Waterfront Warehouse District in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District
A National Register Historic District
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
1. Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District Marker
The Waterfront Warehouse District developed as an intermodal distribution hub for the post, the railroads, and the local and regional roads. Coffee, rice, sugar, produce, meat, hides, burlap bags, paper, paint, glass, and building supplies were imported and exported around the world. By the 1920s the district was proclaimed as the “Principal Canned Goods Center of the Pacific Coast” with specifically designed warehouses supporting the shift from bulk staples to individually packaged goods.
Right Here!
Nearly all thirty of the District’s warehouses were converted to wholesale grocery uses by the mid 1930s. Right here, S&W Fine Foods built a new distribution warehouse in 1937 to handle their rapidly growing intermodal needs for canned goods. The Fourth Street side of the warehouse had capacity to receive six rail cars on a spur track; the Jackson Street side handled trucks through twelve loading docks, with the building literally connecting these different modes of transport.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 37° 47.715′ N, 122° 16.16′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Safeway Stores Corporate Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); Former Safeway Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterfront Warehouse District (within shouting distance of this marker); W.P. Fuller and Co. Warehouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); C.L. Greeno Pacific Coast Headquarters (about 400 feet away); Autocar Sales & Service Co. (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Waterfront Warehouse District (about 400 feet away); Western States Grocery (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
More about this marker. Inset Images:
The art piece to the left is a 3D model of the District. The map below is a key to all the buildings and more about their history.
District Legend
# Use; Historic Name (Address); “CAN” Image Credit & Date Photographed
1. Paint; W.P. Fuller and Co. Warehouse (201 3rs St,); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
2. Paint; W.P. Fuller and Co. Warehouse Annex (225
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
2. Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District Marker
3. Grocery; Hyman Davis-S&W Warehouse (225 3rd St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
4. Bags; American Bag Co. Annex (281 3rd St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
5. Bags; American Bag Co. (299 3rd St.); Oakland History Room, 1917
6. Grocery; S&W Fine Foods Inc. Warehouse (200 4th St.); Port of Oakland Compass, July 1937
7. Grocery; Safeway Stores Corporate Headquarters (201 4th St.); Safeway Stores Archive, ca. 1950s
8. General Supply; General Supply Co. (220 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
9. Grocery/Coffee; Western States Grocery Co. (247 4th St.); Oakland Tribune Yearbook, 1930
10. Upholstery/Bedding; C.L. Greeno Co. Pacific Coast (255 4th St.); Jack London Neighborhood Assoc., 1999
11. Grocery; Oakland Wholesale Grocery Co. Inc. Annex (267 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
12. Paper; Nelson Lee Paper (270 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
13. Produce; Makins Produce Co. Warehouse (278 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
14. Grocery; Oakland Wholesale Grocery Co. Inc. Annex (283 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
15.
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
3. Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District Marker
16. Machine Shop; Impurgia Warehouse (302 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1983
17. Poultry; Oakland Poultry Co. (308 4th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
18. Plumbing Supply; Oakland Plumbing Supply, P.E. O’Hair & Co. (309 4th St.); Port of Oakland Compass, June, 1936
19. Storage Yard; Oakland Plumbing Supply, P.E. O’Hair & Co. (311 4th St.).
20. Tools; Western Tool & Supply (287 5th St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
21. Smoked Meat; Davidson Pork Products (220 Alice St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1983
22. Trucks & Car Sales; Autocar Sales and Service Co. (401 Alice St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
23. Grocery; United Grocers Company Warehouse (428 Alice St.); Oakland Cultural heritage Survey, 1982
24. Eggs; Poultry Producers of Central California Distribution Center (229 Harrison St.); Oakland Cultural Survey, 1982
25. Sugar/Rice; Saroni Wholesale Sugar and Rice Warehouse (318 Harrison St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
26. Ventilation Structure; George A. Posey Tube Oakland Portal (415 Harrison St.); Jack London Neighborhood Assoc.,
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
4. Marker Photograph Collage
27. Bearings; Industrial Bearing Co. (417 Harrison St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
28. Fish; Western California Fish Co. (4256 Harrison St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
29. Shrimp/Soy; Quong Tai Shrimp Company (432-38 Harrison St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
30. Poultry; Amaro Poultry Market Building (401 Jackson St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1983
31. Glass; Tyre Bros. Glass Co. (300-10 Webster St.); John Harder, 1975
32* Meat; Cudahy Packing Co. (240 3rd St.); Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 1982
33* Freight Depot; Western Pacific Railroad (288 3rd St.); [Left photo] Oakland History Room, 1912; [Right photo] Ralph Demoro (John Harder Collection). 1951
* Demolished prior to National Register of Historic Places designation
This window display is in the former location of the warehouse truck loading docks. S&W Fine Foods shipped Hawaiian papaya juice, Louisiana rice, Florida grapefruit, New York applesauce, Maine blueberries, Indian tea, Central and South American coffee, and many other food commodities both locally and world-wide.
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
5. Marker Photograph Collage
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 12, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.
