Oakland Underfoot

Elmhurst Avenue at C Street

Silvio Giuntoli lived at 1159 Elmhurst Avenue and was responsible for the pavement on Elmhurst and the adjoining streets, largely in 1927. There are many excellent marks in this neighborhood, and the work has held up well for nearly 90 years. I chose this mark to feature because it includes the day and month as well as the year.

The 1927 Alameda County phone book lists three Giuntolis, all in Oakland: Norma, a stenographer at the Oakland Fish Company; Pasquino, a plasterer; and Silvio.

115 Catron Drive

Back in 1997, we used to talk about “bitrot,” and here’s an object lesson in why you don’t put URLs in concrete. I wonder where Lilith is now.

11009 Acalanes Drive

I was happy to find anything at all in Sobrante Park.

7815 Sanford Street

9400 block A Street

My guess is that Edgar Yañez was a long-time local resident and not a pro contractor, although both examples of his work are good.

9600 block A Street

The other side of this driveway is signed “Edgar” so I’ll take that as his given name.

9703 Sunnyside Street

I love this mark, which comes 10 years after the latest actual stamp the Jepsen Brothers used and 7 years after leaving a hand-drawn mark elsewhere. I have to think that the brothers were retired by this point, having started the business in 1911. Maybe they lived nearby.