"I dreamed, I saw a little red book drop down from heaven, and on it was written in gold: "Who Made Oakland?" and as it dropped, it fell in my hands.

As I dreamed on I saw a struggling band of men and women coming thru the wilderness, and as they approached I asked, "Who are they?" A voice said "They are emigrants with their families. Some are descendants from the Mayflower. They have pressed on and on for years looking for a land; and behold! here is the place!"

It is now the year of 1852 and in this wonderful Oak Grove we located. And the place shall be called Oakland.

The leader of the emigrants asked: "Who is the dark man I see in the Grove?" I answered: "He is Vincent Peralta. Quite naturally he objects to you locating here on this land, as all this vast estate was handed down to him ten years ago, by his father Luis Maria Peralta. He is very angry and insists that you leave this place." But the emigrants being one-hundred in number, finally persuaded Peralta that stay they would. And stay they did. I looked towards the sky and saw 1854 written. And many, many more people were wandering through the Grove.

I rubbed my eyes again and saw one thousand and sixty houses in among the Oaks and the year 1864 was written across the sky. Ah, I thought, 1864 the civil war ended. Peace throughout the land. This little village continues to grow and prosper.

I closed my eyes, then as I looked again I saw 1874, and as I gazed, I saw a white paper dropping as if it were from the heavens and on it was written: OAKLAND. Oakland, the County Seat of Alameda County. One of the richest districts in the entire state.

I dreamed on. Again the vision came. This time across the sky was written Oakland 1896. "Yes," said the voice, "You have been sleeping over twenty years. During the preceding years of your sleep the people have proven that from climatic, sanitary, religious, social, fraternal and educational points of view, Oakland is all that could be desired as a place of residence.

I dreamed on. This time across the sky was written Oakland 1906. As I gazed the sky was ablaze and I watched the little village gather in great multitudes. The fire in the heavens faded away and beautiful San Francisco fell.

As I looked once more on the sky, the number read Oakland 1925.

Closer and closer came the vision until I saw a large and Wonderful City and at the heart of the city was a beautiful lake, glittering and gleaming. Here in the very heart of this city is a spot where the weary can rest, the children can play and the poet can dream. And as my thoughts traveled on I heard a fluttering of wings. "Oh," I said, "now I am dreaming again and 'tis angels' wings I hear"; but "No," said the voice, "you are not dreaming and you are not in heaven. This is Lake Merritt in Oakland." I asked the voice, "What is this I hear like the fluttering of wings?" Then the voice said, "Rub your eyes and look again." As I did so, on and around the lake were thousands of birds. And the voice continued, "They are the incarnations of the Indians who wandered thru the trails of the wonderful Oaks, long before the white man ever knew of this spot...as well as the incarnated spirits of our forefathers. But as St. Peter gave them a passport to the Heavenly Throne, they asked one by one: "Please may I return to Lake Merritt to spend my Eternity?" So here they are. And here they stay.

As I walked through the streets of this beautiful city again I asked, "Who Made Oakland? What are the names and stories of the many who have helped make and continue to carry out their ideals and inspirations  until they become great breathing engines of progress. Their work is going on and will go on forever..."

(the above is an excerpt from WHO MADE OAKLAND. Written by Florence B. Crocker, published in 1925 by Clyde Dalton)

WHO MADE OAKLAND?

Written by Florence B. Crocker ~ Published by Clyde Dalton in 1925

“It is the endeavor of the writer to make this book of real value to every citizen of Oakland as well as every guest and everyone throughout the country, wishing to know something of Oakland.”