Loves labor lost. The most endearing of sidewalks stamps, Martinez Concrete Co. (MCC)
is not named in Town ordinaces, minutes, or resolutions nor in phone books or directories.
According to the Martinez Historical Society,
Thompson Street became Masonic Street in 1984. However, one can tell by the
overlapping WPA curb extensions that Martinez Concrete Co. existed before 1938.
It may not pick up in the photo to right, but "Thompson" and a MCC heart was first put in
the wrong direction and an attempt made to fill it in. Not pictured, the SE corner of Estudillo and Mellus and the
NW corner of Estudillo and Allen have double stamped MCC hearts.
MCC concrete is grossly grained and there are
often grooves in the rectangular margins that run perpendicular to the direction of the walk. To date, the MCC heart has only been found in
about 10 places mostly on the east side of Estudillo from Masonic Street down to
Brown, and on the west side from the creek up to Allen.
Pictured at left is mid street slightly south of Susana Street. We are indebted to the WPA who worked around the
Martinez Heart stamps and preserved them when adding curbs. We are also indebted to the man who owns and refurbished the newly papaya colored cottages at the SE corner of Estudillo and
Brown and whom took painstaking measures and measurements to save the sidewalk stamp heart and street names when he redid the curb. Note
meticulous curvature. The heart was already faded, and now because of the flood is almost indiscernable.
However, the street names remain and Martinez appreciates you, Papaya House
Guy!
Unless indicated, all photographs and contents copyright 2006 by Kristin Henderson
