Historic Neighborhoods of Topeka

Oakland

• Founded in 1886 by J.B. Bartholomew and John Norton, Oakland was incorporated as a 3rd class city on March 20th, 1889.
• February 2nd, 1904 Oakland held it's first elections, changing it's status to a 2nd class city. F.A. Brigham was the first mayor, his residence was at 202 Kellam Ave.
• Oakland was annexed in as Topeka's 7th ward October 22,1925.
• The boundaries of Oakland are the Kansas River, Billard Airport, the Santa Fe Railroad, and the Motive Power Building.
• Lots were sold for between $75 and $1000 each. These lots were 25' wide and varying depths.
• Many residents of Oakland were employed by the Santa Fe Railroad, with large German-Russian and Hispanic populations. The average Santa Fe employee at the turn of the century made between $40 and $50/month.
• Enforcement of the herding law and building a dam on the Kansas River were topics of the first council meeting.
• Oakland's unique "Blue Light Rule", required that street lights (gas) be dimmed on nights with a full moon, was abolished when it was annexed into the city in 1925.
• Barnett, Sells and Rentfrow Circus wintered in the Auditorium at Garfield Park.
• City Railways horsecars and Rapid Transits' electric trolley cars crossed the Melan Bridge (this bridge collapsed July 2nd, 1965; it was replaced by the new Kansas Ave. bridge in 1967) providing transportation to from the city.
• The Oakland Post Office closed August 31st, 1910 when a delivery route was established from the main Topeka Post Office.