March 2004 - Society for California Archaeology

41
Articles
family…. (Brightside 1980: 2). The Pestdorf and Jessen
families had the largest salt production sites in the area
(Sandoval 1974, Moore 1978).
In 1895, Russell City formed its own school district,
separating from neighboring Mt. Eden’s school district. The
first school in this new district was built on land donated by
the Russell family (Sandoval 1988: 134). With a school
system intact, its own commercial opportunities and a train
depot, Russell City was a bustling community.
1900-1930: Plans to Make Russell City the Biggest City
on San Francisco Bay
After the 1906 earthquake there was great excitement
over the potential of Russell City. Real estate agents
promoted the idea that Russell City could be the largest city
on San Francisco Bay (Figure 3). Realtors convinced the heirs
of the Russell and Pestdorf families to combine their
properties for sale. One thousand acres were secured and by
the year 1908, 700 lots had been sold. (Sandoval 1945)
However, only some lots were actually were built upon.
Williams finds that ultimately, homes were only built on half
of Joel Russell’s original holdings (1958).
The Great Depression of the 1930s severely impacted
Russell City. At this time professional development halted
and some residents were forced to build their own homes.
The community grew in a haphazard fashion. Helen Russell
McCallum, Joel Russell’s granddaughter, remembered that
during this time, “lots were being sold for as little as $10.00”
but even at that price “few lots were sold and no one made
any money” (Brightside 1980: 2,3).
By 1941, Russell City had a population of 1200, palm
lined streets, and its own volunteer fire department. While
the residents of Russell City relied on the Alameda County
Sheriff’s Office for official policing, interviewee Dave
Bassard recalls that theirs was a community that policed itself.
The town also had a school, a motel, churches, restaurants,
stores, gas stations, and bars. The area was semi-agricultural
and some residents grew gardens and raised farm animals.
Russell City had no formal mayor, but many interviewees
considered Mr. Buster Brooks the unofficial mayor. Still
others remembered that fellow resident Nick Milekovich
proclaimed himself mayor.
African American migrants to Russell City brought with
them cultural customs rooted in the south, including a rich
blues musical tradition. In the years that followed, Russell
City became a center for the West Coast style of blues.
Legends such as Big Momma Thorton, Jimmy McCracklin,
Jimmy Witherspoon, and Billy Dunn performed in Russell
City (Arts 1994). Blues artist Johnny “Waters” Sanifer
recollects that, “Russell City was a blues capital” (Figone
1988: 86) and Ronnie Stewart of the Bay Area Blues Society
purports that people worldwide recognize Russell City for its
Figure 3: Russell City Real Estate Advertisement.
The War Years: The 1940s in Russell City
The 1940s marked a transition for Russell City. Jobs made
available by the War Effort meant that thousands of people
migrated to the area. Because Russell City did not have
restrictive housing covenants, a large percentage of its new
residents were African Americans from the South, poor White
farmers displaced by effects of the Dust Bowl, and Mexicans
and Mexican-Americans from Southern California. In fact,
Russell City was one of the few places where these groups
were encouraged to buy. Interviewee Mary Tolefree Johnigan
states that the reason many non-White residents bought in
Russell City was because of “old-boy networking.” They
were always subtle, she says, but the suggestion was there to
buy in Russell City rather than Hayward. In Robert de Roos’
article on Russell City a resident asserts, “lots are cheap and a
man can own a place of his own in Russell City- a man who
might happen to be a Negro or a Puerto Rican or a Mexican.
People like that are not always welcome in other
communities” (1951: 18). During this time, ex-resident Sam
Nava estimates that the demographics of Russell City
amounted to 45% Black, 45% Hispanic, and less than 10%
Caucasian.
SCA Newsletter 38(1)