George Russell V – Alameda and the Three Bridges

George Russell’s path along the Oakland side of the estuary in the last update now turns to a swing around Alameda, and the three bridges linking the two cities over the tidal canal formed by 1902. Northwest view, mid-1920s. Identification of businesses in this presentation can be checked against maps in the previous update in Oakland. Note the configuration of Montgomery Ward and proceed on. Ref: API 652_1_BOX 95

L234-02-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, , (Image 1 of 33)

This detailed west view of Montgomery Ward, taken from an aerial to be examined in detail later, is missing a piece on its northern flank, meaning it is an earlier version than the one shown in the previous image. This will be looked at closer when transportation options to Alameda are reviewed. Ref: API 652_40_BOX 95

L234-05-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 2 of 33)

Alameda is seen here in a northwest view, the presence of both the Harrison and Webster St. Bridges in the distant estuary indicates the image was taken before Dec. 1923. Ref: API 639_1_BOX 95

L234-10-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 3 of 33)

A detail of the northwest view from the early 1920s centers on Alameda High School, a few years away from a major makeover in 1926. The blue arrow points to Eagle Hall, a fixture at 2305 Alameda Ave. since 1914, at a time when Alameda Ave. continued to the west uninterrupted. The HS building from 1903, no longer present at Central Ave. and Walnut St., is marked by the red arrow. Ref: API 639_1_BOX 95

L234-15-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 4 of 33)

Encinal Terminals was completed by Alaska Packers in 1925, and the nearly finished Central Building in Oakland seen in the distance indicates this northwest view is from 1926. This operation included one of the largest fishing fleets and processing facilities in the world during the 20th century. The now empty site has been the focus for a major development project that has been in negotiation for many years. Ref: API 639_14_BOX

L234-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 5 of 33)

Alaska Packers was one of five companies to merge their canning operation in 1916 to create the California Packing Co., Cal-Pak, whose brand name was Del Monte. This northeast view of the iconic two-story brick structure from 1927 was emblematic of the Del Monte-associated warehouses designed by architect Phillip Brand. In 2020 it is being redeveloped. Ref: API 652_42_BOX 95

L234-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 6 of 33)

A detail of the ships adjacent to the Encinal Terminals in this mid-1920s northeast view introduces Government Island or Coast Guard Island, created from the material dredged ca. 1913 to widen the estuary to San Leandro Bay. The Coast Guard moved there during this time, and by the early 1930s, it was established as a base. The next set of images pan across the island. Ref: API 652_42_BOX 95

L234-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 7 of 33)

Further south, a north view of the island from 1926, the date established by the construction of the cupola on the Elks Club in Oakland in the distance. Ref: API 654_44_BOX 95

L234-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 8 of 33)

This detail from the same north view from 1926 shows the General Engineering and Dry Dock Company, a shipbuilding company that built and repaired ships for the Navy during WWII, but had the Southern Pacific, SP, Railroad, and the Coast Guard as customers in the 1920s-1930s. Ref: API 654_44_BOX 950

L234-40-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 9 of 33)

Although closer to and linked by bridge to Oakland, the island is part of the city of Alameda. The map from 1921 displayed in the previous update shows no bridge at that time. Northeast view, 1926. Ref: API 652_43_BOX 95

L234-45-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 10 of 33)

After serving as a training center from 1942-1982, Coast Guard Island served the Coast Guard’s pacific operations in several capacities, still active in 2020. The map from 1931 in the previous presentation also lists the U.S Forest Service and U.S Bureau of Roads as co-occupants. The Weather Bureau, Internal Auditors, and the Bureau of Roads are also named as co-occupants after 1942, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_Guard_Island for more details. Detail of northeast view, 1926. Ref: API 652_43_BOX 95

L234-50-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 11 of 33)

Turning more to the southeast in 1926, one more point to be made about movements in and off Coast Guard Island using this image. Ref: API 652_46_BOX 95

L234-55-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 12 of 33)

The island was populated by approximately one thousand individuals during WWII, and it had a rail line supplied by an SP spur, red arrow, as shown in the insert from Nov. 15, 1955. Ref: George Russell Photo, API 652_46_BOX 95; Insert, SP Terminal Switching Limits Map, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives.

L234-60-Courtesy California State Lands Commission and BAERA, WRM Archives, (Image 13 of 33)

One additional view of the train tracks, this one from the southwest, from the mid-1920s. Ref: API 652_15_BOX 95

L234-65-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, DETAIL, (Image 14 of 33)

Now to turn the focus on the bridges and passenger train lines into Alameda. Note the L-shaped appearance of Montgomery Ward in this mid-to-late 1920s southeast view. Ref: API 652_7_BOX 95

L234-70-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 15 of 33)

This southwest view from ca. 1923 shows the three bridges in question, and also the earlier version of Montgomery Ward. Is this the so-called “finished” structure of 1923, or is the image from an earlier time point? Ref: 652_15_BOX 95

L234-75-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 16 of 33)

The three bridges are visualized in this southwest view. The two large businesses on the Oakland side, Union Gas Engine Co., left, and Oakland Elevator and Mill Co., right, were discussed in the last update. Ref: API 652_19_BOX 95

L234-80-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 17 of 33)

Starting in the foreground, this detail shows swing bridge versions of the Park St., Fruitvale, and the High St. Bridges, respectively, that were replaced by the mid-20th century. The Park St. Bridge was built in 1893, and as is recorded for the other two bridges as well, was part the Federal Government’s mandate to open the channel to San Leandro Bay. It was condemned in 1933, and replaced in 1935 by the structure surviving into the 21st century. Ref: API 652_19_BOX 95

L234-85-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 18 of 33)

The history of the Fruitvale Bridge, seen to the right or south in this south view from the mid-to-late 1920s, is more complex. The swing bridge in view was originally a train-only bridge built in 1894 for SP railroad traffic, and was manually operated until 1911. It was replaced in 1951. See https://www.acpwa.org/pas/miller-sweeny-bridge. Ref: API 652_10_BOX 95

L234-90-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 19 of 33)

Before moving on to discuss transportation access to Alameda, this detail from the previous south view provides identification of several Alameda businesses. Loop Lumber and Mill Co. was incorporated on July 10, 1925. Baker-Hansen Mfg. Co. at 1900 Park St. at Clement St. made air compressors and vacuums. Ref: API 652_10_BOX 95

L234-95-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 20 of 33)

This map from April 11, 1916 shows all the electric train and streetcar lines for passengers into Alameda. The ferry connection to Alameda Pier and SP trains to the west end of the island, turquoise arrow, the use of the Webster St. Bridge by Borax Smith’s streetcars, violet arrow, and the SP crossing of the Harrison St. Bridge, orange arrow, have been previously reviewed. Oakland Tractions’s no. 9 or 23rd St. streetcar used the Park St. Bridge until 1933, black arrow. Read on for Fruitvale Bridge, blue arrow.

L234-100-San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways System Map, Courtesy Port of Oakland , (Image 21 of 33)

This northwest view from the early 1920s with the smaller version of Montgomery Ward shows the SP’s Fruitvale railroad wye in the foreground, accessing the Fruitvale Bridge. Ref: API 652_40_BOX 95

L234-105-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 22 of 33)

These annotations from a detail of the previous image were made using SP track diagrams from Robert S. Ford “Red Trains Remembered”. More about P.C. Frederickson and J.J. Krieg Co. can be found at https://localwiki.org/oakland/, and B.W. Norton Manufacturing Co. at https://nortonfactorystudios.com/about/. Ref: API 652_40_BOX 95

L234-110-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 23 of 33)

Further north in the same image shows E. 14th St., blue arrow, E. 12th St., red arrow, and the WP’s entry onto the latter, yellow arrow. The no. 9 streetcars crossed the SP crossing at 23rd Ave., green arrow, en route to the Park St. Bridge. The California Cotten Mills operation dominated the area south of the SP tracks.

L234-115-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 24 of 33)

This northeast view from the early 1920s will focus on the arrangement between the SP railroad wye, right or north, and the entry into Alameda, left or south, over the next three several panels. Ref: API 652_16_BOX 95

L234-120-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 25 of 33)

Starting from the east, note the southern arm of the actual wye track structure is hard to discern, and is more easily seen in L234-105. The P.C. Frederickson sign can be seen in this view. Ref: API 652_16_BOX 95

L234-125-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 26 of 33)

The SP Fruitvale or Fernside Power House provided the electricity for the SP East Bay electric train system that began in 1911. Ford notes it was recognized by engineering professionals as a major achievement in electricity generation. Note how the auto portion of the Fruitvale bridge appears to have been appended to the original train bridge. Ref: API 652_16_BOX 95

L234-130-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 27 of 33)

Once on the Alameda side, another tower oversaw train crossings as trains passed Powell Brothers cement and plaster business. Ref: API 652_16_BOX 95

L234-135-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 28 of 33)

The drawings by Graves and Sappers in Ford’s book include an additional wye structure to Fernside Junction, not seen in this early 1920s image. An aerial from 1939, insert, shows it, red arrow, with the green arrow showing where it would be placed in the earlier image. This additional wye compensated for the loss of entry into Alameda via the pier once the Bay Bridge opened. Ref: George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail API 652_16_BOX 95; Insert, UCSB, c-5750_289-61, 01/01/1939

L234-140-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 29 of 33)

This panoramic southwest view from the early 1920s covers what has been reviewed in this update. Ref: SLC_651_NoDate_13

L234-145-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 30 of 33)

This detail from the previous image shows both the Park St., right, and Fruitvale Bridge, left, swung open. This view provides the path that passengers took on the SP trains to get from Fruitvale all the way to the station at Lincoln Ave. and Park St., red arrow. Ref: SLC_651_NoDate_13

L234-150-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 31 of 33)

George Russell’s plane will continue to the southeast next time to continue documenting Oakland along the coast. The Montgomery Ward building is still in its small version here, the details of which have still not been uncovered as to what date the building was completed to its final form. Ref: API 639_2_BOX 95

L234-155-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 32 of 33)

The bonus comparative aerial is from August 12, 1962, a northeast view across Alameda. Appreciation to former Alameda resident John Harder, longtime resident Grant Ute, and Craig Sundstrom for their help with this update.

L234-160-Ed Brady-Aerospace Photo 7626, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 150557av, (Image 33 of 33)