Martinez Historical Society

09/03/2026

Two typical 1920s steam engine powerhouses pulling a freight train across the Muir trestle in Martinez circa 1950s.

The lead engine, No. 4047 is a 2-8-2 wheel configuration commonly known as a Mikado. The following engine is No 3722, a 4-8-2 wheel configuration, commonly known as a Mountain. The 4-wheel leading truck on the latter indicates that it was designed for higher-speed passenger service, but in their later years many passenger locomotives were put into freight service with new diesel units pulling the passenger trains.

The name Mikado is interesting since this is a thoroughly American product. But some of the first US produced 2-8-2 engines in the early 1890s, were built to Japanese specifications, and were jokingly called Mikado, a well known name of the 1885 comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan. Mikado is a traditional title for the Emperor of Japan.

During WWII the name was changed to "MacArthur", but it didn't stick.

08/31/2026

Today the ground floor of this building is home to The Barber Pole, Broken Halo (piercings), Devine Records (vintage music memorabilia) and Teamsters Local 856. But in 1854, when the Gold Rush was still underway, the Hook Building was a general store that sold mining supplies, hardware and tools to prospectors. This was in addition to selling lumber and every day essentials to local farmers and Martinez residents.

The builder of the store, William Hook, arrived in California in 1850 to sell mining equipment and construction machinery. He soon realized that Martinez, which served as a primary ferry crossing and deep-water shipping port on the Carquinez Strait during the Gold Rush, was an ideal location for a new store that could function as a key outfitter for both local homesteaders and travelers en route to the Sierra Nevada mines. So in 1854, he constructed the building.

The original building burned down as a result of the 1925 Fire in Martinez. The building that we see today was constructed in 1926 (and dedicated in 1927). It was wisely built of brick, not wood.

Over the years, the current building housed many businesses. Here are a few notable ones:

• The James Hotel and Coffee Shop (proprietor James Bulger), which operated upstairs until closing in 1979.
• Along the Ferry Street side, the building hosted a cigar factory where the Hoffman family manufactured the locally famous Blue Bird Ci**rs.

If you know of other businesses that deserve mention, feel free to mention them in the comments section below the building photo.

08/25/2026