Scavengers-Claremont Ave c1911

Description:
Oakland Scavenger Association employees and horses, line up on the west side of Claremont Street, between Cavour Street and Clifton Avenue, across from their headquarters, Temescal district, Oakland, Calif. The towers of the theater in Idora Park can be seen in the left center distance. Left to right: 1) Casssasse (sp?); 5) Giovanni Repetto; 8) Mugio (sp?); 9) Nayo Navane (sp?); 10) Buzzalino (sp?); 12) Bernard Ferro; 13) Giorgio ( Ray ); 15) Al ; 18) Deluchi; 20 Bocci Ferro. [Ted Wurm note]

Date of Document:
c1911

Document Author:
Unknown

Geographic Location:
Claremont Avenue and Cavour Street, Oakland, Calif.

Context:
In the first decade of the 20th century, garbage collection in Oakland was provided by independent collectors most of whom traced their lineage to the northern Italian region of Liguria who drove their horse-drawn garbage wagons to individual customers throughout the city. Competition for customers was fierce, and so in 1909, collectors banded together to form the all-Italian Oakland Scavenger Association. By 1920, it officially incorporated as the Oakland Scavenger Company, an employee-owned business. The enterprise, which included recycling and composting services, expanded into other East Bay cities. In 1986, Oakland Scavengers was acquired by Waste Management, Inc., a corporation operating throughout the U.S. and Canada.