LIVERMORE
March 28, 1928: "The beacon tower will be illuminated from dusk to dawn. The Richfield company has instructed the station employees to keep the tower illuminated throughout stormy days as another aid to safety in aviation.
Large red letters, one below the other, descend the north and south sides of the tower until they have spelled 'Richfield.' Below that is a paneled horizontal blue letter sign sign on north and south sides of the tower reading 'Service.' " (Livermore Journal)
Large red letters, one below the other, descend the north and south sides of the tower until they have spelled 'Richfield.' Below that is a paneled horizontal blue letter sign sign on north and south sides of the tower reading 'Service.' " (Livermore Journal)
October 4, 1928: "Negotiations were completed this week for the sale of a five-acre tract of land by Jas. Anderson to the Richfield Oil Company. The purchase tract lies near the corner of the Lincoln Highway and Rincon Avenue and adjoins the government airport.
While the purchase of the land by the oil company in itself may be a small matter, nevertheless if reports concerning the motive behind the deal are true, the transaction may mean more to Livermore than the actual establishment of the government airport.
According to authentic information received by the Journal, the Richfield Oil Co. is contemplating the establishment of modern quarters, fully equipped to meet the needs of the air-travelling public.
It is reported that a modern hotel will be erected on the tract. Hangars are to be built for housing planes and shops erected for servicing. A large beacon tower, taller by 100 feet than the government tower, will also be erected." (Livermore Journal)
December 16, 1928: "Following the official celebration at Palm City in the afternoon at which several squadrons of navy and commercial planes will fly in formation over the Beacon (Palm City). Admiral Ashby H. Robertson will throw the switch which simultaneously turns the light on the first group of finished beacons." (The Los Angeles Times)
March 21, 1929: "Brilliant illumination will mark the opening of Richfield Oil Company's beacon No. 10 at the Livermore airport this coming Saturday night.
Such was the announcement made Wednesday afternoon by S.B. Tarbox, of the service station department, who is here to superintend the opening of Richfield's new station located adjoining the government airport. Mr. Tarbox was accompanied by L.E. Norquist, electrician, who will have charge of the electrical illumination.
At 7:30 Saturday evening a switch will be thrown and countless beams of light will illuminate the grounds and sky in the proximity of the airport.
The Richfield official announces that the public of Livermore and vicinity are extended a cordial invitation to attend the opening of the tenth beacon station of the company.
Mr. Tarbox states that the Richfield station will be in charge of A.W. Amick, Wm. J. Bonetti and Ray Henry, who will each put in eight-hour shifts, keeping the station open the full twenty-four hours of the day." (Livermore Journal)
September 24, 1929: "The Richfield Oil company, which operates a filing station adjoining the Livermore airport, has completed the installation of a powerful beacon on top of the lofty Neon gas tower above the station, so that the local landing field will be easier to locate when visibility is low. The airport now has a neon gas tower and two revolving searchlights, in addition to its system of ground lights." (Oakland Tribune)
June 3, 1930: "Beacon, 6 r.p.m., 2,000,000 c.p., on Richfield tower to N. of field." (Airway Bulletin, No., 575 (revised))
March 16, 1943: "Work of tearing down the 85-foot beacon tower at the Richfield station on the highway just west of Livermore was completed on Wednesday, reports the Livermore News.
The tower was taken down following a request by the Navy department owing to it being a hazard to student fliers.
This tower was erected in 1928 and was one of a chain of Richfield beacon towers reaching from the Mexican border to the Canadian line along both the inland and coastal highways. The service station was completed and opened for business in 1929.
The idea for tower stations was developed by a Mr. Heinley, who formed the Highways Community Corporation, and Mr. Talbot, formerly a director of the Richfield Oil Co." (Hayward Review)(LIVERMORE RICHFIELD TOWER TAKEN DOWN)