Fall 2005 Newsletter Volume 24, Number 3 COPYRIGHT 2005
IN THIS ISSUE PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN ARONOVICI Benefit at Berkeley Rep ...... 3 Eleanore & Elizabeth Ginno Berkeley Snow Scorecard ...... 2 Calendar of Evenets ...... 1 The Biggest Snowstorm in Berkeley’s History Crabby Chef ...... 2 Fall Walking Tours ...... 2 Snow? In Berkeley? Fermenting Berkeley ...... 3 By John Aronovici • Mrs. Rosie Abbey, wife of Berkeley Po- lice Officer Donald Abbey, sustained an Local Boy’s Work in Berkeley ....3 December 29, 1922, brought Berkeley injured knee and internal injuries when Presidents’ Report ...... 1 its largest snowfall. Grizzly Peak got 2 her husband’s car was struck by an au- Ski Berkeley! ...... 3 feet; the north Berkeley hills 8 inches, tomobile driven by Dr. Farnsworth. The and the flatlands 6 inches. Snow? In Berkeley? ...... 3 accident occurred at University Avenue Swedish Life in Lorin, Part 2 .....3 The storm began at 7 am with pouring and Grant Street. Snow on the wind- Lorin Businesses, Part 2 ...... 3 rain, which changed to snow at 8:30 am shield of Farnsworth’s car obscured his Thousands Thrilled at Carnival ..3 and continued until 4 pm when rain re- vision. turned. Kids took advantage of the oc- • The automobiles of H.M. Maynard of currence with snow fights, snowmen Long Beach and Frank Wilson, 2400 Exhibit Opens October 23 and sledding. It brought much fun to Ridge Road collided at Shattuck and the children and those unaccustomed Allston. Fermenting to snows, but did little physical damage and utilities remained intact. My Aunt, The Berkeley Gazette also reported that Berkeley Eleanore Ginno, and my mother Eliza- Patrolmen George Kohler, Ralph Pidgeon, beth were able to sled across the street CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 The Berkeley Historical Society’s fall ex- from their home at 1151 Oxford Street. hibition, Fermenting Berkeley, will ex- Their backyard garden became a winter plore the production, refinement, sales, wonderland. and social aspects of local products pro- BHS Fall 2005 duced in Berkeley from 1890-1950. The The unusual weather was the cause of subject will include commercial produc- numerous accidents and injuries. Ac- Walking Tours tion, home-grown vineyards, domestic cording to the Berkeley Daily Gazette it The BHS begins its fall season of six “wineries” and distilleries, breweries, was reported that: walking tours with its September 17 sake houses, bathtub gin, speakeasies, tour of Claremont Paths and concludes • Mrs. Marguerite F. Warren of 2011 and prohibition. on November 12 with a special walking Carlton Street suffered a basal fracture tour of the Ashby Arts District. This is Find out about early local breweries, why of her skull and numerous bruises and the 12th season of regularly scheduled Oakland grocery stores couldn’t deliver lost her life when she stepped in front of walking tours for the BHS. liquor to Berkeley, and how a Cal co-ed a streetcar at College and Dwight. Her got free drinks for life at the Claremont umbrella and flying snow blinded her The dates, titles, and tour leaders for the Hotel. Please join us on Sunday, October and she was not aware of the approach- six tours (the sixth being a bonus tour 23, at 3 pm to toast this new exhibit. ing car. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 volunteers to unpack. The same routine Gale (Finance), Ken Cardwell (House), will happen for the Crabby Chef and the John Aronovici (Publications), AnaLuisa How Berkeley Can You Be festivals. Coplan (Technology & Web), Mark Peters (Archives), Greta Olsen (Walking Tours), And, to compound our participation at Margot Lind (Newsletter), and Therese the Solano Stroll, there is much interest Pipe (Oral History). We are still seeking a in being in the Stroll’s parade which, if Program chairperson and if you have an modeled on last year’s entry, will have interest, please let us know. some of us in costume representing well- known Berkeleyans and States people on Furthermore, kudos and hearty thanks to a specially-made float designed by local the faithful skeleton crew who keep the history buff and artist, stefen. We look wheels of the Center running smooth- forward to being a part of that! ly: Ken Cardwell, John Stansfield, Ken Duffy, Tom Edwards, Mary Hoexter, Car- At the Crabby Chef Festival, to be held ole Bennett-Simmons, Marcia Anderson, at Spengers on Fourth Street in Berke- Paul Taylor, Lynne Cutler, Burl Willes, ley. BHS will be the lucky nonprofit to re- Letter from stefen, Lauren Lassleben, Margot Lind, ceive a percentage of the proceeds from Linda Rosen, Aziza Sahin, John Under- the Festival. As a bonus treat, co-presi- the Presidents hill, Krisi Wessenberg, Judy Wilkes, Judy dent John Aronovici has been selected Hello Berkeley History Center faithful . . . Kennedy, Sue Austin, DaphneTooke, and as one of the Crabby Chef judges for the Shelly Rideout. We could not do run the LComing soon, to a neighborhood fes- infamous “Best Chef” contest. Addition- Center without their help anddedication. tival near you, will be the Berkeley His- ally, representing the BHS as Master of torical Society’s history booth. In keep- Ceremonies will be Co president AnaLu- See you at one of the booths! ing with the BHS’ mission of celebrating isa Coplan’s husband, Mark Coplan. Our AnaLuisa Coplan and John Aronovici, co- “Berkeley’s people by keeping Berkeley’s Crabby Chef booth will be equally as en- presidents history alive in our lives,” we will be at tertaining and will feature historic pho- the Solano Stroll (Sept. 11), the How tos of West Berkeley. Please stop by and Berkeley Can You Be parade and festival say hello. (Sept. 25), and the Crabby Chef Festival (Oct. 9). A quick review through the BHS com- mittee reports finds us in the middle If you have ever wondered what goes on of: promoting the BHS’ six Fall Walking behind the scenes at the Berkeley His- tours that start Sept. 17, a joint BHS/ tory Center and Museum, whether you BAHA fundraiser in conjunction with can be a part of the archiving process, the Berkeley Repertory Theatre produc- or how to donate historical items to the tion of Our Town on Oct. 16, research History Center: Veterans Memorial Building Center, we will have historians and board on the acquisition of a computer (with 1931 Center St., Berkeley, CA 94701 members on-hand to answer your ques- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1190 more memory/ram and faster coproces- Berkeley, CA 94701-1190 tions. Our booth will exhibit a myriad of sor) to replace our outdated PC, accept- 510-848-0181 photographs from bygone eras and will ing and cataloging archives, producing feature several publications on Berke- a newsletter, collecting information and Board of Directors ley for sale like the “Quick Guide to the artifacts for the upcoming “Fermenting John Aronovici AnaLuisa Coplan Origin of Berkeley Names,” “Tales of the Berkeley” exhibit, producing past-exhib- PRESIDENT PRESIDENT Elmwood,” and “Picturing Berkeley: A it pamphlets and other Berkeley books Shelley Rideout Linda Keilch Postcard History” books, along with a on behalf of the Center, and keeping the FIRST VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY selection of postcards and magnets. Center open Thursday through Satur- Phil Gale Tom Edwards As we speak, our all-volunteer staff is day. TREASURER PAST PRESIDENT compiling information and gathering All these activities involve every one of Carole Bennett- Margot Lind Simmons photographs that will be transported, our all-volunteer staff and board mem- Greta Olsen Ken Cardwell with all the other supplies, to the Solano bers. The Berkeley Historical Society is Linda Rosen Stroll, where volunteers will unpack, dis- Steven Finacom Allen Stross a non-profit all-volunteer group and re- Karen Hata play and, throughout the day, share the Judy Wilkes source for the collection and preservation Ed Herny hosting role among 12 other BHS vol- of local history. Many thanks to our com- unteers. When the Stroll is over, volun- mittee chairs for all their guidance: Phil Margot Lind teers will then pack it all up and deliver NEWSLETTER EDITOR the goods back to the Center for other 2 BHS-118-193-3384 in nearby Strawberry Canyon Held at the head of Hearst Avenue, just north of Ski Berkeley! the University of California campus, the By Mark McLaughlin extraordinary event attracted more than For more than a century snow-starved 50,000 spectators. winter sports enthusiasts from Califor- Ski jumpers Orlan Sanders, Jesse Max- nia have enjoyed weekends and holidays som, Jr., and Earl Edmunds represented playing in the Sierra snow. Today’s urban the Truckee Ski Club, while Squaw Val- snow lovers travel up to the Sierra via ley founder Wayne Paulsen, competed all-weather highways in the comfort of for the Auburn Ski Club. The novelty of sturdy all-wheel-drive SUVs, but in the ski jumping in the Berkeley hills cap- 1930s and 1940s, proponents of winter SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, JANUARY 15, 1934 tured everyone’s imagination, but the sports actually delivered the goods di- Roy Mikkelsen,1934 Ski Tournament tournament ended in disarray when a rectly to the city. In February 1934 the riot broke out as the first of a series of recently organized Auburn Ski Club first exhibition jumpers poised at the top of introduced ski jumping to the San Fran- the 450-foot slide. cisco/Bay Area by co-hosting an event on the University of California, Berkeley About 5,000 college boys and youngsters campus. The previous year California’s charged through police barriers and the governor, James Rolph, Jr., had pro- event soon turned into a massive snow- claimed the first week of January 1934 ball fight with the paying spectators in as “Winter Sports Week for California.” full retreat. Another 45,000 people with- out tickets crowded onto Tightwad Hill Although California enjoyed an enviable above the edge of the campus to watch reputation for sunny beaches and palm SAN FRANCISCO CALL-BULLETIN, JANUARY 16, 1934 Auburn Ski Club jumper Sig Vettestad the festivities. (Tightwad Hill earned trees, Gov. Rolph stated, “In recent years its moniker because spectators often the people of California have come to re- climbed it to watch Cal football games alize the value of this winter recreation for free.) Tournament officials estimated to the point that winters sports are being the number of paid admissions at only developed in this state to a higher de- 5,000. gree than in any other part of the world. In the promotion of this new industry for California Ski Association officials California, it is my sincere wish that all charged Berkeley police with incompe- the people of the state participate in this tence and insufficient protection “which healthful recreation during this week cost the association from $6,000 to and throughout the winter.” $10,000 in paid admissions.” (Preferred seating cost $1.00/ general admission To prepare for the Berkeley tournament was 55¢.) The unruly, tight -fisted crowd 43,000 cubic feet of snow were shipped ruined any chance of the ski clubs rais- in from the Sierra loaded on six Southern SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, JANUARY 14, 1935 ing money that had been earmarked to Pacific boxcars. It was then transferred Roy Mikkelsen, off the 170-foot slide further the interests of winter sports in to trucks, driven to the jump, and packed California. down by CCC men who were stationed 3 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 get enough cash customers through the in 1939. World War II brought these ski Ski Berkeley! gate to pay expenses. Only 4,000 people promotion events to an end, but they CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 paid admission to the event, while an es- had inspired untold numbers of Califor- [Editor’s Note: Oddly enough, there was timated 10,000 more stood outside the nians to visit the Sierra to check out win- only one photograph published in the gates at the top of Hearst Avenue and ter sports like skiing. Berkeley Gazette and it was buried in an gazed upward for free. And of course, as inside page, several days after the event. © 2005 by MicMacMedia.com No mention was made of the riot.] soon as the contest concluded and the police and National Guard units departed Weather Historian Mark McLaughlin is an Reluctant to abandon their efforts to the scene, another free-for-all snowball award-winning, nationally published au- promote the benefits of winter sports, fight broke out among the snow-starved thor and professional speaker. His popular officials with the Auburn and California flatlanders. books, Sierra Stories: True Tales of Tahoe Vol. 1 & 2 and Western Train Adventures ski clubs hosted a second Berkeley ski Similar ski tournaments were held in Los are available on his website at www. jumping tournament on January 13, Angeles in 1938 and on Treasure Island thestormking.com 1935. Once again they received addition- al support from the California Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco Winter Sports Club, and other like-minded orga- nizations that hoped to make the spec- tacular ski jump an annual event. Volun- teers erected a scaffold 85 feet high on the crest of a grassy hill just north of the Greek Theater and Memorial Stadium. The snow-covered, 170-foot long slide was angled at a steep 45 degrees, which enabled the jumpers to reach speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. Using tons of snow imported from Donner Pass, an expanded landing zone of snow layered over straw bedding permitted leaps of more than 150 feet. The daring athletes sped down the icy ramp and launched themselves with grace and skill into the gray sky. Contestants included nation- ally known ski jumpers from Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, Auburn and Lake Tahoe. Several of the competitors would compete the following year in the Olym- pic Winter Games in the German Alps.
The popular skier and former U.S. ski champion, Roy Mikkelsen of Auburn, took first place with a soaring leap of 139 feet followed by a perfect telemark land- ing. Mikkelsen emigrated from Norway 1934 Berkeley Ski Carnival in 1924 and acquired U.S. citizenship In January 1934, a 75-foot ski jump was constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps in 1932, the same year he entered and members at the upper end of Hearst Avenue. It was built under the direction of won the National Ski Jumping Champi- ski champion Roy Mikkelsen. Sierra snow was packed into seven Southern Pacific onship held at Lake Tahoe’s Olympic Hill. Railroad freight cars, traveled across 200 miles and then transferred to trucks in The gifted and good-natured Mikkelsen Berkeley, driven to the jump, and packed down by the CCC men who were stationed laughed after skiing into the encroaching in Strawberry Canyon. crowds following his landing. “I guess we can’t stretch the jumps too long here,” This promotional stunt was carried out under the direction of the Auburn Ski Club he said, “You might land down in the and had the backing of state and local chambers of commerce. To acquaint Bay Area Berkeley shopping district.” residents with winter sports in California, it was the first time it for the National Despite police precautions and excellent Ski Tournament to be held west of the advertising, the sponsors were unable to 4 Rockies. Snow? In Berkeley? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 H.P. Lee and Henry Hoar were detailed from the local police to suppress min- iature riots resulting from over-empha- sis of snowballing, and also investigated several reports of broken windows.
Considering the unusual attraction of the snow, there was very little disturbance or damage. The snowball battles assumed dangerous proportions on the tunnel road, where machines were stalled from noon on and many persons were hurt by stones concealed in the softer missiles.
A detail of police worked until late at night straightening out the tie-up and 1151 Oxford Street’s back yard winter wonderland warning the over-boisterous. Berkeley Snow Scorecard The depth of snow in Berkeley varies widely from Grizzly Peak to North Berke- ley Hills to the flatlands. The different snow amounts in the list below refer to only the flatlands of Berkeley. The list is from the Berkeley Gazette and the US National Weather Bureau.
The first snowstorm of which there is a record occurred in December of 1871.
On December 31, 1882, three to four inches of snow fell.
In February 1883 there was a light snowfall.
In December 1884 two inches of snow BHS-149-192-3290 was reported. Berkeley Snow, January 29, 1922 blanketed with one inch of snow when January 29, 1922, Grizzly Peak had 2 In December 1884, two inches of snow dawn came. feet, North Berkeley 8 inches, Flatlands was reported. 6 inches. There was a snowfall of one hour’s dura- On February 5, 1887, the heaviest snow- March 14, 1942, there was 8 inches in tion on February 3, 1903, which also left storm the East Bay ever experienced, the flatlands the city white. as far as any records are available, fell. December 12, 1972, there was only 0 .1 There were seven inches on the streets. And again in February 1911 there was a inch in the flatlands light snowfall. In January of 1888 there was a light January 3, 1974, again only 0.1 inches snowstorm. On January 9, 1913 the heaviest snow- in the flatlands storm since February 5, 1887 visited the In March of 1894, there was also a very January 5, 1974, a trace East Bay, leaving about four inches of light snowfall. January 7, 1974, a trace snow on the streets. March 3, 1896, there was a snowstorm February 5, 1976, there was 1.0 inch in during the night, which left the city 5 the flatlands Swedish Life in Lorin, 1905-1925 Part 2 By Merle Dean Editor’s note: After part 1 of this article appeared, the Berkeley Historical Society was contacted by Randy Grandin who told us that it was written by his late sister Merle Grandin Dean who was born in Berkeley in 1943. In 1983, Merle and her father, Alfred Grandin, traveled to Sweden for a month’s visit with relatives. Merle had previously accumulated a large collection of family history data, and she had taken Swedish lan- guage lessons. During the trip, she did more family research. After her seven children were raised Merle returned to school, graduated from the University of California at Davis and was a Rhodes Scholar. In March 1990, for a his- tory class, she wrote her paper on Swedish life in Lorin. She was active in community efforts in Grass Valley to preserve and promote restoration of historic houses, and her Victorian home was open to the public during the annual tours. The wonderful furnish- ings in her house reflected her Swedish heritage. Randy was kind enough to loan us a number of family photographs to copy for our collection. Some of these illustrate this article.
Mothers were very involved in their children’s activities. Even when mothers social- ized, the children were included. Babysitters were used only if the mother needed to work outside the home, but that was a rare occurrence. Coffee klatches were held in the neighborhood at least twice a month. Sometimes the mothers would take the children to San Pablo Park, sit under the trees, and visit while the children played. Often, the women were related, so the social bonding was a family affair. The park Edvard and Hulda Grandin was six or seven block away and had swings and monkey bars to play on.
At least once a month during the sum- at least we thought so. It was a chance mer when the weather was warm, the to see live performances. We could go to women got together and carted the chil- the Lorin Theater any time, but the tent dren over to Alameda’s Neptune Beach. show was a real treat, and it was within It was an all-day affair. They would pack walking distance from the house,” noted a picnic lunch and ride the streetcar. Alfred. When the children grew up, they were allowed to go off together to Idora Park, Another big attraction was Shellmound an amusement park about 20 blocks Park [now Emeryville’s Bay Street shop- away in North Oakland, near 57th Street ping area]. On Midsummer Day (around June 19), Swedes and Norwegians would and Shattuck Avenue. The park had a gather at the park to celebrate. They swimming pool, a merry-go-round, and rode the trains from 40th Street, con- a scenic railway. nected with several other lines on Stan- Families also often walked together to ford Street, and arrived in time to party take in a movie at the Lorin Theater well into the evening. It was one of the [3332 Adeline]. Established in 1908, it rowdier events of the year. As the years was enlarged in 1914 with the introduc- passed, a favorite topic of conversation tion of the ‘feature picture’ and renovat- for friends and relatives who came to ed again in 1921. call at the Grandin home was their vivid memories of past Midsummer celebra- One event that sparked local interest tions. was the ‘tent show.’ Periodically held on the circus grounds in Emeryville near It was near Shellmound Park that Al- 47th Street and San Pablo Avenue, a fred was given his first ride in a Stanley group of traveling actors would put up Steamer. Several trains passed through a tent and perform various plays, in- Emeryville, and near the park, the tracks cluding scary thrillers and comedies like were laid four or give thick. To provide a Charlie’s Aunt. “They were quite good, safe crossing for automobiles, rudimen- Alfred and Edith Grandin in front of tary overpasses had been constructed. 1533 Prince Street. 6 CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 BERKELEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTO Steam train at Lorin Station, Shattuck Avenue at Alcatraz and Adeline, 1907.
com X]. They said Lorin children were masters.” Swedish Life in Lorin happy to attend and tried hard never to Teacher Henrietta Burroughs dressed in CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 miss a day. “If someone did, they were an old-fashioned, Victorian manner, but The crossing started with a roadway on sad, because it meant they might miss her teaching methods were current. The the railroad right-of-way, paralleling the Miss Burrough’s talk on Greece or Mrs. children made puppets and built the- tracks as it rose in height, then made a Stoll’s new pictures, or Miss. Vance’s aters. After a lesson on ancient history, sharp 90 degree left turn to pass over Victrola playing beautiful music by the the puppets went into action. Alfred re- the tracks before the next sharp left membered his puppet Hercules, trium- turn and descent to the opposite right- phantly holding up a lion’s head and of-way. Edith remembering being Juno on Mt. In a gasoline-powered car, the crossing Olympus. Miss Burroughs traveled to was tricky, but negotiable if one pro- Greece and Egypt on her sabbaticals so ceeded slowly enough. In the Stanley that she could bring home information Steamer, “it was downright dangerous, and artifacts to improve her lessons. because the release of steam provoked Miss Vance, the music teacher, papered sudden, jerky lurches,” Al recalled. “I her classroom bulletin board with pic- was scared to death - I thought we’d tures of Caruso and other great artists go plunging off the bridge and smash and played their music. “It made us beg to smithereens, but I loved it, just the for more. We learned to appreciate good same. Those days in Berkeley were ex- music. We would go home and tell our citing times. There was always plenty to parents what records to buy when we fi- do and see.” nally got our own Victrola. I was so proud The importance of a strong work ethic when I could report to Miss Vance that was evident in the emphasis the immi- had listened to so-and-so at dinner last grants placed on education. Edith and night,” recalled Edith. “Our father built Alfred Grandin shared vivid memories of Hulda, Edvard, Alfred, and Edith Grandin the beautiful Victrola cabinet. The first their school days at Lincoln Elementary recordings were the Star Spangled Ban- School [1731 Prince Street, now Mal- 7 CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Swedish Life in Lorin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 ner and America the Beautiful and we stood erect while they were playing.”
Although the children studied from prim- ers and other books, most of their learn- ing came from hands-on experience. Field trips were common, and Edith’s favorite yearly excursion was to the UC campus to visit the Greek Theater where dance, music, and drama combined to delight the young audience. “We were on our best behavior. No one dared to get out of line. We loved our learning experiences and school was the center of our lives.” Mr. Irwin, railroad agent at Lorin Station. 1900’s. Dedicated teachers also helped the nexed to Berkeley in 1982, it retained its ers selling fresh vegetables, fish, milk, youngsters get jobs. “All a kind had to identity as a separate community. and other perishable items. Until the do was mention that he wanted to find a last 1920’s there was no competition little job to help out with expenses, and By the turn of the century, Lorin be- from cars, so children played freely in the teacher began to watch out for one.” came a vital market center, due largely the streets, dodging only ‘road apples’ Alfred and Harold Johnson, a classmate, to the rail transit connections. Steam [horse droppings] learned how to cook in a homemaking locomotives, electric and horse-drawn class. They decided they wanted to work streetcars all came together in what Al- Both Edith and Al remember their first in the school cafeteria, so they put in fred remembered as “the most beautiful automobile ride. A relative, Charlie Lind- their request. One of the teachers heard transportation system in the world.” As a strom, was a successful cement contrac- about it and suggested they would be youngster in the 1920’s, he sold news- tor. In the early 1920’s he bought a tour- qualified to work at the schoolyard ki- papers at the Lorin Station and when ing car and took the children out for a osk. They got the jobs and, instead of he landed a job in San Francisco in the good time. Edith was a bit frightened and working for money, they earned food early 1930’s, he caught the Key System begged Charlie to go slower, but when tickets. on Sacramento Street. they caught sight of another car (after two hours of driving), Alfred wanted to They ended up eating better than any- If he was running late and missed that catch up to it and shouted, “Beat ‘em one else in the school and their mothers connection, he walked a block to Califor- Charlie, beat ‘em!” Sure enough, Charlie were delighted because they no longer nia Street and grabbed the inter-urban floored it and, at 15 miles per hour, they had to pack lunches for the boys. Alfred train. If he missed that, he only had to caught up in no time. said all went well until Miss White came walk two blocks to South Berkeley and to the kiosk to order something. “While catch any one of many other lines. He Gradually the automobile took over the she was making up her mind, one of never had to wait longer than 10 minute streets and children playing games like the guys came up and, without think- at any stop and, if a train was packed, “kick the can” found it difficult to avoid ing, pointed to one of the cream puffs the conductor would apologize if a pa- them. About that time, concern for and shouted, ‘Gimme a puss-bun!’ Miss tron had to walk even one short block. street safety caused schools to adopt a White turned white. I thought she was new program. “Traffic Boys” were chosen ‘Dinkeys’, which resembled cable cars, going to faint.” from among the students to insure safe crossed town from north to south and street crossings for the children walking It was transportation that put Lorin on back on half a dozen streets between to and from school. the map and established it as a street- the Berkeley hills and San Pablo Avenue. car suburb. In the 1870’s, a rail line Autos were still regarded as luxury items Alfred remembers that the program was built, connecting Berkeley with the because the residents had easy access started at Lincoln School in 1924 when main train station in Oakland. The pri- to everything they needed without he was in third grade. The children wrote mary stop was on Adeline and Alcatraz them. Horse-drawn carriages passed up essays about the importance of safety. Streets, and was named Lorin Station. and down each street daily, their driv- Alfred won a prize and was taken on a By the 1890’s, the stop had grown into a tour of the local police station where his small town and, although Lorin was an- 8 CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 Pianos Tobacco • Ashby Piano • K.L. Albord Businesses 3317 Adeline 3017 Adeline Pool Hall • G.T. Hansen • W.T. Moran 3299 Adeline in Lorin in 3140 Adeline • F.K. Michelsen Post Office 1728 Alcatraz 1925 1771 Alcatraz • Luciano Omato 3266 Adeline Produce • Jas. Sullivan Part 2 • Lorin Fruit Market 3025 Adeline Here is a partial list of the business that 3320 Adeline were located in that area. In addition, • Jerry Simon Fruit and Vegetables there were many food markets located 3258 Adeline Swedish Life in Lorin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 on residential streets. If you have any • Harry Skopp Fruit and Vegetables 3305 Adeline information or photos relating to Lorin, fingerprints were taken. He noticed that please share them with the BHS. the toilets were placed in the center of Radio Equipment & Supplies the cells with no privacy, and he decided • Bruin Radio Co Hardware 3019 Adeline then and there that he never wanted to • H.M. Freese • R.H. Lee go to jail. 3252 Adeline 1736 1/2 Alcatraz • C.F. Naylor • South Berkeley Radio Shop He was too young at that time to become 3215 Adeline 3194 Adeline a traffic boy, but he remembered the • W.A. Warren method they had to halt traffic. A sema- 3325 Adeline Restaurants phore was attached to a long pipe that Jewelers • Mrs. Corrine Channell 3263 Adeline was connected at the opposite end to a • P.E. Christensen • E.B. Gledhill stationary abutment just off the street. 3257 Adeline 1736 Alcatraz • O.E. Frank • John Johnson The traffic boy simply pushed the pipe 3270 Adeline 3219 Adeline and semaphore out into the street, cre- Second Hand Stores Meat Markets • Mobilized Women ating a barricade similar to those used at • Idora Market 1831 Harmon Street railroad crossings. 3222 Adeline • A.J. Warner • Lincoln Market 3192 Adeline The Lorin residents took pride in their 3258 Adeline Service Stations neighborhood. They loved to walk down • J.A. Queenan • G.L. Geus 3305 Adeline 3012 Adeline the streets lined with Victorian homes • George Wright • Manhattan and flower gardens. Although more 3312 Adeline Grove & Adeline Men’s Furnishings prestigious homes were located in West • H.F. Falk Oakland, the Lorin area was quite lovely 3238 Adeline Shoes • D.R. McCurdy and much admired. The letter written 3272 Adeline Milliner Sweden praised the area and the eco- • Alice P. Oliver Shoe Repair nomic opportunities. It is not surprising 3265 Adeline • Amadeo Baldassari 1746 Alcatraz that those back home were attracted to Movie Theater • Toyoji Iwasaki 3141 Adeline the new paradise. • It Theater • Eleia PoPoff 1808 Harmon 1851 Alcatraz The Swedish immigrants settled in Lorin • Lorin Theater 3332 Adeline to begin a new life - one that promised • South Berkeley Photo Theater Stationer more opportunities than Sweden could 3192 Adeline • S.T. Wilson 3269 Adeline offer them. They did not expect it to be Notions Tailors easy, but they came full of excitement • Esther Eggerts • Nathan Berry and ambition. They were proud of their 1807 Alcatraz 3226 Adeline • Sprouse Reitz • John Kalsla new country and worked hard to make 3212 Adeline 3266 Adeline Lorin an even better place than it had • Frank Lofgren been when they arrived. As Edith said, Paint 3253 Adeline • Garcia & Hearn “We had the best of two worlds: the old 1767 Alcatraz 9 values and the new opportunities.” Local Boy’s Work Returns to Berkeley This fall the Berkeley Repertory Theater Theatre became his passion, and he is putting on Our Town, one of the most spent hours in the Doe Library reading frequently produced little theater plays. European newspapers to learn more Author Thornton Wilder attended Emer- about the modern expressionist move- son School from 1906 to 1910 and lived ment. “The way other kids would follow at 2675 Parker Street. He continued his baseball scores,” his nephew related, education in Shanghai where his father “Thornton’s hobby was reading German was American Counsel General and in newspapers so he could read up on Ger- Southern California. In 1913 he returned man Theater and great German direc- to Berkeley High School (the family tors like Max Reinhardt. then lived at 2350 Prospect Street) and Wilder wrote Our Town while staying in graduated in 1915. His acting and writ- Peterborough, New Hampshire, at the ing career had already started in high McDowell Art Colony, and his fictional- school. He appeared in high school pro- ized Grover’s Corner is a composite of ductions and even scribbled plots for scenes and persons in and around Pe- plays in his algebra textbook. terborough. He was even friends with Of the experience he later wrote: “It is the Stearns family whose summer stock a discouraging business to be an author theater, The Peterborough Players, put at sixteen years of age. Such an author on productions in their barn theater is all aspiration and no fulfillment. He is starting in 1933. drunk on an imaginary kinship with the After the Broadway production of Our writers he most admires, and yet his Thorton Wilder in a 1915 Berkeley High Town in 1938 the Peterborough Players poor overblotted notebooks show noth- School yearbook photograph produced the play during the summer ing to prove to others, or to himself, of 1940 and Thornton Wilder assisted that the claim is justified.... An artist is is failing in living but is consoled by his with advice and supervision. Berkeley one who knows how life should be lived successes in golf, or in love, or in busi- welcomes his production back at the at its best and is always aware of how ness.” Wilder wrote a short play which Berkeley Repertory Theater this fall. badly he is doing it. An artist is one who was performed as part of a student knows he is failing in living and feeds vaudeville production at Berkeley High [Editor’s note: Some of the information his remorse by making something fair, School and cast himself in the role of in this article came from http://sunsite. and a layman is one who suspects he “Mr. Lydia Pinkham.” berkeley.edu/gaybears/wilder/] “Our Town” Just Published! The Berkeley Historical Society has re- Benefit at cently published three new books.
Berkeley Rep • Tempered by Fire, History of the Berke- The Berkeley Historical Society and ley Fire Department by Linda Rosen - Berkeley Architectural Heritage Asso- Based on the “Centennial of the Berkeley ciation are offering their members an Fire Department” exhibit curated by Ken opportunity to see the Berkeley Reper- Cardwell. tory Theatre’s production of Our Town • Berkeley Bohemia, 1890–1925 by on Tuesday, 18 October at 8:00 pm at Katie Wadell, Shelley Rideout, and Ed the special rate of $30 for all seats. Herny - Based on the exhibit “Berkeley Ten dollars of your ticket price will go Bohemia to benefit BHS and BAHA. There will be a champagne reception and talk af- • Quick Index to the Origin of Berkeley’s available for purchase at the Berkeley ter show. To reserve your ticket, e-mail Names by John Aronovici History Center (also available through (no phone calls) the Berkeley Rep at All of these and about a dozen more are Mail Order). We are open Thursday [email protected] and provide through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. It’s never the production code #100. 10 too early to think about holiday giving. Walking Tours Berkeley in World War II- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for those subscribing to at least three of Blackouts and Bombshells the other tours) are: Sayre Van Young, author of London’s • How did wartime rationing affect War--A Traveler’s Guide to World War Berkeleyans? September 17, Saturday. Claremont- II and retired coordinator of the Berke- Elmwood Paths, Houses and His- • Where did people shop? ley History Room at the Berkeley Public tory, led by Ron Sipherd. Explore the Library, has long been fascinated with • How much did it cost to buy a house? hilly neighborhoods sprinkled with early uncovering memories and reminders of 20th century houses, estates, paths and • What was the Public Library like in the World War II. other development. war? “London,” she notes, “yielded hundreds October 1, Saturday. Berkeley View • How did people get around town? of war-related sights. Berkeley’s war Terrace Neighborhood, led by Phila memories are somewhat more elusive, • Were there air raids? Rogers. See the changes in architectural but there are still answers to be found.” styles over almost 80 years Her talk addresses-and answers-many Join her on a photo tour of Berkeley’s October 15, Saturday. How Can a questions, including: home front experience, October 15 at 2 pm, in the Community Room of Berke- Poor Man Stand and Live in Times • What was Berkeley like in the black- ley’s Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Like These or the History of Work- out? (Turn off that porch light!) Street. ing Class West Berkeley, led by Dale Smith
October 23, Sunday. Transformations Around the Old Santa Fe Station, led by David Finn, architect of Netivot Shalom, Phil Gale, railway historian, Bill Richardson, the new Montessori School, and Michele Manning, artist.
October 30, Sunday (note daylight sav- ings time change). South Berkeley Sidewalk Secrets, led by Ken Duffy with Lincoln Cushing.
November 12, Saturday. Bonus Tour: Ashby Arts District - New and Old, led by Justin Katz, Epic Arts, Patrick Berkeley Historical Society benefit Dooley, Shotgun Players and Jules Kliot, Lacis Museum of Lace.
“Iron Chef” Style Cook-Off Tours start at 10 AM and end at approxi- Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto is hosting In addition, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 mately noon. Each tour is restricted to the Fifth Annual The Crabby Chef Com- p.m., outdoor booths will be selling 30 paying participants. Prepaid reserva- petition 2005 on Sunday, Oct. 9, begin- cooked crab, crab cakes, clam chow- tions are required. ning at 2 p.m. in the Spenger’s parking der and other seafood delights, plus The non-refundable donation for each lot. The 20-minute “iron Chef” cook-off beer, wine and soft drinks, with a por- tour is $8 each for BHS members and features top East Bay chefs fromCaffee tion of the proceeds being donated to $10 each for the general public. Season Venezia, Diablo Valley College/Culinary the Berkeley Historical Society. There tour tickets are available to BHS mem- ARts Program, Pleasanton Hotel, Mc- will also be live musical entertainment. bers only for $30 for all six tours. Soci- Cormick’s & Kuleto’s, Spenger’s Fresh The BHS will have a booth featuring fas- ety memberships are $20/individual and Fish Grotto and the Walnu Creek Yacht cinating historical photographs of West $25 family. Club. Thy are compteing to create the Berkeley. Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto is best crab dish as judged by a panel of lo- located at 1919 Fourth Street in Berke- Tours are conducted in rain, shine, or cal celebrit tasters. The colorful culinary ley, California, just off of I-80. For more Berkeley fog, and are generally wheel- competition culminates with a “Crabby information, call (510) 845-7771. chair accessible unless otherwise noted. Chef” being chosen. BHS co-president For more information, call 510-848-0181 John Aronvici will be one of the judges. 11 or visit www.cityofberkeley.info/histsoc/ Berkeley Historical Society Non Profit Org. WWW.CI.BERKELEY.CA.US/HISTSOC/ U.S. POSTAGE HISTORY CENTER: VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING PAID 1931 CENTER ST., BERKELEY, CA 94701-1190 Permit #131 510-848-0181 Berkeley, CA MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 1190, BERKELEY, CA 94701-1190 Events Calendar ONGOING EXHIBIT Berkeley’s Police Department Berkeley History Center, 1931 Center Street. For info, call 848-0181.
ONGOING WALKING TOURS Downtown Oakland Wednesday and Saturdays through October. For more info, visit
September 17 - 10 am to Noon WALKING TOUR Claremont-Elmwood Paths, Houses and History For info, call 510-848-0181.
September 11, 10 am to 5 pm October 9 - 11 am to 4 pm October 18 - 8 pm Solano Stroll FESTIVAL BENEFIT PERFORMANCE Come visit us at our booth on Solano Crabby Chef “Our Town” Avenue. Spenger’s Fish Grotto, 4th & Hearst St. at the Berkeley Repertory Theater, Downtown Berkeley. To reserve your September 18 - 11am to 5pm October 15 ticket, e-mail the Berkeley Rep at HOME TOUR WALKING TOUR