Mid-Century Modesto

Modesto Bee ad for Safeway 1937 Old Safeway Building 2013

New Lucky 1953

Modesto Bee advertisement for Lucky market grand opening on 10th street, December 8, 1948

The Thomas.K. Beard home was built around 1912 at 102 Sycamore ave on the corner of Needham avenue Modesto. Thomas' widow Grace Ada sold the home shortly after his death in 1925. It had a couple of different owners before Walter Field  president of Field Finance Corporation president of Field Finance Corporation  purchased it in 1935. Field lived in the house with his family until about 1957 when he had the house demolished. According to the the  Modesto Bee,  from late 1960 to 1962 he tried, through his lawyer, to get the city council to rezone property from residential to commercial so that he could build a service station on the vacant lot. Walter Field (1894-1983) was in his sixties at this time, retired and residing in San Mateo. According to his lawyer he apparently wanted to use the house as a rental property. But since he could not find a tenant to rent the house to he decided to tear the house down. By razing the house it he would accomplish two objectives:

The house in the center of the photo is 1029 10th street. The business to the left of the house is Swans jewelry store. The building to the right is Ted's Cafe on the corner of 10th and K st. The building on the left sat next to the Strand Theater  Photo of rear view of the Market Basket grocery store taken from the corner of Burney and La Loma. Rear parking lot of Angelo's San Francisco fruit market on H st. looking toward 9th st. Richfield service station at the intersection of  Scenic Ave, H street and Downey Ave.

              McHenry at Griswold ave. looking south early 1950s. The future site of the  Sundial Lodge is located on the far left of the photo next  to the car.  A partial view of a palm tree can be seen     on the left. The Sundial Lodge opened in 1956. The Sundial Lodge opened in 1956. Add caption .

Camera Center J st. Modesto 1952

10th street at J street looking toward K street. The 1000 block. About 1960. Starting at the left side of the street the business' were: 1003 - Grayson's (women's clothing)                                        1002  Arden's (women's clothing) 1011 - Singer Sewing Sewing Machine Co.                             1006 - Loomis Seed & Floral Co. 1013 - Hammett's (women's clothing)                                      1008  - New Canton Grill   1015 - Montgomery Ward                                                          1010 -  Musser's Men's wear 1019 - Frank A. Freitas Jeweler                                                1012 - Anita Shop(women's) 1021 - Strand Theater                                                                 1014 - F W Woolworth 1023 - Strand Barber Shop                                                         1024 - National Dollar Stores 1025 - Swan Jewelers                        

10th street looking north

Looking east down J street at 11th street

Northwest Corner 10th and J Streets Modesto 1940s.