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Location of Temescal in the City of Oakland

Temescal (IPA: [ˌtɛməˈskæl]) is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the northern section of Oakland, California. It is centered on Telegraph Avenue, bordered by Broadway and Shattuck Avenue to the east and west, and Claremont Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard to the north and south. Although it shares its name with Lake Temescal, the neighborhood is located nearly two miles from that reservoir.

Temescal is primarily a residential neighborhood, characterized by many small, early twentieth century bungalows along tree-lined streets. It is a blend of working class and "yuppie" culture, where some of the houses are run-down and dilapidated, while others are renovated and impeccably maintained. The neighborhood has seen many changes in demographics over the past 10 years as new condominium developments and upscale shopping have entered the neighborhood. Large numbers of young couples with children have moved to Temescal as the prices in nearby Rockridge have grown out of reach for middle-class families.

Temescal is well-known locally as the home to well-loved restaurants, such as Dona Tomas and Pizzaiolo, as well as the bakery Bakesale Betty. Temescal is a diverse neighborhood with concentrations of Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants. There are many Ethiopian restaurants here, especially on Telegraph north of 51^st St.. There are also many Korean establishments along Telegraph Ave. Temescal Farmers' Market, begun in 2006, is held on Sundays in the parking lot of the Department of Motor Vehicles facility on Claremont Ave.[1]

Studio One, currently completing a major renovation, is home to art classes and workshops. Temescal Pool, located next door, is open to the public. The neighborhood is also home to several public and private schools, including the architectural landmark Oakland Technical High School on Broadway.

Temescal received its name from the Peralta family, who established their Rancho San Antonio in the East Bay. The name was first applied to the major creek that runs through the district. It was subsequently applied also to the estate of one of the Peralta brothers (Vicente), which was established in today's Temescal district adjacent to the creek.

The word temescal derives from the word temescalli, which means "sweat house" in the Nahuatl language of the Mexica ("Aztec") people of Mexico. It is surmised that the Peraltas or perhaps one of their ranch hands (vaqueros) had seen local indigenous (Ohlone) structures along the creek similar to those in other parts of New Spain which were called temescalli.

Temescal has long been an important junction of several principal thoroughfares: Telegraph, Claremont, and Shattuck Avenues, and 51^st Street.

The Temescal Pool on 45^th St. in Oakland

The earliest telegraph wire from Oakland to Sacramento went through the area, up Claremont Avenue and over the hills at Claremont Canyon. Temescal was the site of agriculture, cattle grazing and greenhouses when, in the 1890s, an opera house was built in parkland north of the creek crossing at 51^st street. The area grew and was developed into Idora Park, the earliest "trolley park" in the East Bay. In the late 1920s the amusement park was razed and, after a plan to build mid-rise apartment blocks called the Midtown District fell through, a tract of storybook houses was built on the site between 1929 and 1934. It is reported to be the first development in the American west with underground utilities.

Until the early 20th century, a wide wooden bridge spanned Temescal Creek, carrying both road (Telegraph Avenue) and railroad tracks.

The horsecar line to the University of California along today's Telegraph Avenue (then called Humboldt Avenue in Oakland and Choate in Berkeley) operated out of a horse barn at 51^st and Telegraph. When the horsecar was replaced by electric streetcars, the horse barn was replaced by a carbarn. The carbarn became the Western Carhouse of the Key System's streetcar division, the East Bay Street Railways. When the streetcars ceased operation in 1948, the carbarn was razed and a grocery store constructed on the site. This, in turn, was razed in the 1980s and replaced by a Walgreen's store.

The Kingfish Cafe and Pub, a popular bar in Temescal

• MacArthur (BART)
• Oakland Technical High School
• Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, California
• Rockridge, Oakland, California
• Idora Park
• Lake Temescal

• Temescal News & Views ("Published by Temescal Neighbors Together with the support of Temescal merchants"); bimonthly newsletter.

TNT, c/o 469 Rich St., Oakland, CA 94609; temescal_news@yahoo.com

• Temescal, Oakland, California is at coordinates 37°50′14″N 122°15′44″W / 37.83722, -122.2621Coordinates: 37°50′14″N 122°15′44″W / 37.83722, -122.2621
• Temescal Interactive Neighborhood Map - Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Temescal Merchants Association
• East Bay Neighborhoods: Oakland's Temescal - The San Francisco Chronicle's guide to the neighborhood.
• Temescal Branch Library
• Friends of the Oakland Public Library: Temescal Branch
• Oakland City Councilmember Jane Brunner, who represents Temescal