Sidewalk maker: W. E. Ensor

7 December 2024

William Edwin Ensor (1881-1931) was a Maryland native who came to San Francisco with his wife, the former Mary Agnes Lewis (1874-1961). It was just after the 1906 earthquake, and concrete work was abundant. By 1911 they’d moved permanently to 2708 Tenth Street, Berkeley. They had eight children; their son Charles was also a concrete worker. He and Mary are buried at Sunset View Cemetery in El Cerrito.

In Berkeley he worked at first for the Esterly Construction Company, then later at the Navy yard on Mare Island. His concrete business is first recorded in the 1926 directory, but his sidewalk stamp first appeared in 1922.

I have recorded Ensor’s horseshoe stamp with dates from 1922 to 1931. His nephew Ensor H. Buel adopted the same format for his stamp. He also drew a mark by hand, a rectangle with “ENSOR” inside in large, blocky letters.

1951 – Art G. Moniz

6 December 2024

73rd Avenue at Outlook Avenue

Found this peeking from beneath the sidewalk dirt. Always carry an umpire’s brush for just such occasions.

This is the first “Art G. Moniz” mark I’ve seen. Usually it was “A. G. Moniz.”

1958 – G. W. Griset

5 December 2024

2285 Virginia Street

Griset’s marks are fairly common in Oakland, but they span only a few years from 1950 to 1957.

1910 – Blake & Bilger

4 December 2024

1910g

1862 Arch Street, Berkeley

Blake & Bilger marks are rare and special, so I’m pleased to add a new year’s date from this iconic Oakland firm.

1907 – Hall & Nelsen

3 December 2024

1907i

1876 Arch Street, Berkeley

There is only one example of this mark in Oakland, from 1918.

1906 – Contra Costa Construction Co.

2 December 2024

1906e

2107 Addison Street, Berkeley

This is in front of the Hot Cups Cafe. The building has a plaque on the front, on Shattuck Avenue, stating that it was the first site of the California Academy of Arts and Crafts (now CCA).

1905 – Contra Costa Construction Co.

1 December 2024

1905c

Arch Street, at The Berk (2311 Le Conte Avenue), Berkeley

There’s just one example of this mark in Oakland, from 1904.