Part I – Intro and The Old Bay Point

The area of interest sits to the east of Martinez and contains only one surviving industrial center, Pittsburg, at its eastern border. The region was distinguished by having four railroads, three passing through side-by-side and enriching industrial growth and opportunity.

L137-05-Courtesy Contra Costa County Public Works, (Image 1 of 21)

With the exception of Pittsburg and its precursor, Rancho Los Medanos, the other towns in this region did not derive from a pre-existing rancho. The outlay of the land and its development were significantly influenced by the two railroads that passed through its center in the late 1880s. Ref: Official map of Contra Costa County, California: compiled from private surveys and official records by T.A. McMahon.  Ref: G4363.C6 1908 .M3

L137-10-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 2 of 21)

By 1911, Bay Point was served by four railroads. Two of these were originally built in the 19th century by the San Pablo and Tulare RR Co. and the San Francisco and San Joaquin RR Co., respectively, which by the 20th century were in the hands of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe, respectively. The Cowell Portland Cement Co.’s Clayton and Bay Point RR and Oakland and Antioch Railway began in 1906 and 1911, respectively, the latter known as the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern by 1913. Ref: Weber's map of Contra Costa County, California. Ref: G4363.C6 1914 .W4

L137-15-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, (Image 3 of 21)

Although dated to 1939, this map provides a good representation of the names of the towns, industries, and agricultural products that reflected the output of first quarter of the 20th century along the North Coast. Ref: Contra Costa County, California, showing crops, livestock, and grazing lands ReF: G4363.C6J1 1939 .C6

L137-20-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, (Image 4 of 21)

With the railroads in place to serve a coast line with a deep shipping lane, the region attracted four individuals, Robert A. Smith, Robert N. Burgess, William H. Nichols, and Charles A. Hooper, left to right, whose industrial exploits began transforming the area in the early 1900s. Courtesy the Hathi Trust Digital Library, David Mackesey and Diablo Country Club, Wikimedia Commons and Google Books.

L137-25-Multiple Attributions, (Image 5 of 21)

Having already passed over Martinez and high above Avon, this northeast oblique by George Russell circa late 1920s shows the industries and towns built by three of the four key industrialists and the four railroads that supplied the eastern edge of this region. See the next panel for an annotated version. Ref: 556 API 563_7_BOX 59

L137-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission , (Image 6 of 21)

Annotated version of L137-30 showing major industries, industrial leaders and places, black arrows, and the four railroads serving the area, white arrows. Northeast oblique, circa late 1920s. Appreciate that the homes in Clyde were built by the Clyde Co, however, the government-based financing for this construction was based on the formation of the Pacific Shipbuilding Co. Ref: 556 API 563_7_BOX 59.

L137-31-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 7 of 21)

In March of 2016, John Harder captured this south view across the ex-SN grade crossing down Main St. of the former town of Port Chicago from a moving Amtrak “San Joaquin” train en route from Antioch to Martinez. Since the closure of the Port Chicago Highway in 1995, this scene can only be enjoyed via the train.

L137-35-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 8 of 21)

A grayscale version of L137-35 sets the stage for the next set of images.

L137-36-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 9 of 21)

Forty-nine years earlier, June 24, 1967, John Harder recorded this south view down Main St. of Port Chicago from Messenger Ave., just to the south of the SN grade crossing. After nine or so attempts by the Navy starting in 1952 to raze the town, permission was granted on Apr. 1, 1968; between that date and the end of 1969, the struggle to force those who did not want to leave was complete.

L137-40-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 10 of 21)

The same south view of Bay Point from Messenger Ave., circa 1925, six years before the change of the town’s name to Port Chicago, a public relations ploy that failed to revive industrial activity during the depression.

L137-45-Courtesy Concord Historical Society, (Image 11 of 21)

And finally, Aug. 31, 1916, a view of Bay Point taken from Oakland Antioch and Eastern passenger train “Comet, Train #2”. With this, a tour of Bay Point during its industrial hey-day begins. This image, and the ones to follow are derived from a photo album of largely undated images left to the Western Railway Museum without an author or explanation for its contents ...

L137-50-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95576cv, (Image 12 of 21)

First, new homes in Bay Point.

L137-55-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95558cv, (Image 13 of 21)

A school in Bay Point. As a related aside, the name Bay Point originated with the name given to the first area Contra Costa County school district in 1857 covering Pacheco to Pittsburg, or as the latter was known then, “New York of the Pacific”.

L137-60-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95556cv, (Image 14 of 21)

The post office, with Evangeline Hanson taking center court in the photo.

L137-65-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95564cv, (Image 15 of 21)

The Santa Fe Depot with Evangeline, Jean and Bud. The view is to the southeast based on the depot position relative to the stand of trees behind it.

L137-70-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95567cv, (Image 16 of 21)

It even snowed in Bay Point, at least once.

L137-75-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95577cv, (Image 17 of 21)

Evangeline Hanson, again, this time with an unidentified woman with a flying machine "Made in Bay Point". Again, that landmark stand of trees to the northeast can be seen in this frame.

L137-80-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95578cv, (Image 18 of 21)

And now more central to the plot of this story, an unidentified woman and children in a car whose banner is extolling the virtues of the CA Smith Lumber Co. ...

L137-85-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95579cv, (Image 19 of 21)

... even at the 4th of July Parade.

L137-90-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 95557cv, (Image 20 of 21)

And finally, Charles Axel Smith, 1911. Born in Sweden in 1852, he developed his lumber business in Minneapolis in 1884 before extending to Oregon at Coos Bay, and eventually Bay Point, and even Oakland. He didn’t invent the name “Bay Point”, but he got it placed on the map. More in the next segment as the history continues. Appreciation to Dean McLeod for sharing his notes on historical events.

L137-95-Courtesy the Hathi Trust Digital Library, (Image 21 of 21)