George Russell VIII – Automobiles, Elmhurst and Stonehurst to the Border

With his position showing the previously reviewed Pacific Malleable Castings Co. in the center of this northeast view circa 1930, George Russell aims his aircraft towards the industrial buildings to the southeast.

L267-05-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 51 BOX 91-95, (Image 1 of 31)

The buildings of interest from the previous northeast view will start this update focusing on Elmhurst and Stonehurst.

L267-10-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 51 BOX 91-95, (Image 2 of 31)

As with the previous review of Havenscourt, the structures just west of Jones Rd. or 98th Ave. remain somewhat of a mystery. The view from the previous image begins where the white arrow indicates in the 1931 map.

L267-15-Central National Bank Map, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 83537, l, and 106539, r, (Image 3 of 31)

From a northwest view, the position from the 1931 maps show the two main structures circa 1930, both serviced by Southern Pacific track. A detail follows.

L267-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 49 BOX 91-95, (Image 4 of 31)

Consultation with a 1941 industrial map indicates Gaylord Container Corp. on the right or east, and General Metals Corp. to the left or west, but it is unclear who occupied the buildings when this image was taken.

L267-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 49 BOX 91-95, (Image 5 of 31)

Russell continues to the north, then faces northwest to the area between E. 14th St., now International Blvd., and the Western Pacifiic, WP, mainline, hovering above Jones Ave., now 98th Ave. The streets reaching 98th Ave., left to right or south to north, are the lettered E, D, C, and B Sts., respectively.

L267-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 63 BOX 91-95, (Image 6 of 31)

A detail from the previous northwest view along Jones Ave. shows Elmhurst Park between B and C Sts., the geometric pattern of the walkways no longer in existence in 2022.

L267-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 63 BOX 91-95, (Image 7 of 31)

Russell now has moved further southeast, with a northwest view over Elmhurst. The street running south to north, near the bottom edge, or east, is 105th Ave., the SP crossbucks signaling the presence of the SP spur leading from Elmhurst to Stonehurst. For now, the review will turn further west to Jones or 98th Ave., the next street running north-south to the west of 105th St. in this view.

L267-40-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 63 BOX 91-95, (Image 8 of 31)

A view of 98th Ave. from the previous northwest view circa 1930 shows that street crossing the WP and SP, right to left, or east to west. A WP siding meets the center of the bottom edge of the image, while an industrial building sits along the northwest intersection with the SP. Across 98th ave. from that structure is the SP Elmhurst station.

L267-45-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 63 BOX 91-95 , (Image 9 of 31)

Taken further south, the same subject is covered here circa 1930, the SP’s Elmhurst station at no. 800 98th Ave. and freight operation to be shown in the next detail.

L267-50-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 61 BOX 91-95, (Image 10 of 31)

The SP Elmhurst operation and a WP freight loading area are shown here. According to https://localwiki.org/oakland/Elmhurst, Oakland annexed Elmhurst in 1909. Before WWII, it was known for canneries, glass manufacturing plants, and die-casting businesses. As for the industrial building at the northwest intersection, the 1938 reverse directory lists Elmhurst Packers, Inc., Golden Gate Asparagus Co., and Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co., sharing no. 801 98th Ave. The area to the west of the SP tracks would become Brookfield Village during the war to house defense plant workers.

L267-55-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 61 BOX 91-95, (Image 11 of 31)

Further east to 105th Ave., where the area between the two railroads is now filled with a grid of streets and industrial activity is booming circa 1930 as seen in this north view.

L267-60-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 71, (Image 12 of 31)

This detail along 105th St. at the level of E St. shows Stonehurst School, thanks to Craig Sundstrom for supplying the Sanborn map to make the identification. In 2022, that area is filled by two Oakland public schools, Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy and Esperanza Elementary school. Note the train track along 105th Ave. This will be explained later.

L267-65-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 71, (Image 13 of 31)

Another north view of 105th Ave. from Russell circa 1930, but this time the image shows that the SP sent off two branches from the mainline.

L267-70-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 57 BOX 91- 95, (Image 14 of 31)

This detail from the previous north view shows the branch heading to the south on the left, and the branch heading to the north on the right. Note the branch to the south contains two tracks.

L267-75-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 57 BOX 91-95, (Image 15 of 31)

This map from 1955 shows the branch to the south, red arrow, connected with the truncated line that had originally continued from Alameda through the Oakland Airport, reviewed previously. The continuation to Santa Clara constituted the Mulford Line, still in operation in 2022. The branch to the north, green arrow, provided the SP with a connection to the Chevrolet plant in Havenscourt post electric train abandonment in 1941, but played another role in 1930 as will be seen. In 2022, this branch runs as a single track ending in asphalt after crossing International Blvd.

L267-80-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, (Image 16 of 31)

Next to discuss this set of industrial buildings seen in this northeast view circa 1930.

L267-85-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 77, (Image 17 of 31)

The lettered sign on the building to right or south spells, using a mirror, Best Steel Casting Co., as indicated on the 1931 map in L267-15. The unanswered question is whether the building to the left or north belongs to the same company. This image indicates the branch to the north also began as two tracks.

L267-90-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 77, (Image 18 of 31)

A closer detail of the building to the west has inadequate resolution as to its function, but it appears to contain external material similar to the casting company.

L267-95-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 69, (Image 19 of 31)

Positioning his aircraft further south and providing a more panoramic northeast view circa 1930 shows additional buildings directly to the east abutting the casting plant, and a numerous set of buildings to the north across from dense vegetation or trees. Several details follow.

L267-100-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 58 BOX 94, (Image 20 of 31)

The field adjacent to the casting company looks very agricultural, and the buildings to the east may be hot houses. Craig Sundstrom used the Japanese American Nurseries Interactive Nursery Map to determine the business to be Nakashima, later Takata, Nursery. See https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/895643e4706940d3b57b0efc216a26f7

L267-105-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission,API 651 58 BOX 94, (Image 21 of 31)

The numerous set of buildings to the north across from the dense field of trees is shown here, for which there is an abundance of information that will be presented next.

L267-110-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 58 BOX 94, (Image 22 of 31)

Russell’s northwest view of Stonehurst at the Oakland-San Leandro border above E. 14th St. circa 1930 reveals Vaux-Hall Motors in the foreground based on the accompanying 1931 map, and C. H. Wills Motor Co. to the west. The rectangular area occupied by the Chrysler plant indicated by the map across E. 14th St. was never built, and aerials show the appearance was unchanged in 1939, but filled with houses by 1946. The SP spur to this location would be extended by the end of the 1930s to the electric line on Bancroft Ave. based on an aerial map from 1939. Ref: Map Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539, Detail

L267-115-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 68, (Image 23 of 31)

The De Vaux-Hall name dates this photo to 1931 or so. Norman De Vaux and GM executive William Durant worked together at GM and Durant Motors to form this company that had facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and this one in Oakland. After a complicated half decade, the failed venture sold this plant to GM in 1936. Some of the structures survive as a shopping center and lofts. There are many worthwhile references, but the most concise and informative is found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Vaux. The connection of automobile maker C. H. Wills with the adjacent buildings could not be confirmed.

L267-120-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, SLC 651 NoDate 68, (Image 24 of 31)

The De Vaux-Hall plant should not be confused with another Oakland border-centric auto plant, the Fageol factory at Foothill Blvd., now MacArthur Blvd., and 106th Ave., shown in this 1927 north aerial and detail not taken by George Russell. The Fageol brothers constructed this facility in 1917, and went on to build buses, trucks, and tractors. An image of the groundbreaking from the Oakland History Room may be found at http://imgzoom.cdlib.org/Fullscreen.ics?ark=ark:/13030/kt7199q9d0/z58. The area to the upper left in the left image is now part of the Oakland Zoo.

L267-125-Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 119004ov, (Image 25 of 31)

Back to George Russell, his plane has continued along the Oakland-San Leandro border following the San Leandro Creek to the level of the two railroads, northwest view circa 1930. Several details follow.

L267-130-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 62 BOX 91-95, (Image 26 of 31)

One last look back at the Elmhurst area centering on the SP and WP right-of-ways.

L267-135-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 62 BOX 91-95, (Image 27 of 31)

Right up against the creek and Peralta Ave. in San Leandro, this agricultural complex has still defied identification.

L267-140-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, API 651 62 BOX 91-95, (Image 28 of 31)

A bonus image shown here, a northwest view from Sept. 1, 1946, to illustrate that factories now lined the east side of the WP right-of-way with L.A. Young Spring and Wire Corp., Dennison Foods, and Standard Brands' Fleischmann factory with water tower at 98th Ave. and San Leandro Ave., east to west. The lot occupied by the latter sits empty in 2022.

L267-145-Sappers Colection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 66784ov, (Image 29 of 31)

Ahead to this southeast aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 over E St. and 98th Ave. with the Fleischmann factory in the lower right, showing the construction of BART along the WP right-of-way and San Leandro St., with the crossing of latter under BART at 105th Ave.

L267-150-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11688, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171413BARTD, (Image 30 of 31)

A detail of the previous southeast aerial from Sept. 14, 1967 shows the SP Mulford Branch in the bottom right corner, but the branch to Stonehurst is obscured. Thanks to Ron Hook for pointing out that in 2022, the latter reaches International Blvd. as a single track, but is severed from the mainline. In the upper left corner of the image, the collection of hot houses seen in L267-140 along the tree-lined creek serves as the staring point for next time, as George Russell leads his aircraft over the railroads into San Leandro.

L267-155-Brady-Aero Portraits no. 11688, Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Archives, 171413BARTD, (Image 31 of 31)