History

Emeryville Child Development Center opened its doors to the first class in February 1979. Eleanor J. Letchaw, the Center’s Director was hired in January 8, 1979 with the monumental task of opening the Center in three weeks or lose funding that had already been appropriated from the State Department of Education. The first staff person hired was the secretary, Maydell Brandyburg. The dynamic duo quickly developed the program, the staff was hired, program and policies were developed, application packets and parent handbooks were created, supplies and equipment was ordered, children were recruited, registered and assigned to classes.

The Center was off and running with 30 children by the funding deadline. The Center was located in a portable bungalow on the west side of the playground at Anna Yates Elementary School. Lunches were delivered to the site. The office was located at 5720 Hollis Street. It was several years before the office and the center were on the same site. The Center and office moved seven (7) times over a ten-year period.

The office relocated to 4365 Adeline Street. The location on Adeline Street was a small grocery store that was going out of business. The director bought all of the inventory in order to expedite the move. At that site a kitchen was added. Meals were delivered to the classroom site.

In 1983 the Director obtained funding from Alameda County to provide Infant toddler care for an additional 15 children. This Center was located in a house on 47th Street, directly across the street from the home of a council member, Dottie Heintz. The staff got busy painting the interior of the house and setting it up for Infant Care.

The Center relocated to Ralph Hawley School, now known as Emery Middle School Academy. After a very high rent increase, the Center moved to a converted warehouse at 59th and Doyle Streets. At that location children had to cross the street to the playground. In order to meet licensing requirements, the vacant lot that became the playground required fencing, a play structure and a water fountain to provide drinking water.

Finally, in July 1991, the Center opened its doors at its current state-of-the art facility located at 1220 53rd Street. The Center has six classrooms, a separate play area for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, a large multipurpose room, a commercial kitchen and has 11,500 square feet of space inside.

Emeryville Child Development Center was the first in the state to provide infant care. It was the first in the state to be sponsored by a City Agency and it was the First in the East Bay Area to be housed in such a beautiful facility.