Dimond Neighborhood Oakland, Ca

2011-01-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

Dimond Wayfinding Mosaics

As a Council Member, Mayor Jean Quan had a vision of placing wayfinding mosaics in the Dimond District to complement the Fruitvale Alive! Streetscape project along Fruitvale Avenue. Using $25,000 of Pay-go funds, she hired mosaic artist Gina Dominguez of Snapshot Mosaics in Montclair to design and install the artwork.

Each sidewalk-embedded marker points to four different destinations within the neighborhood and the outlying areas of Oakland. The mosaics are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. They each have a separate design all celebrating something special about the district: the Native American Collection at the Dimond Library; the Redwoods; the native flora of Dimond Canyon, Sausal Creek and the Leimert Bridge that spans Dimond Canyon.

The mosaics are located at Dimond Library (on Fruitvale Avenue just above MacArthur Blvd.), Bank of America & Wells Fargo Bank (On Fruitvale Avenue at MacArthur Blvd.), and Farmer Joe’s (on both sides of the crosswalk on Fruitvale Ave.)

2009-11-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Planting Daffodils in Dimond
Fruitvale off-ramp
11/7/09

2009-10-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Dimond P.O. Saved
Sidewalk Celebration
10/24/09

Carrie Campbell, Terri Lutz, Kathleen Russell, Marilyn Miller, Leslie Ann Jones
Save Our Dimond Post Office 2009 Working Group (partial)

Mary Nordseth

Champion Petitioners: Tina Bristol, Duane Mongerson, Carrie Campbell, Terri Lutz

Carrie Campbell, Party Organizer/Champion Petitioner

Oretta Harrell and Pamela Green

“Thank you card” for Mr. Kim Fernandez, District Manager of USPS Bay-Valley

Photos: © 2009 Timothy Chapman
Click here for more pictures

SODPO Working Group
Click here for the video
Click here for SODPO website

2009-10-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

Sausal Creek in Dimond Park

1:13 p.m.

12:50 p.m.

2009-06-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

Dimond's Whittle Creek
Head Royce to Sausal Creek

City of Oakland File No. ERO4-0014

Creek Mapping Project

About 50 feet after it daylights below the campus,
the creek flows under this bridge, the red house
and soon enters its 2nd culvert

View looking left from the bridge above

Whittle Creek enters the final culvert behind this house
across Fruitvale from the tennis courts in Dimond Park

Walk on this bridge in a neighboring yard

Look to the left and Whittle Creek enters the culvert channel

Look to the right and it enters the final culvert to Sausal Creek

The following shows the same location on 10/13/09

2009-06-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

Today is Jack's 86th Birthday and Dimond
wishes him a very happy birthday!

Today was the first time Jack saw his video about the Wellington footbridge.

I met Jack today in the Dimond business district
and he told me that it was his birthday
He reminded me that he hadn't seen the video,
so we walked over to Dimond Library

2009-06-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

Dimond Roller Rink
October 21, 1939

From: Roller Skating Ephemera on flickr

2009-04-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Dimond News
January 1926

Dimond Motors opened in 1926 and the site became the Dimond Roller Rink in 1939.
It was located in Dimond where the 580 Fruitvale off-ramp is today.
Steve Lavoie at the History Room helped with this page

Scans courtesy: Oakland Library's Oakland History Room

2009-04-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

Dimond 1912 -- 2007
Champion and School

Photo: Oakland Library's Oakland History Room

2008-10-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

Dimond Cottage in Dimond Park

"Hugh Dimond retired to his land in 1877 on the fortune he made in the mercantile and liquor trades during the Gold Rush. He built his home in the lower stretches of the canyon in what is currently Dimond Park. In 1896, the year of Hugh Dimond's death, his son Dennis moved the adobe bricks from the original Peralta home to the area of Dimond Park, and built a studio cottage. The main Dimond house burned in 1913, leaving the adobe cottage. Four years later, the Dimond family sold the property to the city.
"Dimond Canyon then became home to the Boy Scouts. In 1919, Camp Sheoak was conducted by the Oakland-Piedmont Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Dimond Canyon. In 1924, the adobe cottage in Dimond Park became the headquarters of Boy Scout Troop 10. At the head of the canyon, in the area of the current Scout Road and Montera and Joaquin Miller schools, was located Camp Dimond, a 28 acre summer camp for Scouts. In a 1933 scout magazine, camp director Homer J. Bemiss invited scouts for $14.00 for two weeks (including meals) to enjoy the 140 ft. mess hall, the 300,000 gallon swimming pool, the bird sanctuary, and nature den." (Eleanor Dunn)

Dimond Cottage 1952

All Photos by Oakland's Office of Parks and Recreation
Via Oakland Library's Oakland History Room

2008-10-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

Dimond Park
Jack remembers the
Wellington Footbridge

Footbridge at Wellington and Canon in June 1952

Kids on the footbridge

View to the south

All Photos: Oakland Library's Oakland History Room

2008-02-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

Dimond's Beer Gardens

Oakland Heritage Alliance News Fall 1986

Tepper's Garden on Hopkins (MacArthur) St. Date: 1909
History Room: Click for larger picture

Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey

Charlie Tepper's Hotel
(Photo: Tribune)

Take the "Diamond Cars" to the hotel?

Charlie Tepper's Hotel today
2030-C MacArthur Boulevard

East side

North side

OHA News Fall 1986

I believe Neckhaus was located across Hopkins from Tepper's

1903 Sanborn map with beer gardens
note the bridge on Hopkins

History Room: click for larger picture

The women are walking down from Prospect Hill
towards Hopkins (MacArthur) and Fruitvale.
You can see the sign for Andersen's Grocery.
On their right is Bauerhofer's Wine and Beer Garden.

Picture flipped horizontally

On the corner was the notorious Hermitage
with their versatile French dancing girls.
Radio Shack is there today
with iPods but no dancers.
You'll have to download the movie

Red arrow: Hermitage
Purple: Andersen's Grocery
Blue: Rhoda's 2nd house now Lincoln Court
Rhoda's first house

Nielsen and Andersen Grocery
Photo: History Room

2008-01-05T22:45:00.000-08:00

Dimond Park
January 4th 2008 2:45 p.m.
A creek really flows through it!

Sunday January 6th at 4:00 p.m.

2007-12-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

Dimond's Two Star Market's 2007 Thanksgiving Dinner

Click here for Thanksgiving 2008

Abdo, thank you!

And Thanks goes to all the wonderful volunteers!

Great singing by a Dimond neighbor and volunteer
Weddings, social events, private parties
simplytoya@hotmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving to our Dimond neighbors

2007-12-30T22:54:00.000-08:00

Dimond Mural 2007

MacArthur Metro
September, 1997
Dimond Improvement Association News
by Janet Broughton

"Check out the mural on the side of Ann's Cafe! Local artist Daniel Camacho has been hard at work, assisted by several teens who are part of the Team Oakland program.
"The gem shapes in the mural are an obvious but irresistible visual pun. But what, you may wonder, are the cherry and the horse-drawn cart doing there? The cherry symbolizes the Dimond's agricultural history; the Dimond, along with neighboring Fruitvale, was covered with acres of orchard planted in the mid to late nineteenth century. The first fruits ever shipped back east from California were Royal Ann cherries from Dimond.
"The horse-drawn wagon pictured in the mural? In the early part of this century, it delivered goods for Mr. Giambroni's Dimond Grocery at the corner of Fruitvale and Hopkins (MacArthur). Mr. Camacho drew the wagon after seeing a photograph in the collection of Giambroni's daughter, Eleanor Smith, who was kind enough to bring fascinating photos of Dimond's past to our June History Night. Mr. Camacho was at that meeting, and the rest is history!"

2007-09-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Dimond's La Farine French Bakery
Opening Day in Dimond 9/21/07
3411 Fruitvale Avenue

Welcome to La Farine

Hilda Velazquez and Michael Clark

Evelia Briseno

Dimond neighbors: Robert Raburn, Pat Raburn, Rejoyce Moss,

2007-09-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Dimond has a new Dentist!

2007-07-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Dimond's 3rd Annual Picnic in Dimond Park
July 22, 2007

Click here for Dimond's Picnic 2008
Click here for Dimond's Picnic 2009

2007-04-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Officer Mauricio Perez

2007-04-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Dimond Congratulates Abdo!

Photo © Anietie Ukpe (Tia)

2007-04-02T23:54:00.000-07:00

Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey

Thanks goes to Betty Marvin
for sending us the history
of this Dimond building.

Progressive Dimond Hall -- HOLC Apartments
2039-45 MacArthur Boulevard

Dimond Hall Today

East side

West side

2007-03-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Warriors visit Dimond Library
March 27, 2007

Thunder and Jessica

Thunder in trouble

Double trouble

2007-03-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Envisioning Peace Concert
Fruitvale Presbyterian
March 24, 2007

Ruth Villasenor and Monte McClain

Greeters at the east door

Greeters at the west door

Pastor Monte McClain's opening remarks

Friendship House

I'm on my knees in the aisle taking a picture of Monte
photographing the Renaissance School elementary chorus.
The two kids just wanted great front-row seats for the singing.

Click for Monte's photo of Renaissance School's chorus

Click for Monte's photo of Sequoia's choir

2007-03-25T17:17:00.001-07:00

Dimond Surges for Peace!
March 19, 2007

Thanks goes to our Dimond neighbor Helen Miller
for organizing this "Dimond Surge for Peace."

Click here for Peace 2008

2007-01-29T22:08:00.000-08:00

Rhoda's first House at Whittle and Wilbur

Steps to Rhoda's 2nd House at Lincoln and MacArthur

2007-01-26T21:26:00.000-08:00

Former Dimond Business

Home Decor

Michael Jiang

Browse Michael's inventory 24/7 on Ebay at
http://homedecor511.com

2007-01-03T22:30:00.000-08:00

Perpetuo (Tito) Tayco CPA
2261 Macarthur Blvd
(510) 482-5444

Tito is a member of the Dimond Merchants' Association
is a member of the DIA Board and has been the
DIA Treasurer for as long as I can remember.
He is also a neighbor you always enjoy
meeting in the neighborhood.

Tito, thank you for all that you have done for our neighborhood!
© 2006 -- 2009 Timothy Chapman

2006-12-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

Charles Peoples Sr.

www.clpspecialty.com

Gloria

2006-12-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

Fruitvale Presbyterian's Thanksgiving Dinner 2006

Are you hungry?

2006-11-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Two Star Market's Thanksgiving Dinner 2006

Abdo, Thank you!

Thanks goes to all the volunteers

Abdo Alawdi on the right

2006-10-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

Dimond's Howl-o-ween Parade
October 28, 2006

We too are from Diamond
And we want to be your guides
Come with us, you will return safely

Trick or Treat at Simply Younique

Two Star Market

Pho Saigon

Los Comales

"Those aren't really worms"

It has been writ that when on Howl-o-ween
One eye glows from East, one from West
A lady of wit will be seen
In a hood misspelled, but still the best

See you next year

2006-10-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

Dimond Park's Second Saturday Cinema

"Starting October 14th, 6:30-9:30 p.m., we will be showing movies at Dimond Park every 2nd Saturday: blasted onto the Big Screen at the 'stage' behind the Bathroom Building. If it is too cold or raining, the movies will be shown in the Recreation Building. We will be selling snacks and drinks, and there will be free bags of popcorn. For more info contact the Dimond Recreation Center Office at 482-7831"

I had to leave at 7:15 p.m. while the cartoon Dora's Halloween was playing, but neighbors and little neighbors were still arriving so I'm sure there was quite a big audience by the time The Goonies was shown around 8 p.m. The Dimond movie theater is now Farmer Joe's, but the neighborhood is once again gathering to watch movies at Dimond Park's Second Saturday Nickelodeon.
© 2006 -- 2009 Timothy Chapman

2006-09-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hui Yan Fashion
3510 Fruitvale Avenue
Next to Radio Shack
(510) 482-2288

Elaine Li's Hui Yan Fashion is one of the smallest shops in the Dimond Business District, but the big "Welcome" on the door caught my attention. The drawings, by Elaine's daughter Gigi, made me smile and also curious to see what was in the bag. I was amazed by the large selection of clothing, shoes and more in this tiny store.

Elaine will make you feel welcomed in this delightful Dimond shop

2006-09-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

Dimond's Sid Campbell
2019 MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA
(510) 530-0241

For twenty years I have known Sid Campbell as a great neighbor,
Dimond merchant, author and entrepreneur extraordinaire,
but I didn't know that he is also a painter

If you haven't met Sid, stop by his martial arts school
next to Paws and Claws

Sid died August 19, 2008

2006-09-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

Dimond's New Dentist
Huey P Madison, Jr., D.D.S.
Soon: 3515 Dimond Avenue

A couple of months ago, I saw two men examining
the former dentist office at 3515 Dimond Avenue,
which is next to the Full Moon Seafood House.
Dr Huey Madison, D.D.S. introduced himself and
said he was considering moving his practice
from San Francisco to Dimond.

I saw him today with his daughters Breanna and Haley and he
told me that he is buying the building at 3515 Dimond Avenue
where he will be opening his office around November.

His grand opening was September 04, 2007

2006-09-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

Dimond's Monthly Hour for Peace
September 1, 2006

We met at Fruitvale and MacArthur

And walked to Lincoln and MacArthur

Photo by Monte McClain

Photo by Monte McClain

2006-08-29T02:26:00.000-07:00

Dimond's New Bus Shelter in Front of Bank of America

I first met Hoang in 2002 at Dimond Library when I attended a meeting about the City's bus shelter agreement with Clear Channel.

Hoang, thank you for staying with the process for four years.

Bus Shelter timeline written by Hoang
August 2002: On behalf of DIA, submitted request to City of Oakland Street Furniture Program for bus shelter at bus stop in front of Bank of America

February 2004: Received phone call from Facilities Manager at Public Works Street Furniture Program of opposition from Bank of America to have bus shelter

November 2004: Meeting arranged by Anne Marx; besides Anne and myself, others in attendance included representatives from ClearChannel Adshel Outdoor Advertising, Bank of American property manager and branch manager, Public Works, AC Transit.

Property manager was pleased by the look of the bus shelter and the excellent maintenance agreement (ClearChannel will pick up litter several times weekly and pressure hose in and around bus shelter). Branch manager did not like proposed location of bus shelter, but property manager put proposal through the levels anyway.

Received word about 1 month later that bus shelter declined because location next to driveway unfavorable.

Spring 2005, noticed flag poles were gone. Followed up with bank and property manager.

May 2005: I gathered meeting of all reps again, and it was agreed that shelter would be installed where damaged flag poles were removed.

Delay was due to sudden vacancy at ClearChannel. New hire brought on in early 2006. Permits approved spring 2006.

Shelter installed July 2006; bench installed week of Aug 21, 2006 :)

2006-08-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

Paws and Claws Campfire
Second Dimond Stroll
August 25, 2006

Ruth Villasenor: KQED.com

2006-08-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

In Memoriam

We at 3711 Fruitvale have lost a longtime friend and neighbor.
Patrice was known and loved by many in Dimond and Oakland.
Trice was our building's Den Mother-Block Captain
and we miss her so much.

2006-08-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy the garden as I walk past Dimond Library,
and it is always a pleasure to stop and talk with Gracie and Abel
while they are creating new colorful surprises for us.
They were busy with their magic all afternoon yesterday.