21st and Filbert Streets, c.1930 1
Liberty Ornamental Iron Works (later Liberty Ornamental Iron and Wire Works) created the decorative iron work and fire escapes for numerous buildings around the East Bay, including the Fox Theatre and the original Castlemont High School.
They were at 2455 Valdez from at least 1923 to 1927. By 1928 they had moved to 21st and Filbert. The last reference in the Tribune is from 1931. This same year, Paul Romak, one of the two original partners in the company, was arrested when he threatened to kill the other partner, and then Mr. Romak subsequently committed suicide. 4 The corporation was suspended by the Franchise Tax Board for failure to file taxes in 1934.
Buildings in Oakland they worked on include:
- Fox Theatre
- Castlemont High School
- Park View Manor Apartments
- Farol Apartments
- Marlborough Apartments
- Fruitvale Professional Building
- Frank Werner Co.
- Alta Arms Apartments
- Earle C. Anthony Packard Showroom
- Twentieth Century Market (later Oakland Ice Arena)
- Moritz A. Rose house
- Alton-Brighton Apartments
- Club Drive Apartments
- Haddon Apartments
- California Hotel
- Alton-Brighton Apartments
no date 3
no date 2
1928 directory ad
Links and References
- BANC PIC 1988.063:19--PIC UC Berkeley Bancroft Library
- BANC PIC 1988.063:20--PIC UC Berkeley Bancroft Library
- BANC PIC 1988.063:21--PIC UC Berkeley Bancroft Library
- Suicide Ends Business Battle Oakland Tribune July 11, 1931
