Dr. Samuel Merritt, the Man behind the Lake
Dr. Samuel Merritt was the Mayor of Oakland during this 'Fool's Day Ordinance' and acquired from the deal a seat as an officer of the Oakland Waterfront Company* and a nice $100,000 plot of land.**
Cummings gives a good description of Merritt - "He was a clever artist and draftsman, could command a full-rigged ship, cook a hearty meal, perform a deft surgical operation, extract the last nickel from a real estate deal and, later, howl down a city council by the strength of his mighty bellow."
Samuel Merritt amassed great wealth during Oakland's early history. But unlike Carpentier, he called Oakland his home until his body died. He earned the reputation as a man of his word, and he made countless steps to improve Oakland. He supported the creation of parks, a subscription library,*** creating the first Oakland Board of Health, and of course, we have a lake named after him.
Lake Merritt was successfully created by constructing the 12th Street Dam. The dam also allowed travel to the eastern sections of the city, where Samuel owned a lot of land.
He owned lots of things. He built and traded ships and buildings. He did a lot of business, like helping to found the California Marine Mutual Insurance Co., or directing the Oakland Bank of Savings. He bought Oakland's very first elevator... for his house at Fourteenth and Madison.
Merritt avoided the waterfront conflict prior to becoming Mayor. But, 100k, what?
He did a lot for this city though and Oakland loved him. The People's Party made Merritt their figurehead. But he had to go to Europe for three years.****
Seems like a mixed review for Dr. Samuel Merritt.
Personally, I have a hard time believing in the benevolent one percent. This seems like an oxymoron.
* Rhomberg, p 26
** Cummings, p 31, 51
*** The Bay, p 384
**** Cummings p 32-44
Dr. Samuel Merritt was the Mayor of Oakland during this 'Fool's Day Ordinance' and acquired from the deal a seat as an officer of the Oakland Waterfront Company* and a nice $100,000 plot of land.**
Cummings gives a good description of Merritt - "He was a clever artist and draftsman, could command a full-rigged ship, cook a hearty meal, perform a deft surgical operation, extract the last nickel from a real estate deal and, later, howl down a city council by the strength of his mighty bellow."
Samuel Merritt amassed great wealth during Oakland's early history. But unlike Carpentier, he called Oakland his home until his body died. He earned the reputation as a man of his word, and he made countless steps to improve Oakland. He supported the creation of parks, a subscription library,*** creating the first Oakland Board of Health, and of course, we have a lake named after him.
Lake Merritt was successfully created by constructing the 12th Street Dam. The dam also allowed travel to the eastern sections of the city, where Samuel owned a lot of land.
He owned lots of things. He built and traded ships and buildings. He did a lot of business, like helping to found the California Marine Mutual Insurance Co., or directing the Oakland Bank of Savings. He bought Oakland's very first elevator... for his house at Fourteenth and Madison.
Merritt avoided the waterfront conflict prior to becoming Mayor. But, 100k, what?
He did a lot for this city though and Oakland loved him. The People's Party made Merritt their figurehead. But he had to go to Europe for three years.****
Seems like a mixed review for Dr. Samuel Merritt.
Personally, I have a hard time believing in the benevolent one percent. This seems like an oxymoron.
* Rhomberg, p 26
** Cummings, p 31, 51
*** The Bay, p 384
**** Cummings p 32-44