Coalinga in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Webb Building

Opened February 1906 – Destroyed by Earthquake May 1983

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 22, 2013

1. Webb Building Marker

Inscription. It was built by A.E. Webb, an Englishman, who came to join English friends A.P. May and Elgar Adams in homesteading on the Los Gatos. The building was two stories tall with a full basement. It was built as a monument to Coalinga’s future. The Webb Building was three months old on April 18, 1906, when it sustained damage to the parapet around the top, from the 8.3 San Francisco earthquake. Mr. Webb sold the building to Mr. Frank Berman in 1920. It was then known as the Berman Building for 55 years. Mr. Berman ran a department store until 1959, then sold it to his son Mr. J. Alfred Berman. J. Alfred Berman operated the business through 1974.

Mr. and Mrs. Mitsuo “Herb” Watanabe purchased the drug store in the Berman Building in 1965 from Mr. Lester Byers. The Watanabe’s purchased the building in 1975 from J. Alfred Berman.

Erected by Coalinga Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 18, 1906.

Location. 36° 8.396′ N, 120° 21.629′ W. Marker is in Coalinga, California, in Fresno County. It is at the intersection of Coalinga Plaza (North 5th Street) and West Elm Street, on the right when traveling north on Coalinga Plaza (North 5th Street). Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Coalinga Plaza, Coalinga CA 93210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Earthquake of 1983 (a few steps from this marker); Amy Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 5th Street, Coalinga 1912 (within shouting distance of this marker); Crescent Meat Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank of Coalinga (within shouting distance of this marker); Bordagaray’s (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Rockwell Building (about 300 feet away); Coalinga Opera House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coalinga.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 22, 2013

2. Webb Building Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 789 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.