Oakland Underfoot

3408 Mirasol Avenue

Both Riding and L. B. Duffin laid concrete on this block, but it has no Duffin & Riding marks.

3488 Margarita Avenue

Every now and then I glean a new fact about Oakland’s sidewalk contractors. From this hand-drawn mark I now know Hennig’s first initial. This pushes his dates into the 1940s; they go back to 1928 (so far).

The web suggests that this was Otto Albert Hennig, a German immigrant who left a son and three daughters in Oakland. He lived at 3527 Suteo Street (that must have been Suter, in upper Allendale) at the time of the 1940 census.

3449 Oak Knoll Boulevard

3532 Mirasol Avenue

Mr. Fischer did several lots on this street.

3549 Granada Avenue

This can be none other than L. M. Rasmussen leaving this creatively abbreviated mark tucked in the corner of a driveway.

Mirasol Avenue at Granada Avenue

Either Mr. Bohannon was tired and confused, or a bumbling assistant did this.

3425 Mirasol Avenue

D. D. Bohannon did several of the lots on this street, using this hand-drawn mark. First time I’ve come upon his name.