For 26 years, from 1903 to 1929, F.M. "Borax" Smith's Realty Syndicate trolleys brought Bay Area residents to Idora Park, the "Finest Amusement Park in the East Bay". Located in Oakland's Temescal District, the Park was home to 21 rides, roller skating, band concerts, a zoo, Thompson's Scenic Railway, an ostrich farm and much more. Our program will visit the Park and its attractions through Postcard images of the era.
Edmund Clausen was born in East Oakland Hospital, raised in the Fairfax neighborhood, and is a retired 30-year member of the Oakland Fire Department. He is a Hometown Boy with a long-standing interest in local history. He chanced upon three old postcards of Oakland in an antique store in 1979 and bought them on a whim. For 30-cents he had a collection. When he had accumulated 100 cards, he thought he was through. His collection is now approaching 9,000 Oakland postcards, approximately 300 of which are of Idora Park. He is happy to share some of those images with you the evening of November 19th.