Historic Lorin District
“South Berkeley was originally settled by coast Indians. After Spanish conquest in the 1700s, large land tracts were held by the Peralta, Ashby, and Harmon families.
Transportation has been a key factor in Lorin’s history. Gov Stanford installed rail tracks on Shattuck, Adeline, and Stanford in 1876 linking Berkeley to Oakland. The “Lorin Station” stop was at Adeline and Alcatraz. Another stop, “Newbury Station,” was at Ashby and Shattuck. Lorin was annexed by Berkeley in 1892.
Prior to WWII, the area was populated primarily by Japanese immigrants and black migrants from the south. Growing from its quiet suburban status to a residential and market center, south Berkeley’s commercial activity has continually served the needs of local residents.”