Brock-Brady Co.

Ronald S. Brock and Van W. Brady were both featured in a San Diego Union article dated September 19, 1937, entitled Construction Leaders Plan Impressive Program for Tract. The tract was the Kensington Heights subdivision. The article featured a picture of many important builders in both Kensington and Talmadge. R.S. Brock was one of the “construction leaders” and Van Brady was the “sales manager” for the project. This may be where their professional relationship began, because by 1940 they were in business together as the Brock-Brady Company. You can find this article and picture in Beth Montes’ 2002 Historical Report “Carl B. Hays Spec House,” on page 15 of the Appendix.

Ronald S. Brock was a native Californian who was born in 1890. In 1923 he was listed as a carpenter in the San Diego Directory. By 1925 he was listed as an architect. In 1926 he was listed in the Classified section of the San Diego Directory under “Contractors—Building Construction” as R. S. Brock. He continued to be listed in the Classified section until 1930. He did not advertise from 1931 until 1934, possibly due to the impact of the Great Depression. In 1935 he was listed again, but as Brock Building Company. In 1937 the company incorporated, thus changing the name to Brock Building Company, Inc. In 1940, Brock Building Co., Inc. continued to advertise in the Classified section while also advertising as Brock-Brady Company. The last year Brock-Brady Co. was listed in the Classified Section of the phonebook was 1945. Both listings shared the same address of 1717 University Avenue. This is also the address listed in the Talmadge Park Estates Homebuilders Guide. After 1945, it appears that Brock Building Company continued without Brady, until Ronald’s death in 1963.

From 1934 until the 1950s Ronald and Pearl Brock lived in Kensington at 4265 Ethelda Place. They spent their final years in Talmadge at 4953 Lorraine Dr.

Van W. Brady was born in 1899 in Illinois. In 1928 he was listed in the San Diego City Directory as a Salesman. In the 1930 Census he was listed as a Salesman in the Real-Estate Industry. In the 1934 City Directory, Brady was listed as a manager for the Davis-Baker Co. Davis-Baker was a real estate development firm in Pasadena, California. They had an aggressive marketing plan to sell properties in a down economy within Kensington Heights. The company sold lots only after a home was built on that lot. In the 1938 City Directory, Brady was listed as the sales manager in the Kensington Heights Company.

It was in the 1940 Directory that Brady was listed as the Vice President of Brock-Brady Company. In the 1940 Census, Brady was identified as a contractor that “built housing.”  His wife, Opal, was a “part-time school teacher.” The Census also documented that they had twin boys, age 9.

Van and Opal Brady lived in Kensington on 5167 Marlborough from 1935 until Van’s death in 1961.

References

Bullard, Anne D. 1995. “1926, The Formative Year of Kensington Heights.” The Journal of San Diego 41, no 2 https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1995/april/kensington/