1700 Broadway - Oakland

1913, courtesy Tim Sanchez
Cheney Photo Advertising

1700 Broadway is a 10-story building that has gone by various names over the years. It was designed in 1913 by Walter Reed and constructed by P.J. Walker, and was completed in 1914.

It was originally known as the Thomson Building. It was built by the daughter and son of Peter Thomson, Lucy Fay Thomson and William Edward Thomson, who financed $200,000 for the construction. Some early renderings shows the proposed building as including two towers, but only one was constructed. ^{1, 10}

Beginning in about 1923, it was referred to as the Hutchinson Building, suggesting it had been sold to that construction company. ³ This name often appears associated with 1706 Broadway, but that is part of the same building.

In 1926, it was sold to the Great Western Power Company, ⁴ and became known as the Great Western Power Building. The company did a large remodel in 1928, with Reed and Corlett as architects. ⁵

By 1935, it was known as the Western Professional Building.

The facade of the building was redone in 1958, when it became the First Savings Building. ^6,7,9

The Emporis website says it also underwent renovations in 2002. ⁸

rendering ¹⁰1913 rendering ¹January 1914 ²Cathedral Building in foreground.
Courtesy Tim Sanchez
Cheney Photo AdvertisingMay 19141926 ⁵1958 ⁸1958

1950 Sanborn excerpt

Vehicles in 1913 Photo

#53883#85528#62119

Some of the cars in the 1913 photo can be identified from the license plates. Of particular note is #53883 in the foreground, which is probably a Columbus electric car. It was registered to Bert S. Hubbard, who lived at 586 Vernon Street, and was listed as in the lithographing business in 1911.

Registered Automobiles 1911 California State Printing Office

#85528 was registered to Myers and White. Joseph S. Myers and Willard W. White had a real estate business nearby at 1641 Broadway.

Registered Automobiles 1912 California State Printing Office

#62119 was registered to Mrs. R.E. Flagg of Santa Rosa in January 1912. Marian Lind of Santa Rosa married Rollo Ernest Flagg of Oakland in 1910.

Registered Automobiles 1912 California State Printing Office

SF Evergreen Co.

The wagon that is partially visible behind the electric car appears to belong to the San Francisco Evergreen Company, a florist on Geary Street in SF. The phone number Douglas 5524 is in a San Francisco exchange and in 1913 the number is listed for John Ferrea, SF Evergreen Company.