Lee Avenue at Perkins Street
This pristine mark, one of two at this locality, is officially the best J. A. Marshall impression in all of Oakland.
Mr. Marshall may be the contractor whose relative, architect Leola Hall, accompanied him and learned the foundations of her trade. However, he may instead be John A. Marshall, listed as a “cementwkr” in the Berkeley directory in 1905.
The peculiar round mark of the Golden Gate Construction Co. is so rare that I had to document this example, one of two at 5519 and 5527 Market Street. The company was in existence in the first decade of the 20th century. Another one is next to Lois the Pie Queen.
34 Montwood Way
There are several of these in the south-side gutters of Malcolm Avenue, all without the last year of the date. This is on a sidewalk, though.
2709 60th Avenue
I have dated examples of M. B. Wiggins’ marks, but there are several on this block in which the space where he wrote the date instead had the letters “OAK.” I didn’t see a date nearby, so I can’t say where these fit in his chronology.
2116 Havenscourt Boulevard
My first example from Lee Railsback was rather poor, so it’s a pleasure to feature this excellent one from a lovely part of East Oakland.
3695 Virden Avenue
Not too many Hayward contractors made it up this far.
5356 Wentworth Avenue
I am guessing that this was made by Frank M. Brown, but he usually used a nice barrel-shaped stamp.
Oakland Underfoot 