The former Oak Knoll Naval hospital was a major hub for injured and returning servicemen in California, maybe even the West Coast. Before it was a base, the land was originally a Golf Course built around the depression and many of the buildings then had been designed by one of the architects that designed other golf courses in the area. In the outbreak of WW2, the Navy stepped in and bought the fledgling golf course from its previous owners and turned it into a hodge podge of bunk houses made to house wounded servicemen. I had recently re-discovered this place in late 2010 when I started my own search for derelict history in the East Bay, and when I found it was just a huge slap to the face. I've lived about 5 minutes away from the place since the 90s and remember going in there and seeing men in camouflage walking about. By time I was able to rediscover it in 2010, it was too late to go in for an explore - armed security guards now patrolled the grounds after a successful lawsuit by area residents and the place was locked up tight. Knowing it would get demolished a few months later, I gave up on trying to get a peak inside. In April 2011 I discovered that the demolition of the main hospital building had been moved up from it's previous date. I managed to get myself inside with the rest of the big wigs on the day of demo, and in the end, I learned there was only one building left and no amount of sneaking or questioning could get me to it. But as luck have it, I ended up getting a quick unofficial tour of the last remaining building at Oak Knoll. The former Naval Officer's club is perhaps the oldest building in that entire land. It was originally one of the swanky lounges built for the golf course,when the Navy moved in they re-purposed it for their officers. Most people in the community want it renovated as it holds some sentimental value, others say that if it's holding back the planned redevelopment it should be torn down. SunCal ,the developer, says the restoration WILL happen and will only run them about $8-10 million. It would be a total retrofit and revamp, but the biggest hurdle they say is finding a use for it afterwards that won't be a money pit. They're only just now trying to move forward by removing the old concrete foundations, but until then the project will be on hold for years.
When the restoration finally comes, there's a chance it may be too late. So on that day in April 2011 I was able to score a unique walkthrough of the place. Like something out of a movie, my escort led me through the ruins of the Officer's Club. The carpet was still wet with rain, and the ground was littered with needles and 40's and an occasional mattress. My escort even said there had reports of bizarre noises coming from the building at night, ladies dressed in white gowns, weird screams and apparitions, stuff out of a ghost movie. Who knows? So, I really didn't have too much time to sit down and compose my shots, and I only had a telephoto lens and my 50mm so I did what I could. I tried to secure another visit a few weeks later, but in the end it proved fruitless. So here are a few of my photos. I want to go back so bad.
[last edit 4/22/2012 11:24 PM by Abe Froman - edited 1 times]
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