Baptist Union, 22 and Rev. Fred I. Drexler took over as interim pastor. 23 Verner I. Olson became the new pastor in October, 1943.

...

The building later served for a time as the home of Masjidul Waritheen, but that mosque moved one block east, and the building was transformed by Riaz Capital into a 60-unit residential project called Melrose Lofts.

1950 Sanborn excerpt

Campus Drive

In September 1975, the church announced that they were moving to a new location in the hills on Campus Drive. 2 Sometime between April and June of 1987, the church changed its name to East Hills Community Church. 26,27

In January of 2023, the church changed its name again to Arroyo Church, and they moved to Livermore in December of 2024. On May 2, 2025, they sold the Campus Drive property to the Pistos Korean Presbyterian Church. 28

a new page is needed for the property history before the church, Raymond and Inez Miller, and Thomas Bacon

The church had purchased the Campus Drive property on February 27, 1975, from Raymond H. and Inez Miller. According to the (now defunct) website for the East Hills Community Church, the property was a "14 acre art deco estate" at the time of their purchase. 29 The Millers had purchased the property, which then had an address of 5350 Redwood Road, was known as the Diamond-B Ranch, and included 21 acres, from Mildred Bacon, the widow of Thomas Bacon. Mr. Bacon and his wife had, in turn, purchased the property from Beverly Theobald, who had operated the Diamond-T Ranch at the site. Prior to construction of the Carl B. Munck Elementary School, the roadway providing access to the Theobald / Bacon / Miller property went through the current school site and the adjacent Pinto Park. The outline of the former road is still visible on the current Assessor's map for the area. 30

Things to follow up on regarding the Bacons and the Millers:

  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/477730759/?match=1&terms=%225350%20redwood%22
  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/296416481/?match=1&terms=%225350%20redwood%22
  • https://goldennuggetlibrary.sfgenealogy.org/alam-bac.htm
  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/354624876/?match=1&terms=%225350%20redwood%22
  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/332200868/?match=1&terms=%225350%20redwood%22
  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/136077655/?match=1&terms=%225350%20redwood%22
  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/1000448390/?match=1&terms=%225350%20redwood%22
  • https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-thomas-bacon-funeral-ser/182937064/

Links and References

  1. East Bay Hills Community Church website (via archive.org)
  2. Church Moving Oakland Tribune September 1, 1975
  3. Melrose Baptist Church in Dedication Services Oakland Tribune June 23, 1907
  4. Don't Want Term for New Pastor Oakland Tribune July 14, 1908
  5. Church Rescinds Former Action Oakland Tribune July 17, 1908
  6. Says Dummies Are On Register Oakland Tribune July 20, 1908
  7. Rev. Tanner to Retain Pulpit Oakland Tribune July 31, 1908
  8. Rev. W. Tanner Quits Pastorate Oakland Tribune February 15, 1909
  9. Tanners Valedictory of Defeat Oakland Tribune February 16, 1909
  10. Rev. Archer Defends Stand Oakland Tribune December 13, 1913 (page 2)
  11. Church Retains Rev. F. M. Archer Oakland Tribune January 2, 1914
  12. Dr. Dawson is Called to Melrose Oakland Tribune January 19, 1924
  13. Melrose Church to Give Radio Program Oakland Tribune September 26, 1925
  14. Will Build Oakland Tribune December 4, 1926
  15. Melrose Baptist Oakland Tribune September 10, 1927
  16. New Pastor at Melrose Oakland Tribune September 1, 1928
  17. Husted's 1903 Oakland directory
  18. Baptist Home to Be Dedicated Sunday Oakland Tribune March 15, 1930
  19. Rev. Burke to Offer Second Sabbath Rites Oakland Tribune April 3, 1937
  20. Church Shows Growth Oakland Tribune July 9, 1938
  21. Baptists of Melrose Break Ground For New Educational Building Tomorrow Oakland Tribune November 9, 1940
  22. Baptist Leader at Brookside Church Oakland Tribune June 12, 1943
  23. Rev. Drexler at Melrose Baptist Oakland Tribune July 3, 1943

  24. Rare East Oakland housing starts construction in historic church San Francisco Business Times August 31, 2017

  25. Oakland Heritage Alliance announces annual awards by Annalee Allen Oakland Tribune December 10, 2000

  26. Ad for Old Fashioned Traditional Easter Service Oakland Tribune April 18, 1987

  27. 2 Services at East Hills Community Church Oakland Tribune June 27, 1987

  28. Grant Deed recorded in the Official Records of Alameda County as Instrument 2025058373 Recorded_Documents-12000_Campus_Dr_Oakland_CA_94619-3105_2025_58373.pdf

  29. Our History East Hills Community Church website (via Wayback Machine)

  30. Assessor's Map Book 37A page 3138 Tax Map 37A-3178.pdf

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