October 2025 - History Corner

#193 in an ongoing series about the history of the Hillside Club

Once Upon a Hillside: 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 years ago

October 1900

The Hillside Club was founded on 5 October 1898. There are no surviving records for the first four years, so we must make do with stories in the local newspapers. No newspaper articles about the young Hillside Club could be found for this month.

October 1925

Business Meeting, October 5

The meeting will be addressed by Mr. George L. Bell, former Secretary of the California State Immigration and Housing Commission, who will discuss the population of California with particular reference to the different races and nationalities as component parts of our commonwealth.

Theater Party, October 8

A theater party will be given at the Fulton Theater, Oakland, for the benefit of the Stage Equipment Fund. Tickets may be secured at one dollar each. Donations of material that can be used for stage properties, desired.

Annual Dinner, October 19

The Annual Dinner will be given in the Club House at 6:30pm. The occasion will partake of the spirit of the California Diamond Jubilee [California was admitted to the Union in 1850]. Members are requested to attend in costumes appropriate to the period which we are celebrating.

Member Notes

Mr. Herbert W. Furlong has been awarded the second prize in the San Francisco Chronicle’s essay contest “Why I Want to Travel.” He has chosen the cruise of the Mediterranean. Mrs. Furlong will accompany him.

Miss Catherine Clarke, daughter of Prof. Warren T. Clarke, is dancing in the ballet of the San Francisco Grand Opea during the current season.

October 1950

The Hillside Club has a nearly complete archive of monthly newsletters. Unfortunately, there is a gap from October 1949 through January 1951.

October 1975

Fireside Meeting, October 6

“Scenes of Autumn Splendor,” a 30-minute program featuring slides of fall foliage, will be presented by the Photographic Arts Committee. Various members will participate in the showing.

Sonoma Bus Tour, October 11

Departure by bus at 9am from the clubhouse. Journey via San Rafael to Petaluma Adobe State Historical Park, the restored headquarters site of General Vallejo’s 66,000-acre Rancho Petaluma. From there we proceed to the Union Hotel at Occidental for luncheon and on to the Korbel Winery nearby for champagne and tour. The last stop will be at Lachryma Montis, General Vallejo’s home in Sonoma. Leaving there about 5pm, arrival at the clubhouse at 6pm is anticipated.

Annual Dinner, October 13

The Theme is “Colonial Days.” Be sure to read the announcement enclosed with this bulletin to learn more about the very special dinner and program which the committee has planned for your enjoyment. If you can come attired as a colonial dame or squire, you will add much to the colonial atmosphere, but if you wear modern dress, you will be welcome as a visitor from the 20^th century.

Civic Affairs Section, October 20

Paul Harberts, president of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, will be our speaker. His topic, “The Chamber and the City,” will detail the various projects Mr. Harberts plans for the chamber, including study of the finances in the Berkeley schools, opposition in the courts to the Neighborhood Preservation and Voting Reform Act, and establishing a traffic task force to watchdog traffic planning. We are honored to have this dedicated Berkeleyan share his views with us.

Assembly Dance, October 25

This Assembly Dance #1 opens the 1975-76 season. It will be preceded by the no-host dinners which have proved so popular with all members and guests in past seasons. Five dances are scheduled. The Rich Torre Trio, acclaimed last season as outstanding, have been engaged to play for all o the dances. We will again feature pre-printed dance programs, scheduled and mixer dances. A subscription to all five dances is still only $25 per couple.

October 2000

The Club’s archive of printed monthly newsletters ended with the May 1994 issue. If you know of a source for any newsletters between 1994 and the Club’s renaissance in the early 2000s, your historian would love to hear about it!