Highland Park.

Description

This Highland Park Residence property map, dated August 5, 1893, illustrates a promotional effort to auction 100 lots in the Highland Park neighborhood of East Oakland, California. It reflects the strategic marketing of residential properties during Oakland’s rapid expansion in the late 19th century. Organized by E.C. Sessions, a prominent real estate developer and entrepreneur, the auction targeted middle-class families seeking affordable suburban living with access to modern conveniences.

Highland Park

The map highlights the planned subdivision of Highland Park, with numbered lots and clearly labeled streets such as 14th Avenue, 19th Avenue, and 21st Avenue, as well as cross streets like East 25th Street through East 30th Street.

Scattered across the map are small illustrations of houses, some labeled with the names of property owners. These houses were likely included as visual markers to show the type of homes that could be built and to highlight lots already purchased or in development. The laeled homes give the neighborhood a stamp of approval, so to speak.

The auction brochure promises easy terms, requiring only 10% cash down with the balance payable through monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual installments at 7% interest, making homeownership accessible to prospective buyers. Additionally, it highlights the property’s perfect title, proximity to schools and churches, and accessibility via streetcar lines, framing Highland Park as part of Oakland’s march of progress.

E.C. Sessions Lot Auction

The driving force behind this development, Edward Carthcart “E.C.” Sessions (1836–1906), was a key figure in Oakland’s growth. Born in Norwich, New York, he moved to Oakland, where he became a leader in real estate, transportation, and finance. Sessions owned significant landholdings in East Oakland, including Highland Park, Tuxedo, and Highland Terrace. Recognizing the importance of transportation, he co-founded the Highland Park & Fruit Vale Railroad, providing streetcar service to developing neighborhoods and boosting property values. Sessions also published The Real Estate Gazette and commissioned detailed maps to support land sales, while serving as president of the Oakland Bank of Savings, where he facilitated financing for homebuyers and businesses.

This map is an interesting artifact of late 19th-century urban planning, illustrating the marketing strategies and development efforts that shaped Oakland’s transformation into a modern city. The inclusion of labeled property owners and house illustrations underscores the neighborhood’s development potential, offering prospective buyers a glimpse of what the area could become. The map captures a moment of optimism and ambition, showcasing the potential of East Oakland during a pivotal period of growth.