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46-578: The park was opened in 1902 as the Powell Street Grounds by Vancouver's second mayor, David Oppenheimer , whom it was later renamed in honour of. The park is bounded by Jackson and Dunlevy Avenues, and Powell and East Cordova Streets. The park's facilities include a softball field, a basketball hoop, a children's playground , and a community centre with bathrooms, meeting space, and public computer access. The park employs two full-time activity coordinators and several part-time staff. Historically,

92-409: A Boot Hill , where burials were made without markers. In 1854, Columbia's first major fire destroyed a majority of the city. The wealthier merchants began rebuilding their business using brick with iron construction materials, the remainder of town was rebuilt of wood and canvas. In 1857, another fire burned down nearly everything else, except three brick buildings. The Columbia one-room school house

138-674: A National Historic Landmark District and is on the National Register of Historic Places . Columbia is located along State Route 49 just north of Sonora , at an altitude of 2,139 feet (652 m). According to the United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 6.0 square miles (16 km ). Only 0.31% of the total area is covered by water. This region experiences hot and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 90.1 °F (32.3 °C). According to

184-568: A group which successfully lobbied the colonial government in 1862 to build the Cariboo Road to Barkerville . Despite business setbacks in 1866 and 1867, David was running the Oppenheimer Brothers warehouse in Yale by 1868 and was a partner in the firm by 1871. The wholesale provisioners company he started with his brothers in 1858 exists to this day as The Oppenheimer Group. David Oppenheimer

230-444: A makeshift tent city, in protest of the city of Vancouver's attempt to evict homeless people that had been living in the park. Protesters cited the fact that Vancouver, including its parkland, is unceded First Nations' land and the B.C. Supreme Court decision in 2009, which stated that homeless persons are allowed to camp in a public park if no alternative shelters are available. The protesters and campers were given deadline to vacate

276-411: A respected settler, informs the sheriff that he had killed a man in self-defense, Hardwicke is forced to stand trial. Because of jury tampering by a corrupt district attorney, Hardwicke was found guilty. His lawyer, Ed Barrett and his fiancée develop a bizarre scheme to free his client from the hangman's noose; Barrett steals from a safe in the local bank a petition with 11,000 signatures of persons who at

322-502: A sweet background sound to Main Street. A horse-drawn wagon ride for a fee is the main attraction. There are numerous events throughout the year; some of the notable occasions are the Fourth of July parade and Pioneer Days. Occasionally local crafters set up booths along Main Street. Costumed State Park employees and shopkeepers lend to the era-theme of the park. Picnic tables are situated throughout

368-523: A two-year, community college; and the Columbia Airport (FAA designator: O22), which has one 4,670-foot (1,420 m) runway and is busy with firefighting aircraft during summer. The annual Columbia Fire Muster here is often the earliest of California's summer musters. The 2010 United States Census reported that Columbia had a population of 2,297. The population density was 384.1 inhabitants per square mile (148.3/km ). The racial makeup of Columbia

414-647: The California State Legislature , Columbia is in the 8th Senate District , represented by Democrat Angelique Ashby , and in the 5th Assembly District , represented by Republican Joe Patterson . In the United States House of Representatives , Columbia is in California's 4th congressional district , represented by Democrat Mike Thompson . The Columbia Airport , a general aviation airfield located approximately one mile from

460-602: The Köppen Climate Classification system, Columbia has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate , abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. The original indigenous people in the Columbia region were the Miwok . Rev. John Steele wrote about his time in the gold rush era and about the "Mi-wuk" of Columbia in his memoirs In Camp and Cabin . Within weeks of finding gold in the vicinity of Columbia, thousands of people arrived and

506-699: The Sierra Nevada foothills in Tuolumne County , California , United States. It was founded as a boomtown in 1850 when gold was found during the California Gold Rush , and was known as the "Gem of the Southern Mines ." The town's historic central district is within the Columbia State Historic Park , which preserves the 19th century mining town legacy. The U.S. historic district is

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552-602: The Vancouver Police and the Strathcona Business Improvement Association have attempted to return the park to its original image of safe recreation, with some success. The park was upgraded in 2010 with reconfiguration of the pathways and additions of a playground, a basketball hoop and a new field house. In July 2014, members of the First Nations community occupied Oppenheimer Park by creating

598-520: The census of 2000, there were 2,405 people, 1,063 households, and 659 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 389.7 inhabitants per square mile (150.5/km ). There were 1,162 housing units at an average density of 188.3 per square mile (72.7/km ). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.10% White , 0.87% African American , 1.41% Native American , 1.29% Asian , 0.12% Pacific Islander , 1.29% from other races , and 4.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.90% of

644-538: The B.C. Sugar Refinery and the Vancouver City Foundry . David did not collect a salary for mayoral duties and entertained official guests at his own expense. However, opponents like William Templeton criticized the overlap between his business and civic ventures. As a philanthropist , David Oppenheimer donated land to the city for parks and helped found charities such as the Alexandra Orphanage and

690-576: The Columbia State Historic Park, is closed to automobile traffic, but horses, carriages, bicycles and pedestrians are welcomed. Known for the huge rock gardens left over from the hydro mining efforts in the 1800s, the area is very popular with families for picnicking and leisurely walks. The antique buildings are leased to era-themed businesses such as gold-panning, candle-dipping, iron-mongering, and crafts. There are several eating establishments. A chicken coop with beautiful Dominique hens lends

736-457: The SERA (State Emergency Relief Administration) hired 65 research workers at U.C. Berkeley's Bancroft Library and 56 additional workers in the field to gather the necessary information to provide for the restoration of the old town. In 1945, California created Columbia State Historic Park from the remains of the historical buildings of the city. Columbia's main street in the historic district , part of

782-901: The Vancouver branch of the YMCA . After fire destroyed Barkerville in 1868, Oppenheimer donated a fire engine to the local fire brigade. The Oppenheimer family also offered land to the Vancouver Jewish community for a synagogue , the Congregation B'nai Yehuda, which was located at Pender and Heatley Streets in the Strathcona neighbourhood , then the focus of the city's Jewish community (soon after renamed Congregation Schara Tzedeck and since relocated to Oak Street). After four mayoral terms, David Oppenheimer decided not to run again because of poor health in 1891. He died on December 31, 1897, of heart failure at

828-426: The age of 18 living in them, 432 (43.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 125 (12.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 51 (5.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 53 (5.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 4 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 330 households (32.9%) were made up of individuals, and 142 (14.2%) had someone living alone who

874-692: The age of 63 (just one day before his 64th birthday). David was buried next to his second wife, Julia, in the Salem Fields Cemetery of Brooklyn , New York. Though his material wealth had declined in the Long Depression , Oppenheimer was rich in recognition of his civic contributions. Even the Vancouver Daily News-Advertiser (today's Vancouver Sun ), which had been critical of his political career, praised David Oppenheimer as "the best friend Vancouver ever had." His monument at

920-404: The average family size was 2.65. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males. The median income for a household in the CDP

966-615: The city Finance Committee. In 1887, Oppenheimer Brothers opened the first wholesale grocery business in the fledgling city, which still exists as The Oppenheimer Group. After the Great Vancouver Fire , David helped found the Vancouver Board of Trade and was its first Chairman from 1887 to 1888. In 1888, David Oppenheimer was acclaimed the second Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia , serving until 1891. During his four one-year terms as mayor, many city services were established:

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1012-455: The city of Vancouver, to honour this innovative founding father who built much of the city's infrastructure. At a ceremony in Stanley Park, Mayor Oppenheimer's life was remembered during speeches by city officials, local historians, members of his family, and John Anderson, CEO of The Oppenheimer Group. Columbia, California Columbia is a census-designated place (CDP) located in

1058-456: The downtown. There is a short hiking trail from the School House, which is located a couple of blocks from the town. The school is open with static exhibits. Two campgrounds nearby accommodate tenting and motorhomes, as well as a small general store for supplies. Two well-stocked thrift stores are within walking distance. Other points of interest in the area include Columbia Community College ,

1104-544: The entrance of Stanley Park , in Vancouver, was built with public donations and dedicated on December 14, 1911. After nomination by the Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada approved the designation of David Oppenheimer as a National Historic Person on April 11, 2008. On July 12, 2008, Vancouver's Mayor Sam Sullivan proclaimed "David Oppenheimer Day" in

1150-588: The fire department, a ferry across Burrard Inlet , the streetcar system and a water connection from the Capilano River . David advocated city control of utilities and financed these projects by selling city bonds in London . He also lobbied for more parkland, playgrounds, completion of a city hospital and a Jewish section in the city's Mountain View Cemetery . Stanley Park was opened in 1888 while David Oppenheimer

1196-417: The instigation of the same district attorney want Columbia to be the capital, rewrites the first page to call for a pardon for Hardwicke and appeals to the governor, who is impressed that so many signed. The governor orders Hardwicke's release, but Sacramento became the capital. However, the series' episodes tended to be "based on fact" rather than historically accurate. By 1860, the gold mined in Columbia

1242-441: The news that they spontaneously fired off rifle shots and fireworks , sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches." Columbia, in its heyday, was California's fifth-largest city, boasting a population of about 25,000 people although only about 2,000 people now live in this region. Unlike many gold rush boomtowns, Columbia never became a ghost town . In 1934 under a state sponsored New Deal program of archaeological research,

1288-408: The park is most notable as being the site of one of the large demonstrations of striking workers during the events of Bloody Sunday in 1938. The Asahi baseball team used the park as its home field prior to World War II. The park remained a popular middle-class family destination until the late 1980s, when crack cocaine trade and abuse began to dominate the park's usage. Since 2004, initiatives by

1334-470: The park on October 15, 2014 after injunction was granted to the Vancouver Park Board to evict the protesters from the site. Over 100 tents remained at the park after the deadline, but the protesters and campers were removed from park and five people were arrested on October 16, 2014 for resisting to vacate the park. During the late 2010s, it was the site of a large homeless encampment. The encampment

1380-467: The population climbed to 5,000. By 1852, there were 8 hotels, 4 banks, 17 general stores , 2 bookstores, 1 newspaper, 3 churches, and over 40 drinking/gambling establishments. Between 1850 and the early 1900s, $ 87 million (~$ 2.47 billion in 2023) in gold was removed from the surrounding hills. In 1851, the local community brass band , a popular institution, greeted the arrival of the first "white woman" in town. Columbia had five cemeteries, including

1426-410: The population. There were 1,063 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and

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1472-853: The prospectors and settlers in the Interior of the Colony of British Columbia at Yale , Hope , and Lytton in the Fraser Canyon , Barkerville in the Cariboo , and Fisherville at the Wild Horse Creek goldfield in the East Kootenay . They would later invest in real estate in Lytton and the Cariboo . With such a far-flung business, the Oppenheimers soon realized the importance of improving transportation and joined

1518-700: The restaurant business in Columbia, California . Here he married his first wife, Sarah (Christine), in 1857. Following the decline of the California rush, the Oppenheimer brothers relocated to Victoria, British Columbia , in the late 1858 to establish the Charles Oppenheimer and Company supply business. As the Fraser River and Cariboo Gold rushes took off in 1858–61 the Oppenheimers established stores catering to

1564-413: Was $ 29,173, and the median income for a family was $ 35,000. Males had a median income of $ 40,729 versus $ 23,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 18,731. About 20.2% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 37.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over. A few of the more than 100 movies and TV series filmed in Columbia include: In

1610-517: Was 2,064 (89.9%) White , 27 (1.2%) African American , 26 (1.1%) Native American , 29 (1.3%) Asian , 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander , 27 (1.2%) from other races , and 123 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 171 persons (7.4%). The Census reported that 2,226 people (96.9% of the population) lived in households, 71 (3.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 1,002 households, out of which 243 (24.3%) had children under

1656-511: Was 47.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males. There were 1,117 housing units at an average density of 186.8 per square mile (72.1/km ), of which 661 (66.0%) were owner-occupied, and 341 (34.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%. 1,389 people (60.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 837 people (36.4%) lived in rental housing units. As of

1702-407: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22. There were 608 families (60.7% of all households); the average family size was 2.80. The population was spread out, with 470 people (20.5%) under the age of 18, 201 people (8.8%) aged 18 to 24, 406 people (17.7%) aged 25 to 44, 735 people (32.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 485 people (21.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

1748-654: Was Jewish. He was educated at the Collegiate School of Frankfurt am Main . In 1848, after political upheaval and bad harvests, David Oppenheimer immigrated to New Orleans with his sister Caroline Oppenheimer Stern and four brothers: Charles (Carl), Meyer, Isaac and Godfrey (Gottfried). He studied bookkeeping and worked in a general store. Upon hearing of the California Gold Rush , the Oppenheimers became traders in Placer County, California , in 1851 and later Sacramento, California . David then worked in real estate and

1794-702: Was Vancouver's mayor. David focused on transportation improvement again by helping to establish the British Columbia Electric Railway plus encouraging steamboat links to Australia and the northern British Columbia Coast . He promoted the British Columbia mining industry by publishing a pamphlet in England and the United States, as well as sending product samples to eastern Canada. David also attracted investment from Europe and industries such as

1840-521: Was a Canadian businessman, investor, philanthropist, politician, and writer. He was the second mayor of Vancouver , British Columbia , and a National Historic Person of Canada . Oppenheimer was born in Blieskastel , then in the Kingdom of Bavaria , as one of ten children. His father, Salomon, was a merchant and vintner. David's mother, Johanna (Johanette) Kahn, died when he was four years old. His family

1886-916: Was active in the Yale business community and entertained visiting dignitaries such as Governor-General Lord Dufferin . After over twenty years of marriage, with no children, David's wife Sarah died on October 15, 1880, and was buried in the Jewish Cemetery on Cedar Hill Road in Victoria, British Columbia . Fire destroyed much of Yale in 1881, including the Oppenheimers' store. Since the gold rush had declined and railway construction had moved on, David moved back to Victoria, British Columbia , and opened an import wholesale business with his brother Isaac in 1882. The following year David married his second wife, Julia Walters of New York, in San Francisco. Their daughter, Flora Jeanetta,

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1932-841: Was born in 1884 in Victoria. David did extensive business with the Canadian Pacific Railway during its construction through the mountains of British Columbia in the 1880s, such as participating in a syndicate with Andrew Onderdonk to construct sections near Yale. Realizing the railway's importance, the Oppenheimer Brothers firm had joined the Vancouver Land and Improvement Company in 1878 to purchase land near its western terminus. David and Isaac Oppenheimer moved to Granville (now Vancouver ) in 1885. They were both acclaimed as aldermen of city council in December 1886, and David became chairman of

1978-401: Was built in 1860, renovated in 1872, and finally closed in 1937. It was purchased by the state of California for $ 1 in 1947, and incorporated into the historic district park. According to the 1954 episode "11,000 Miners Can't Be Wrong" of the western anthology series Death Valley Days , Columbia lost out in an 1854 bid to become the permanent California state capitol: When Jim Hardwicke,

2024-584: Was diminishing rapidly. The only land left to mine was in the city itself. Miners dug under buildings and tore down houses to get at the gold beneath the city. Copper deposits were found in the area, with the nearby town of Copperopolis experiencing a boom. The bricks from the destroyed buildings in Columbia were sold for new construction in Copperopolis. In 1862, just days after the Battle of Puebla in Mexico, Columbia

2070-660: Was dismantled on May 9, 2020, and the park has since been fenced off, after a ministerial order was issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . The Vancouver Park Board initially planned for phased re-opening of the park, but has decided to close the park indefinitely due to repeated break-ins and vandalism to its park building. As of summer 2021, the park is beginning to re-open in phases. 49°16′58″N 123°05′39″W  /  49.282675°N 123.094254°W  / 49.282675; -123.094254 David Oppenheimer David Oppenheimer (January 1, 1834 – December 31, 1897)

2116-551: Was the site of the first official Cinco de Mayo celebrations. According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on that day first started in Columbia in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico. "Far up in the gold country town of Columbia, California, Mexican miners were so overjoyed at

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