Once a Sleuth, Always a Sleuth

I've been trying for quite some time, to locate the whereabouts of Sam's carving studio. I knew it was somewhere in San Francisco, but the exact location was unknown. 

I'm an avid collector of San Francisco memorabilia, as well as a self-employed antiques dealer. So, it was quite helpful to acquire a 1932 San Francisco telephone directory. I quickly turned to the back pages, looking under "woodcarving," and, lo and behold, found Sam's carving studio's address ---390-9th Street, between Harrison & Sheridan, south of Market. Built in 1923. I can't tell you how excited I was to find this! Could it be that simple? No, that phone book was the key. 

The space is still in existence, and is now is "The Floor Store."

the actual block (1938) looking south from Folsom Street

I quickly went to my Facebook group, "San Francisco Remembered," to see if anyone had any resources that I wasn't aware of. I was directed to various places. My friend Art found this photo (above) from opensfhistory.org, showing the actual block in 1938, looking south from Folsom Street, so the shop isn't visible. Being the sleuth that I am, I will be taking a trip soon to the San Francisco Public Library's history department photo archives. They have a wealth of information and photos. Perhaps I'll get lucky and find a photo of the studio. For now, I'm just thrilled to know where it was located!

St. Catherine Church, Burlingame, CA

Finally catching up on my research here. It's been awhile since I've posted. My friend Sandy and I recently visited St. Catherine of Siena Church in Burlingame, California.

St. Catherine, a Catholic church, was built in 1909, and Sam Berger did most of the woodcarving in this beautiful church.

Sam did all of the carving on the altar which is quite spectacular in person..

Ambon carved by Sam

So much detailed carving on the walls and confessionals of which he carved all...

The bare wood shows the beautiful grain, color tone and detail. According to one of my cousins, my great-grandfather was quoted as saying, "painting wood is blasphemy." Obviously, he was a purist.

Up and to the left is the organ cover that Sam carved, as well as the railing.

These acorn-shaped adornments are at the base of the railing. They seem to go on forever and are spectacular in person!

This is a small chapel inside the church. It is quite beautiful and again, Sam did most of the carving in here...

St. Catherine's is not only a Catholic Church but also a school for children.

This was a wonderful day seeing yet another breathtakingly beautiful church that my great-grandfather carved. If you're in the Bay Area, you should visit St. Catherine Church. Truly a beauty.


St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
1310 Bayswater Avenue
Burlingame, CA 94010

image credit: Photography by Sandy

A Gift from Julia Morgan

Telechron 'Globetrotter" World Time Clock 1937-39

Some of you may have read my blog post about my grandmother, "Bannie," recently passing away. Well, I've had the difficult task of going through her belongings, which include my own items that I've stored at her house since childhood. It's been a hard task, but with some unexpected bittersweet findings.

As we were going through her things, my husband stumbled upon this clock. I hadn't remembered seeing it before. It was certainly handsome, with a wonderful Art Deco look. I turned the clock around, and Bannie had written and attached this note (below) on the back. It was given to my great grandfather (her father) from renown architect Julia Morgan. My great grandfather, Sam Berger, a woodcarver from Romania, collaborated with Julia Morgan on Hearst Castle in San Simeon. In fact, he used to spend entire summers working there. I have fond memories of him. He died when I was 10.


Needless to say, I was in awe thinking that this clock, dating to 1937-39, stayed in the family for all of these years. And, a gift from the late, great Julia Morgan. It was wonderful going through certain items and seeing notes that my grandmother had left. It's as if she was talking to us, telling us what everything was, and where or whom they were from.


A real treasure was this carved table and mirror, given to my grandparents as a wedding gift from my great-grandparents. Entirely hand-carved by my great-grandfather, Sam Berger. I have always admired it since childhood.

Berger as a young man (on right) in his workshop in San Francisco

Samuel Berger emigrated to San Francisco in 1904 from Bucharest, Romania, where he learned his trade as a second generation wood carver. I did a post awhile back about some of Sam's woodcarvings for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.


He carved for California's most beautiful public and private buildings. His works can be found in many churches in San Francisco including, Grace Cathedral, Basilica of Mission Dolores, St. Peter and Paul's, Star of the Sea, St. Cecilia's and St. Brigid's, to name of few.

The table and mirror were one of few items he carved for family and not commercial projects.

This was the first thing you saw when you entered my grandparent's home. Left to me, it's the first thing you see upon entering my house now. When it first arrived I was weeping like a baby. All I could think of is, This shouldn't be here. It's my grandmother's. But, now as I stare at it and touch it, I have fond memories of my grandparents and great-grandparents. Its beautiful detailed carving tells stories of past generations, and I'm honored to have it and will cherish it.

I hope you don't mind me sharing a bit of my family history with you. I miss my grandmother terribly, and hoping that going through these pieces and reading her notes will be comforting.

Grace Cathedral: Part One

My Great-Grandfather, Samuel Berger emigrated to San Francisco in 1904 from Bucharest, Romania, where he learned his trade as a second generation wood carver. I was fortunate enough to have known him; he died in 1970 when I was ten years old.

Sam's woodcarvings grace some of California's most beautiful public and private buildings. His works can be found in many churches in San Francisco including, Grace Cathedral, Basilica of Mission Dolores, St. Peter and Paul's, Star of the Sea, St. Cecilia's and St. Brigid's, to name of few. Some of his crowning achievements were at Hearst Castle at San Simeon where he did most of his wood carving. Sam collaborated with the renowned architect, Julia Morgan, on much of his work.


Berger as a young man (on right) in his workshop in San Francisco
Sam Berger's work has not been catalogued, and this is my attempt to chronicle some of his work in a series of postings. I stumbled upon some wonderful old family photo albums filled with church interiors and architectural elements. Other than a few living relatives that can identify his work, there are still many photos of carvings that are not labeled. This is going to be my journey to investigate and identify Sam Berger's most beautiful work from a bygone era.

The following are photos of Sam in front of the magnificent organ covers that he carved for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Please be sure and click on the photos for super-enlarged detailed shots.







All photos property of Lynn Goldfinger-Abram