March 17, 2025 | New Northbrae Lanterns Near Completion

Friends and neighbors:

In case you didn’t see this story on Berkeleyside this past week, we are sharing it here.

It says the effort to re-create and install lanterns that once topped the large, century-old stone pillars at the intersection of The Alameda and Hopkins Street is nearly complete. And donors who contributed to the project via Friends of the Fountain and Walk played a significant role in its success.

As related here previously, the project, led by Berkeley resident and historical researcher Darrell Owens and FOFW board member Charles Wilson, will restore a bit of the original public improvements that graced the Northbrae neighborhood when it was developed early in the last century — not unlike the Fountain at The Circle and Fountain Walk. The pillars, with concrete aprons at the base, are a surviving two of four that once sat at all four corners of the intersection and were used as seating by streetcar riders boarding Key System trolleys.

(You might recall Darrell was also the person who tracked down the existence of some other Northbrae fountains a little while back.)

Jerry Coe, the Berkeley metalworker crafting the new lanterns, thinks they might be ready for installation later this spring, perhaps in May. A public unveiling is planned.

Thanks to all the Friends of FOFW and others who helped fund this restoration project.

— Board of Directors, Friends of the Fountain and Walk