Oakland Underfoot

4161 Emerald Street

I think the marketing ploy by which people name their businesses to be listed first in the phone book must date from the 1950s or so. Other than that I have no clue how old this mark is.

Shafter Avenue and Clifton Street

5739 Ross Street

The south block of Ross Street is worth a visit for its ensemble of eccentric homes and matching custom streetscape by Riechel & Bredhoff of Alameda. The Sorensen mark may possibly be a patch job dating from very early after the street was built. This is the first one I’ve seen.

493 Forest Street

The block of Forest just north of the BART line is full of Paul Schnoor marks, including a pair on a set of steps. Paul was the progenitor of the Schnoor dynasty, which included P. Schnoor & Son and Schnoor Bros. So far I haven’t seen any dates on Paul’s marks. Another partial Paul Schnoor is on College near Armanino Court, and others are scattered around lower Rockridge.

Correction: I’ve only found dated Paul Schnoor marks from 1908.

Broadway at Keith Avenue

Broadway near 51st Street

The tantalizing Poblitz stamp may not survive much longer as the building it sits in front of is abandoned and slowly crumbling. The 1921 Oakland phone book lists Earnest Poblitz, “cement wkr” living at 2212 41st Avenue. The 1920 census lists him with the middle initial E.

Kaiser Hospital, Howe Street near Macarthur Boulevard

McGuire Hester is a giant contractor that’s working on the new Kaiser construction. Unfortunately they didn’t date their marks, or this would be a 2008. But since posting this I’ve found one from 2004.