"Maxwell Park was originally a residence park owned by merchant John P. Maxwell. With great foresight, he purchased the property with the very aim of later selling it for housing. He arranged for the 55th Avenue streetcar line to be extended into his park to encourage sales, running to the intersection of Fleming and Madera Avenues. Additionally, Southern Pacific electric lines ran only two blocks from the park entrance, allowing for fast transportation to San Francisco.
There's a reason why there's a hodgepodge of styles in Maxwell Park. Under the headline 'Maxwell Park Homes Must Be Different,' a May 1923 article explains: "Every home that goes into the new series of fifty homes now under construction by Burritt & Shealey in Maxwell Park must bear the stamp of artistic individuality....The result is that the architects have been able to draw freely and with good effect on the Colonial, Italian Renaissance, Spanish, French and English types of home architecture for their designs.'
Maxwell Park sold out fast. In April 1921, a month before it opened for sales, the newspaper wrote, 'Everyday there are hundreds of people out watching the development going on and anxiously waiting for the opening of the tract to the home buyers.'
An undated article says, 'Four years ago, Maxwell Park, continuing 477 fine new residential lots, was soon sold out and buildings seemed to "grow up" there overnight until now almost every lot has its home. With the beginning of Maxwell Park homes, there was a rush of buyers for all other adjacent vacant lots, on and around the (Foothill) boulevard, where homes were also speedily built.' By May 1922, a year after the opening, it was reported that on average a home had been built in Maxwell Park every two days.
Burritt & Shealey clearly marked all the lotlines and posted the prices, so buyers could instantly see what they were in for:'The price and terms are plain and in full view, literally each lot being tagged and priced,' said the newspaper in May 1921.
The terms started at $1 down. That figure, startling even back then, allowed the tract to 'advertise" for children to buy: 'Come out today--buy a lot--let the boy or the girl buy one---teach them to save!'
Another attraction was the park's newness. In May 1921, a full page ad read, 'Remember, this is not an old, worn-out addition covered with mortgages and trying to survive, but an all-new residence park.'
A June 1921 ad said, 'Picture yourself living in the clever, cozy home represented in the accompanying floor plan and you see life as it is enjoyed by the owners of homes in Maxwell Park...then you will understand why Maxwell Park has become the most popular home section in all the Eastbay; why many buyers came in the rain last weekend to purchase...'
A September 1923 ad pointed out the advisability of buying a home sooner rather than later: 'Due to the present drain upon the market for building materials being shipped to Japan---visualize the importance of buying a new home now...Let us show you how you can own a Bard-Better-Built home.' The Bard company offered 50 different types of homes to choose from in the Bard's Tract of Maxwell Park on Monticello Avenue.
J.H.A. Shealy of the construction company wrote for the 1923 Oakland Tribune Yearbook, 'These homes all radiate an unmistakable appeal in the friendly way they nestle together on the property.'
Bruce Lee is undoubtedly Maxwell Park's best-known resident. He and his wife lived here with his friend James Yimm Lee in a house on Monticello Avenue. In 1964, James' wife had just died, leaving him to raise his children alone. Since Bruce was penniless at the time, the housing arrangement made sense. Bruce and James taught gung fu out of the garage."
