George Russell VI – Oakland Airport and Melrose

Following the tour of the Alameda Island and the three bridges, George Russell heads southeast over Bay Farm Island circa 1928. The upper enlargement shows the bridge connection to Alameda Island. The lower enlargement shows an estate amongst the highly developed farm land settled in the 1850s at the west end of Bay Farm.

L265-05-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 2, (Image 1 of 37)

This map from 1921, rotated counterclockwise 33 degrees, shows Bay Farm Island as a peninsula, but that depended on the water level. Unlike the west portion that became part of the City of Alameda, the eastern part was unincorporated marshland that would be claimed by Oakland. For a very succinct and worthwhile read of Bay Farm, see http://www.waterfrontaction.org/history/7.htm

L265-10-Central National Bank Map, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 83537, Detail , (Image 2 of 37)

Oakland had a good reason to purchase the 680 acres of marshland finalized in Apr. 1927, as it had great promise as a site for an airport. Russell spots the hangers in this southeast view, circa 1928. Note the barren strip of marshland to the southeast.

L265-15-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 3, (Image 3 of 37)

A closer look at the previous southeast view reveals two hangars, several small aircraft, and a large assemblage of cars and spectators. As Russell continues on a tour of the new airport, historical information will be provided from an article by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics found at https://web.archive.org/web/20061201222858/http://www.aiaa.org/Participate/Uploads/02-0694%20HAS%20Oakland%20brochur.pdf

L265-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 3, (Image 4 of 37)

Swinging his plane more along the coastline, this southeast view shows very little else near the new airport in 1928. Relative to San Francisco, the Bay Farm site experienced little fog, and had no hills or obstacles for aircraft traffic.

L265-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 1 , (Image 5 of 37)

Russell veers more to the east to begin a close inspection of the airport facilities in 1928. The cited article explains that the structures seen here were completed in 1928. Note the adjacent open space to the east.

L265-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 654 4 BOX 92, (Image 6 of 37)

A detail from the previous east view showing, left to right, hangar no. 2, hangar no. 1, and the administration building. Starting on June 5th and lasting 23 days, a 7020 foot runway was completed, the longest in the world at that time. The urgency revolved around a competition devised by pineapple king James Dole to entice the first flyers to make it non-stop to Hawaii.

L265-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 654 4 BOX 92, (Image 7 of 37)

Further along the coastline, an east view in 1928 …

L265-40-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 654 6 BOX 91, (Image 8 of 37)

… with a direct view of the south-facing sides of the structures. On the day of the runway’s completion, two teams jumped the gun on the competition, but only one, manned by Lester Maitland and Albert Hegenberger, completed the 2416 mile flight. It took them just under 26 hours, the longest flight to date over water.

L265-45-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 654 6 BOX 91, (Image 9 of 37)

The closest Russell’s plane will get to the hangars is shown here …

L265-50-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 11, (Image 10 of 37)

… and the best detail of hangar no. 1 and the administration building are shown here in 1928. Dole’s race went on as planned, and although two aircraft made it to Oahu to claim the 25k and 10k dollar prizes, nine men and one woman lost their lives during the preparation, actual flight competition, and while searching for survivors.

L265-55-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 11, (Image 11 of 37)

Reaching the airport’s eastern limit, Russell swings his plane to the north to view the southeast-facing sides of the structures. The airport would be officially dedicated on Sept. 17, 1927.

L265-60-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 5, (Image 12 of 37)

Now heading to the northwest, and a view to the west …

L265-65-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 7, (Image 13 of 37)

… and details of the east-facing sides. Amelia Earhardt would be the first to make the trip from Hawaii to Oakland solo in 1935. Two years later she would attempt to fly around the world with navigator Fred Noonan with Oakland as the takeoff and landing spot. They tried twice, the first attempt aborted in Hawaii, the second resulting tragically in them being lost en route.

L265-70-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 7, (Image 14 of 37)

Next a more detailed look at the east-facing sides of the structures …

L265-75-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 654 10 BOX 91, (Image 15 of 37)

… showing the best available view. The cited article notes that Oakland Airport would play a major role during WWII. Most of the images shown, but this one in particular, shows the Southern Pacific railroad track from the original line running through Alameda Island on Encinal Ave. up to High St., and then by trestle to Bay Farm Island, continuing south as the Mulford line. Thanks to Ron Hook for this observation.

L265-80-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 654 10 BOX 91, (Image 16 of 37)

George Russell would return at least one more time to the area as evidenced by the construction of hangar no. 3 seen in this late 1920s north view. This image shows the entire railroad line from Alameda Island, top left, passing the airport.

L265-85-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 654 NoDate 3, (Image 17 of 37)

By 1931, the airport had 5 hangars, and a combined inn and restaurant was placed on the east flank of the administration building. According to the cited article, this was all in place by 1930.

L265-90-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539, Detail, (Image 18 of 37)

Having completed the Bay Farm Island tour, Russell sweeps back to the Oakland Estuary to continue the tour of Oakland southeast of High St. ca. 1930, northwest view. A detail follows.

L265-95-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 3, (Image 19 of 37)

In the foreground are National Mill and Lumber Co. and Pacific Tank and Pipe Co., both listed in the 1925 Polk’s Directory at High St. and Tidewater Ave. In the upper left is Montgomery Ward, the steeples of St. Elizabeth Church can be seen along the top margin right, and Clorox Chemical Co., right margin, the latter the newest building of the group from 1925. Now to focus on the massive, but low to the ground factory that may be seen along the left middle margin.

L265-100-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 3, (Image 20 of 37)

In this map from 1903, the building of interest would be in the position marked as Estate of P. Sather, blue arrow, that being the banker Peder Sather associated with UC Berkeley and Trestle Glen.

L265-105-Woodward, Watson and Co. Map of Oakland, John Bosko Collection, Courtesy John Bosko, (Image 21 of 37)

Ahead to 1921, and the Sather’s name remains on a station shelter for the Southern Pacific’s, SP’s, 7th St. electric line. By this time the land is occupied by American Can Co., blue arrow.

L265-110-Central National Bank Map, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 83537, Detail , (Image 22 of 37)

For completeness, a map from 1931 highlights the rail spurs to the can company, the latter marked by a blue dot.

L265-115-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539, Detail, (Image 23 of 37)

With the structure of interest at hand, Russell maneuvers his plane to supply a panoramic view of the factory, seen in the left lower quadrant. Northwest view, circa 1930.

L265-120-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 652 41 BOX 95, (Image 24 of 37)

A detail from the previous northwest view, circa 1930, showing the American Can Co. factory.

L265-125-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 652 41 BOX 95, (Image 25 of 37)

Having completed the task at hand, Russell circles over American Can and points his plane to the southeast, the northwest-facing side of the factory now in view.

L265-130-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 14 BOX 95, (Image 26 of 37)

A detail of the previous southeast view shows the absence of the 1925-constructed Clorox factory seen in L265-100, dating this image to the early 1920s. Clorox had been called the Electro-Alkaline Chemical Co. until 1922. Seen here are the SP’s Melrose Branch, red arrow, the Sather Station shelter, green arrow, the Melrose Tower, yellow arrow, to the southeast where the SP branch crossed the Western Pacific, WP, mainline, and the SP Melrose Station, turquoise arrow, amongst the SP freight operations, and just to the west of E. 14th St., International Blvd. in 2022. Next, building identification.

L265-135-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 14 BOX 95, (Image 27 of 37)

This low-angle oblique southeast view from May 17, 1927 was not taken by Russell, but it fits perfectly in this sequence as it addresses the names of several of the neighboring industries to be explored in Russell’s images. The Clorox building from 1925 is occupied by the Faultline Artspace in 2022. The electric line running northwest or in the foreground of the building is the Key’s Leona Heights Line or “California Railway.”

L265-140-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 118979ov, (Image 28 of 37)

A detail of the southeast view from May 17, 1927 provides the names of several of the companies surrounding the two railroads. These names will be reviewed in an image to follow.

L265-145-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 118979ov detail, (Image 29 of 37)

Russell then viewed the Melrose section heading to the northwest, this time after 1925.

L265-150-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 60 BOX 91 thr, (Image 30 of 37)

A detail of the post-1925 northwest view shows the Clorox plant, and across from it, left to right, Bell Cleaning and Dying Co., Chas. Grandjean and Co. Chemicals, the SP mainline and Melrose Branch, The Barrel Syrup Corp., L. A. Young Industries, Inc.- Spring and Wire Co., Pacific Spring Division, a Detroit-based company, and Marchant’s Foundry Co. If interested in Young Industries, see history of Leggett and Platt, https://leggett.gcs-web.com/static-files/a1875ae4-8035-45ac-8da5-25f20cc721b0

L265-155-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 60 BOX 91 thr, (Image 31 of 37)

Finally, a close view of the Selby Dutch Boy White Leaf factory, producers of Dutch Boy Paints. The factory operated from 1918-1970, and became the focus of a Fact Sheet from Oct. 2003 by the Department of Toxic Substance Control report citing the lead left behind from the Company’s manufacturing process. See https://dtsc.ca.gov/smrp-projects/san-leandro-street-site-formerly-dutch-boy-paint-factory/

L265-160-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 60 BOX 91 thr, (Image 32 of 37)

Now moving ahead, some bonus images. Having a business between Fruitvale Ave. and High St. to the west of the SP mainline in 1950 meant that your business would be removed or decreased in size in order to build the Nimitz Freeway. Shown here from a Department of Public Works, Division of Highways, District IV parcel appraisal document from 1946, the fate of American Can Co.

L265-165-Clyde H. Sunderland Photo AF-343, Copyright California Depart. of Transportation, Folder 50, (Image 33 of 37)

A similar presentation from the same Division of Highways’ parcel appraisal document from 1946 describes the fate of Dewey and Almy Co., a chemical company situated here after George Russell’s flights were ended. Unlike American Can Co., this property was completely taken for the freeway project.

L265-170-Clyde H. Sunderland Photo AF-341, Copyright California Depart. of Transportation, Folder 50, (Image 34 of 37)

Ahead to a southeast-directed aerial from Sept. 14, 1967, documenting the construction of BART above the WP right-of-way. Details follow …

L265-175-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11685, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171416BARDT, (Image 35 of 37)

This detail of the western section of the southeast-directed aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 shows how a small portion of American Can Co. was indeed removed to build the Nimitz Freeway. In 1987, the American Can Co. corporate name of 85 years was no more. In 2022, that space is occupied by The Home Depot.

L265-180-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11685, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171416BARDT, (Image 36 of 37)

This detail of the eastern section of the southeast-directed aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 shows the Melrose area up to International Blvd., the latter seen along the bottom left edge. Note a few industry names, the BART construction, and the remnants of the SP freight operation that continued after the abandonment of the SP’s Interurban Electric Railway in 1941. Next time, Russell flies his aircraft further southeast in Oakland.

L265-185-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11685, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171416BARDT, (Image 37 of 37)