Part III – The Archeology of Burgess’ Bridge

Take the Amtrak “San Joaquin” from Martinez to Antioch or vice versa and while still on original SP track just east of the Kinney Blvd. rail-auto bridge a solitary pillar will appear to the south. What was the function of this pillar and did it hold any significance for the industry of the North Coast? South view, 2016.

L142-05-John Harder Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 1 of 25)

An east view of the pillar from the Kinney Blvd. rail-auto bridge confirms the absence of any associated structures that might provide a clue as to its previous function.

L142-10-Stuart Swiedler Photo, (Image 2 of 25)

An aerial comparison between 1939 and 2015 shows that the pillar, yellow arrow in both panels, was part of an overpass, orange arrows, of the SP and Santa Fe railroads in 1939. It appears to be supporting a single railroad track, appreciated best by the large orange arrow, originating off the SN south of the SN-Port Chicago Highway grade crossing.

L142-15-Courtesy Google , (Image 3 of 25)

Robert Noble Burgess, the early 20th century Bay Area entrepreneur, was behind the construction of this overpass. Whereas his many exploits in the East Bay primarily involved real estate acquisition and sale to local interests - the Moraga Company, the Diablo Country Club, Lakewood Estates in Walnut Creek, the Burgess tract in Concord, and the Foskett-Elworthy ranches in Contra Costa - this venture had an added twist; construction of a shipbuilding facility on his land with government money.

L142-20-Courtesy David Mackesey and Diablo Country Club, (Image 4 of 25)

Burgess needed a way to connect his shipyard to the former Government Ranch, land he acquired after previous owners, many of California’s political and financial elites, failed to capitalize on its potential value. Even access to electric rail service in 1911 was not enough for Burgess to see any return on his investment. Ref: G4364.C556G46 1918 .S5

L142-25-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley , (Image 5 of 25)

Before presenting the details of Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Co. and the construction of the town of Clyde, this update will review basic overpass archeology as background. Here George Russell's aerial directs the view to the northeast along the SP and Santa Fe to Bay Point circa 1929 with his point of focus Burgess’ Bridge. Go to the next detail. Ref: API 563_8_BOX 59114

L142-30-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission , (Image 6 of 25)

Details of the overpass with the Coos Bay Lumber Co. and Bay Point railroad operations in the background can be appreciated in this northeast view circa 1929. Note the Bay Point and Clayton RR box cars showing that railroad's path under the overpass as well, information useful to interpret the next image. Ref: API 563_8_BOX 59114.

L142-35-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 7 of 25)

Now appreciate Ralph Demoro’s 1942 northeast view of Santa Fe 1338 heading west at the Santa Fe-Bay Point and Clayton RR split west of the overpass. At this point, Burgess’ Bridge is cut off from rail traffic from either direction.

L142-40-Ralph Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 8 of 25)

Demoro recognized the oddity of this structure and produced this panoramic record from a point further west of 142-40, east view, 1942.

L142-45-Ralph Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 9 of 25)

Now ahead to May 25, 1944, the Navy is fully entrenched north of the railroad corridor. A detail of Burgess’ Bridge is next. Ref: RG 181 NN373-91 Box 2 ARC ID 5751983 05 25 44 NAS Ala CA

L142-50-US Navy Photo, Courtesy the National Archives of San Francisco , (Image 10 of 25)

The overpass has been reduced even further from the 1942 image. North view from May 25, 1944. Ref: RG 181 NN373-91 Box 2 ARC ID 5751983 05 25 44 NAS Ala CA.

L142-55-US Navy Photo, Courtesy the National Archives of San Francisco , (Image 11 of 25)

Next a west view post-Port Chicago explosion in late July 1944 as indicated by the condition of the building in the foreground. A detail is next. RG 181 NN373-91 Vol 5 A 17-25 ALAM 12002

L142-60-US Navy Photo, Courtesy the National Archives of San Francisco , (Image 12 of 25)

The detail of west view, late July 1944, with the red arrow pointing to the only pillar remaining today.

L142-65-US Navy Photo, Courtesy the National Archives of San Francisco , (Image 13 of 25)

Further observations include that no images prior to the ones shown could be found save this northwest view of the construction of the overpass circa 1919 with the interesting Cowell Portland Cement Co.-Bay Point and Clayton RR combination pushing the lone passenger car toward the cement plant

L142-70-Courtesy Contra Costa Historical Society, 310, (Image 14 of 25)

Correspondences that launched the discussions between Burgess and the railroads on the topic of the overpass could not be found. Letters starting in 1918 with this one to Harry Mitchell signaled the inclusion of Melville Dozier, Jr., successful civil engineer and railroad builder and not so successful railroad executive, on this project to determine the feasibility of an overpass.

L142-75-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 38562, (Image 15 of 25)

Additional letters by mid-1918 summarized negotiations amongst the four railroads, county considerations as well the Railroad Commission. In the end, of course, it all came down to money, most of which was either paid for or loaned with government money from Burgess’ Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Co.

L142-80-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 38562 , (Image 16 of 25)

By Nov. 1918, Dozier had all the particulars aligned, and although it was not documented, construction of the overpass could not have started until 1919.

L142-85-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 38562, (Image 17 of 25)

Here presented are the plans for the new overpass from Nov. 1918. Note north is to the left portion of the figure.

L142-90-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 37026sn, (Image 18 of 25)

A detail of the plans highlighting the take-offs from the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Railway and the Bay Point and Clayton RR, respectively, south of the county road crossing, i.e., the future Port Chicago Highway, and joining to form a single track for the bridge north of the highway crossing. Again, note north is to the left.

L142-95-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 37026sn Detail, (Image 19 of 25)

A confirmatory diagram of the track alignment for the overpass, here a detail taken from the 1918 map from L-142-25. Note north in this diagram is the top of the figure in this image.

L142-100-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley, Detail, (Image 20 of 25)

Now a return to L142-30, George Russell’s northeast-oriented aerial circa 1929 to make some closing points. No image or document was found to confirm that Burgess’ Bridge was ever used for rail traffic. By 1929, operations at the shipbuilding company were winding down, so the discussion of the detail of this image to be shown next must be qualified. Ref: API 563_8_BOX 59114

L142-105-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission , (Image 21 of 25)

The detail from L142-105, northeast-oriented aerial circa 1929, confirms the SN connection to the overpass, but not one for the Bay Point and Clayton RR; note the string of 12 boxcars on the latter’s mainline. The spacing of poles for the SN connection is inconsistent with this track having any overhead wire. Ref: API 563_8_BOX 59114

L142-110-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, Detail, (Image 22 of 25)

With still much to be solved about the functional importance of Burgess’ Bridge, the next update on North Coast industry will focus on the evolution of the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Co., seen here just south of the Seal Islands in a southeast view, circa 1929. Great appreciation to John Harder and Steven Lane for direct participation in this archeological dig. Ref: API 563_12_BOX 59117

L142-115-George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission, (Image 23 of 25)

Appreciation to local historian and Burgess enthusiast David Mackesey who found this image and secured it for this presentation. A northeast view, Aug. 1929. A detail of the train bridge follows ... Ref: O-1616_Aug-1929, UCLA Department of Geography, Benjamin and Gladys Thomas Air Photo Archives, Fairchild Aerial Surveys Collection

L142-120-Contributed by David Mackesey, (Image 24 of 25)

A detail of L142-120, northeast view, Aug. 1929.

L142-125-Contributed by David Mackesey, Detail, (Image 25 of 25)