Assignment 5

The Main focus of my research into Mt Eden has now become the unwillingness of the community to annex to the city, and efforts to conserve historical relics . Historically speaking, Mt Eden has always been considered rich in land and huge parcels. To this day, a lot of home located on the main "Eden Islands" which include Saklan, Dunn, eden and a few others in the Mt Eden Area, still sit on parcels that the city of hayward sees as useless. The City of Hayward Argues that the land is a "Eye Sore: for the community, with many places here still lacking infrastructure such as a modern sewer system (Septic tanks are operated in these homes) water, whcih is provided via well by the Mohrland co., which was started by the Famous Mohr Family of the area. After reading many articles dating back to the 1800's and eaerly 1900's, The Mt eden-Russel city area has always had an instilled sense of pride in its community. many of the families that owned homes in the area, such as the Gadings, Mohr's, Frys and all, have fought hard to conserve many of the sites that are still standing. Even things such as the old post office and political center, where eventually torn down, but not before a fight with the Lyons Club and other community orginazations.
According to the city of hayward website, the last two of the five islands were finally annexed in february of this year, but that hasnt stopped the small town feel of the area. Through articles found at the Hayward area historical society, The city of hayward has been fighting hard since the late 1980's to annex the remaining eden islands. it is intereisting to note that the very residents of this place, only 605 people(Hayward review 2003), showed a huge opposition to any annexation plans. Even though these were little peices of land compared to overall Mt. Eden, it is important to note that the majority of the residents in this community is people that have been there for generations, and dont no anywhere else to go. During these first fights against annexation, 20% of the "Islands" population arrived and showed the city that they were to not lay down easy. Even though it took years to make this area a part of hayward, it will be interisting to see for years to come how old homes and new homes will merge on modern city blocks, as the city will pave these historic roads, which are currently still behind in things such as sidewalks and stuff....
The leader of the movement to annex Mt. Eden to the city of hayward was a politician by the name of John Dutra of Fremont(Hayward review 2005). As well as been a politician, John is a business man, and owned a real estate business which bought approximately 12 acres of land from Mt Eden "Saklan Island". johns plan was to buy all the land he could until he can have enough land to offer the city 8.5 million dollars to provide modern infrastructure for the part of the city. Dutra then sold the land to developers KB homes, who are now in the process of building 160 homes in the area. Although the homes will be along side these other parcels, they will never be the same as the houses of the old residents of hayward. The community, which has always been tight knit, is still holding on to their strong beliefs that have been passed to them from Joe Johnsom, and Cornelius Mohr, and the Olivers. These men were always loved not for been business man and large land owners, but for acting like a common man, offering jobs and money to the needy, and making sure Mt Eden Would never have to depend on a city to provide for itself (Examples, the windmills, Mohrland Water company, which still provides well water, the creation of community churches, schools, and other things considered benificial to all.)
I will be putting up pictures of teh NP articles I read, and the interisting maps I found on Mt. Eden. .....ALSO, NEXT TIME I will blog about the Mohrs and their unwillingness to sell off the land in which Chabot now stands.....