Fighting Hugh Craig is known as the "First Mayor of Piedmont," but this title is not entirely accurate. While he is popularly remembered or recognized as the first mayor, there were actually one or possibly two individuals, Varney Gaskill and Patrick Joseph Keller, who held the position before him. Therefore, Craig was technically the second or possibly the third mayor of Piedmont, not the first as commonly believed by many.
Oakland Tribune - Sat - Feb. 9, 1907
The San Francisco Call - Sun - Feb. 10, 1907
Oakland Enquirer - Mon - Feb. 11, 1907
Examples of misleading articles saying Craig was the first mayor:
Oakland Tribune - Thu - Nov. 11, 1920
Annual parade salutes centennial
By LINDA DAVIS | July 6, 2007 | East Bay Times
A highlight was the caravan of former Piedmont mayors, including Patty White, Michael Bruck, Al Peters and Eric Schnurmacher, the oldest living Piedmont mayor. His daughter, Anne Novak, said her dad, 78, couldn’t wait to be in the parade and looks forward to next year’s.
Another highlight was the historic families, including a horse and surrey with Requa family descendants. Rosamond Castle and her family, the descendants of Hugh Craig, Piedmont’s first mayor, rode in an 1868 stagecoach with four horses.
Piedmont Flow
By PAUL HERTELENDY | January 26, 2007 | UPDATED: August 15, 2016 | East Bay Times
Legend: Hugh Craig was Piedmont’s first mayor. Frank Havens was a major land developer and site donor of the current school named for him, while Egbert W. Beach is remembered via the elementary school named for him.
