George Russell VII – The Transition Zone, Havenscourt to 85th Avenue

George Russell took this southeast view above the Melrose section of Oakland in the early 1920s. Along the left margin is E. 14th St., now International Blvd., and between there and the Western Pacific, WP, mainline, the area is beginning to fill with houses. Between the WP and the railroad to the west or right, the Southern Pacific, SP, the space is mainly empty, while to the west of the latter, the future Coliseum site, is marshland. In the far distance, areas with agricultural plots can be appreciated.

L266-05-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 14 BOX 95, (Image 1 of 33)

This update will focus on the area between 50th Ave. and 85th Ave., west of E. 14th St., here seen in a map from 1921.

L266-10-Central National Bank Map, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 83537, Detail , (Image 2 of 33)

Once southeast of the huge gas tank in Melrose, the large industrial structures in close proximity to the railroads are unmarked in this map from 1931. Some have been identified using published industrial maps, and from reverse directories from the 1930s that can be found on Internet Archive.

L266-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539, Detail, (Image 3 of 33)

Hovering just above 64th Ave. west of E. 14th St. circa 1930, two spurs, marked by arrows on the map, are seen originating from the WP mainline servicing two areas. Ref: 1931 Map Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539

L266-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 67 BOX 92, (Image 4 of 33)

The spur marked by the turquoise arrow supplied the General Electric complex, the latter’s origins dating back to 1922. The buildings remaining in 2022 have historical value, but the site is highly contaminated. The “U”-shaped spur marked by the white arrow supplied what is in 2022 no. 5625 International Blvd. The 1938 reverse directory lists Santa Cruz Fruit Packing Co., Stokely Bros. and Co., Van Camp’s Inc. plus one non published entity at no. 5601 E. 14th Ave. This building was built in 1927, and is absent from the earlier aerial in L266-05. In 1957, only Stokely remained, serviced now by both railroads.

L266-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 67 BOX 92, (Image 5 of 33)

Continuing along E. 14th St. circa 1930, Russell sets his sights toward the Havenscourt area and 66th Ave., where another large industrial building is seen, served by the the WP based upon the 1931 map, orange arrow. Ref: 1931 Map Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539

L266-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 50, (Image 6 of 33)

The structures in view along E. 14th St. were part of Lockwood School. Lockwood Grammar School, circa 1900, along the right margin, while the larger complex to the left or north is the school from 1912 that served as a junior high school. All these buildings were razed by the 1950s. In 2022, at the site of the larger complex, are two Oakland Public Schools, Lockwood STEAM Academy Elementary, serving K-5, and Coliseum Prep Academy, grades 6–12. For an extensive historical review, see https://abitofhistory.website/2019/09/22/old-lockwood-school/

L266-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 50, (Image 7 of 33)

The WP spur, orange arrow, supplied the industrial building to the west of the school, occupied by B. P. John Furniture Co., headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The Oakland site was said to be an upholstering plant. An extremely successful business, it was sold in 1953. The address, no. 1034 66th Ave., is noted in the 1957 WP Circular as the cable-producing division of General Electric, with a capacity to handle 23 WP boxcars.

L266-40-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 50, (Image 8 of 33)

Another more northwesterly view of the same area around 66th Ave. in Havenscourt. The same 1957 circular also lists the furniture company at 860 81st. Ave., having a capacity of 23 WP or SP freight cars.

L266-45-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 66, (Image 9 of 33)

Another detailed view of the John Furniture plant from the previous aerial. For more on Mr. John, see https://www.worldforestry.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JOHN-BRUNO-PAUL.pdf

L266-50-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 66, (Image 10 of 33)

Swinging his aircraft to the east at the level of 66th Ave., circa 1930, Russell provides an east view of the marshland that would be the future site of the Oakland Coliseum complex and Highway 880.

L266-55-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 47, (Image 11 of 33)

Another panoramic view circa 1930. Not much was changed to this area until the 1960s based on aerial photos on historicaerials.com. The next destination was inland along the railroads to the industrial buildings seen in the upper central portion of this image. See the next detail.

L266-60-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 47, (Image 12 of 33)

A detailed view of the next set of structures following the two railroads circa 1930 shown here from the center to the right edge of the image.

L266-65-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 47, (Image 13 of 33)

Following from the previous view, Russell sets his northwest view just above the level of the foot of 85th Ave. The map from 1931 shows several spurs to industries along both railroads First, this detail from this aerial to review the site of the location of the current BART and Amtrak stations for the Coliseum complex relative to the appearance in 1930. Ref: 1931 Map Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539

L266-70-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 48 BOX 91-95, (Image 14 of 33)

The yellow arrow points to the crossing of the SP at 66th Ave., the small shelter to the left or west of the track is most likely the Kohler Station shelter of the SP. In 2022 terms, the SP track now belongs to the Union Pacific, the same track used by Amtrak. The turquoise circle marks the approximate location of the Coliseum BART station pedestrian overpass, just to the west of the ex-WP track. The orange circle marks the approximate location where the overpass crosses the Amtrak Coliseum station platform.

L266-75-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 48 BOX 91-95, (Image 15 of 33)

Back to 85th St., the north view on the left shows the area to be discussed. The 1931 map shows several WP spurs heading north toward E. 14th St., marked here by black arrows, and these structures will be dealt with first before addressing those seen in the foreground supplied by the SP. Ref: 1931 Map Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539

L266-80-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 84 BOX 94, (Image 16 of 33)

The building with the water tower would be one of the buildings supplied by the WP wye spurs marked in the last 1931 map. The northeast border appears to be Rudsdale St., running from 77th-79th Aves. This could possibly be National Motor Bearing Co.’s Oakland plant. The building under construction closer to 81st Ave. may have included as listed in 1938 reverse directory, Fredrickson and Watson Construction, Blue Bird Potato Chips, Motorail Co., and Standard Gas Engine, the latter two at 1001 81st Ave. Peter Paul, Inc. the candy maker, was listed at 1001 81st ST. in 1957.

L266-85-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 84 BOX 94, (Image 17 of 33)

Further south, but also to the east of the WP, there was a large nursery or agriculture-related business, the identification of which has not been made.

L266-90-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 84 BOX 94, (Image 18 of 33)

Sitting between the SP and WP mainlines was this set of buildings, indicated on the previous map as positioned on 85th Ave. This north view ca. 1930 only shows a SP spur servicing the plant, although the 1931 map shows multiple connections by both railroads. The 1938 reverse directory lists California Packing Corp. Plant no. 58 at this spot. The 1925 Polk’s City Directory lists Virden Canning Co. here.

L266-95-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission,API 651 84 BOX 94, (Image 19 of 33)

Another north view circa 1930 of the same packing plant.

L266-100-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 72, (Image 20 of 33)

Further west, to the southeast side of the SP tracks was Pacific Malleable Castings Co., noted to have an address as the foot of 85th Ave., later no. 8901 Railroad Ave.

L266-105-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 86, (Image 21 of 33)

This building was constructed by Rockford Malleable Iron Works, Rockford, Ill., to be the largest and most modern casting foundry in the west according to Iron Trade, Jan. 1, 1925, p. 59. The article noted that “The City of Oakland leads all other cities on the coast in the proportional increase of new industries. During the first 10 months of 1924, 75 new industries constructed factories and started operations.”

L266-110-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 84 BOX 94, (Image 22 of 33)

A northwest view circa 1930 shows the empty marshland behind the plant, and the different spurs and sidings provided by the SP, less than the number seen on the 1931 map. In 1957, the plant was noted to be part of General Metals Corp., receiving coke and having capacity of 11 SP cars, and sharing the space with California Steel Wheel, and near to Best Steel Casting.

L266-115-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 79, (Image 23 of 33)

A close-up, northwest view of the southeast-facing side of the casting plant.

L266-120-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 79, (Image 24 of 33)

Two similar north-northeast views showing the last gasps of agriculture in Oakland, just east of the railroads circa 1930. Two details follow.

L266-125-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 81, 82, (Image 25 of 33)

The first …

L266-130-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 81, (Image 26 of 33)

… and the last. The owner of the structure along the right border may be Hazel-Atlas Glass Co., listed at the foot of 87th Ave. in the 1940 reverse directory.

L266-135-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 82, (Image 27 of 33)

George Russell would return to the foot of 85th Ave. some time later, where a few more clues are provided as seen in this north view. Details follow.

L266-140-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 46 BOX 91, (Image 28 of 33)

This detail confirms the location of Pacific Malleable Castings Co. The buildings to the east are different, the lettering on the first building not decipherable, while the second building has a spur identified in the 1931 map.

L266-145-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 46 BOX 91, (Image 29 of 33)

To conclude on this last Russell aerial, far to the north seen in the center of this detail is the Chevrolet Motor Co., Plant no. 1, located at Foothill Blvd. and 69th Ave., and Fisher Body St. Louis Co. at 73rd Ave. and Hillside St.

L266-150-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 46 BOX 91, (Image 30 of 33)

A bonus southeast aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 documenting BART construction along the WP right-of-way is shown here.

L266-155-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11687, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171414BARDT, (Image 31 of 33)

A detail of the the previous southeast aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 shows a complex of structures that has already been reviewed and tentatively assigned to California Packing Corp. Plant no. 58. Based on historicaerials.com, the complex was reduced in size by elimination of the southern portion between 1982-1987, and totally razed between 2005-2009. The building housing Pacific Malleable Castings Co. was razed prior to the taking of this aerial image.

L266-160-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11687, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171414BARDT, (Image 32 of 33)

A detail of the the previous southeast aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 shows where George Russell will head next, over the Elmhurst and Stonehurst neighborhoods to the border of Oakland with San Leandro.

L266-165-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11687, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171414BARDT, (Image 33 of 33)