American Rubber Co.

The American Rubber Co. plant opened in 1907 at the Southeast corner of Watts Street and Park Ave.

The company manufactured rubber conveyor belts, fire hoses, and other rubber products, employing a workforce of 150 at its peak.

Like many old factories, this complex expanded as business grew. The corner building at Watts Street, with its projecting terra cotta entrance detail, is the oldest part of the building.

Its twin building was built about fifty feet to the east. The section in between was filled in later and originally contained long mandrel benches for manufacturing fire hose.

After the plant closed in 1988, the building was retrofitted and converted to office space and loft-style condominiums by longtime Emeryville developers Ken and Eric Schmier.

The larger new-classical doorway adorned with wooden columns was added circa the early 2000s.