I have created a series of pages covering the streets of Stockton. Scroll down the page or click on a link at the left to see another page. These pages grew put of my love for both architecture and photography. The old photos came from various sources such as The California Photo Library, Calisphere, Library of Congress, UOP Archives, USC Library. OAC Library, friends Facebook and many others. I literally photographed thousands of photos of Stockton buildings. I continue to photograph Stockton on an ongoing basis.
When viewing photos on this page, you can click on a thumbnail to enlarge it and click again to reduce the size. Once you've enlarge a photo, you can turn the page into a slide show by clicking on the arrows shown in the enlargement. At the right of the page is an RSS feed, typically updated with fresh content hourly. Come back tomorrow and the topics covered will be different. I have included many topics on the various pages, including architecture, photography, books camera equipment reviews. Hover over the box at rightÊ and you will find a browser bar to control the feed content. These pages are an ongoing project with changes being made regularly. Enjoy!
The photos on this page are a collection of past and present.
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224 N. American - Kustom Work
225 N. American - LaTeer & Spiro Motor Car Repairs / JJ Schmelz Auto Body Repairs (1950)
245 N. American - Thomas Ambulance Service
315 N. American - Tatton Tire / HS Lux auto Repair (1950)
321 N. American - Martin Sign Company
335 N. American - Four Square Church (1957) / 349 N. American (1942)
600 Block of N. American St. - Former El Dorado Brewery -
710 N. American St. - Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Safety Office - Right photo by Ron Chapman
821 N. American St - Original Temple Israel - Built in 1855 A simple clapboard siding building, it's one of Stockton’s oldest buildings and also the oldest surviving synagogue structure in California. Originally constructed near Miner Avenue and El Dorado Street it seated 200 and served surrounding counties. The building was moved to this site in 1905 and converted to apartments. Located in the Magnolia Historic Preservation District. The oldest building on the city register, the building was added to the city register by resolution number 39,264 on July 26, 1982 - Center photo, 2008, right photo 2013
South American Street
11 S. American - Esquire Theatre Building
20 S. American - Zunstein Apartments
22 S. American - Elite Shoe Service
24 S. American - Kay's Salon of Beauty
24 1/2 S. American - Roy's Auto Park
26 S. American - A1 Lock & Key
28 S. American St.- Merrill Hotel - Built in 1925 - Stockton City Directories show no listing for this address until 1930. Between 1930 and 1945, Turner Hardware occupied this building.Ê A neon sign mounted on the facade and a painted sign on the side of this building announced it as the Hotel Merrill. By 1940 and through 1950.
Over the years there have been many businesses in this building
30 S. American - The Lucca Restaurant - (1930)
32 S. American - Norma's Wig Affair
34 S. American - Friendly Jewelry Co / Farmer Bros Coffee (1950)
36 S. American - Valley Shade Shop / Delbert Fisher Window Shades (1950)
38 S. American - Stockton Credit Plate / Tony Chin Laundry (1950)
40 S. American - Golden State Store / Brown's Costume Shop (1959) / Cecil's Safe, Lock & Key (1950)
48 S. American - Cirilo's Bar / Gene's Restaurant (1959) / Tony's Liquors (1950)
110 S. American - Felix & Betty's Cafe / Vera & Art's Restaurant (1959) - Demolished to expand the Stockton Record building
112 S. American - ADT Security / Warnkee Printing - Demolished to expand the Stockton Record building
114 S. American - Redmen's Hall - Demolished to expand the Stockton Record building
130 S. American - San Joaquin Local Health District - Demolished to expand the Stockton Record building
302 S. American - M&M Market - Demolished - Now a vacant lot
323 S. American St.
323 S. American St. - Deadass Junction / Former American Body Shop
323 S. American St. - Deadass Junction / Former American Body Shop
945 S. American St. Former Billy Hebert residence. Billy Hebert, learned to play baseball in the city recreation department's boys' league and played with the Junior Legion for Karl Ross Post. Hebert was a scrappy second baseman in the minor leagues before, at 22, he was killed in the Solomon Islands in 1942 during World War II. He was the nation's first professional ballplayer killed in action.
1602 S. American - Hazel Kirby Grocery (1940) >
North Aurora Street
24 N. Aurora - Former Rolla-Torium / General Electric Supply Corp. Also a 910 E. Weber Address
34-36 N. Aurora St.
347 N. Aurora at Lindsay. / 112 S. Center - In 1902 they were Gravem Brothers Bakery (Retail Store). By 1920 they had become Gravem-Inglis Bakery. By 1955 they were Gravem-Inglis Sunbeam Baking Co.Ê - 1900-1915 - left photo - Ken Piper - 147 N. Aurora - George Wolfe Grocer - 1903 - Left photo, 2014
446 N. Aurora St. - Aurora Body Works
540 N. Aurora St / former Carnation Company / Gloria Ice Cream Company - Demolished
620 N. Aurora St - 940 E. Park Street. Sears Roebuck Building - Originally used by the Sunset Door and Sash Co., this vernacular style structure is the oldest massive brick industrial complex still standing in Stockton. Remodeled in 1916, it became the Sears, Roebuck and Company’s only mail order distribution center in California until 1927. Sears’ extensive stock ranged from baby carriages to windmills to feeding molasses. The building was added to the city register by resolution number 86-0274 on May 12, 1986.
Top left two photos by Kathy Wetzel - 2 left photos by Cathy Wetzel, 3rd from left Dan Cort. Far Right Floyd Perry Jr
702 N. Aurora Street - Valley Mountain Regional Center
South Aurora Street
14 S. Aurora St - Former Automatic Coin Equipment Co.
24 S. Aurora St - Former General Electric Supply Company
30 S. Aurora StÊ - Former Market Wholesale Grocery
Aurora between Main & Market - F. Watrous Feed-Sales - 1890s - Imperial Hotel showing at the left of the photo - A different building appears on the 1917.Sanbom map. Based on the Sanborn maps an addition was constructed to the rear of the structure between 1917 and 1950. This building was constructed in the early 1900s and Is similar to other structures on the block. Railroad tracks come to the rear of the building. The Remington Imperial Garage is listed in 1925.and through 1930. There is no listing in 1935, but by 1940, Baldwin and Remington Auto Repair occupied the building. By 1945, Pierce Harless Service Station Equipment is listed in the Directory
30 S. Aurora - Constructed in 1918, the building appears only on the 1950 Sanborn map. Stockton City Directories show no listing at this address until1930, when it was occupied by lnternational Trucks. By 1935, B. L Remington Garage (who also occupied the building next door at 20 S. Aurora) is listed. By 1940, Devine & Willard Auto Trucks were at this address. The building changed hands by 1945, when the Kraft Cheese Company had a facility here, and again by 1950, when the Republic Supply Company of California occupied the building.
34 S. Aurora St. - New York Apartments / Former New York Hotel Also 901 East Market St The 1917 Sanborn maps notes the building as the Hate/New York, with a bar, restaurant, and storage on the first floor. Though a plaque on the building gives a 1910 construction date, the first listing in Stockton City Directories was In 1915. The New York Hotel was listed here through at feast 1950. Its proximity to the rail lines meant that this area was able to support a large number of hotels and temporary housing. - Today it's the New York Apartments.
35 S. Aurora - Althouse Eagal Ford - 35 S. Auroa St. - Althouse - Eagal Co. In 1919 John Eagal and a partner named Althouse opened a Fordson Dealership. A Fordson is shown here loaded aboard a 1919 Federal Truck - Photo posted by Stewart Barber
37 S. Aurora St. - Oxford Hotel / Built in 1918 - The Oxford Hotel occupies the upstairs of the main building. It consists of 32 rooms occupied by hotel residents (including a 2 bedroom quarter where the resident manager resides)
39 S. Aurora St. at Market St - Aurora Welding Works - 1920s
132 S. Aurora - Mark-Ease
145-165 S. Aurora - Mark-Ease
Aurora & Washington
Aurora & Church - Holt Manufacturing - 1915 - Charles, Benjamin and Frank incorporated the Holt Bros. Company on January 7, 1892, to deal in lumber and iron. Four days later, they also filed incorporation papers for "Holt Manufacturing Company" with Charles H. Holt, Benjamin Holt, Frank A. Holt, G. H. Cowie and G. L. Dickenson as directors. The Holt Bros. Company formed a subsidiary, the "The Stockton Wheel Company", to build the wheels. Stockton was an ideal location, as it could be reached by sea-going ship via the San Joaquin River, 72 miles (116 km) east of San Francisco, and was hot enough to season woods in a way that would prepare them for use in the arid valleys of California and the deserts of the West. The factory cost US$65,000 (or about $1,815,840 ) to build and used a 40-horsepower Corliss steam engine that had been manufactured in Providence, Rhode Island, and shipped around Cape Horn. All of the plant's machines were driven by belts connected to the Corliss engine
On April 22, 1918, British General Ernest Dunlop Swinton (right) traveled to Stockton, California, to publicly honor Benjamin Holt (left) and the company for their contribution to the war and to relay England's gratitude to the inventor for helping to win World War I. Benjamin Holt was recognized by the General at a public meeting held in Stockton.
527 S. Aurora & Hazelton - Former Engine House Number 6
Holt Manufacturing Company was building caterpillar type tanks for the British Army Tank Corps in the first World War when they arranged a contract with the City of Stockton to build, house, and partial staff a fire company. The contract, initiated on July 27, 1917, specified Holt constructing the house, buying an American La France Auto Pumper, and leasing the items to the city. Left photo by Ron Chapman
946 S. Aurora - JL Kelley Horses & Mules - Photo by Kevin
1000 Block Aurora & Jefferson - Samson iron Works - Left photos courtesy ofÊ Dennis Doughtery
2208 S. B Street - Nena's Mexican Restaurant
Bridge Street
125 Bridge Place - B&M Building / Sherwood Hotel / Mason Hotel / Briedenbach Hotel / Philadelphia HouseÊ - Constructed sometime during the 1860s and 1870s. City Directory listings for 123-129 Bridge Street indicate that it was the Philadelphia House, Charles Spengemann Proprietor during the 1880s, then by 1895 it was still called the Philadelphia House but Flechlin & Back were the proprietors. In 1900-01 it was identified as the Philadelphia House. In 1912 it was called the Briedenbach Hotel with Agnes McAleer as the proprietor. Then from 1915 to 1925 it was known as the Bridge and Mason Hotel. Other commercial uses that faced Bridge Street included the B&M Liquors. In the 1940s it was known as the Sherwood Hotel. Study of plat records indicate that Joseph Briedenback owned this land and the building for a considerable period of time from the 1880s through at least the 1920s.
The City Directory information for 128-132 E. Channel Street indicates that in 1935, 130 Channel was occupied by Sweet Morris Bags, 132 was vacant, 136 was occupied by A.R. Stonn, a painter.· During portions of the 1940s this side of the building was vacant and then in 1950 132 Channel was occupied by Valley Wholesale Drug Co.
121 Bridge Place - Philadelphia House - Built by Joseph Bridenback in 1871
125 Bridge Pl. - B&M Cafe Tavern
129 Bridge Pl. - Sherwood Hotel in 1976 / Mason Hotel (1928)
221 N. A Street - Richmond Chase Plant No 7 - Employees from Richmond-Chase Company, plant no. 7. 1920 Panoramic group photograph of uniformed workers of Richmond-Chase Company canning plant no. 7 in Stockton. During the busy seasons the Richmond-Chase Company employed from 1,500 to 2,000 people in the various departments.
Acacia Street
Dameron Hospital - 1914 - 525 W. Acacia Street
Dameron Hospital - - Dr. John Dameron founded Dameron Hospital in Stockton in 1912 with facilities for 20 patients. Ill health prompted him to sell the organization to a group of local doctors, staff and businessmen in 1925, and expansion in 1927 brought bed capacity up to 55. The hospital was incorporated as Dameron Hospital Association in 1943, becoming an independent, not-for-profit medical facility governed by a seven-person board of directors and a 20-member board of membershipleft photo - 1914 - Bottom left photo 1927
North American Street
16 N. American St. - Dean's Jewelry
Hotel Terry - 19 N. American and 533-543 E. Main / 19 N. American St. - Hotel Terry and 533-543 E. Main - Built in 1912 - Originally called the Hotel Rex
20-30 N. American St. Former Montgomery Ward. By 1950, Montgomery Ward & Co. occupied 20-30 North American. The 1950 Sanborn Map shows the owner as Montgomery Ward & Co. Courtesy of Covert V. Martin. 20-30 N. American St. Former Montgomery Ward.
Today it's a parking lot. -
31 N. American - looking West American Street Parking - Santos Auto Park Inn 1941-1950
33 N. American St. - Alex Floral
48 N.American Former Thrifty Drug - Courtesy of Floyd Perry Jr 48 N. American - Factory 2 U
107 N. American - City Parking Lot / Ted's Boneless Beef (1950)
125 N. American - Stockton Generator Exchange / Ted's Meat Company (1950)
140 North American Street - Recent Photo Gaia Delucchi Delicatessen & Grocery Store - Demolished - Sanborn Maps of Stockton show the site as vacant in 1917. The 1950 Sanborn Map recorded the present building. Gaia Delucchi Delicatessen was originally located on Market Street. The business was moved to the N. American Street location in the late 1920s. Stockton City Directories list A. J. Gault Auto as an occupant of 140 N. ·American by 1935 and through 1945. Gaia Delucchi Co. is listed as the sole occupant by 1950. It was example of an industrial architecture influenced by the Art Deco Style. The Delucchi family was well-known in Stockton, and famous for their Italian foods. A Studebaker dealer occupied the building from 1935 through 1945,Ê Later Gaia Delluchi was located here. it was a two-story stucco clad building with an Art Deco architectural style. 140 North American Street Former Studebaker - Gaia Delucchi Delicatessen & Grocery Store
141 N. American - Honor Parking / Dana Motors Auto Repair (1958)
200 N. American - Foto Art Engraving / TW Cain Shoe Repair (1950)
210 N. American St - Madrid's Auto Repair / Federal Mogol Service Bearings / Curtiss Brown Machine Shop (1950)
216 N. American St - Stanley Steemer
220 N. American - Former Independent Parking Lot
221 N. American - Pacific Telephone & Telegraph / Ralph's Restaurant Supplies
Stockton Acacia-Bridge Pl. History & PhotosGene Wright .
221 N. A Street - Richmond Chase Plant No 7 - Employees from Richmond-Chase Company, plant no. 7. 1920 Panoramic group photograph of uniformed workers of Richmond-Chase Company canning plant no. 7 in Stockton. During the busy seasons the Richmond-Chase Company employed from 1,500 to 2,000 people in the various departments.
Background Image
Dameron Hospital 525 W. Acacia Street