Friday, April 26, 2013

swaying palms

This line of palm trees on Ivy Hill is all that remains of Arbor Villa, a mansion built in the 1890s by Francis Marion “Borax” Smith.  Smith mined borax and transported it from Death Valley to a nearby train station by 20 mule teams.  He used the mule teams to brand and advertise his product.  After amassing a fortune in mining, he later developed the extensive Key System transportation system connecting the East Bay cities and San Francisco.  The mansion was demolished after Smith's death in 1931.  Smith is buried on Millionaire's Row in Mt. View Cemetery.  Our afternoon skies remain clear and I'm linking to Skywatch Friday.
Posted by Oakland Daily Photo at 12:00 AM
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10 comments:

  1. ExploreColoradoApril 25, 2013 at 3:15 PM

    And what a lovely row of palm trees it is.

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  2. JudyApril 25, 2013 at 4:54 PM

    I hadn't realized palm trees got that tall...

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  3. carol l mckennaApril 25, 2013 at 5:36 PM

    Wow ~ love the angle of your photo ~ Great shot ~ thanks ^_^

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  4. CloudiaApril 25, 2013 at 8:54 PM

    just amazing sentinels


    ALOHA
    from Wacky Waikiki
    Comfort Spiral
    ~ > < } } ( ° > <3
    > < } } ( ° >
    > < 3 3 3 ( ' >

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  5. s.cApril 26, 2013 at 3:11 AM

    Nice little text about a remarkable man. Must be quit a undertaking to go with 20 mules in the dessert and come back. Great story.

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  6. UnknownApril 26, 2013 at 11:46 AM

    "Borax" Smith was a big part of Oakland history. For more on him, see the Oakland Wiki:
    http://oaklandwiki.org/Francis_Marion_%22Borax%22_Smith
    Be sure to check out all the Oakland connections near the end of the entry.

    For more on Arbor Villa, the remarkable estate that these palm trees marked, see:
    http://oaklandwiki.org/Arbor_Villa

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  7. JackApril 26, 2013 at 4:53 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. JackApril 26, 2013 at 4:54 PM

    Look how high above the trunks the palm greenery grows!

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  9. ArtandArchitecture-SF.comApril 27, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    Wow - I did not know the local connection. I have always been fascinated with the Borax mining out in the desert and have been to several museums, but never knew he had an Oakland connection. Thanks for the info.

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  10. RedPatApril 28, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    Interesting post and cool shot!

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