Blast from the Past: The Powder Works

Before I get started with the up-close-and-personal looks at the historic buildings in our midst, a little background into why they were built here in the first place.

The California Powder Works was founded in 1861, to take advantage of the need for explosives during the Gold Rush. It began operations in Santa Cruz, chosen for its remote location and access to waterpower and a wharf. By 1869, they opened a dynamite factory in southeast Golden Gate Park. They marketed the dynamite they produced under the name "Hercules." However, given the volatile nature of production and the ever-expanding population of the city, it soon became evident a more isolated location would be needed.

By 1881, the Powder Works set up shop in the area we now call home. The railroad station that served the plant here was originally named "Powning," in honor of general manager Joseph Powning. In 1894, upon his retirement, the station was renamed "Hercules," in honor of their product.

In 1903, the du Pont family acquired California Powder Works, along with just about every other explosives company in the country. By 1912, the United States had found Dupont in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, and their explosives company was ordered to be split in two. One was called Atlas Powder Company, which would eventually acquire Giant Powder Company in nearby Point Pinole. The other would be called the Hercules Powder Company, with 11 plants nationwide.

The "Hercules Works" plant would produce explosives into the 1960's. By the early '70s, with the surrounding land no longer needed as a buffer for possible explosions, development began. And here we are.

Research for this post gathered from "Images of America: Hercules."