Elmwood in Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Bill's Trading Post and Gem Gallery

Berkeley History

— A.W. Smith, Architect and Builder, 1923 —

Bill's Trading Post and Gem Gallery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 6, 2020

1. Bill's Trading Post and Gem Gallery Marker

Inscription. Bill Gulley started "Bill's Model Shoe Shop” here in 1934, after his previous business enterprise of bootlegging ended with the repeal of Prohibition. When he died in 1966, his daughter, Mary Jane "Peggy” Casey, and her daughters created Bill's Trading Post and the adjacent Gem Gallery. The business became nationally known for its handcrafted Native American jewelry, textiles, ceremonial objects and art, as well as its support of Native American causes. Mary Jane Casey (1925–2017) was a leading Berkeley businesswoman and served as president of the Elmwood Merchants Association.

A.W. Smith was a prolific designer and builder of residential and commercial properties in Berkeley and Oakland dur- ing the early part of the twentieth century. This one-story building follows the pattern of the two-block long Elmwood commercial district with traditional inset storefronts and clerestory windows above.

Erected 2018 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 37° 51.454′ N, 122° 15.18′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Elmwood. It is on College Avenue north of Ashby Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2945 College Avenue, Berkeley CA 94705, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also

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Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Strand (Elmwood) Theater (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Original Location (1968) (about 400 feet away); The Kelsey Ranch (about 700 feet away); Frances Elizabeth Willard (approx. ¼ mile away); Star Grocery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Claremont Public Improvements (approx. 0.3 miles away); Welcome to Wonderland (approx. 0.4 miles away); Claremont Court Gate and Street Markers (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.

Bill's Trading Post and Gem Gallery Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 6, 2020

2. Bill's Trading Post and Gem Gallery Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here between the Trading Post and Gem Gallery storefronts.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 423 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 6, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.