Greg Wellman is our man on Alcatraz. (As a Historian, that is.) He wrote a book about it and blogged on some connections between Wells Fargo and the historic island in San Francisco Bay. As I was going through some old stuff the other day, I found another one.
(Note to Greg: I scooped 
you on this one!)
James A. Johnston was Warden of Alcatraz from 1934 to 1948, the "glamour" years of Al Capone and "Creepy" Karpis . Johnston had served earlier as Warden at Folsom and San Quentin. His public service also included a stint on the San Francisco County Board, and as Chairman of the State Control Board. After Alcatraz, Johnston served as Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He wrote often about prison work, education and reforms.
In 1927, Johnson's work at improving prisons in California was interrupted. He took a banking position, as Vice President at American Trust Company in San Francisco. ATC was busy with a new concept in banking at that time, opening several branch offices in the City and around the area. The Company's head office was at 464 California Street in the Cast Iron Building.
Beginning in 1959, the Cast Iron Building was razed and a shiny new building replaced it at 464 California Street. American Trust and Wells Fargo merged in 1960. The combined Companies kept the name Wells Fargo, and located the headquarters in the brand new building. That address and building remain Wells Fargo's headquarters to this day.
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