This interesting picture is what we call Jewtown
Hey Ron,
Considering that you and your family has lived in Oakland forever, I think of you often as THE SOURCE of Oakland info. Remember that I’m a relative newbie as I have only lived here since 1979.
That said, I do have a question or perhaps a hypothesis that has been intriguing me for a while. It relates to the possible antisemitism in Oakland’s past. I’ll explain.
My hypothesis starts with my possession of a photo of Klein’s Beach taken on 8/24/1932 by Mr. Bush. On the back in his handwriting is the following: “This interesting picture is what we call Jewtown. Notice the line Klein’s freight cars on the right, the tennis courts in the center and the water near all.”
OK, while that’s pretty antisemitic, it only a single expression by a sole individual. But, there seems to be more.
Klein’s Beach burned down twice and at neither time did the Oakland Fire Dept. respond to extinguish the fire. Although an investigation was made, nothing came of it. The OVFD simply stated that they never received any call for them to respond. End of investigation.
A third piece is the purchase and ultimate destruction of the Spear-Bush mansion around 1960. After purchase, it was converted to be the Oakland Jewish Community Center even though there were few if any Jewish people living in town other than those living in the Colony during the summer. Then, the 1870’s Bush-Spear Mansion was razed to build the single-story Jewish Community Center that was ultimately sold to become the current Montessori school. The sub-text here is that the development of a community center is the pre-stage of the development of a synagogue. However, the congregation of the community center never reached a sufficient quorum to achieve the status of a synagogue and was closed for lack of attendees.
The Colony
Another piece relates to The Colony. That area was a purely Jewish resort and beach existing among the 10 others in town. In the 1940’s and early 1950’s there was a movement by those who vacationed there to buy the entire area and make it into a solely Jewish section of town. Oakland resisted cod requirements and building repairs/elevations. Hence, it never happened and Oakland’s town fathers breathed a sigh of relief.
And finally, it is well documented that the Dutch people simply did not like the Jews as exemplified by Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of NY and NJ. He stated that Jews were “deceitful”, “very repugnant”, and “hateful enemies and blasphemers of the name of Christ”.
The net of all of this is a series of dots that if connected a certain way would suggest the existence of significant antisemitism in Oakland. While I would agree that the topic is uncomfortable and not politically correct, if accurate it nonetheless would be a piece of uncomfortable Oakland history in the same manner as slavery here and the Dutch attitudes towards the Indians in the 1700’s.
Ron, I’m not trying to invent dots that are not there and I’m not trying to connect them in any inaccurate way. My objective is to simply understand an aspect of the past environment in Oakland albeit perhaps less than pleasant. If my hypothesis is wrong, then it’s wrong and I have no problem whatsoever with that. Anyway, can you shed any light on this or provide any insight?
Attached are copies of the front and back of the Bush pic referenced above.
Thanks again for your help, Ron.
Cordially,
Kevin Heffernan
Hi Kevin! I’m not real sure where Kleins Beach was, but I know from my family’s comments
that anti-semitism was probably the order of the day back then. The colony was called ” The Jew Colony”- & my Dad & brother did a lot of building
in that area. (Dad was a carpenter). I was told that the residents of the ” Jew Colony” used to come into town on Saturdays- the women wearing nothing
but shorts & a bra. Like most small towns, I’m sure Oakland was clannish, so I think that the “Old-timers” weren’t very welcoming to the New York interlopers,
but, I don’t think the Colony folks were very friendly, in return. I’m not sure that all the prejudice was because of their heritage. Ikie Otto was a jew, and he was considered part of the fabric of the community. Once, my mother mentioned him to me, as he & my Dad served on the fire dep’t together. She said ” He’s a Jew, but a good Jew!” I think I remember them using the same expression when they mentioned Joe Lewis. ” He’s a niger, but a good niger!” Communication back then was not too good, so, I believe that the fires were not called in. we had a fire at our place in 1962, that nearly burned down our barn before the O F D came to the rescue. i think the late 50’s & early 60’s were a time of new houses of worship in Oakland, and probably, after the war & the revelation of the holocaust, the residents wanted to worship the way their ancestors did. Hence- the Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic & Jewish Synagogue were all established within a few years of each other. Ponds, in the early 60’s had 2 services per Sunday fulled to the rafters, but, slowly people left & went to these other newer houses of worship. One thing i could never understand, is why Al Potash, a jew, never left Ponds Church to attend The J.C.C.. His children, who stayed in town attended Ponds, or OLPH. When Al was buried, he wore traditional jewish dress, complete with Yarmulke- Go figure!
In short- yes! Antisemitism existed, but i think most of the rejection of these ” summer folk” was because they acted differently, not because of their religious beliefs.
hope this helps!
Hey Ron,
Thanks a billion for the perspective on antisemitism in Oakland. I really appreciate it.
As an aside, perhaps, just perhaps, the reason that Al Potash never acknowledged being Jewish may be because he knew that Oakland at the time was somewhat antisemitic and acknowledging his religious heritage might thwart either his significant involvement in Oakland and/or his Oakland political ambitions. Just a guess.
Regards,
Hey Ron,
Considering that you and your family has lived in Oakland forever, I think of you often as THE SOURCE of Oakland info. Remember that I’m a relative newbie as I have only lived here since 1979.
That said, I do have a question or perhaps a hypothesis that has been intriguing me for a while. It relates to the possible antisemitism in Oakland’s past. I’ll explain.
My hypothesis starts with my possession of a photo of Klein’s Beach taken on 8/24/1932 by Mr. Bush. On the back in his handwriting is the following: “This interesting picture is what we call Jewtown. Notice the line Klein’s freight cars on the right, the tennis courts in the center and the water near all.”
OK, while that’s pretty antisemitic, it only a single expression by a sole individual. But, there seems to be more.
Klein’s Beach burned down twice and at neither time did the Oakland Fire Dept. respond to extinguish the fire. Although an investigation was made, nothing came of it. The OVFD simply stated that they never received any call for them to respond. End of investigation.
A third piece is the purchase and ultimate destruction of the Spear-Bush mansion around 1960. After purchase, it was converted to be the Oakland Jewish Community Center even though there were few if any Jewish people living in town other than those living in the Colony during the summer. Then, the 1870’s Bush-Spear Mansion was razed to build the single-story Jewish Community Center that was ultimately sold to become the current Montessori school. The sub-text here is that the development of a community center is the pre-stage of the development of a synagogue. However, the congregation of the community center never reached a sufficient quorum to achieve the status of a synagogue and was closed for lack of attendees.
Another piece relates to The Colony. That area was a purely Jewish resort and beach existing among the 10 others in town. In the 1940’s and early 1950’s there was a movement by those who vacationed there to buy the entire area and make it into a solely Jewish section of town. Oakland resisted cod requirements and building repairs/elevations. Hence, it never happened and Oakland’s town fathers breathed a sigh of relief.
And finally, it is well documented that the Dutch people simply did not like the Jews as exemplified by Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of NY and NJ. He stated that Jews were “deceitful”, “very repugnant”, and “hateful enemies and blasphemers of the name of Christ”.
The net of all of this is a series of dots that if connected a certain way would suggest the existence of significant antisemitism in Oakland. While I would agree that the topic is uncomfortable and not politically correct, if accurate it nonetheless would be a piece of uncomfortable Oakland history in the same manner as slavery here and the Dutch attitudes towards the Indians in the 1700’s.
Ron, I’m not trying to invent dots that are not there and I’m not trying to connect them in any inaccurate way. My objective is to simply understand an aspect of the past environment in Oakland albeit perhaps less than pleasant. If my hypothesis is wrong, then it’s wrong and I have no problem whatsoever with that. Anyway, can you shed any light on this or provide any insight?
Attached are copies of the front and back of the Bush pic referenced above.
Thanks again for your help, Ron.
Cordially,
Hi Kevin! I’m not real sure where Kleins Beach was, but I know from my family’s comments
that anti-semitism was probably the order of the day back then. The colony was called ” The Jew Colony”- & my Dad & brother did a lot of building
in that area. ( Dad was a carpenter). I was told that the residents of the ” Jew Colony” used to come into town on Saturdays- the women wearing nothing
but shorts & a bra. Like most small towns, I’m sure Oakland was clannish, so I think that the “Old-timers” weren’t very welcoming to the New York interlopers,
but, I don’t think the Colony folks were very friendly, in return. I’m not sure that all the prejudice was because of their heritage. Ikie Otto was a jew, and he was considered part of the fabric of the community. Once, my mother mentioned him to me, as he & my Dad served on the fire dep’t together. She said ” He’s a Jew, but a good Jew!” I think I remember them using the same expression when they mentioned Joe Lewis. ” He’s a niger, but a good niger!” Communication back then was not too good, so, I believe that the fires were not called in. we had a fire at our place in 1962, that nearly burned down our barn before the O F D came to the rescue. i think the late 50’s & early 60’s were a time of new houses of worship in Oakland, and probably, after the war & the revelation of the holocaust, the residents wanted to worship the way their ancestors did. Hence- the Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic & Jewish Synagogue were all established within a few years of each other. Ponds, in the early 60’s had 2 services per Sunday fulled to the rafters, but, slowly people left & went to these other newer houses of worship. One thing i could never understand, is why Al Potash, a jew, never left Ponds Church to attend The J.C.C.. His children, who stayed in town attended Ponds, or OLPH. When Al was buried, he wore traditional jewish dress, complete with Yarmulke- Go figure!
In short- yes! Anti-semitism existed, but i think most of the rejection of these ” summer folk” was because they acted differently, not because of their religious beliefs.
hope this helps!
Hey Ron,
Thanks a billion for the perspective on antisemitism in Oakland. I really appreciate it.
As an aside, perhaps, just perhaps, the reason that Al Potash never acknowledged being Jewish may be because he knew that Oakland at the time was somewhat antisemitic and acknowledging his religious heritage might thwart either his significant involvement in Oakland and/or his Oakland political ambitions. Just a guess.
Regards,
Kevin Heffernan
