Gualco and Milanese promotional plate 1917

Description:
Promotional calendar plate from Gualco and Milanese Groceries & Meats, 4800 Telegraph Avenue, Temescal district, Oakland Calif. The plate came into the possession of Oakland internist James Kasch, M.D. (1917-2000), and later, his daughter, Kathryn Kasch.

Date of Document:
1917

Document Author:
Unknown

Geographic Location:
4800 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland Calif.

Context:
Immigrants from northern Italy had begun to settle in Temescal well before the turn of the 20th century. However, it was the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire that brought a significant influx of Italian Americans to Temescal, eventually transforming it into the East Bay s Little Italy. So many came many fleeing San Francisco s North Beach neighborhood that by the 1930s, most Temescal s stores, markets, banks, restaurants, and bars along Telegraph Avenue were Italian American owned. It was said that Temescal s commercial district so diverse was its businesses provided everything one might need.