Description
The Beulah Heights Improvement Club records date primarily from 1914 and
1915 with scattered documents dating from 1913 through 1923. Many items were
authored by the secretary-treasurer of the group, Christian T Gutleben, an
Oakland contractor. Other recurrent names found in the papers are those of Ed P
Myers, Frank E. Hewitt, C. Oatridge, Carrie Pratt Elwell and San Francisco
attorney, A. Kazebeer. The records include bylaws, minutes, correspondence,
petitions, printed pamphlets and flyers, and newspaper clippings. Most of the
correspondence is with city and state officials.
Background
The Beulah Heights Improvement Club was an Oakland, California property
owners organization for the development of the Beulah Heights District. Civic
organizations consisting of real estate dealers, businessmen, citizens, and
community leaders played an important part in the growth and development of
Oakland. The Beulah Heights District located near Mills College between the
convergence of the current MacArthur Freeway (580) and Warren Freeway (13,) is
now part of the Laurel, Leona Heights and Redwood Districts. The group met at
the Beulah School. The main focus of the Beulah Heights Improvement Club was to
obtain a water supply for the district by working with the Railroad Commission
of the State of California and the Peoples Water Company. A Club subscription
drive raised several thousand dollars toward this goal. Members were concerned
with other utilities and services: gas, electricity, sanitation, street signs,
telephone lines, and street lighting, and, they also contributed to the support
of Mills College and Beulah School.
Availability
Collection is open for research.