Wednesday, March 20, 2013

J is for Jack London's house

Jack London's Oakland roots run deep.  His boyhood home on Foothill Blvd. continues to exist and is still someone's home.  Getting a good image is difficult due to the large oak tree in the front yard that casts long shadows most of the day.  It's easy to imagine young Jack sitting in the tree reading an adventure story.  Except this tree, though large, can't be that old.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Addendum:  Gene of Our Oakland provided me a link indicating Jack lived in this house with his mother after returning from the Klondike.  It is here he dedicated himself to writing and had his first piece published.  As a young boy his family moved frequently and I could find no source for any other address than this one.
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17 comments:

  1. CloudiaMarch 19, 2013 at 10:12 PM

    if the walls could. . . .

    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    ~ > < } } ( ° > <3

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  2. UnknownMarch 19, 2013 at 10:35 PM

    I wonder if the current residents catch musings from Mr. London on occasion.

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  3. cieldequimperMarch 20, 2013 at 12:09 AM

    I'm off to fetch a book of his. You've just given me the urge to re-read him.

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  4. Roger Owen GreenMarch 20, 2013 at 2:50 AM

    Was White Fang born there?
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  5. AnonymousMarch 20, 2013 at 4:45 AM

    Hmm interesting... Must have got a lot of ideas being just there... :) "Just" another thought, please use the URL to the post next time and not to the whole blog.

    PhenoMenon, ABCW Team

    http://capturedalive.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/jet-designs/

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  6. LeaMarch 20, 2013 at 6:30 AM

    I like the shadows on the house.
    Great choice for 'J'
    Have a wonderful day!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  7. VirginiaMarch 20, 2013 at 7:24 AM

    But I love the shadows it casts!
    V

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  8. John @ Beans and I on the LooseMarch 20, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    Gee, the current residents at least could tidy up the place some by curling up the hose, cut and edge that small piece of lawn and could you please roll the trash can around back?

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  9. RajeshMarch 20, 2013 at 8:33 AM

    Great looking house.

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  10. AnnMarch 20, 2013 at 9:34 AM

    Very good looking structure--wish the owners cared for it as much. Must look him up.
    Ann

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  11. rafMarch 20, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    You've made a good b&w image with the challenge! It's hard not to think of Oakland as Jack's town. :)
    What a life he lived.

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  12. UnknownMarch 20, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    Funny, I was just near there the other day looking for it to possibly include in the "Jack and Julia" bike tour. I didn't have the address, just a misplaced dot on a map, so I missed it. But I was pointed to this article on SFGate:
    http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Literary-legacy-sold-in-Oakland-Restored-San-2575001.php
    Apparently Jack wrote the "The Son of The Wolf" there, which was a collection of stories from the Klondike gold rush.

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  13. SRQMarch 20, 2013 at 4:13 PM

    A modest home that needs a little TLC. I like the shadows. They help create a visual of the tree that we can't actually see.

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  14. Reader WilMarch 21, 2013 at 7:58 AM

    Good choice for J. I read "The Call of the Wild", which I found very beautiful!
    Wil, ABCW Team.

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  15. TaniaMarch 21, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    How cool J! And a very nice picture with great shadows

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  16. LindaMarch 23, 2013 at 12:58 AM

    It looks touchingly suburban for such an outdoors character.

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  17. PerthDailyPhotoMarch 24, 2013 at 9:32 AM

    I agree with SRQ, love the tree shadows..adds intrigue :)
    p.s I love antique and vintage markets also, but on Friday there was nothing to distract from the food haha!

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