Watts at 40th Street
This rare 1919 photo shows Watts at 40th street when it was home to the Inlaid Floor Company and the Linde Air Products Company.
Inlaid Floor Co. was an SF-Founded Company that specialized in hardwood floors with patterns and ornamental designs made out of different colored woods. They expanded their operation to Emeryville in 1917 operating out of this warehouse on the north-west corner of Watts and 40th Street and employed about 20 workers with Alfred Gustafson residing as their President.
By 1963, it was occupied by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp. who remained there at least through 1969.
In 1986, it was owned by former Oakland Athletic and Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson who used it to store part of his large collection of classic automobiles.
In 2004, the building was listed as 4057 Watts was occupied by Gallery Istanbul. It’s been occupied by Decorium, a showroom for furniture and rugs, since 2012.
Linde Air Products, located across Watts at 4052, provided compressed gas for welding and cutting metal. Linde is currently the world’s largest industrial gas company.
Foad Satterfield
Anya Horvath and I produced and painted the first public Mural in Emeryville 1974.
The Dutro Building stood where the Hollis Street park is located.
The Historical Society should document this beginning of the Arts Industry in Emeryville.