Davis Park
John Herbert Davis, Sr.
Background history on John Herbert Davis (1825-1899) namesake of Davis Park
John Davis was born on the island of San Martina on the coast of Dalmatia (western Yugoslavia) in 1825. By the Spring of 1840 he was engaged in the China Trade making voyages between England and China. With the discovery of gold in California, he made his way to the Pacific coast on the ship "Antelope" arriving in San Francisco on 16 June 1848. He found his way to the mines at Auburn on the American river. Unfortunately, he was an unsuccessful goldminer. Upon his returned to San Francisco, he was confronted by several wagons, laden with victims of cholera, which was an epidemic during the summer of 1850. Nevertheless, in that same year he built a house and opened a restaurant with a lodging house on Commercial Street. In 1851, he sold his holdings and moved to the Richmond/San Pablo area of Contra Costa County, where he bought more than 400 acres from the Castro family. He then operated a farm in the San Pablo Creek watershed, and also owned a large parcel in the Baxter Creek watershed, close to where the Sakai Brothers' Rose Company and the Oishi Nursery were once located, near South 47th and Wall Streets in Richmond. Davis's San Pablo farm, which was mostly cow pasture, extended from where the Southern Pacific railroad tracks ran (west of Rumrill Blvd. today) almost to the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Road 20, near San Pablo Creek. In 1860, his property was valued at $20,000 (approx. $713,665 today). Macdonald Avenue in Richmond, once called Davis Lane, was an old stagecoach road along which Davis planted eucalyptus trees as a windbreak (the practice of many farmers in the East Bay). Davis, married Anna Connor, a native of Scotland in 1851, and they raised six children together. He was a member of the Society of California Pioneers. He passed away from complications of paralysis on 14 June 1899. He was laid to rest at St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland. Over a century later, his grandchildren sold a portion of the land they inherited from Davis to the City of San Pablo. Davis is commemorated today by Davis Park in San Pablo—through which Wildcat Creek flows. Davis Park is located at 1649 Folsom Avenue, in San Pablo.
Source: Page 4--https://thewatershedproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Final-Text.pdf
At left is an excerpt of an 1894 Britton & Rey map showing John Davis's properties.
His northern parcel was near the San Pablo Railroad Depot where Wildcat Creek ran through the center. Bound by Market Avenue (bottom), Church Lane (right), San Pablo Avenue (upper right), Brookside Drive (upper left of San Pablo Avenue) and 13th Street/Rumrill Blvd. (left).
The southern parcel was along San Pablo Avenue in the area of Barrett and Macdonald Avenues east of Nicholl's property (Nicholl Park).
~Building A Park~
San Pablo City Council presents a resolution at their meeting assuring purchase of 6 1/2-acre playground/park area to be known as Davis Park. Oakland Tribune - 28 April 1949
Park Site Sold. Davis family sell property for John H Davis Park. SF Examiner - May 1949
Letter of request to State Recreation Commission for a recreation plan. June 1949
~A Park is Born~
San Pablo Chamber of Commerce held its first BBQ at Davis Park on Sep 30, 1954. Richmond Independent - 1 Oct 1954
San Pablo Chamber of Commerce held its first BBQ in San Pablo's new Davis Park. Richmond Independent - 5 Oct 1954
Davis Park Children's Playground 1950s
A schematic illustration for the first stage planning for Davis Park.
Ribera & Sue, Landscape Architects - Jun 1960 [Alan E. Ribera and John C. Sue]
Application for development of Davis Park under review. June 1960
City of San Pablo's first Recreation Center at 2424 - 21st Street.
Bayview School Ball Team at Davis Park - Maverick League, District Champions (c1960)
Bottom Row L-R: Eddie Christian, Wayne Ward, Lester Banta, Ron Coley, Mike Bullock, David Holland, John Coley
Standing L-R: Arnold Rose (Rec Dept.), William Hill (Rec Coordinator), Hugh Coley, Jim Jewett, Richard Wheaton, George Vaara, Ron Johnson, Ron Miller, and Marvin De Bernardi (Playground Director)
City of San Pablo's Recreation Department. Mobile Unit No. 1
A School on Wheels. 1966
City of San Pablo's Recreation Department's Mobile School on Wheels. 1966
**Davis Park Timeline**
April 1949: San Pablo City Council presents resolution at meeting to purchase 6 1/2-acre playground to be known as Davis Park.
May 1949: Park Site Sold. Davis family sell property for John H Davis Park.
June 1949: Letter of request to State Recreation Commission for a recreation plan was submitted.
September 1954: San Pablo Chamber of Commerce held its first BBQ at Davis Park on Sep 30 1954. Rich Indp Photo: BBQ at Davis Park 5 Oct 1954
June 1960: San Pablo introduces details of proposed Master Plan for expansion of Davis Park to City Council. Plans to include installation of baseball diamond for night games. Includes application for development of Davis Park.
April 1961: Construction begins for 150-car parking lot at Davis Park.
July 1964: Extensive Summer Program begins in San Pablo which includes events at Davis Park.
August 1965: Summer Day Camp held at Davis Park.
August 1966: City receives a $100k Federal grant to develop Davis Park.
June 1966: First Phase of Davis Park's Development Improvements.
January 1967: City receives additional $75k in Federal funds to further develop Davis Park.
July 1976: San Pablo City Council reviews plans for additional expansion of Davis Park with funds from Senate Bill 174.
John Herbert Davis Park
