before and after 1933 remodel 2
The Park Building was in the center of the block on the south side of 14th Street between Broadway and Washington. It was built c.1877 by W.W. Camron and known as Camron Hall.
Camron Hall 1
Building Updates
The 1889 Sanborn labels it the Cameron Block, and notes that it was formerly a theatre on the 2nd and 3rd floors and was being refitted for offices.
The 1902 Sanborn labels it the Park Building, and says it is being rebuilt.
In 1933, it was remodeled by architect Edward T. Foulkes as part of a wider downtown remodeling program. This drastically changed the appearance of the building. 2
1889 Sanborn
Links and References
- A Steeple Among the Oaks: A Centennial History of the First Methodist Church 1862-1962 by Albert E. Norman
- Modernization by Edward T. Foulkes Architect and Engineer September 1934
[Does anyone have more information on this beautiful old building? Architect? Date built? Purpose? What happened to the building, etc.?]
[Any connection to Camron-Stanford house? Possible -- still searching. William W. and Alice were at CS House 1876-1877, and lost their money around 1890 and divorced 1891, so it would be the right timing for it to be sold.]
According to an article in the Oakland Tribune dated 30 December 1890:
”In 1876 or 1877, W.W. Camron purchased the entire frontage on the south side of Fourteenth Street, between Broadway and Washington street [sic], with a uniform depth of 100 feet, for $60,000.”
He quickly sold the corner lots (100 feet x 100 feet each, at the corners of Broadway and Fourteenth and Washington and 14th, and kept the middle lot (also 100 feet x 100 feet) for himself. He build Camron House on that lot.
[is this place demolished?]
It appears it was used for the Oakland High School commencement in 1881:
http://books.google.com/books/about/Twelfth_Commencement_of_the_Oakland_High.html?id=tt9qGwAACAAJ
Also for an event for the students of the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in 1880:
"The twelfth annual exhibition and exercises of the young lady students of the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, will take place at Camron Hall, Fourteenth street, on Thursday, June 3d, at 1:30 p.m. Only persons receiving invitations will be admitted."
http://www.cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18800530.2.45&cl=&srpos=0&e=-------en-Logical-20-CS-1-----all---
So far on CDNC, earliest date found: 1878, latest date found: 15 January 1889. Mostly for meetings, occasionally concerts and other events.
This tidbit appears in the Daily Alta California from 19 April 1888:
"The Iroquois Club has secured quarters in the Camron Hall Building, on Fourteenth Street. Underneath is the Postoffice."
The SF Call, 27 November 1890 says:
"Henry R. Miller has mortgaged to the Regents of the University of California the Camron Block on Fourteenth street, between Broadway and Washington, for $51,000. He has also deeded the same property to Antoine Borel, subject to the mortgage. Miller is a mining man, and recently purchased the Camron Block, which he remodeled from a theater to a lodging-house and changed the name to Park House."
So that's probably the end of it by the name Camron Hall.
