6 days Ago By Steven Finacom
A century ago, a crowd gathered north of the UC Berkeley campus on April 30, 1925, to lay the cornerstone of a new library for the Pacific School of Religion.Related ArticlesBerkeley, a Look Back: UC prepares for its largest graduation yet in 1925Berkeley, a Look Back: Heritage group holding annual homes tour May 18Berkeley, a Look Back: A controversial school board campaign shaping up in 1925Berkeley, a Look Back: City’s church building boom underway in mid-1920sBerkeley, a Look Back: Construction starts on new commercial building“On this beautiful site, on the hill above the university, which commands a marvelous view of the bay and the hills, members of the faculty, students and friends of the school gathered for the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone of the first unit of the educational plant which is to be erected,” the Berkeley Daily Gazette reported, “and which when complete will be one of the finest in the West.”In addition to the library, named for benefactor Charles Holbrook, of San Francisco, an administration building was under construction.
“The buildings are of the scholastic Gothic type of architecture, light stone with dark red brick trimmings and panels,” the story reported.“Moses stood on the mount with the law — you stand on this sacred hill with the gospel,” one of the day’s speakers was quoted as saying.The school was moving from its previous quarters south of the UC Berkeley campus along Dana Street near where UC’s Zellerbach Hall now stands.
The library building, Holbrook Hall, still stands but is no longer a library since its collection was moved many decades ago to the Graduate Theological Union library across the street.However, the Pacific School of Religion, which still operates in Holbrook Hall, became the nucleus of several religious seminaries and schools that later established campuses on what is now known as Berkeley’s “Holy Hill.”Iris show: May Day 1925 seemed to be an appropriate occasion to hold a flower show at UC Berkeley.
Over three days several hundred people came to Hilgard Hall on the UC campus to see 600 different varieties of iris on display. The show was organized by the Garden Club of Alameda County and included awards for the best specimens in several categories.Parks bond: There was apparently opposition to the parks and recreation bond proposal on the May 1925 Berkeley ballot.
A handbill was distributed by the “Berkeley Community Council” questioning the actual cost of the bonds and raised questions about whether an insider deal existed to sell land to the city for parks use.Charles Keeler, who directed Berkeley’s Chamber of Commerce, replied in a May 2, 1925, statement that “as chairman of the subcommittee on parks and playgrounds, I am ready to assume the responsibility for the land selected. If anyone is so bold as to insinuate that I had any motive other than the good of Berkeley, let him step forward and say so.
”Bees arrive: “Excitement was caused in downtown Berkeley this morning when a swarm of bees, turned by busy city life, decided to settle in the heart of the city and selected the Southern Pacific flagman’s station at Center Street and Shattuck Avenue as their permanent abode” the Gazette reported May 2, 1925.“A goodly sized audience gathered to witness the scene ..
. traffic was blocked by spectators.”Finally, a nearby beekeeper with “several hives on the roof of his garage at 2020 Kittredge” arrived and spent an hour collecting the bees.
Volunteers needed: The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) house tour that I wrote about in a recent column is coming up fast. Some additional volunteers to help with the May 18 tour would be most welcome by the organizers.The tour takes place in Berkeley’s Claremont Park neighborhood, not far from the Claremont Hotel and John Muir School.
Volunteers help for a few hours to staff the houses open for the tour afternoon and get free admission to the tour. Email BAHA at [email protected].
Bay Area native and Berkeley community historian Steven Finacom holds this column’s copyright..
