Exploring
Union City’s Smith Street
History
Smith Street in Old Alvarado dates back to the 1850s. Known as the former capital of Alameda County, the town had a population of over 800 people. It was home to a considerable number of factories; the most successful being a beet-sugar factory. The area was also rich in salt lands and marshes, which many people transformed into their own personal farmlands and production. As the area was extremely fertile, it was an easy road for people to grow produce, fruits,
and sugar beets. A vast variety of businesses were well represented at the time, as well. The postmaster at the time, Henry Smith, was the individual behind this successful settlement. He lived in Union City’s former courthouse, which was also located on the street.
Background image: The Union City Historical Museum’s signage, #3.
Old Alvarado was the hot spot for many. A diverse number of people ranging from senators to judges would stay at the Alvarado Hilton, which was located at the corner of Union City Blvd and Smith Street. Oakland Water Company’s pumping plant and artesian wells, which were first established on this road, have been flowing for over 40 years. As years passed, Smith Street became populated with more stores and people. In the early 90s, the first financial firm was opened. This building was called the Alvarado Bank. The Old Alvarado area is an historical district with older homes and buildings. Although the street has seen some modernization, buildings and landmarks of the old civilization are still present, now designated historical by the City of Union City.
Present Day
Presently, Smith is a place of operation for local small businesses such as restaurants and clothing stores. Stores that sell items that have become popular in the more recent years have also started to emerge, such as plant shops and nail salons. Many buildings have been refurbished, as well.
As the city revamps Old Alvarado into a place of modernization, remnants of the old settlement are still apparent. Smith Street is adorned with buildings that display a variety of type styles. From metal to vinyl, there is an endless collection of type families living in Old Alvarado.
A knockout that pays homage to Smith Street’s history.
A sign that pays homage to Union City’s current population, displayed in a metal, serif style, #11 on the map.
A collection of metal numbers from various buildings that adorn Smith Street.
Metal Type
Evidence of the past settlement is evident on the street with knockout metal type found on the outside of the Old Alvarado park. The knockout reads “Historic District Alvarado” and is broken up by another knockout, this time, of a beet. This might be paying homage to the old sugar-beet factories that were once on the street. Various manhole covers also adorn the street that also contain raised, metal type.
Metal, sans serif type that can be found on a manhole cover, #7.
Serif
On the older buildings on either side of the street, serif fonts can be seen. For example, type at the top of the Loyola Building and the numbers on the buildings following that a serif type style. Across the street from Bronco Billy’s is a public parking lot. The signage for the lot features a serif type style that is engraved into the metal display.
Serif-style numbers on the Loyola building, #9.
A parking sign with a serif type face, #12.
An overview of the Loyola Building and Hippie’s Brew signage. #9.
Sans Serif
To pay homage to the founders of the street, Union City established a museum. The signage for the building reads “Union City Historical Museum”. The building itself has the same text written on it, while being displayed in a serif, all caps, font. Throughout the street, there are also multiple water heater boxes with type engraved onto their surfaces.
All caps, sans serif type seen atop a water box.
#3 on the map: Signage for Union City’s museum. It features an all caps, sans serif typeface.
Variations of sans serif type on a metal plate.
A traffic sign that containts serif, vinyl type.
Vinyl
Further down the street is Old Alvarado’s post office. Although it was established toward the street’s beginnings, it is constantly refurbished. On the post office’s window, there is a vinyl plastered onto the window that reads “United States Postal Service”. This is in a display type that is used throughout each post office in the United States. As Smith Street is near a school, there are also various crossing signs that indicate drivers what to do. These signs are usually vinyl plastered
onto a metal surface. There are also various electrical boxes throughout the street that contain large, vinyl stickers that indicate the location of the box.
An electrical box that contains the address for the location it is currently at.
Signage for the United States Postal Service, #2.
Various vinyl street safety signs with all capital, sans serif signs.
Advertising for a community plant swap written in a variety of sans serif fonts.
Mail collection
times plastered on mailboxes that live just outside of the post office, #2 on the map.
Parking signs that warn individuals; displayed in two different all caps, serif fonts.
Signage for a travel company, displayed in a unique sans serif font, #6.
Hippies Brew is a café that had replaced a previous café. It was brought up during the pandemic and is very popular throughout the community. The signage for their café has sans serif, all caps type that reads “Hippies Brew Coffee”. This sign also appears to be vinyl on a wood board. They also have a version of their type that is displayed on the building itself, which appears in gold letters and is raised from the building.
Across Hippies Brew is another café that has not yet opened, but has their signage already up. Their sign reads “One Cup?” that appears to be a unique, serif font that is in all caps. The words are displayed similar to the Hippies Brew sign, vinyl plaster. One Cup? café signage, adorned with a coffee mug, #8.
Display
Adjacent to the museum is a newly founded small business bakery. Their shop has a display type that reads “The Apron & Whisk” with a small graphic of an apron that is attached to the “A” and a small whisk graphic that is in place of the “I”. The signage for Maqbool Islamic Clothing shop also has unique signage, as the two “O’s” in their type are replaced with buttons.
Apron & Whisk’s unique signage, #4.
Maqbool’s unique typeface.
There are also various boxes adorned with spray-painted, graffiti words that are similar to display fonts. Right next to Hippies Brew is a pizza parlor. Bronco Billy’s Pizza is a restaurant that uses a unique display type in their signage. It is reminiscent of old, western type styles. Another version of their signage is displayed on a wooden board, which appears to be painted on.
Neon
Other small businesses have type displayed in their windows with neon signage, as well. Zeny’s Hair salon has a neon “Open” sign at the front of their store, next to their signage.
Restaurants that line the street have various neon signs, featuring what the restaurant may have to offer, or to simply state that the are open. The different type styles on Smith Street bring character to the community. Just one glance can tell an individual the history of the street.
Background: Neon signage on Bronco Billy’s side window. It advertises the type of beverages they serve.
Signage for Old Alvarado’s park, #1.
Index B
businesses 4, 6, 20
G graphic 18
M museum 9, 18
S signage 8, 9, 15, 19, 20
Street 1, 4, 5, 6, 21
style 8, 9, 11
T type 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21
V vinyl 6, 11, 12, 15
