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Independent Iron Works (IIW) was a steel fabricator founded in 1923 1,5 by William G. Meagher from Port Angeles, Washington, later co-owned with Henry F. Gede, of Oakland. 2

In addition to Oakland, there was also a foundry in Los Angeles. Independent Iron Works contract including girders for the 101 freeway in San Francisco, various  bridges  along the Northern California coast and the Union Oil Building in Los Angeles. IIW took several legal contests with United States Steel and Bethlehem Steel to US Federal Court over competitive practices. 3 Part of the company was sold to Phoenix Iron Works in 1958, which took over most of the facilities.

The firm was located at 821 Pine St. 9 in the Prescott neighborhood, and owned by William G. Meagher who founded the company in 1923. 5 His son James F. Meagher, took over his father's business sometime in the 1950s 6 until it was sold to Vinnell Steel of Irwindale in 1961. 5 James Meagher then went on to manage Allied Truck Cranes at 1725 Peralta 7 and managed property, including the Pretty Lady, founded in 1925. 6,8

Links and References

1951 Sanborn excerpt

  1. "Independent Iron Works, Inc., a Corporation, Appellant, v. United States Steel Corporation, Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation, Bethlehem Steel Company, and Kaiser Steel Corporation, Appellees, 322 F.2d 656 (9th Cir. 1963)".
  2. Board of Port Commissioners, City of Oakland, Res. No. 5439 6 May 1940
  3. Independent Iron Works, Inc. v. United States Steel Corp., 322 F.2d 656 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 375 U.S. 922, 84 S.Ct. 267, 11 L.Ed.2d 165 (1963)
  4. INDEPENDENT IRON WORKS LLC OpenCorporates.com
  5. Independent Iron Works Sold to Vinnell Oakland Tribune April 6, 1961
  6. Meagher to Lead Bellevue Club East Bay Times April 13 2007
  7. Polk's Oakland Directory 1967
  8. Pretty Lady on Facebook
  9. Polk's Oakland Directory 1941
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