Oakland Ave - Harrison St in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Connell Motor Company

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 10, 2022

1. Connell Motor Company Marker

Inscription. This building incorporates elements of the 1946-47 Connell Motor Company building. Located on the former site of St. Mary's College (1889-1929), the building was developed by W. A. Connell as an Oldsmobile dealership, showroom, and service garage. Upper Broadway was locally recognized as "auto row” as early as 1915.

Oakland-based architect Alben Froberg and contractor Christensen & Lyons were the designer and builder, respectively, of this postwar dealership. Its streamline moderne architectural style featured rounded corners with wrap-around windows, vertical fins, horizontal lines, neon, and durable industrial materials. these design elements emphasized the idea of "speed” through sleek lines and were common features of buildings as well as automobile and airplane design during the 1940s.

The showroom façade at the corner of Broadway and Hawthorne Avenue has been integrated into this building, developed in 2014-19 by architect Van Tilburg Banvard Soderbergh, contractor Johnstone Boyer, Inc., and developer the Martin Group.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 37° 49.229′ N, 122° 15.677′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County

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. It is in Oakland Ave - Harrison St. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway and Hawthorne Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3093 Broadway, Oakland CA 94611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Saint Mary's College (within shouting distance of this marker); El Camino Rancho San Antonio (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Augustine's Episcopal Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Key Route Train Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); The War With Spain Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); USS Maine Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Paramount Theatre (approx. 0.8 miles away); Morcom Amphitheater of Roses (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.

Also see . . . Connell GMC Pontiac Cadillac (Oakland Wiki).

Excerpt: "...The dealership, originally known as Connell Motor Company and Connell Oldsmobile, moved to this building on May 23, 1947. At the time, Connell Motor Company was the second largest Oldsmobile dealer in the United States...."

(Submitted on March 11, 2022.)

Connell Motor Company Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 10, 2022

2. Connell Motor Company Marker - wide view

The Broadway apartments, incorporating the Connell Motor Company building facade image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 10, 2022

3. The Broadway apartments, incorporating the Connell Motor Company building facade

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.