Historical Nuggets 6: Lake Merritt
On September 27th, I took part in the sixth annual Walk Around the Lake for the Oral Lee Brown Foundation. The circuit is around Lake Merritt and I’ve participated every year since the beginning. Unfortunately, this year I forgot my camera, but have included some photos from previous years.
Besides supporting a great charity, the walk around the lake is always very enjoyable. Lake Merritt has been called the jewel of Oakland for good reason, with its bird sanctuary, fountain, and trees framing impressive views.
The name “Merritt” pops up all over Oakland, including a college, but who exactly was he?
Born in Maine, Dr. Samuel Merritt was a physician. In 1867, he became the 13th mayor of Oakland, serving until 1869. In the same year he took office, he donated to the city, “155 acres of damned tidal water from the headwaters of Indian Slough.” Initially called “Merritt’s Lake,” it was later changed to “Lake Merritt.”
Dr. Merritt was also a ship builder, architect, and civic planner. He drew up plans for a hospital nursing school to be built in Oakland. The school, Samuel Merritt College, was founded in 1909, nearly 20 years after Dr. Merritt’s death in 1890. He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery.