Gene Anderson presents: "Old Town Oakland in the mid-19th Century"

Gene Anderson, author of “Legendary Locals of Oakland”, is a fourth-generation Oakland resident. His great-grandparents lived in West Oakland, and his great-grandfather worked for the South Pacific Company on a ferry boat, the only way to cross the Bay before there was a bridge. Gene was born in Long Beach but raised in Michigan, where his mother was from, and the family would visit the Bay Area every spring. He eventually moved to the Bay to attend college and ended up staying.

Mr. Anderson’s interest in Oakland history took off in 2009, at a time when the city was in the national spotlight following the killing of Oscar Grant. That’s when he started a blog called “Our Oakland" . He would ride his bike around town and take pictures of old signs he’d come across during his rides. The more photos he posted, the more readers of the blog would comment with personal stories connecting them to those old and forgotten signs. It was through those comments and the discovery of local stories that Gene realized how much of Oakland’s history was little known outside of small circles of residents.

We will have an opportunity to meet Gene and learn about mid-19th Century Oakland, historic events, and high profile neighbors when the Pardee family came to town. This will prove to be an educational and enjoyable program for us all to experience.

Note the new time for the event. We will begin earlier so our audience can be inspired, yet on their way before it becomes too dark.

There will be a champagne reception following the lecture with sweets & savories. We look forward to having you join us!

Tickets are $25 with all proceeds going to Pardee Home Museum. Save your seat on Eventbrite or call Richelle Lieberman at 510.381.1973

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