Before Il Pavone and Other Insights into the Four Corners

East view of the Tice Valley Boulevard - Boulevard Way Intersection, or Saranap’s “Four Corners”. The building occupied by Il Pavone is a link to the past. What was Four Corners like during the SN era prior to the reconfiguration of the intersection and the construction of Olympic Boulevard?

L43-05-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 1 of 22)

The building now housing Il Pavone, blue arrow, predates the SN freight era, 1958, or the end of the passenger era, 1941. In 1940, a small SN shelter, black arrow, was situated south of the right-of-way, yellow arrows. Placed on today’s grid, the SN shelter would stop all traffic as it sits in the middle of the four-way intersection. Refs. left, USDA AAA Western Division Laboratories; right, CCC Planning Department.

L43-10-Courtesy Contra Costa County Historical Society, 13560 and 13563 Details, (Image 2 of 22)

The building is absent in this detail of an undated northeast view, probably from 1913 based on the Dewing Park advertisement, and the incomplete western arm of the rail “wye”. Page 167 of Irma Dotson’s book, “Danville Branch of the OA&E Railway” provides details of the large depot seen in the distance, and other more complete images. Of what can be deciphered, the white tablet is marked “Block ...”, the sign on train 13 reads “Oakland and ...”.

L43-15-Eston Cheney Photo B-2047, Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRMA 24240sn, (Image 3 of 22)

Dudley Thickens obtained the negative of this pre-1924 north view of MW 1051 or ‘Alligator’ from railroad employee C.O. Clark in 1937. On page 114 of Dorothy Ligda’s book, “Saranap Then and Now”, Thickens explains the mail boxes in the lower left as “two wagon wheels mounted on posts out in front of the Boswell store” in connection with rural mail delivery in early Saranap.

L43-20-C.O. Clarke Photo, Thickens Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRM Archives, 56640sn , (Image 4 of 22)

This southwest view taken by railroad executive Harry A. Mitchell in 1924 as the Danville Branch was abandoned documents the same large Saranap depot from the railroad’s beginnings. Note tunnel cars SN 3024 and partner at the rear of the freight on the passing track pointed towards Eastport.

L43-25-Harry A. Mitchell Photo, Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, WRM Archives, 57476sn, (Image 5 of 22)

By Jun. 15, 1933, an eastern view now shows a shelter at the position of the structure in the 1940 aerial in L43-10. The Boswell’s combination store and family home is the same building used today by Il Pavone. When and for whom it was built remains unanswered, but there is no known connection with the railroad.

L43-30-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 57361sn , (Image 6 of 22)

Now to Aug. 5, 1934, a northeast view down the right-of-way shows a different shelter, certainly not the previous one turned ninety degrees based on the images to follow. Note the loss of the wooden platform railing as well.

L43-35-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58238sn, (Image 7 of 22)

The Coca-Cola sign is the only evidence of an active business at the Boswell Store in this east view showing Dudley Thickens from Feb. 22, 1937, most likely taken by Bud Volz based on evidence to be presented in the future. Note the relative disrepair of the building at this time.

L43-40-Dudley Thickens Collection, Courtesy Thickens Family, (Image 8 of 22)

The school train led by SN 1017 on its way from Concord back to Oakland provides a northeast view of the west side of the Boswell Store, Oct. 5, 1937. In addition to the vintage of the cars, the derail placard between the tracks that adorned this spot from the railroad’s early years will be gone from view within two years.

L43-45-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60867sn, (Image 9 of 22)

Two years later, July 4, 1939, SN 1014 carries the school train number 27 designation, except that this day was Independence Day. A view of the entire north facade of the Boswell Store, the west facade of new house added to the east, and the passing track set to derail any wayward freight can be appreciated.

L43-50-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60859sn, (Image 10 of 22)

Based on evidence presented in the Landmark “Double Track Curve, Views to the West”, the final SN shelter seen here in this northeast view from 1941 was put in place in the spring of 1940. That makes a total of at least four railroad-associated structures for passengers since the inception of passenger service.

L43-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 51856sn Detail , (Image 11 of 22)

This east view of SN 1014 shows the last passenger run through Saranap, July 12, 1941, an ICC technicality following the last official day of passenger service on Jun. 30, 1941. Later images by Dudley Thickens that included the Boswell Store and other buildings associated with Four Corners have not been found.

L43-60-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60877sn, (Image 12 of 22)

Cessation of passenger service in 1941 coincided with a dearth of images showing details of the Four Corners. This northeast image from an excursion with SN 653 from July 6, 1956 catches the “Sam” in Sam’s Market and railfans lined up to buy lunch. See the books by Dotson and Ligda for more, especially page 168 of the former.

L43-65-Richard Kampa Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58139sn , (Image 13 of 22)

Scenes of the two corners of Boulevard Avenue, today “Way”, were revealing only during winter when the large tree contingent shed their leaves as in this north view of SN 1017 and 1022 from Jan. 23, 1938. The structures at the left appear to be related to stock animals.

L43-70-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60001sn, (Image 14 of 22)

A little further east reveals more details north of the tracks as a two-car train of SN 1017 and 228 slide by the third rendition of the SN shelter and WP 2255 on the passing track in this north view from Feb. 2, 1937.

L43-75-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 58327sn, (Image 15 of 22)

A good close up of SN 1012 approaching the SN shelter and the home at the corner of Boulevard Avenue and Cottage Lane, with cars lined along the latter. The grade crossing notes “Two Tracks”, a marker for this particular spot. North view, 1939.

L43-80-Charles Savage Photo, BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 10178sn, (Image 16 of 22)

This northwest view from September 7, 1936 of a three-car train led by SN 1014 serves to provide the east and south facing sides of the SN shelter. The parked car marks the path of Cottage Lane to the north.

L43-85-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 60864sn, (Image 17 of 22)

Another overview of the north corners, this time with the final SN shelter with SN 1014 and the Bidwell, sometime in the 1940-41 time period to compare to ...

L43-90-Robert Hanft Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 18 of 22)

... this northeast view of SN 660 and freight holding up traffic on May 6, 1952.

L43-95-Ford Collection-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106906sn, (Image 19 of 22)

As with the south corners, it is equally hard to find post-passenger era images of freight at the north corners from a north view, except for an occasional view of the grade crossing. This one is special, however, as the SN 605-led freight harkens back to the call to buy war bonds, now all in the past, May 1947.

L43-100-Arthur Lloyd Photo, Courtesy Arthur Lloyd, (Image 20 of 22)

After abandoning the railway from Oakland to Lafayette, the SN Saranap sign found its way on a fence at the west corner of Boulevard Way and the right-of-way, north view, 1957.

L43-105-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 94733sn, (Image 21 of 22)

In case the location of the sign is in doubt, this east view also from 1957 should settle that issue.

L43-110-EK Muller Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 94729sn, (Image 22 of 22)