Hayashi

Ruth Hayashi

Statement at Berkeley City Council Hearing 7/19/01

I lived at 1301 Oxford St. which was known as "The Cedars on Oxford St." My father was the gardener for Mrs. Welker, the owner of the property. My parents and I lived in the big barn in the back on the Spruce St. side in the 1930's till WWII. That barn was replaced in 1937 with the small cottage which I believe still stands on the property.

The Cedars was a beautiful place. My father took care of the garden which had many varieties of roses, dahlias, irises, wisteria, fruit trees and bushes. I could run and play in garden area, hide behind and climb on trees. Best of all, there was a creek at the bottom of the garden area.

My father had made a path down to the creek from the garden area where he could go and trim back the bushes and tree branches hanging too far over the path and any growth that got in the way of the water flowing in the creek. He took all the garden debris down the path and spread them along the bank of the creek as mulch. The back door of our cottage faced the creek. We went down the stairs, then walked along the upper part of the bank along the creek. I could feel, hear, smell the creek, giving me a peaceful, serene feeling.

When my mother and I returned to The Cedars in 1945, 1 was old enough to do simple garden tasks - mowing the lawn and sweeping all the leaves and pine needles that had fallen onto the big driveway. I gathered them all up into a burlap bag and dragged it down the same path that my father used and scattered the contents all along the upper creek bank. I heard and felt the creek again and it was so quiet and peaceful.

The Cedars on Oxford Street I knew was very much like a park. Green and lush, tall trees swaying with the wind, big lawn area, fruits trees bearing fruits, lovely flowers in bloom throughout the year. In the middle of the property was the stately three story main house, sitting magestically facing Oxford Street.

I am asking for the creek to be preserved and kept open so that it will continue to flow and others can enjoy its serenity. Today, we live in an urban jungle where neighborhood space is being taken up with bigger buildings and homes. There is too much traffic congestion on the streets, creating noise and a nuisance. A little creek can serve to give peace and serenity for the neighborhood. We need to keep and maintain this creek environment.