History Blog: August May Jr. & House

August May Jr., son of August and Sophia May, was born in December, 1866 in Alvarado. His siblings were George (born 1862), Bertha (born about 1868) and Henry (born about 1871). August May Jr. joined his father in the butcher business. In 1902, August May Jr. became the cashier of the Bank of Alvarado when it was founded. By, 1912, the bank was known as the Bank of Alameda County and August May Jr. was the bank president. August Jr. married Jenny Decoto, and had one son, Henry.

Bertha May married Henry Haight Meyer, a well-known Bay Area architech in 1897. In 1890, Henry was with the San Fransico firm of Percy & Hamilton, coming primary draftsman by 1900 and eventually becoming the principal of the firm. By 1904, Henry was in partnership with Clarence R. Ward. From 1910 to 1920, Henry had his own independent firm. From 1912 to 1935, Henry was the Alameda County Architect.

In 1913, August May Jr. contracted with his brother-in-law to design a new home on Vallejo Street in Alvarado. Work started in December, 1913, and in May, 1914, August and Jenny were able to move in.

The original address for the house was 947 Vallejo Street. Telephone directories from 1940, 1945 and 1948 list the May family with phone number #41. The telephone directory from September 1951 listed them with the phone number of #55-758.

August Jr. passed away August 24, 1940 of a cerebral hemorrhage while staying at an Alameda hospital. Jenny May passed away March 4, 1954 at the home on Vallejo Street.