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Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 62

Publication:
Oakland Tribunei
Location:
Oakland, California
Issue Date:
Page:
62
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

fS a 7 SV Zi 7 v' i A se f' ,1 r. V.v. 's 9 i vc y-1 Traced From Rancho Sury'Sept. 15. 1974 Mason-McDuffie Firm Part of Area Growth -i 4 which encomi jor portion of tra Cost Carpeqtief hi 1911 Meraga.

now a pwtaf community of commuting businessmen, was knows primarily for Cf for Ml LOOMS I Writer Wi i- its fit- Mary's College until well Tbs arid by Irvines; idler World War U. Co. to Utah Constnictioirv ln 1951' The companyv prompfiy announced plans? to develop model ap- -munity of 28, ON persons. Eighty-eerm years and niHIiim of dollars and acres development lat-tT. Mason-McDuffie Co.

of Berkeley la still going atBRg. both its past and present inextricably in-tervriven in Eastbay growth Don Joaquin Moraga surrendered title to much of Ms rancho to Horace W. Carpentier in the early -1850s, when Carpentier whs was Is be one of the founders and the first mayor of Oakland, was using his legal expertise to obtain title to lands all over the Eartbay. The price of tbe land was more than 1140 million in a transaction handled by -Wallace Real Estate Co. of Oakland and Orinda.

Ed Wallace, head of the company, said the deal at the time was probably the largest ever pude in the Eastbay. The first partners. Joseph Masse and Dtmcan McDuffie, ard gone from the scene. And other changep since Mason started the original firm stth an elfiae ad SsUii Way and Shattucfc in 1887. Berkeley's population then was about AON and Ms land mostly pasture.

James Irvine founder of Irvine Land obtained title to file land WICKSON. Begun primarily as a sales and development, firm. Maaon-McDufiie has had a big hand in much of that change, according to historical information compiled by the firm and photographs dating back to the earjy 1900s, now on loan tf the Oakland Mu- 'OFFICE FORCE OF MASON-MCDUFFIE CO. IN FRONT OF ftfRKELEY OFFICE IN 1907 87-year-old real estate firm is still on Shattuck Avenue, but in its own modern building HOUSE We Invite Comparison I ly, with 19. per cent in commercial and ranch total loan portfolio about $L1 billion on loana.

Of that portfolio, about $1 per cent i single fami In abort, ia here atay. Peter Essex as a national loan brokerage Four times in its history, the firm has moved its headquarters, first from Shattuck and Dwight Way to Shattuck- and Center, then to 2039 Shattuck then to 2101 Shattuck Ave. firm. The San Francisco earthquake of 1909 was a disaster for San Franciscans but blessing in disguise for the realty Damage in Berkeley was slight and Tompkins had experienced quakes before, so he reported for wqrk as usual, unaware of the damage to, the city, across the Bay. HO was met at the door by McDuffie.

'Terry." said the older man. "we're broke." "What do you mean, broke?" asked -Tompkins. Titus slept in San Francisco last night McDuffie explained. "He told me the earthquake was terrible. He said that as he went down to take the ferry for Berkeley he saw fires San Francisco ia doomed to destruction.

Every building will be burned." "Duncan," said Tomp kins, "those people will have to live somewhere. They will be coming over to Berkeley in droves to get homes. "Perry, McDuffie replied. Youre right. Lets get to work.

Perry was right and busy. they were. Homes sold quickly with no quibbling over prices. Tompkins, who bad been working only weekends for the firm while working fulltime as a schoolmaster, became sales manager -hill-time. One of the earliest subdivirions developed by the firm was Claremont tract, just after the quake.

Around 1911 came the North brae tract, which includes nearly all of Berkeley east of San Pablo Avenue as far as Spruce Street and north of Sierra and Yolo avenues to the northern city line. Other developments by the firm include Thousand Oaks, Claremont Park, Park Hills and others totaling 15 major residential areas in Berkeley. Mason-McDuffie also was the firm which offered one of the first planned unit, developments in the nation, St. Francis Woods in San Francisco. The company purchased the 133-acre project rite in 1912.

Real estate men and engineers came from all over the country to view the project, which was considered one of the finest developments ever un-. dertaken. But world war broke out with just one lot told and halted the. project The company owed S150.0N to three different San Francisco banks, besides hav-ing considerable cash tied up in the development. Fortunately, the banks -carried tbe company through the war on interest-only payments and af-'' ter the war a ready mar-ket was found for ths development.

Nonetheless. Mason-McDuffie just broke even as most of the returns went into interest, taxes and property upkeep. During the 1930B, MS and 50s, the company continued its sales brokerage business and added the insurance and property management operations. In 1937, the gage banking department was added with the appointment of the firm as correspondent by Northwest Mutual Life Insurance Co. At first the mortgage business was primarily single-family financing, but commercial and ranch loans picked up after World War II and in recent history mortgage banking has-become the firms primary activity.

During those decades, the company underwent numerous, structural changes, too. Beginning as a partnership, it became a corporation for a time, then in 1941 (for tax purposes) again became a partnership. Mason-McDuffie Inc. survived as a trustee on deeds of trust and active in foreclosures. Today.

Mason-McDuffie Co. is a partnership of 34 partners. It has. a corporate partner, Investment a corporation wholly-owned by the 34 partners and formed in the. 1950s to meet the FH.Vs approved mortgagee requirement.

Partners today are Ward D. Armstrong, Herbert E. Bess, A J. Bettencourt, Robert S. Brickell, Donald B.

Campbell, Er-mest A. Clark, Reno J. Consulter, Michael W. Davis, Edward Eyring, Alfred Qavello, M.R. Griffin.

Thomas L'Lowe William A. Lowe. Jerry BRAND NEW CUSTOM BUILr COMDOMINIUMS New Appliances SYr. Appliance Warranty New Carpeting New Custom Drapes 8 Financing --20 Down 834 Financing 10 Down Investors 200 Depreciation Studio 1 Bdrm. 2 Bdrm, 2 Both loseph Mason estab-his Berkeley office VKt.

feeling that with Iniversity id Califor-ala's mon to that city from Oakland, there would be a need for land Still hojnes. He was. right, and McDuffie, a University of California graduate, entered the fxrnv as a partner in 1905. He continued to head the firm after Mason died in 1919 until Ms own death in 1951 at the age of 71 McDuffie headed federal housing programs' in 1917 and was an avid environmentalist and member of the Sierra Club and Save the Redwoods league. Other early partners in the firm included C.C-Young, who became governor of California; Fred Duhring.

who founded the companys mortgage banking deportment; and M.G. Bead, who joined in 1929 asl succeeded McDuffie as general manager after the latters death. Early figures also in- M. Lffkins and Jere S. Meek.

Also- 'John Mendel, James H. McCone, Joseph G. McKinley, Jay P. O'Brien, Michael E. Purcell, Robert W.

Read. Stanley W. Schmidt, Grant B. Shaw, Richard J. Siriani, Rikard L.

Sorensen, Herbert B. Tasker, Donald F. Tedsen, Nicholas R. Treloar, George E. Valentine, Graydon D.

Voorhies, Kenneth J. Warren, Dan M. Webster, Donald L. Wilkerson, and J. Carter Wilt.

Other business arms include the Mason-McDuffie Development a corporation wholly-owned by the investment corporation which functions as an owner and lender on land developments. Mason-McDuffie Development Co. of Nevada is a corporation founded in INI to conduct mortgage banking ip that state. It is substantially owned by Mason-McDuffie with some minority-held interests. Other arms include Mason-McDuffie Co.

of Southern California; Mason-McDuff- Escrow which performs escrow operations in Northern and Southern California and Washington; and Essex an Irvington. N.J., partnership owned 50 per cent by Mason-McDuffie Development Co. and 50 per cent by From Only The final move came in 1970, when its $3 million, six-story headquarters building at 2850 Telegraph Ave. was opened. It was built during the yean of turmoil on and around the University 4 California Berkeley campus and Telegraph Avenue, but a spokesman said there was never any serious thought given to aban-i doning plans to' locate there, even when the firm was getting bomb threats and having windows broken.

started in Berkeley and there is just no way we could consider cutting our ties with this he added. Since those hectic years. Telegraph Avenue has again become more or less peaceful, with a new proliferation of quality shops. And Mason-McDuffie itself has grown from 15 to 20 employes during the early years to more than 600 now. The annual payroll is almost $6 million.

Since 1962 its mortgage 'banking fundings have grown from $22 million to $261 million and it has a 18,000 12 SOLD-ONLY 10 LEFT! OPEN SUN.1 1-5 orByAppt. WICKSON HOUSE eluded Perry Tompkins, Louts Titus and Dm L. 507 Wickson Oakland Grand Ave. to Mandana. right on Walker Distinctive two and three bedroom country garden condominiums in the heart of the Napa Valley wine country.

Enjoy the security of living in a small community within walking distance of downtown St. Helen one of the most charming spots in the Bay Area. These exceptional homes am complete with a private cabana club and swimming pool, from $34,990. Take Highway 29 north to St. Helena and turn right on Pope Street to the MCMCIIQ furnished model.

mil AO (707)963-7911 VlllHl A fWwMm Dwriofnfaw Siwtoi. It goiter Campbell, the latter the founder of the insurance department Chance as well as change played a big role in the early success of the IANGER 4 WATSON East Bays most successful condominium representatives, WATSON, Exclusive Sales A genti 1 653-6212 Offices in Oakland-San Francisco-San Mateo William Boardman 49 Surveyed Eastbay VISTA A.PJR.9S i IntheHighlands ELEGANT TOWNHOMES High In The Hills Above Hayward NEAR CAL. STATE COLLEGE Adjoining Prestigious Woodland Estates Boardman was responsible fa platting Broadway IN feet wide a move which brought considerable outcry Jrom property owners who didnt think such a large artery wpuld be needed-r-and he built a two-story frame building on the northwest corner of 12th and Broadway in 1865 and lived to see the day he could say I told you so to F.K. Shafiuck, who told him he was crazy to build such a large structure in Oakland. HAYWARD'S FINEST RESIDENTIAL AREA from 39,500 Yougetalarge3or4b8diuomfamilyhome i highatoptheHaYwardhills, -inanestablishedneigliboiiiood, withaviewlocation, andgoodschools.

LOW 7 Many yen the builders who went boom and bust as file Eastbay developed, but none of those- who' made it could have done so without file aid of William F. Boardman, the-hardware salesman who educated himself as a civil engineer and became Simultaneously Oakland City engineer and Alameda County surveyor. Boardman came to California in 1851 nd spent seven years in the hardware business in San Francisco. In January bp moved to Oakland where hie lived until his depth iii 1909 at age 82. He bold both the city engineer and county surveyor ports from 1864 to 1868 and assisted in -the development of many public utilities and services in fits area, including Contra CSeta County Water Lake Temescal Dam, San Leandro Dam and Central Pacific Railroads main fine from the Sierra sum-nfic to Tnfekee.

8' Annual percentage Rate His son, Clifford H. Boardman, so respected his father that he left high school to learn civil engineering under his father's tutelage. rii Impassible'? Come see foi YOurseli Gifford lived until his death at age 91 in 1966, and worked as a highly respected civil engineer right up to bis demise of an apparent heart attack while searching out information in the city engineers office in Oakland City Hall. A New Outfook Onli(e! The Oliver Rousseau Industries proudly presents it's most exciting comfortable- Townhome with a difference. Set in a county atmosphere, sur- Electric Garage Door Opener Fireplace rounded by trees hills.

2 and 3 Bedroom Nans large View Docks Swimming Petal A 4 Acres of Park 1 Dishwasher, Self Oven TrashXbmpactor dose to Shopping Bus A Bart OLIVER ROUSSEAU OPEN DAILY is a village of only 45 townhouses, each with a panoramic viaw of the Bay from Sen Mateo to Sauialito. Each town house is designed to enhance its sheltered, wooded surroundings the use of natural construction -matenal. Homes from $55,500. Vi mile past Lincoln Square Shopping Center, off Redwood Road. Phone: 530-5470.

By Developers 4 Realtors, Only 5 Townhouses Left! Since 1888 DIRECTIONS; In HaymnLFmm Foothill BhnL Take A or. -Street to 24 StreeUoikm 2nd! rip the hilLcras Campus DrivelCoatine on 2nd Stmt "PH. 582-5582 i Sp er "i idtaAstto 1 A.

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About Oakland Tribune Archive

Pages Available:
2,392,182
Years Available:
1874-2016