The Pagoda Hill Kindergarten opened in January 1883. It was run by Miss Mary Alice Phelps; her father, Coridon (also sometimes spelled Corydon) B. Phelps owned a home on Pagoda Hill at the time. By 1884, Mr. Phelps moved to 1513 Telegraph (before 1912 renumbering) at the corner of 21st Street, 1 and the kindergarten also moved, stating that they needed more room.
In 1886, the Phelps family and the school moved back to Pagoda Hill. It's unknown when the school closed. References appear as late as 1887. 2
In 1879, prior to opening the kindergarten, Miss Phelps opened a school for girls called the New England Home School at her father's Pagoda Hill home. 3 The 1880 directory listed the address for the home and the school as being on Ross Browne Way. 4
Links and References
- Pagoda Hill Kindergarden A Bit of History website
- Oakland and Surroundings by W.W. Elliott, 1885
- Husted's Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley Directory 1884
- A Leading School for Training the Little Ones of Oakland and Vicinity Oakland Tribune January 20, 1887
- New England Home School ad Oakland Tribune July 22, 1879
- Bishop's Oakland Directory for 1880
