Union Construction Co. (Oakland, Calif.)

Historical or Biographical Note

John Gustaf Sjoberg (1882-1969). Engineer at Union Construction Company (Oakland, California) from about 1917 to 1927, and at Pacific Coast Engineering Company (Oakland, California) from about 1927 to 1942.

Biography: John Gustaf Sjoberg was born in Eureka, Nevada in Dec 17, 1882 to Swedish parents, and died in Alameda, California in on January 6th, 1969. He was married to Nellie Virginia Sjoberg, and they lived in Brooklyn Township (now known as the Glenview district) of Oakland, California. [Sources: The United States census of 1920; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; U.S. World War II Draft Registration Card; Social Security Death Index.] [SAFR Collections: SAFR 23387]

Agency History: Union Construction Company: Union Construction Company was organized in 1918 to build cargo ships for the U.S. Shipping Board. The site was between Bataan and Chunking Streets in what is now the Oakland Army Base. [Source: http://shipbuildinghistory.com]

Agency History: Pacific Coast Engineering Company: Pacific Coast Engineering Company was started as a boat builder before WWII. It was located in Oakland, California, and later moved to Alameda, California. It ceased active shipbuilding in 1976 when it invented the container crane and shifted its activities to that market. Today is is known as PACECO Corporation. [Sources: http://shipbuildinghistory.com and http://www.pacecocorp.com/].

For more information on dredging more generally, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dredging

From the guide to the John Gustaf Sjoberg naval architecture and marine engineering drawing and plans collection, 1878-1946, 1921-1941, (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department)