The Berkeley Historical Plaque Project has received one of 50 grants awarded nationwide by the United States World War I Centennial Commission. We will be receiving $2,000, to be matched by local fundraising, to do three things. First, restore an original plaque on Berkeley’s Veteran’s War Memorial Building. Second, create a new second plaque discussing Berkeley’s history and experiences in […]

Speaking at a church in Oakland at a campaign rally in June, 2016, Hillary Clinton mentioned her and Bill’s stay in Berkeley. The two had just started dating when Bill Clinton came to visit her on the West Coast, she said.  “We had the best time wandering around Berkeley, wandering around Oakland, wandering around San Francisco,” she told the Oakland congregation. “I have a […]

I am glad you are honoring Phil. Like many of us, I had the good fortune to be under his direction from 5th grade till I graduated high school. He was the best teacher in any subject I ever had, and I think many of his students would say the same—the dozens of us who became professional musicians largely because […]

Penndorf had a long involvement with the Buttercup Bakery on College Avenue in Berkeley owned by his longtime friend, Michael Haley; he had an office there, and he referred to himself as the “comptroller” of the Buttercup, although the actual accounting was done by others. He was present for the infamous IRS closure of the […]

“Melt together: 6 tablespoons butter; 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, mixing well, one and one half cups sugar, 3 med eggs moderately beaten; 1/2 tablespoon vanilla—turn into unbaked pie shell bake at 375 for one and one half hours, uneven…”

“Uneven” refers to keeping the oven door open part of the time.

Here’s a rare label that shows the origins of Sierra Designs at Point Richmond. George Marks and his partner Bob Swanson worked out of a house still owned by George Marks and which was close to George Rudolf’s home.

Bruce Johnson, Oldgear

An October 6, 2014 article in the Berkeleyside independent news site highlights our latest e-Plaque entries and the link they make between a WWII admiral and an artistically repaired roadway in the Berkeley hills. Read more at Berkeleyside.com.

Three members of the Berkeley Piano Club, a Berkeley institution since 1893, share some of their fond memories of musician and philanthropist June Craycroft.

Ellen Hahn, past President, Berkeley Piano Club:

“June Craycroft was a most beautiful and gifted person. She had a smile that lit up the room and was a kind, thoughtful […]

I’ve been thinking about JHT’s rich contribution to the world of architecture and how he did some of his most profound works at the very moment when modern architecture was getting ready its very forceful debut. The 19th century had witnessed a virtual parade of period revivals — Gothic, Greek, Renaissance, etc. — and Thomas used all of them as inspiration. Many years […]