The big local news a century ago in December 1925 was the appointment of William Waste as chief justice of the California Supreme Court. Already an associate justice, Waste had served earlier as a member of the state Assembly from Berkeley and as an appeals court judge.
Waste was active in Berkeley civic affairs, including the downtown YMCA and various service clubs and organizations. He was a California native who came to UC Berkeley for college and stayed to live permanently. He was appointed by another Berkeleyean, then-Gov. Friend Richardson.
Christmas parties: “Throngs Enjoy Merchants’ Christmas Party” the Berkeley Daily Gazette headlined Dec. 5, 1925. “The spirit of Christmas, the spirit of peace on earth and good will to man stalked the streets of Berkeley last night,” the paper wrote.
Shattuck Avenue downtown was illuminated by “strings of frosted lights of red and green … making of that thoroughfare a path of gold and lighting the way for the third annual Christmas party of the stores in the downtown district,” the Gazette reported.
“In the city plaza on the Avenue near Center Street, towering into the heavens beyond, and glittering with hundreds of gaily colored electric lights, strings of silver tinsel and appropriate nick-nacks (sic) stood Berkeley’s Christmas tree, gift of the Downtown Association to the City.”
Santa Claus arrived and it was “estimated that several thousand spectators” visited the downtown business district. Stores stayed open until 9 p.m., and many had window displays and gifts for customers. Many displayed Christmas trees in their entrances and smaller trees in their display windows.
On Dec. 4, 1925, downtown merchants ran extensive advertisements featuring holiday gifts. They included “Imported Christmas Ornaments” from 5 to 15 cents, cedar chests for clothes ($12.50 to $50), a heavy aluminum waffle iron for $8, “Everlasting Ingersoll fountain pens” for $1 a 23-piece tea set for $8.95 and a full-sized bed for $21.85.
In less positive holiday news, a $40 Santa costume belonging to Win Schmidt was stolen from the Elks Club basement in downtown Berkeley two days before the club’s Christmas party. This was not an ordinary suit, as Schmidt stood 6 feet tall and weighed 300 pounds, considerable height and heft a century ago.
City leader injured: On Dec. 6, 1925, Berkeley City Councilman John Atthowe was “run down by his own automobile and pushed clear through the rear wall of his garage at his home, 942 The Alameda.”
He had parked on his steep driveway and gotten out to open the garage door when the car brakes gave way. Trying to stop the car himself, he was carried by it through the garage, where the vehicle crashed into the rear wall and pushed it out, along with Atthowe. The crash ”could be heard for blocks,” and Atthowe survived but also suffered “painful bruises.”
More police: “City Must Have More Police,” the Gazette headlined Dec. 8, 1925, reporting the argument of Councilman Frank Wentworth. His main focus was on an additional traffic police officer, but Councilman Thomas Caldecott added that “we need more policemen on duty at night.”
New art: Dec. 6, 1925, saw the opening of a new local art gallery in the Claremont Hotel. “Close to four score paintings by California artists” were hung, and “admirers and friends” all “expressed delight that a new gallery was opened where California artists may display their wares.” The gallery would have its own curator, and new works of art for sale would be added regularly.
‘Pioneer’ dies: Also on Dec. 6, 1925, Berkeley “pioneer” John Everding died. Everding had owned one of the future Berkeley’s first businesses, a starch and grist mill on the waterfront.
Bay Area native and Berkeley community historian Steven Finacom holds this column’s copyright.