Golden Sheaf Bakery
.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1905 on Addison Street in downtown Berkeley, this two-story brick building was added to the Golden Sheaf Bakery as a storage and loading facility. Architect Clinton Day, known for work in San Francisco and on early University of California buildings, designed it with Tuscan pilasters, flat-arched ground-floor portals, arched upper windows and terra cotta ornament by Gladding, McBean, including a golden sheaf motif. The bakery itself was founded in 1877 by John G. Wright and became Berkeley's first wholesale and retail bakery, supplying customers from Sacramento to San Jose and feeding refugees after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Wright family sold it in 1909. The addition later served as shops and offices, then as a garage from 1927. A side bay was bricked in during the 1950s. Its listing rests on the surviving exterior, a rare downtown brick commercial building and one of few remaining Clinton Day works.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the building is one of the few surviving brick commercial structures in downtown Berkeley and a fine example of early 20th-century classically inspired commercial design. It is also one of the few remaining buildings by Clinton Day that outlasted the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. It is tied to the Golden Sheaf Bakery, Berkeley's first wholesale/retail bakery, founded in 1877.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000644, listed March 31, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2069--2071 Addison St., Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | March 31, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000644 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1905) |
| Architect / builder | Clinton Day (architect); terra cotta by Gladding, McBean |
| Architectural style | Classically inspired commercial building with Tuscan ordered pilasters |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked unoccupied on the form; used as a garage since 1927. Condition listed as altered, and the wood joist flooring is deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.87120, -122.26956 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000644.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q120021855
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.