Those Places Thursday ~ My Grandfather's Home

This photo is a picture of where my grandfather and his wife lived for as long as I can remember. I took this picture but am not sure exactly when. I lost the date when changing computers unfortunately. I would venture to guess it was taken somewhere between 2002 and 2007.

Two years after the Loma Prieta earthquake occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989, northern Oakland and southeastern Berkeley suffered from the Oakland Hills Firestorm. Sunday, October 20, 1991 was the day the fire broke out. It just so happened that my parents and family were at my house celebrating my mother's birthday when we heard about the fire on the news.

Immediately when we heard of the fire, my father was on the phone calling his father to see if the fire was in his vicinity. My grandfather was being evacuated from this home at that very moment! Thankfully, he his wife and his home all escaped the horrors of the fire. We were all extremely concerned because this home IS in the Oakland hills.

This fire killed 50 people and injured another 150. The destruction in the hills looked as if a bomb had blown up the whole area. Several weeks after the fact I was given a tour. My husband worked for the power company and was sent there for a week to work the fire damage. He knew exactly where to take me. It was very surreal. I vividly remember miles and miles of burnt homes, trees and property. I have never seen anything like that before or since.

There were 3,354 homes and 1,520 acres that were destroyed. Additionally, 437 apartments and condos were destroyed. The total loss was estimated at about 1.5 million dollars.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Copyright © 2010 By Cheryl Palmer

Comments

  1. The vintage Ford in the driveway looks like 1951 or so.

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  2. What a beautiful home and thank heavens it was saved! It looks just like a home pictured in a movie, but I can't recall the title. Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, can cause such horrific turmoil and devastation to the people and the community. I makes you realize how lucky you are when you aren't faced with such disasters. Thank you for sharing this story friend.

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  3. Cheryl,

    I see that you have already received this award, but I am happy to award you the Ancestor Approved Award. Please visit http://wellerharvey.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/ancestor-approved-award/ to receive this award!

    Dave Weller

    ReplyDelete
  4. Boy o boy, did you bring back those memories. My son and his wife had just moved to the Bay area in time for the 89 earthquake and were there at the time of the firestorm --- out of harms way, but still scary.

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  5. It's curious that you should mention the Oakland firestorm today. When Becky, Kathryn, Kathryn's husband, and I got together for dinner on Sunday, the Oakland firestorm was one of the topics of conversation. We must have been channeling each other's thoughts this week!

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  6. Thanks Jack, I have no idea who lived here when I took this picture, it was after my grandfather had passed. I wondered about the car, but hadn't looked into it yet.Now I know!

    Thank you Taylorstales. If you think of the movie I would be interested to know.

    David, thank you for thinking of me and awarding me this!

    Joan, at least you have memories of your son and his family being safe!It was very scary, for sure.

    Steve, looks like I was the only one that didn't get to hook up with Becky, unfortunately. Maybe that is why we were channeling the same thoughts, I was there in heart and spirit!

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