Downtown Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Morse Block
Dickey and Reed, Architects
1906
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 28, 2012
1. Morse Block Marker
Inscription.
Morse Block. Dickey and Reed, Architects. Charles Dickey, whose firm designed the Claremont Hotel and who practiced architecture extensively in California and Hawaii, designed this building with two residential floors above commercial storefronts. From 1921 to 1935 the ground floor was occupied by Donogh Drygoods, one of Berkeleys leading downtown retailers and a competitor of Hinks department store one block to the north. The store was a “daylight store,” lighted by windows, skylights, and french doors that opened onto a rear garden. Mrs. Donogh, one of the first women graduates of M.I.T., introduced a popular “Basement Grocerteria” – the first of its kind in the state., The appearance of the ground floor has been changed many times, but the buff brick and classically detailed facade on the upper floors are original.
Charles Dickey, whose firm designed the Claremont Hotel and who practiced architecture extensively in California and Hawaii, designed this building with two residential floors above commercial storefronts. From 1921 to 1935 the ground floor was occupied by Donogh Drygoods, one of Berkeleys leading downtown retailers and a competitor of Hinks department store one block to the north. The store was a “daylight store,” lighted by windows, skylights, and french doors that opened onto a rear garden. Mrs. Donogh, one of the first women graduates of M.I.T., introduced a popular “Basement Grocerteria” – the first of its kind in the state.
The appearance of the ground floor has been changed many times, but the buff brick and classically detailed facade on the upper floors are original.
Erected 1998 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 1921.
Location. 37° 52.069′ N, 122° 16.089′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Downtown Berkeley. It is at the intersection of Shattuck Avenue and Bancroft Way on Shattuck Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2280 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94704, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 28, 2012
2. Morse Block Marker
The marker is on the building to the right of the light pole.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 28, 2012
3. Morse Block Building
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 970 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 6, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
