History of the Oxford Street Site

Ruth’s parents, Gonrokuro and Teruyo Uyeda, were employees of Mrs. Welcher. Ruth’s father was chauffeur and gardener.  Her mother assisted with Mrs. Welcher’s frequent parties.  At this time, Berkeley’s restrictive ordinances made it unlawful to rent or sell property to Asians beyond a small, prescribed area in South Berkeley. Because the Uyeda family worked for Mrs. Welcher, they were permitted to live in North Berkeley. 
 
Gonrokuro Uyeda became ill shortly before the Japanese internment in 1942. Ruth (Yoshine, her childhood name) speculates that her father’s illness prior to their forced departure to Topaz Internment Camp in the Utah desert may be partly explained by his effort to leave the grounds in topnotch condition. Sadly, Ruth and her mother were required to leave for Topaz without him. He died in a California hospital (1944). After the war, Ruth and her mother returned to The Cedars (1945).
 
Imagine The Cedars as Ruth experienced it. Her most vivid memory is the impressive modified Italian villa at the center of the site, anchored to Oxford Street by a gracious driveway. The “big house,” as Ruth still refers to it, sat proudly on well-groomed grounds shaded by numerous fruit trees—plum, apricot, and persimmon. Wisteria, irises, dahlias and many varieties of roses brightened the landscape accentuated by the open creek flowing downhill. A few smaller structures dotted the grounds including a summer guest house, chicken coop, bird aviary, water pump, and the modest cottage occupied by Ruth and her parents.
 
The Uyeda cottage was located by Spruce Street where the Congregation Beth El community garden now flourishes. An oil painting by artist Thomas Matsuoka, a gift to the Uyeda family, captures the beauty of the creek-side location of their two-bedroom, one-bath home. (see below)

Ruth recalls how the back door of the cottage faced the creek. She could hike downstairs from the rear of the house, then walk along the rim of the creek’s bank, taking in the serenity and peaceful sound of the rippling water. Ruth enjoyed the one-and-a-half acres as her private playground. Her father, however, warned her not play in the creek. Then, as now, the banks were dangerously steep and he did not want to climb down to rescue her if she got into trouble.  Her father had created a path down to the creek, trimming back the bushes and tree branches that hung over the path, then using them for mulch along the banks. He would regularly clear out debris obstructing the creek. Despite her freedom, Ruth had one other limitation—Mrs. Welcher’s admonition that no other children were allowed to play on the grounds.
 
The “big house” with its 18 rooms, impressed Ruth. She was awed by the grand foyer and staircase, eight bedrooms, enormous kitchen, and grand piano, where Mrs. Welcher permitted young Ruth to practice. The house staff included a couple (Mr. and Mrs. Hosokawa) who served as the butler, maid, and cook, and a young schoolboy (Yukio Sera). Mrs. Welcher hired her staff from the Japanese-member Christian Layman Church. Upon their return from Topaz, Ruth and her mother were asked to move into “the big house” to ease the work of the housekeeper, Mrs. Weaver. Ruth’s mother cared for Mrs. Welcher who was then in her nineties. Ruth helped out in the kitchen. Her other duty was to sweep pine needles and leaves in the long, tree-lined driveway that extended from Oxford Street around to the back of the mansion, a seemingly unending job.
 
Ruth remembers Mrs. Welcher, her white hair pulled back into a tight bun, posture erect, as being fair and good to everyone. When her father was alive, she gave him the use of the car on Sundays for family excursions. Mrs. Welcher always looked out for Ruth, and advocated for her to attend the local neighborhood schools. Before the war, the Japanese American children were sent to a few schools in the “flats.” After the war, Ruth was allowed to go to nearby Oxford Elementary School.