George Russell II – The Oakland Skyline of the 1920s

Last time we checked, George Russell had just passed the WP-SP crossing near Chestnut St., orange arrow, and was heading east.

L178-06-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 83537, (Image 1 of 41)

A northwest view of the Oakland Estuary with the WP roundhouse, Moore Dry Dock Co., and the Port of Oakland’s Howard Terminal, left to right foreground, and the Shredded Wheat Company-Nabisco factory prominent in the background. The presence of Howard Terminal dates the image to no earlier than 1925. Ref: API 652_17_BOX 95

L178-10-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission , (Image 2 of 41)

A detail of L178-10, a northwest view highlighting the Moore Dry Dock facilities. Ref: API 652_17_BOX 95

L178-15-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 3 of 41)

Another northwest view, this time on dry land, highlighting the California Packing Co. with the Del Monte inscribed water tower. The plant spread from Linden St to Myrtle St., west to east, and 3rd St. to 1st St., north to south. Ref: API 651_37_BOX 94

L178-20-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 4 of 41)

E. Blake, in his book “Greater Oakland” from 1911 on page 143, noted that Western Paper Box Co., left edge, had re-established itself from earthquake jilted San Francisco to the southwest corner of 5th St. and Adeline. The building still stands today housing lofts, with BART and the Nimitz Freeway barely clearing its northern edge. Straub Mfg., Pacific Paint Co., and Bay City Cabinet were not so lucky. Estimated date of 1927 or later based on Pacific Paint Co. Ref: API 651_37_BOX 94

L178-25-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 5 of 41)

A northeast view of California Packing Co. or Calpak, the food packing giant that formed from the merger of five major canning companies in 1916; its premium brand was Del Monte. The year is most likely 1926 based on the next finding. Ref: API 651_38_BOX 94

L178-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 6 of 41)

The building being constructed in the Oakland skyline is the Central Building, or Central Bank Building, at the corner of Broadway and 14th St. The Beaux Arts, 16-story steel and concrete skyscraper was the design of George Kelham and Walter Mathews. See Oakland Wiki for more. Ref: API 651_38_BOX 94

L178-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 7 of 41)

Important structures in the Oakland skyline circa 1926 as a guide to what follows. There appears to be a touch of scaffolding around the tip-top of the Elks Club Building, completed that year. Note the absence of the Financial Center Building, completed on 14th St. in 1929. The Cathedral Building is obscured by City Hall. Thanks to Betty Marvin for the identification of the Elks Club Building, demolished in 1966. Excellent descriptions at Oakland Wiki. Ref: API 651_38_BOX 94

L178-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 8 of 41)

For reasons unknown, George Russell took many images of the Oakland skyline in the 1920s. Starting here with an east view showing the WP-SP crossing on 1st St., note the presence of both the Harrison and Webster street bridges along the right edge, center, putting the date before 1925. A closer look tells more ... Ref: API 653_1_BOX 94

L178-40-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 9 of 41)

A detail from L178-40, an east view of the Oakland Estuary, shows the WP roundhouse starting at the lower or west margin, Moore Drydock Co., King Coal Company and a fired-up Pacific, Gas and Electric plant. To the estuary side, there is no large Howard Terminal building as in L178-10, for example. Ref: API 653_1_BOX 94

L178-45-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 10 of 41)

The Oakland skyline from L178-40, a detail of the east view shows many things missing relative to L178-35, the Tribune Tower in particular, given that its construction took place in 1923. This is consistent with information about the terminal supplied by Betty Marvin and Diane Heinze of the Port of Oakland. Getting more refined than before 1923 will require more work, although the earliest dated image from Russell was 1922. Ref: API 653_1_BOX 94

L178-50-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 11 of 41)

Another view above Oakland, but more northerly in direction. Ref: API 653_6_BOX 94

L178-55-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 12 of 41)

A detail from L178-55 shows a very similar set of buildings as seen in L178-50, the date circa 1922-23, at the latest. At last, good views of the domed Kahn’s Department Store and the Federal Realty or “Cathedral” Building. Ref: 2API 653_6_BOX 94

L178-60-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 13 of 41)

Turning back more to the east, a change in that the large Howard Terminal building extends into the estuary, to the south of the fired up power plant. A detail of the skyline should provide firmer evidence to date the photo. Ref: API 653_7_BOX 95

L178-65-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 14 of 41)

Compared to L178-36, a detail from L178-65 provides an approximate date of 1924 as the Tribune Tower is present, but the Elks Club is absent and the original Central Building circa 1893 sits where the new building construction was started in 1925. Ref: API 653_7_BOX 95

L178-70-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 15 of 41)

Another northeast oblique very similar to L178-65. Here in the foreground are the SP Alameda shops and the wye that supplied the southwest of the island. Ref: API 652_11_BOX 95

L178-75-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 16 of 41)

A closer at Oakland also reveals the same set of buildings in the skyline as well. Ref: API 652_11_BOX 95

L178-80-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 17 of 41)

More of the same but toward the east, but the resolution of this image brings out more details. Ref: API 653_3_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-85-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 18 of 41)

And a detail from L178-90. Ref: API 653_3_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-90-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 19 of 41)

Two more circa 1924 northeast view for completeness. Here is the first. Ref: API 653_13_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-95-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 20 of 41)

A detail from L178-95. Ref: API 653_13_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-100-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 21 of 41)

The last northeast view circa 1924. Ref: API 653_12_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-105-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 22 of 41)

A detail from L178-105. Ref: API 653_12_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-110-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 23 of 41)

Finally a “transition image”, an east view from 10th St., seen along the right edge, through the center of the city. The details that follow provide the date. Ref: API 653_19_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-115-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 24 of 41)

This southern portion of L178-115 shows the first few floors of the second Central Building under construction. The date is 1925, verified by the northern portion seen next. Ref: API 653_19_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-120-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 25 of 41)

The left or north border of the northern portion of L178-115 shows the Elks Club Building during the mid-stage of completion. To its right, the Fisk M. Ray Building, completed in this year and suggesting the other images from 1924 were taken early in that year, just after the Tribune Tower was completed. Thanks to Betty Marvin for making the latter identification. The Ray building was razed after the 1989 earthquake. Ref: API 653_19_BOX 91 thru 95

L178-125-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail , (Image 26 of 41)

This northeast view with Calpak and the WP track turning onto 3rd St. in the foreground shows the the Central Building three-quarters complete in the distance, estimated to be early 1926. This image shows details almost identical to L178-30. Ref: API 651_39_BOX 94

L178-130-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 27 of 41)

A detail of the construction of the Central Building from L178-130. Again, very similar in detail to L178-35. Ref: API 651_39_BOX 94

L178-135-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 28 of 41)

To the north in L178-130, the completed Elks Club Building is seen, save some minimal scaffolding at the top. Ref: API 651_39_BOX 94

L178-140-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 29 of 41)

Turning slightly to the east, more construction details. Ref: API 653_14_BOX 91

L178-145-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 30 of 41)

First, the Central Building with a few floors to complete. Some great signage in this view. Ref: API 653_14_BOX 91

L178-150-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 31 of 41)

Next, the Elks Club Building almost completed. Note the excavation in progress across Broadway to the west, the future site of H.C. Capwell Department Store. Interestingly, the ground breaking for this building was 1928, yet this image has to be from 1926. Ref: API 653_14_BOX 91

L178-155-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 32 of 41)

Based on this east view, George Russell returned during or after 1929 to record additions to the skyline. Ref: API 653_18_BOX 94

L178-160-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 33 of 41)

A finished Central Building on the southern detail of L178-160, but also the addition of the Financial Center, set back between the Central Building and the Union Savings Bank - Easton Building. Close to the left edge center, the dome of the Fox Theater can also be appreciated. The theater opened in 1928, while the Financial Building opened in 1929. Ref: API 653_18_BOX 94

L178-165-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 34 of 41)

This detail of the northern portion of L178-160 shows the completed H.C. Capwell Department Store in front of the Elks Club Building. The Capwell store also opened in 1929. Ref: API 653_18_BOX 94

L178-170-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 35 of 41)

One final northeast view, again at least 1929. Ref: API 653_2_BOX 93

L178-175-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 36 of 41)

A detail of the city center from L178-175. Ref: API 653_2_BOX 93

L178-180-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, (Image 37 of 41)

Returning to where this update started, the WP-SP crossing on 1st St. and the Oakland Estuary, the biggest change between the WP roundhouse at the bottom or western edge, and the SP Golden Gate Ferry slip to San Francisco at the foot of Broadway, top or eastern edge, circa 1929 is the completion of the Howard Terminal buildings.

L178-185-George Russell Photo, Courtesy the California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 38 of 41)

The 1913 SP map shows the area of review, no. 56 being the ferry slip.

L178-190-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539, Detail, (Image 39 of 41)

For completeness, the code to the previous figure is provided here.

L178-195-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 106539, (Image 40 of 41)

Ahead to this north view from Jan. 1968, signs of the 1961 closure of the Moore Dry Dock Co. are front and center. So much history in this image. The Kaiser Center, seen toward the upper right corner, was built in 1960 and in 1968 was the tallest structure in Oakland, City Hall now number two. But not for long for either ...

L178-200-Copyright California Department of Transportation 14567-5, Detail , (Image 41 of 41)