Oakland Underfoot

I know I’ve talked about the A.B.C.W. before — read that post for the living connection to today — but this week’s post is just to record a splendid example of the sidewalk stamp, in Berkeley at the corner of Shasta and Tamalpais Roads.

The sidewalks paved by the Oakland Paving Company’s union workers, everywhere I’ve seen them, are second to none. A hundred years old and they’re strong as ever. And the design shows such pride. A hundred years from now the concrete being poured today might match this old stuff in strength, but the new sidewalks will never match the old ones in character.

Acacia Avenue at Golden Gate Avenue

In 1913, when the Oakland Paving Company laid down this sidewalk, Golden Gate had its original name of Hays Avenue.

Here’s another dated and signed corner. Oakland Paving Company made it in 1913. However, Hays Avenue was renamed Golden Gate Avenue and McAdam Street became first Broadway Terrace, then Romany Road. You have to be careful what you put in concrete. In fact you’ll see that the pavers used a “V” to spell “Hays.”