A historical review of Berkeley in 1926 highlights several significant community events, including a cherished local tradition and contentious civic disputes. The period saw residents gathering for a traditional Easter Sunday observance in the city's hills, even as labor tensions escalated across the Bay Area.

Easter Traditions and University Life in April 1926

The Annual Sunrise Service

Easter Sunday, which fell on April 3 a century ago, prompted many Berkeley residents to uphold the custom of attending a sunrise service. This gathering took place at Cragmont Rock in the city's hills.

Despite rainy weather obscuring the sun, thousands of people made the trek up the hill. The service featured music, singing, and sermons, centered around a large, temporary cross erected for the occasion.

UC Life Saving Corps Activity

The April 1, 1926, edition of the Berkeley Daily Gazette featured a photograph of the semester's new class from the University of California Life Saving Corps. The paper noted this corps boasted the largest membership of any similar organization on the Pacific coast.

An accompanying article detailed a recent rescue attempt off Stinson Beach by two recently trained corps members. While one woman was successfully rescued and revived using artificial respiration, the second victim reportedly died from a heart attack while being brought ashore.

Labor Disputes and Industrial Zoning Conflicts

Impending Union Strike

The Berkeley Daily Gazette reported on March 31, 1926, that nearly 10,000 union carpenters and painters were planning to walk out the following morning in Berkeley and other Bay Area cities. The core issue was the "American Plan," established in 1921 by manufacturers to encourage businesses to avoid hiring union labor.

Unions demanded that Berkeley contractors dismiss nonunion workers, threatening a mass walkout if their demands were not met. Local business representatives downplayed the threat, claiming only about 40% of local carpenters and painters were unionized and that replacements could be sourced from Southern California, which was experiencing a construction slump.

Clash Over West Berkeley Development

In early April 1926, West Berkeley residents and industrial leaders clashed before the City Planning Commission regarding a proposed print shop at Seventh Street and Bancroft Way. The owner argued that land was cheaper there and that relocating from University Avenue would move his plant away from street noise and traffic.

Residents strongly opposed the rezoning of the land from residential to industrial use. An attorney representing the residents successfully argued that zoning principles should apply, noting that "plenty of business locations [were] available in the immediate vicinity." The Planning Commission ultimately denied the petition.

Debate on City Height Restrictions

Mayor Stringham on Skyscraper Limits

In a separate session, Planning Commission members informally supported limiting building heights in Berkeley to 80 feet, pending further study. Mayor Frank Stringham presented a paper arguing that cities would be much better off if buildings, excluding specific monuments, did not exceed 70 or 80 feet.

Stringham asserted that "the American skyscraper is both a luxury and a hazard." The commission agreed that lower-height development was desirable, suggesting there was a "wonderful opportunity for better structures to be erected along Shattuck Avenue," provided they adhered to the proposed height cap.