Point Isabel is a hilltop in the ancient range of hills that also includes Albany Hill, Brooks Island, and the Potrero San Pablo. Rising sea levels following the last Ice Age formed San Francisco Bay and left the point as a rocky promontory joined to the mainland by a salt marsh that flooded at high tides. A large shell midden showed that Native Americans used the site, specifically the Huchiun Indians.[2]
In the 19th Century, Point Isabel was part of the Rancho San Pablo owned by Don Victór Castro whose father received it in a land grant from the Mexican Republic.[3] Victor Castro named the point for his daughter Isabel. He used it as a landing for boats shipping grain and other articles across the Bay. Castro also built a landing, slaughterhouse, and a hotel on this site.[4] After the United States took control of California, Castro was forced to sell much of his land.[4] Minna Quilfeldt purchased 500 acres around this land in the 1850s. Her husband, Richard Stege, used the land to raise bullfrogs and develop a resort.[4] In later years, the land was acquired by the Du Pont subsidiary Vigoret Powder Works of San Francisco, which used it primarily to store explosives.[3] A wharf and railroad spur served the Vigoret site.[3]
In the early 20th century, "training walls" were built in this area in order to keep channels open, which resulted in a marsh developing behind these walls. This provided habitats for shorebirds and waterbirds.[4] Around the same time, Stauffer Chemical began making sulfuric acid in the area. This site continued its manufacturing until 1997. Chemicals exposed in this area include arsenic, lead, mercury, benzene, acetone, PCBs, mercury, and many others.[4] In the 1930s, the San Pablo Avenue Sportsmen’s Club used Point Isabel for fishing and duck hunting.[4] During World War II, the Navy used Point Isabel as a shooting range.[4]
The original hilltop, significantly higher than the present elevation, was dynamited for development in the 1950s. The rubble was used to fill marshlands, widening the point and connecting it to the mainland. A dump for industrial waste filled tidelands north of the original point, separated from it by a tidal channel draining Hoffmann Marsh. This area became known as "Battery Point" because of the large number of batteries buried there.[citation needed] Industrial uses from pesticide manufacturing to waste oil recycling, as well as a pistol range, left the land north and east of Point Isabel among the most polluted brownfield sites along San Francisco Bay, although some of these have been remediated. In recent years, part of the original point, Hoffman Marsh to the east, and later Battery Point were acquired by the East Bay Regional Parks District for its Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, and also by the State of California for its Eastshore State Park.[citation needed] .
Point Isabel Dog Park
Environmental concerns
Broken ceramics along TEPCO beach at Point Isabel
A portion of Point Isabel, locally known as TEPCO beach, is covered in thousands of pieces of broken ceramic dishware.[5] The Technical Porcelain and Chinaware Company (TEPCO) was founded in 1918 and grew substantially until the death of its founder, John Pagliero, in 1968.[5] During the span of these fifty years, TEPCO discarded their broken dishware along the banks of Point Isabel.
Point Isabel served as a dumping ground for lead-filled battery casings, thus creating toxic emissions from within the soil.[6] Thousands of tons of soil was removed from this site in the 1970s and 1980s, which was supposed to have resolved the issue. However, in 2018, lead leaks have proved that the job was not entirely completed in the 1970s and 1980s.[6] The source of the recent lead leaks has not been discovered.[6]
Notes
^Topographic map, TopoQuest, retrieved July 5, 2008
^Archived El Cerrito Historical Society Vol. 24, No. 3. 2008, El Cerrito Historical Society, retrieved October 23, 2021
^ abc 2006 at the Wayback Machine, El Cerrito Historical Society, retrieved October 23, 2021
^ abcdefgFive Creeks Tales of the Bay Shore Friends of Five Creeks
^ abWhy this mysterious Bay Area beach is covered in thousands of broken ceramics by Grant Marek, SF Gate, Dec 30, 2020, access date October 23, 2021
^ abcSilva, Spencer. “Leaking Lead Found at Point Isabel.” Www.Oaklandmagazine.Com, 3 Oct. 2018, https://www.oaklandmagazine.com/leaking-lead-found-at-point-isabel/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2021.
point, isabel, promontory, point, isabel, promontory, eastern, shore, francisco, richmond, annex, neighborhood, richmond, united, states, history, edit, point, isabel, shoreline, point, isabel, hilltop, ancient, range, hills, that, also, includes, albany, hill. Point Isabel is a promontory on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in the Richmond Annex neighborhood of Richmond United States 1 History Edit Point Isabel Shoreline Point Isabel is a hilltop in the ancient range of hills that also includes Albany Hill Brooks Island and the Potrero San Pablo Rising sea levels following the last Ice Age formed San Francisco Bay and left the point as a rocky promontory joined to the mainland by a salt marsh that flooded at high tides A large shell midden showed that Native Americans used the site specifically the Huchiun Indians 2 In the 19th Century Point Isabel was part of the Rancho San Pablo owned by Don Victor Castro whose father received it in a land grant from the Mexican Republic 3 Victor Castro named the point for his daughter Isabel He used it as a landing for boats shipping grain and other articles across the Bay Castro also built a landing slaughterhouse and a hotel on this site 4 After the United States took control of California Castro was forced to sell much of his land 4 Minna Quilfeldt purchased 500 acres around this land in the 1850s Her husband Richard Stege used the land to raise bullfrogs and develop a resort 4 In later years the land was acquired by the Du Pont subsidiary Vigoret Powder Works of San Francisco which used it primarily to store explosives 3 A wharf and railroad spur served the Vigoret site 3 In the early 20th century training walls were built in this area in order to keep channels open which resulted in a marsh developing behind these walls This provided habitats for shorebirds and waterbirds 4 Around the same time Stauffer Chemical began making sulfuric acid in the area This site continued its manufacturing until 1997 Chemicals exposed in this area include arsenic lead mercury benzene acetone PCBs mercury and many others 4 In the 1930s the San Pablo Avenue Sportsmen s Club used Point Isabel for fishing and duck hunting 4 During World War II the Navy used Point Isabel as a shooting range 4 The original hilltop significantly higher than the present elevation was dynamited for development in the 1950s The rubble was used to fill marshlands widening the point and connecting it to the mainland A dump for industrial waste filled tidelands north of the original point separated from it by a tidal channel draining Hoffmann Marsh This area became known as Battery Point because of the large number of batteries buried there citation needed Industrial uses from pesticide manufacturing to waste oil recycling as well as a pistol range left the land north and east of Point Isabel among the most polluted brownfield sites along San Francisco Bay although some of these have been remediated In recent years part of the original point Hoffman Marsh to the east and later Battery Point were acquired by the East Bay Regional Parks District for its Point Isabel Regional Shoreline and also by the State of California for its Eastshore State Park citation needed Point Isabel Dog ParkEnvironmental concerns Edit Broken ceramics along TEPCO beach at Point Isabel A portion of Point Isabel locally known as TEPCO beach is covered in thousands of pieces of broken ceramic dishware 5 The Technical Porcelain and Chinaware Company TEPCO was founded in 1918 and grew substantially until the death of its founder John Pagliero in 1968 5 During the span of these fifty years TEPCO discarded their broken dishware along the banks of Point Isabel Point Isabel served as a dumping ground for lead filled battery casings thus creating toxic emissions from within the soil 6 Thousands of tons of soil was removed from this site in the 1970s and 1980s which was supposed to have resolved the issue However in 2018 lead leaks have proved that the job was not entirely completed in the 1970s and 1980s 6 The source of the recent lead leaks has not been discovered 6 Notes Edit Topographic map TopoQuest retrieved July 5 2008 Archived El Cerrito Historical Society Vol 24 No 3 2008 El Cerrito Historical Society retrieved October 23 2021 a b c Archived El Cerrito Historical Society 2006 at the Wayback Machine El Cerrito Historical Society retrieved October 23 2021 a b c d e f g Five Creeks Tales of the Bay Shore Friends of Five Creeks a b Why this mysterious Bay Area beach is covered in thousands of broken ceramics by Grant Marek SF Gate Dec 30 2020 access date October 23 2021 a b c Silva Spencer Leaking Lead Found at Point Isabel Www Oaklandmagazine Com 3 Oct 2018 https www oaklandmagazine com leaking lead found at point isabel Accessed 6 Nov 2021 Coordinates 37 53 49 N 122 19 26 W 37 897 N 122 324 W 37 897 122 324 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Point Isabel promontory amp oldid 1089893105, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
