Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 17

SUNDAY, March 7, 1999 LOCAL-7 THE OAKLAND TRBUNE Oakland Library's history room links us to the past URIOUS about an older building or a long lost uncle? Chances are Information Is not lar away. 3s I 'ir throughout perpetuate the "smooth" Moderne feeling. The upstairs corridors are lined with framed historic photo- graphs, part of a collection donated soon after the opening by men Tribune publisher Joseph Knowland. Reprints of these unique photographs are available for sale and benefit the Friends of toe History room head librarian BUI Sturm has directed opera-. tons since 1978.

His name ap- pears In the acknowledgement section of articles and books too numerous to count Fellow Ubarians Kathleen Giovanni and Lynne Cutler also provide first rate assistance. Changing exhibits with a local history theme appear in the room's display cases School; t'j classes and otoer Interested groups can arrange for an polntment to meet Sturm in the r. Foundation. It was not kmg before the li brary collections outgrew the new quarters. Calls for a larger facility grew strong over me next decades.

Finally In 1945. a voter-approved bond Initiative paved the way for a modern 11' brary. Selected as designer of the am-: bilious project was Carl Warneke of Miller and Warneke, a prominent Bay Area architectural firm. Plans called for the library to join other clvk buildings clustered near Lake Merrltt, Including theX county courthouse, the civic audi-. torium and the main post office.

Before work could begin on the block bounded by 13th. Oak. and 14th streets, two existing Queen Anne-style Victor i rians had to be demolished. The houses, were among the last of what once had been a fashionable 19th century reside dtricto. Warren presided over the grand opening In 1951V jfig The Oakland history room at die Main Library is an Important repository of material on state and local history.

Pamphlets, newpaper clippings, historic photographs, and a variety of catalogs, scrapbooks and memorabilia all expertly cataloged and readily accessible provide the serious researcher and casual browser alike a gateway Into the past Records show that as early as me mid-1890s documenting city history has been a high priority. During this period the library (a modest wood frame structure) stood next to City HalL' -In 10 a Beaux Arts style masonry building opened at 14th and Grove (now Martin Luther; King. Jr. Way), constructed with funds donated by the Carnegie COURTKY OF OAKLAND PUBUCLBRARY Main Library under construction bi 1951. Landmm Exhibiting classic Moderne lines, the complex Is two stories (plus full basement) with a rectangular plan and monumental entry.

Deep-set, two-story high windows coursed with metal 'sashing, regunentauy punctuate-each of the four sides of the keeping wlm postwar thetics (and economy) the exte-, rior walls are cream-colored concrete. The colorful geometric murals by artist Ed Cassel flanking the front door were added 'frlV: lnslde curving metal stair rails andinahoganypaneltag; for donations of photographs and materials of Just about i any kind which relate to Oak- land," says Sturm. "Some of our most interesting articles have come to lis from people's coUec- -iions A current project is to collect memorabilia from Oakland The history room is open seven days a week but the hours call 238-3222 for hours Next weefcjbmuus Oakland eateries through the years, the History Room's aureyU exhibit We are always on the lookout Owner of restored ViGtbrian waits for fight bu built from the redwood flooring up, adding butcher block coun-; ters, new cabinets and a center island designed to match the original style: ik 'The biggest change was a. plumbing and vWiring though It did have gas lighting Jets built into the celling When: Burke paid $20,000 for the house in 1971. it had carved, up into two By Jaanie RL Wafcaiand staff wansT-';" SAN LEANDRO U- Every day -for.

more; than four, years, cars speeding front Grand Avenue tq downtown have passed the sale by owner" sign In front of the house at 857 Estudillb Ave, Some people wonder why the addition, dows, a sejeond stairway, and an upstairs 'V- "k'? sr-ale Downstairs, he added another bath and a small office wim a full wall of built-in book-' Burke said he hoiips this is Ae year Ae house sellsy: in t.tte:.areav'are''; starting to catch up to mine." he 5: He i commutes to a Silicon Valley job and would, like to get mm PWIOVEHraEIIENT': gray 2500-square-foot Victorian house, with its rubinla trees and wisteria vines In the front yard, has been on me market for so Ipiljjf'j-: r' real agent Hank the price $538,000 Is too hlghv Estudillo go around $310,000 to $320.000" he said. on the other side of the creek, by Glen Drive or Begter Avenue, get up around Ak liomeowner Ken Burke why the house still Is the market and he will ju he Just hasn't found Uie right buyer; through about a. dc escrows that ell put beC cause they: didn't qualify, sal A "That's why I ask. up front if they fit the proffle." The buyer, Burke said, fits someone with a Income of about $140,000, and who. can handle a monthly loan payment of $2,975 on the cur-; 8,75 percent variable, rate loan balance $378,000, 0 The price earns gasps from some.

potential buyers, but Burke lnsiste the house is worth it He said he has spent more than $400,000 and 15 years of labor restoring and modernizing the home with meticulous de-'-tattv'ji. kji v-a-vv; have; ita; want a riani" he said. The original house, built the; 1860s. had marble redwood floors, carved7 stairway balustrades and 1 1-foot. ceilings.

It lacked Indoor EYEGLASSES Any frame prescription Choose from any frame in stw, infixing hundreds of 1 ekdusive designs and quaity brand names. Even lined bjfocab tool. .0 UrfrallgrrtientesS Ughter.truriner, with UV No-line bifocals no VV-i'iVl;" It had two light bulbs and-one outlet" he recalled. "Knotty pine paneling covered the I spent the first two year.s doing 'vt he married a few years later, he said, bis wife knew, the house needed remodeling, but didn't anticipate bow much was "She said the first thing she wanted to: replace, was. the carpets," he "I wanted to out" all the lathe, and.

and I didn't want to dp it on top Vr's: ixV' l. Burke and his wife eventually divorced, but he stayed on, raising his three, daughters in the home; the reste ration work went on. A few lean-to additions to the back ot "the house bad to be taken down7 because they were biillt without foundations i permits. Me tore but four layers of linoleum and one' layers of floor in the: before gettuig to th4 current wooden floor. j-; An earlier owner filled in.

a flf-fobt archway with, recesses for pocket doors between the living dining rooms. The doors had disappeared. long ago, but during regtuar trips to salvage' yards, witti vf He: tore out. walls thit. had turned the formal dining room toto a rabbit waiTen of small bedrooms and built iri a china cabinet to hide a heating duct: entire kitchen was re-.

1 UihhMtBiietiv. The sign in front of Ken Burke's refurbished Vlctorian-ra home hai become a landmark to Estudiljo Avenue drivers since Was i'put up more than four years ago, 'y Bank Cuts Monthly Parents in Halted For HoiheownerSi; i j. lender his' expanded rVicc Hwnem ners. Who have jiad credit 'priiblerfti in. the dcsigirnone.

prraim for; people wha have been refused by qchft Bank They qflcr Idw; bank rate available to, borrweri whd Ivntr bankriip(ciet 'money z. Refinance ywtnoflgage yA. your bills frx Cm your monthly payments in Get the extra cash yetr simple profile of will be taken; it only takcl about five willct back to yod in about 24 Hours wjth a specific proposal. If they v'. cartript help you.

they will tell you right away. They won't waste your-timci'-; Nt) Application jFee No Obligation No Nonsense v. Jt223-17 iiWlm. bniM i a ii i EYEGLASSES Any frarne prescription Ukrdight No-Tine bifocals at no extra Save up to $225 ROUSE TIRE SERVICE, INC. rmmuj wwimu onrwv iiw ami zu.T.irj'i-iMi.u wJMS5Bf SlbibJsI I looohd nMonfgonwy Vkri 1 UP 4dT mmmwMrmmfmjmrmm, This bathroom, with a Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower, Is part of 1 addition owner Ken Burke made to his torian home In Oakland.

'TMSmHialUTSkiAtiMf jl iw I Tlaan xcrrV4 VR RATED ALL SEASON 205VS5VR1S 22S50VR16 PERFORMANCE ALL SEASON 19SVB5HR1S 20565HR15 LTXS) MS UGHT TRUCK Aa SEASON LT21S77SR13 LT23S775R15 LT24575R1S SU10S0R15 19560HR15 205SOHR15 TypetlnStockl MONDAY THflUFNDAYtMAMQON LOCATED NEAR LAKE MBWnT 2340 HARRISON OAKLAND (510) 834-9938 FREE REPORT reveals what the Insurance companies dart writf you to.kr Was your car Injured? You may be, tool It may be weeks; months or even years before you experience pain, stiffness, headaches, even arthrttisi Donl MtHe your case unty you read our free report. Earn a certificate in 11 799 WW. A distinguished, American Bar Association approved, paralegal studies program is offered by California State University, Hayward at both the Hayward and Concord campuses. This unique and challenging program will provide qualified persons with a new career. Applicants must have a minimum of 50 units of general education college-level credits.

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