Hidden lodges of Berkeley and beyond

Senior Hall, U.C. Campus (John Galen Howard, (1905–6)
(photo: Daniella Thompson, 2005)

A century ago, wonderful and unique buildings—clubhouses, lodges, and meeting and dining halls—were being constructed by Berkeley’s civic and campus groups, who called on Berkeley’s best architects, including Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, John Galen Howard, John White, Henry Gutterson, and Albert Schweinfurth, to design these structures. The architects enthusiastically responded with an array of medieval castles, baronial halls, rustic log cabins, and similar architectural fantasies in both Berkeley and in places Berkeleyans loved to visit, such as the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Monterey Peninsula. Many of these buildings survive, most miraculously still in their original use and ownership, with character intact.

During the first half of 2005, BAHA will host a lecture and event series exploring, explaining, and celebrating these structures. At least five illustrated evening talks are planned, each given by architectural and historical experts, and each held in one of the featured buildings. Following the lecture, attendees would have the opportunity to tour the structure.

Lectures will be held from February through June, on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. Admission: $10 per lecture; $40 for a series of five. Full-time students with ID pay $6 per lecture; $25 per series.

10 February
Location: Senior Hall
Topic: Maybeck’s Glen Alpine Springs, Lake Tahoe
Speaker: Jim Thompson

10 March
Location: Senior Hall
Topic: Senior Men’s Hall & Senior Women’s Hall
Speaker: Harvey Helfand

14 April
Location: Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar Street
Topic: Panoramic Hill’s Sierra Club Legacy—
Parsons Lodge & Hutchinson Lodge
Speakers: Janice Thomas, Fredrica Drotos & Michael Kelly

12 May
Location: Senior Hall
Topic: Le Conte Memorial Lodge, Yosemite
Speaker: Bonnie Gisel, Curator, Le Conte Memorial Lodge

9 June
Location: Great Hall, The Faculty Club
Topic: The Faculty Club
Speaker: Kenneth Cardwell

Optional dinners can be reserved at the Faculty Club. Details are available in our Events Calendar. You may order advance tickets online. Tickets will also be available at the door.