Manasse-Block Tanning Company
{{Short description|American company}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Manasse-Block Tanning Company
| founded = {{Start date|1900}} – {{End date|1986}}
| founder = August Manasse,
Roy Block
| location = 1300 Fourth Street,
Berkeley, California, U.S.
| designation1 = Berkeley Landmark
| designation1_date = April 21, 1986
| designation1_number = 101
| image = Manasse-Block-001.JPG
| caption = Remaining manufacturing buildings, being used as stores and live/work units
}}
The Manasse-Block Tanning Company was an American tannery founded in 1900 by August Manasse and Roy Block, whose families had leather-related businesses in Napa and San Francisco, California, respectively. The Manasse-Block tannery was relocated in 1905 from Oakland to 1300 Fourth Street in Berkeley, on a site previously used by the Deach Tannery. Manasse-Block remained in this location for 80 years, until it closed in 1986.[http://berkeleyheritage.com/berkeley_landmarks/manasse_block.html Article on Manasse-Block Tannery on the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) website][http://nvmarketplace.wordpress.com/tag/history/ Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705081440/http://nvmarketplace.wordpress.com/tag/history/ |date=2007-07-05 }}[http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2007-06-29/article/27427 Berkeley Daily Planet]
History
The primary product of the tannery was boot and shoe leather. Raw cow hides were processed from start to finish on the site. However, towards the end of the factory's productive years, hides that had been processed elsewhere were finished on the site.
The site was designated a City of Berkeley Landmark on April 21, 1986.[https://digital.lib.washington.edu/php/architect/record.phtml?type=structure&structureid=5646 University of Washington Libraries]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Utilizing the remaining seven structures, the property currently provides units for a small number of live/work spaces and various business establishments and remains one of the oldest intact industrial sites in the city. "The oldest buildings are on the south side of the property along Third Street and are heavy post-and-beam construction with six-over-six light windows and rustic overlapping wood siding."[http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=11-03-01&storyID=8027 Berkeley Daily Planet]
File:Man-Block-1947.jpg|The entire factory and office staff as of June 26, 1947
File:Pressingtheleather.jpg|Two men pressing the leather near the end of the tanning process. Oct. 1975
File:Finishgradingleather.jpg|Finish grading the leather. Oct. 1975
File:Manasse-Block-002.JPG|The former office building, currently housing the Gilman Grill
See also
References
{{Commons category|Manasse-Block Tanning Company}}
{{Berkeley, California}}
Category:1900 establishments in California
Category:Buildings and structures in Berkeley, California
Category:History of the San Francisco Bay Area
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1900
Category:Leather manufacturers
Category:Berkeley landmarks in Berkeley, California
{{AlamedaCountyCA-geo-stub}}