Oakland Underfoot

6 Responses to “1937 – M. Medis”

1. Gene Says:
   18 July 2011 at 8:04 am

   I saw this on my secret stairs walk in Upper Rockridge the other day, along with several others you already have. Any idea when Scenic Ave. was renamed Rockridge Blvd.?

2. Andrew Says:
   18 July 2011 at 9:25 am

   I don’t know when, but you might try teczno.com/old-oakland, where several old street maps are superimposed.

   I enjoyed your photo tour (and book review). That first house is in my 6000 collection on Fotothing, where I have it twice.

   I see that you also documented the 1935 Di Zillo and 1923 DeCarlo marks during your walk. Does the book really mention the sidewalk stamps? I like that.

3. Gene Says:
   18 July 2011 at 6:21 pm

   Yep. For example:
   “A concrete stamp in the driveway at 5587 (Lawton) reads ‘V.B. DECARLO, 4.10.1923’ which gives you an idea of the age of this neighborhood”
   and:
   “Turn left, noting as you go the concrete stamp in front of the house at 6000 (Acacia). It reads, ‘V. Dizillo’, and dates from 1935 — decades before the house itself, a fire replacement, was built.”

   Re: Scenic Ave., the street is labeled Rockridge Blvd. as far back as 1912. I wonder if it was just a mistake on the part of the contractor?

4. Andrew Says:
   18 July 2011 at 8:59 pm

   Not likely. I think the name “Scenic Avenue” is older than 1912. Refresh my memory: Where do you see it?

5. Gene Says:
   18 July 2011 at 9:09 pm

   I don’t remember the exact location, but it was in the 6000 block of Rockridge Blvd. before it splits into North and South at Rockridge Park.

6. Gene Says:
   18 July 2011 at 9:11 pm

   The oldest map on teczno.com/old-oakland that showed the area was 1912. The 1877 one didn’t go that far north.