This article is an extract from the book called “East Bay Then & Now” by “Dennis Evanosky And Eric J.Kos”. This blog post helps you establish a comprehensive plan to nurture the trees that we have planted in and around, through our Tree Removal in Hayward CA. Heartfelt gratitude to the author for the beneficial content.
Holmes Market, Hayward
This is a view looking north at the Good-ell Block on B Street from Main Street in Hayward. The Holmes Market stood here, and nearby, at 1015 B Street, one could stop by Madsen’s Variety Store for sundries. The block is named for George A. Good-ell, who arrived in Hayward in 1865 and opened the town’s first harness store on B Street. Active in the town’s politics, he served as a town trustee and as a director of the lone Tree Cemetery; he graciously offered the use of his hall for community meetings.
In 1927, the Greek Revival-style Bank of America Building replaced the Colonial Revival-style wooden building that once stood at the corner. The turn-of-the-century City Beautiful movement had a major influence on the design, planning, and management of American cities from New York Of San Francisco. Its effects are still felt today and include monumental but low-lying buildings like the bank of America here. The street still serves Hayward’s needs with its many stores and restaurants. Downtown Hayward’s pleasant blend of old and new makes the city attractive to shoppers and diners from the entire region.
Hayward’s Hotel
In 1852, Don Guillermo Castro offered William Hayward forty acres of land in present-day downtown Hayward. The enterprising Hayward opened a general trading store, which became a stagecoach stop, a post office, and a hotel. Hayward later became a postmaster, a justice of the peace, a country supervisor, and the road-master for Eden Township. Hayward and his second wife, Rachel, established Hayward’s Hotel, one of the area’s finest resorts. Sadly, the hotel suffered the fate of many early wooden structures: it burned down in 1926.
Although Don Castro referred to what is now downtown Hayward as “San Lorenzo,” many called the town “ Hayward’s Place” or “Hayward’s” because of the famous Hayward’s Hotel. When the post office was established in 1860, a clerical error gave the town the official name of “Haywood.” Haywood was incorporated in 1876 as the “Town of Hayward’s,” with a total population of 1,100. In 1894, the superfluous “s” was dropped and on September 18, 1928, the status of the community was changed to the “City of Hayward.” The site of the hotel at the intersection of B and Main streets is now home to commercial ventures. A plaque on the brick building in the distance reminds us that the Hayward family once lived here.
Castro Street, Hayward
A streetcar can be seen approaching in the distance in this 1890 photo of Castro street. The street was home to Hayward’s first fire station, seen here with the tower that housed the station’s warning bell in the days before sirens. The fire station also served as a meeting place for the town council. In 1913 the station was moved to D and Atherton streets. The city then relocated the fire station in 1997 to a site at C and Main streets. Presently, a total of nine fire stations serve the citizens of Hayward.
Bank of Italy, Hayward
The columns of the Bank of Italy Building grace the corners of B Street and Mission Boulevard in Hayward . The Farmers and Merchants Bank built this Greek Revival- style building in 191. It presents a more graceful example of the Greek Revival style than that seen in the 1927 Bank of America Building at B and Main streets. In 1921, the Bank of Italy purchased the Farmers and Merchants Bank and moved in. The Bank of Italy, which was succeeded by the Bank of America, helped bring stability to the region after the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906. Despite the name, the trembled affected a wide area that included Hayward.
Modern renovations can scarcely disguise the grace of the old Bank of Italy Building. The Bank of Italy occupied the structure until 1927, when it became the Bank of America and moved to B and main streets. The original building was converted into stores. Many old-time Hayward residents will remember blank’s, the clothing store that moved into the building. The Hayward Theater stood just across the street. Other stores have replaced those seen in the earlier photo as demands have changed over the years.
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