Once Upon a Hillside: 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 years ago
May 1899
May 16: The Hillside Club will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the home
of Mrs. V. D. Moody, 1725 Le Roy Avenue [Weltevreden].
May 24: The Hillside Club met last evening at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Finn in
North Berkeley. About sixty members and friends were present. Mrs. Finn presided.
Several members spoke on the improvement of the Scenic Tract. The proposition is to
change the grades of the streets on the hillsides to conform with the contour of the hills. If
such changes are not possible to have the new streets built accordingly. Among those
present were President Marston of the Board of Trustees, and Trustees Turner, Frame and
Staats, Town Clerk Hamscom and Town Engineer Huggins. Mr. Huggins said he would
draw plans for new streets in the Scenic Trace and submit them to the Club. During the
evening Mrs. J. M. Pierce sang two beautiful solos, much to the delight of the listeners.
May 1924
[The Hillside Clubhouse was destroyed in the Berkeley Fire of 17 September 1923]
Business Meeting, May 5: Professor Shaw made a brief plea for helpfulness in stamping
out the foot and mouth disease, mention of which had been made in the current calendar.
[The only known outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in wildlife in the US
occurred in mule deer in California in 1924-25. The outbreak led to the slaughter of
22,000 deer but also of 109,000 farm animals.]
Director’s Meeting, May 12: A report was made by Mr. McFarlan on the progress of the
new building and his preparations for the ceremonial pertaining to the hearthstone laying.
Social Meeting, May 19: The social meeting was a most interesting and entertaining one.
Mrs. Frank Morton Todd as chairman happily introduced the new members of the year to
the Club by means of a laughable series of numbers contributed by a musical
organization made up of members of her committee for the evening, and the membership
class of 1923-24. Orchestral contributions by the group, solos and duets all exhibited
thorough and understanding practice highly deserved the lusty and lengthy applause
given by the audience. This particularly worthy example of Hillside Club willingness to
be merry was followed by installation of the new officers, led by Mrs. Todd. This group
presented itself before the audience and each new officer made a brief explanation of his
duties and his trials. Then the directors and new members formed a reception line that
each member might shake hands with all. It was interesting to know that every member
who had joined during the year was present to take part in the entertainment and the
reception.
May 1949
Spring Reception, May 16: This, the last social evening of the Club year, will be in
charge of Mrs. James F. Hamilton who will be assisted by the present Board Members
and their spouses. This year’s new members will be introduced, and the Officers and
Board Members for the ensuing club year will be presented with the usual fanfare. Mr.
Denis L. Hennessey, Historian, will review the Club activities for the past year. Musical
numbers by the Hillside Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Bernice Hendricksen, will
add to the enjoyment of the evening.
Labor Day, May 21: Springtime is clean-up time, so we ask that you “roll up your
sleeves” and be present. Jim Hamilton and Burrows Emery will be Straw Bosses. Carl
Fox will need a crew for repairs to the building. John Gregg and his assistants will take
care of the grounds. Marion Alexander will need help in the Club House proper. Anne
Dick Campbell and the Stage Costume Committee will be working below decks. Max
Thomas, Newell Nelson, Victoria Kimball, and their assistants will be on the stage.
Florence Burrell will see that our stage make-up supplies are in good order for next year.
Sandwiches and coffee will be on the house at lunchtime. Dinner will be served in the
evening, not on the house.
May 1974
Assembly Dance, May 11: Concluding the regular scheduled season of dinners and
dances, this evening’s Assembly, featuring the Yachtsmen’s Orchestra, will not be the
last. So successful has been the Assembly season that funds are available to pay for a
bonus dance, to be held Saturday June 8. The Hawaiian theme, so popular this season,
will carry over to the June Assembly, with Zeke Nuez and his son providing the vocal
and instrumental music.
Annual Dinner and Aloha Night, May 13: Hawaiian décor, food, and entertainment will
feature this evening’s annual dinner and aloha festivities. Frances Hanna and Lois
Tomlinson have prepared a program of music and dancing of the Islands, and the
committee has arranged for a catered dinner featuring steak teriyaki and other goodies of
oriental cuisine. The program includes a demonstration of “Gestures of the Hula” by
Frances Hanna, will also dance the Hawaiian “Wedding Song” to the singing of her
husband Warren, and dance to the theme of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” an act
that has won wide acclaim. Carol Tomlinson, who recently completed a long visit to
Hawaii where she studied the music and dance of the Islands, will perform several
singing and dancing routines, and Jean McKibben will give a specialty dance. A surprise
comic version of the Hukilau will add a bit of levity to the program, and audience
participation in singing Hawaiian songs will conclude the evening’s entertainment.
May 1999
Fireside Meeting, May 3: Our speaker will be Colonel James Harvey Short, U.S. Army,
Retired. He is a Berkeley native and a former member of the Hillside Club. His subject
will be “A Memorial Day Tribute,” a timely topic for the month of May.
President’s Message: At the close of my year, I look back with pleasure remembering the
variety of activities that were offered. I am grateful to the dedicated chairmen of the
social events, the committee chairmen who kept things organized, and the members who
came forth with so much help and cooperation—with smiles! What a wonderful board I
had! We are surely a unique group, with our varied interests and talents, and enjoyment
in being together. Every occasion is special! May we keep our many opportunities for
further pleasure in our beautiful Hillside Clubhouse. – Eleanor Weigand, President
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