Oakland Underfoot

3286 California Street

Had to feel this one out with my fingers to be sure of the date.

3719 Laurel Avenue

With the series that begins today and runs through the end of the month, I want to thank and acknowledge Nancy, who has kept her eyes on this area for more than a year before I arrived to survey things. She mentioned this mark in 2012, and it’s taken me until now to work my way over here.

If you’re still reading, Nancy, I hope you’ve been enjoying all the work that Rosas Brothers has been doing in the Laurel neighborhood these days.

Magee Avenue at Kansas Street

Brown Avenue at Kansas Street

A new latest date for Nick Ferri.

3500 block Kansas Street

Okay, I’ve recorded lots of old W. (B.) Pool marks and lots of younger G. Pool marks, and now I come upon this, a W. G. Pool mark. It’s clearly not “W. & G. Pool,” and the lettering is in the style of G. Pool. This is actually early in the record for G. Pool, who goes from 1938 into the 1950s, so maybe he was playing around with his name at the time.

3630 Patterson Avenue

Behold a mystery: This mark by one of the Pool family members is made with a stamp and not hand-drawn. I’m documenting this mark because my previous example, from not far away, is cracked. Looking at both, I see the same nicks that appear around the edges of the letters in the old P. Ryan mark, as if they were deployed like a branding iron.

3666 Patterson Avenue

Some very nice Gus Johnson marks in this neighborhood.