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An Early Hayward Birdseye View, Including a Baseball Field

Rare separately published view of Hayward, California, published by George A. Oakes, editor and publisher of the Haywards' Journal.

This view provides a detailed panoramic representation of the town during a period of rapid agricultural and commercial expansion. The central illustration showcases Haywards’ layout, including street names, all set against the rolling hills of Alameda County. The surrounding countryside includes orchards, vineyards, and farmland. 

An early baseball field appears at the lower right, how to the Haywards Base Ball Cub, which was established on August 7, 1878.  By the 1880s, games were being played in the Town Plaza.   The Hayward Journal newspaper itself even fielded a team, the “Journals” with editor George Oakes serving as manager.

Several significant structures are prominently featured, reflecting Haywards’ economic and social development by 1889. The Oakes Hotel and Hall stands as a grand structure at the top center, complete with a spacious porch and well-manicured gardens, serving as a key destination for travelers and locals alike. The Haywards Grammar School, a substantial multi-story brick building, highlights the town’s investment in education and civic infrastructure.

The Odd Fellows Hall, Water Works & Reservoir of Wm. Knox, Luce commercial Block and Reids Drugstore are additional commercial structures, with the Native Sons of the Golden West Building (Schmidt and Shea, San Francisco Architects shown).

The view highlights the homes and estates of Haywards’ prominent citizens. The residence of J. O. Eldridge is illustrated as an elegant home surrounded by orchards, reflecting the wealth and prosperity of the area’s agricultural elite. The residence of A. J. Bunting, similarly framed by neat rows of fruit trees, further underscores Haywards’ deep-rooted ties to farming. The home of James D. Beers, situated on a sprawling estate, represents the success of landowners in this flourishing agricultural region.

At the bottom center, a numbered key identifies 27 points of interest, including Palmtag's Brewery, N.Y. Brewery, and various churches, hotels and other businesses.

Hayward, California

The city now known as Hayward underwent several name changes throughout its early history. Initially called "Hayward’s," it was later known as "Haywood" before settling on "Haywards" in 1876 and finally adopting the modern spelling, "Hayward," in 1911. There is some historical debate over the origins of the city’s name. The most widely accepted theory credits William Dutton Hayward (1815–1891) as the namesake. Hayward arrived in the area during the early years of the California Gold Rush and established a hotel in 1852. His influence grew as he became the road commissioner of Alameda County and served as an Alameda County supervisor.

However, an alternative theory suggests that Alvinza Hayward, a millionaire who had amassed great wealth during the Gold Rush, was the true inspiration for the city's name. The United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System supports this claim, though William Dutton Hayward remains the favored historical figure among local historians.The town’s name was first recorded when a post office was established in 1860, using "Haywood." Following the town’s official chartering by the State of California in 1876 as "Haywards," the post office adopted the new name in 1880. The final adjustment to "Hayward" came in 1911. 

The land that would become Hayward was originally part of the Rancho San Lorenzo, a Spanish land grant awarded to Guillermo Castro in 1841. The El Camino Viejo (later known as Castro Street, and today Mission Boulevard) ran through the heart of the rancho, connecting settlements throughout the East Bay. Castro built his home along this route, between modern-day C and D Streets. However, his residence and much of the town were severely damaged in the 1868 Hayward earthquake, which struck along the Hayward Fault, running directly beneath the area. The earthquake remains the last major seismic event on the fault and resulted in the near-total destruction of many of the town’s early structures.  

During the late 19th century, Hayward experienced steady economic growth, primarily driven by agriculture and tourism. The town’s fertile soil made it a prime location for tomatoes, potatoes, peaches, cherries, and apricots, which became staple crops. The Hunt Brothers Cannery, which opened in 1895, played a crucial role in preserving and exporting local produce, further fueling the town’s economy. In addition to agriculture, Hayward became known for chicken and pigeon farming.

Rarity

The view is very rare.

Reps locates 1 known example (UC Berkeley/Bancroft Library).