A podcast about history

That's not stuck in the past

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Episode 86

In many ways, Berkeley is a city defined by dichotomies. The hills and the flatlands, academia and industry, counterculture and The Establishment. Despite the city’s progressive reputation, Berkeley has never been a monolith. The tensions between conflicting political and cultural forces are what have made it such dynamic and unique place.

Although Berkeley’s reputation will forever be tied to the momentous student uprisings of the 1960s, the century or so leading up to those conflicts is just as fascinating. Charles Wollenberg wrote the definitive book on Berkeley’s early years, “Berkeley: A City in History” (UC Press) and on today’s episode we cover major milestones between roughly the Gold Rush and World War II. Listen now to hear about Berkeley’s first businesses, a socialist mayor, some very ironic squatters, Bernard Maybeck, single family zoning laws, Phoebe Hearst, a boozy urban legend, and even an extremely symbolic sword fight. Available via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

East Bay Yesterday can’t survive without your support. Please donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday

“Berkeley had not one but two beginnings. Two separate communities, with very different roots and traditions, formally came together on April Fools’ Day 1878 to establish the city of Berkeley.” -from “Berkeley: A City in History” (UC Press) by Charles Wollenberg [Photo: Liam O’Donoghue]
Berkeley’s population tripled during the first decade of the 20th century. Besides an influx of earthquake refugees from San Francisco, the rapidly growing University of California and the expansion of electric streetcar lines drove this boom. In the years following the scene depicted on this postcard, this landscape would undergo a dramatic transformation.
Many of the conflicts that dominate Berkeley’s political landscape today have been present in one form or another since the very beginning. Listen to the episode to hear about the origins of this tumultuous town.

Listen to the episode via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

East Bay Yesterday can’t survive without your support. Please donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday

Topics: Berkeley

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