Thomas E. Caldecott
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edwin Caldecott was a politician in Alameda County, California
in the San Francisco Bay Area
in the first half of the 20th century. The Caldecott Tunnel
which is a key highway link through the Berkeley Hills
is named after him.
Caldecott was born in Chester, England on July 27, 1878. Both of his parents were Welsh
. The family emigrated to Toronto, Canada about 1882. Caldecott grew up in Canada, and obtained a pharmacy degree from the University of Toronto
in 1900. Thomas and his brother visited Berkeley, California
, and shortly thereafter in 1903, moved their entire family there. That same year, Caldecott bought a pharmacy at Dwight Way and Shattuck Avenue, later moved to Ashby Avenue and Adeline Street in the Webb Block, a building which was designated a local landmark in 2004.
In 1910, Caldecott married Australian-born nurse Eveline Grooms (1888–1977) who worked at Berkeley's Alta Bates Hospital. They had three children: Chester Edwin (1911–1984), Thomas William (1914–1994), and Elizabeth Fanny (1918–1983). His son Thomas William Caldecott was elected and served as a state assemblyman for District 18 from 1946-1958. http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5516
Caldecott was elected to the City Council of Berkeley in 1923. In 1930, he was appointed to fill out the remaining term of Mayor Michael B. Driver
. He then successfully ran for the office of Mayor in 1931, serving until December, 1932. He subsequently served (1933–1951) as a supervisor on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. He also served as the president of Joint Highway District 13 which oversaw the construction of the multi-bore tunnel which bears his name.
Caldecott died of a heart attack at his Berkeley home on July 23, 1951.
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
in the first half of the 20th century. The Caldecott Tunnel
Caldecott Tunnel
The Caldecott Tunnel is a three bore highway tunnel between Oakland, California and Contra Costa County, California. The east-west tunnel is signed as a part of State Route 24, which is also known as the William Byron Rumford...
which is a key highway link through the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
is named after him.
Caldecott was born in Chester, England on July 27, 1878. Both of his parents were Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
. The family emigrated to Toronto, Canada about 1882. Caldecott grew up in Canada, and obtained a pharmacy degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1900. Thomas and his brother visited Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, and shortly thereafter in 1903, moved their entire family there. That same year, Caldecott bought a pharmacy at Dwight Way and Shattuck Avenue, later moved to Ashby Avenue and Adeline Street in the Webb Block, a building which was designated a local landmark in 2004.
In 1910, Caldecott married Australian-born nurse Eveline Grooms (1888–1977) who worked at Berkeley's Alta Bates Hospital. They had three children: Chester Edwin (1911–1984), Thomas William (1914–1994), and Elizabeth Fanny (1918–1983). His son Thomas William Caldecott was elected and served as a state assemblyman for District 18 from 1946-1958. http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5516
Caldecott was elected to the City Council of Berkeley in 1923. In 1930, he was appointed to fill out the remaining term of Mayor Michael B. Driver
Michael B. Driver
Michael Branner Driver was Mayor of Berkeley, California from 1927 to 1930, and Sheriff of Alameda County from 1930 to 1939. He resigned as Mayor of Berkeley when he was appointed Sheriff, replacing Sheriff Burton Becker, a member of the local Ku Klux Klan , who was convicted for corruption and...
. He then successfully ran for the office of Mayor in 1931, serving until December, 1932. He subsequently served (1933–1951) as a supervisor on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. He also served as the president of Joint Highway District 13 which oversaw the construction of the multi-bore tunnel which bears his name.
Caldecott died of a heart attack at his Berkeley home on July 23, 1951.