The blaze of Sept. 17, 1923, caught Berkeley firefighters completely unprepared, leaving nearly 4,000 homeless before a change in wind stopped it at the edge of downtown. Fire experts warn that a fire just as bad — or worse — could happen today.
Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
Posted inCity
Guardians of Berkeley’s historical plaques have passed the torch
A group of residents spent a quarter century installing 120 plaques at Berkeley’s most notable locations. The city’s historical society is now taking over its work.
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley history major secures plaque for Cal student-turned-Spanish Civil War hero
Robert Merriman was a Ph.D. student at Cal more than 85 years ago. He was killed fighting fascists. Thanks to the efforts of Milton Zermanm, his story will be more broadly told.
Posted inCommunity
What’s the link between a WWII admiral and Berkeley?
Nimitz Way in Tilden Park. Photo: Wikipedia/Creative Commons While admiring the view at Inspiration Point in Tilden Park, have you ever wondered why the nearly path is named after a World War II commander, Chester Nimitz? Well we have. And lucky for denizens of Berkeley and history buffs, The Berkeley Historical Plaque project has two […]
Posted inCommunity, Events, Housing & Development
4 Berkeley buildings to get upgrades after library lawsuit
Ashkenaz will use a $27,000 grant it received from the Berkeley Preservation Trust to seismically upgrade its building and help fund a new roof. Photo: Joe Balestreri A bell tower constructed in 1878. A nursery school built in 1927. An import-export warehouse converted into a music venue. A prefabricated panel cottage put together in 1887. […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley Historical Plaques highlight local history
John Hudson Thomas built this house at 959 Indian Rock Ave. for his daughter. Photo: Robert Kehlmann John Hudson Thomas built this house at 959 Indian Rock Ave. for his daughter. Photo: Robert Kehlmann The Berkeley Historical Plaque Project has been calling attention to Berkeley’s history since 1997, when it started to place oval plaques on historic […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley’s Moe’s Books honored with historical plaque
Some of the Moe’s team pose with the bookstore’s new historical plaque. L to r: Doris Moskowitz, Gene Barone, Johnny Williams, K Murphy, Laura Tibbals, Matt Wong, and Owen Hill. Photo: Siciliana Trevino Some of the Moe’s team pose with the bookstore’s new historical plaque. L to r: Doris Moskowitz, Gene Barone, Johnny Williams, K […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley Historical Plaques: Crowd-sourcing history
“S.P. Train, Shattuck Ave.,” postcard (ca.1909), Sarah Wikander collection Finding out about Berkeley’s history just got a whole lot easier. The organizations responsible for putting up green and white oval plaques on historical sites around the city have created a new website, but one with a twist. In addition to short articles about the background […]
