Claridge Hotel - Oakland

The Claridge Hotel is a once-elegant French Tudor-style residence building at 634 - 15th Street. It was originally built in 1930-1931 as a Salvation Army home for girls, an Evangeline Home, then served as a hotel.

c.1956, it was also home to the Neldam Restaurant. In 1938, it was the home of 17-year old Jimmy Green, the world junior fly casting champ. who lived there with his aunt and uncle. ⁵

Today it is a residence hotel, but based on the lone Yelp review, not a very nice one. Google Maps indicates it is closed, but in December 2015, there were people going in and out.

Evangeline Home

Oakland Tribune September 20, 1930The building was originally constructed as an "Evangeline Home" for working girls, one of many such homes run by the Salvation Army around the country. Other names used included "Evangeline Residence for Young (Business) Women". Not to be confused with the (Evangeline) Booth Home for Unwed Mothers. Evangeline Booth was the head of the Salvation Army in the U.S. for many years, and the General from 1934-1939. ³

The building was designed by architect Douglas Dacre Stone. ¹ It was dedicated in February 1931. ² It includes 208 guest rooms, and was designed to house 400 young women.

In May, 1933, the Salvation Army announced they were leasing the building to S.F. hotelman, George R.Taggert, in "an economy measure". Taggert was to continue operating the hotel along the original lines. ⁴ It then became the Claridge Hotel, open to both men and women.