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Fascinating Historical Photos of Berkeley from the Early 20th Century

The 20th century in Berkeley started with rapid growth, but the development stopped with the Great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Thousands of refugees crossed the Bay due to the storm, which did not cause severe damage to the East Bay. Many of San Francisco’s painters and sculptors were among them, and they established one of the largest art colonies west of Chicago between 1907 and 1911. Berkeley’s first hospitals were built in 1904: the Alta Bates Sanatorium for women and children, established by nurse Alta Bates on Walnut Street, and the Roosevelt (later Herrick) Hospital, located at the corner of Dwight Way and Milvia Street.

Californians defeated a statewide referendum in 1908 that proposed moving the state capital to Berkeley by about 33,000 votes. California counties got their streets around the proposed capital. The failed referendum has left these names behind. California granted Berkeley’s citizens a new charter, and the Town became the City of Berkeley.

The growth continued up until 1929 when the Crash hit the economy. It was a hard time for Berkeley, but not as bad as in many other places in the nation. As World War II approached, many people moved to the Bay Area to find work in the many war industries, such as the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards. Professor and Berkeley resident J Robert Oppenheimer, who moved out, played a significant role in the outcome of the War. Berkeley served as a temporary Army base, Camp Ashby.

Below are some stunning historical photos showing what Berkley looked like from the 1900s to the 1930s.

#3 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California, 1910s

#4 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California, 1910s

#6 Entrance to Claremont, Berkeley, California, 1900s

#9 Christian Science Church, Berkeley, California, 1900s

#13 Scenic Avenue, view along sidewalk, Berkeley, California, 1910s

#19 Claremont Hotel during construction. Berkeley, 1930s

#20 Alta Vista Apartments, Berkeley, California, 1900s

#23 Byron Jackson Iron Works, Berkeley, California, 1900s

#24 Byron Jackson Machine Works, Berkeley, California, 1900s

#25 Christian Science Church, Berkeley, California, 1900s

#28 Pacific Coast Furniture Co., Berkeley, California, 1910s

#30 Pacific Spring Bed Co., Berkeley, California, 1910s

#32 Statue, grounds of State Deaf and Dumb Asylum Berkeley, California, 1910s

#41 Flowers in window box, Berkeley, California, 1920s

#52 Berkeley Fruit Supply Co. Storefront with employees, 1930s

#53 Berkeley Hardware Co. Storefront. 2154 University Avenue, Berkeley, 1930s

#54 Brass band. University of California, Berkeley, 1930s

#58 G.G. Gier residence. #129 Requa Rd., Piedmont, 1930s

#63 Liberty Ornamental Iron & Wire Works Inc. Exterior, 1920s.

#65 Interior of store. Liberty Ornamental Iron & Wire Works Inc, 1920s.

#67 First Unitarian Church, 2401 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, 1910s

#71 Interior staris of an unidentified building, 1920s.

#72 Interior, unidentified restaurant, with candy display and soda fountain, 1910s.

#76 Schoolyard portrait of pupils. Unidentified school in Berkeley, 1920s

#77 Street scene, with electric trolley cars, horse buggies, and automobiles, 1920s.

#78 Street scene, with horse buggies, electric trolley car, 1922.

#79 Exterior, photography studio of Max W. Greene, 1922.

#82 Interior of manufacturing area. Liberty Ornamental Iron & Wire Works, 1920s.

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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5 Comments

  1. #53 Lurie building, north side of 12th Street between Broadway and Franklin Streets, 1940s:
    This looks like the first or second block of San Pablo, now the Rotunda, not 12th street.