Judson Powder Works

By Mervin Belfils

On Aug. 16, 1905, the Judson Powder Corporation’s nitroglycerin house on Albany Hill exploded, killing two men. Charles Johnson photo, EC Historical Society collection.

The Judson Powder Works was located on the north and west side of Albany Hill. There were a number of explosions there over the years, as listed below.

EXPLOSIONS AT FLEMING POINT

1879
13 White and 25 Chinese workers killed. Six months later packing house blew up killing 11 White and 12 Chinese workers

1883
Explosion killed 37 Chinese workers.

July 13, 1892
3 White and 2 Chinese workers killed. There were 5 or 6 explosions which broke windows in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco, and were felt in Martinez.

December 10, 1898
Gelatin house blew up killing the Superintendent and 4 Chinese workers. August 16, 1905Two men killed.

November 16, 1912
Property of Judson Dynamite and Powder Company was sold to E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder company of Pinole.

Copyright Mervin Belfils, October 1975
Copyright El Cerrito Historical Society, June 2006