On Tuesday night, Green Apple Books will host author and local historican Rebecca Schall. She’ll be sharing her newest book, a collection of historic San Francisco photos from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Schall was born and grew up in the Richmond District.

Schall will discuss her latest book, as well as her earlier publications Historic Photos of San Francisco, and Historic Photos of the Presidio.

The free event begins at 7pm on Tuesday night at Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street.

Sarah B.

Special thanks to RichmondSFBlog reader Sue for sharing her recent ebay acquisition with us. It’s an antique map of the San Francisco Bay Area from 1909 that was part of a guidebook published by Fritz Baedeker of Leipzig, Germany.

Some interesting tidbits from the map (download full map):

- “The Chutes” is marked in the Richmond District. Located at Fulton and 10th Avenue, it was the first amusement park in the city and the precursor to Playland (photo). You’ll also notice the Marine Hospital is labeled, which is now the Presidio Landmark apartments inside the 15th Avenue gate.

- Most of the Sunset District is still wide open, a.k.a sand dunes.

- Some areas have names I’ve never heard of. Twin Peaks is labeled as “Blue Mountain”, Tennessee Valley in Marin is referred to as “Elk Valley” (were there elk there at one time?), and Yerba Buena Island is referred to as “Goat Island”.

- You’ll notice “Quarantine” overlaying Angel Island in its upper right corner. That refers to the quarantine station on the north side of the island that was opened in Ayala Cove (then known as Hospital Cove) in 1891. Returning soldiers, and later immigrants, were quarantined there.

Click here to view the full map (2MB)

Notice anything else odd or surprising about the map? Leave a comment to let us know.

Sarah B.

Battery Chamberlin’s Number 3 gun being fired prior to it’s removal in 1918.
Image courtesy of Chuck Woffard | militarymuseum.org

This Saturday, the 50-ton cannon at Battery Chamberlin at Baker Beach will be on display to the public from 11am until 3pm (map & directions).

The Army built Battery Chamberlin, just above Baker Beach, in 1904 to protect the harbor’s minefields. The battery’s “disappearing” guns could be cranked in and out of their hidden emplacement on the beach. The battery, which was the last fortification to be constructed at Fort Winfield Scott, was named in honor of Captain Lowell A. Chamberlin, a Civil War veteran who died in 1899.

Stop by Saturday for a demonstration on how the “disappearing” gun works, including how to load and aim it (sorry, no firing allowed). Plus check out photos of the century-old Endicott system batteries in one of the underground cartridge rooms.

In case of rain, call (415) 561-4323 for schedule. You can drive in and access Battery Chamberlin from the north end of the Baker Beach parking lot.

For more information on Battery Chamberlin and the guns that lived there, check out militarymuseum.org.

Sarah B.

[via Funcheapsf.com]

That’s a cross section of a Humboldt County redwood tree on the right.

Our friends over at Inside Outside Lands posted about some new Sutro Baths photos that were recently added to the Cliff House Project website. I’ve lived in the city my whole life but not long enough to have experienced the baths. So I find them endlessly fascinating.

This latest group of photos are from a booklet shot by reknowned local photographer Isaiah Taber and include some rare views of the tanks, stands, museum and promenades in the Baths. You really get a feel for how large the place was.

The photos and booklet aren’t dated but according to the Wikipedia page on Taber, “the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed his San Francisco studio, gallery, and negative collection, ending his photographic career.” So these were probably taken at the turn of the century (Sutro Baths opened in 1896).

UPDATE: Commenter John Martini confirms that they were taken sometime during 1894-1895 (“One major clue is the “Greek Temple” entrance shown in the first photo. By 1896 this entry had been altered…”). Thanks John!

I’ve included a couple more below (is that Adolph Sutro himself in the last one?), but be sure to see all the photos from this booklet. Really, the entire Cliff House Project site is fantastic, so pour yourself a cup of coffee and start clicking through local history!

Sarah B.

The overlook from Adolph Sutro’s estate. Photo courtesy of cliffhouseproject.com

Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, the Cliff House offers historic walking tours through Sutro Heights, also known as “San Francisco’s Fabled Pleasure Grounds”.

The event starts with a breakfast at the Cliff House followed by a walk through Adolph Sutro’s magical kingdom with John A. Martini – author, historian and retired National Park Service Ranger who is largely regarded as the ultimate authority on Sutro Height’s fabled past.

In the annals of San Francisco history, few had the imagination and wealth to make dreams come true like Adolph Sutro. Sutro parlayed his mining fortune into a magical land on the northwest edge of San Francisco, turning it into an entertainment destination for kids and adults alike. He was the man behind Sutro Baths and museum, The Cliff House, the estate in Sutro Heights, Sutro Park – he even built his own railroad line to transport San Franciscans to his pleasure grounds.

Walks this month will take place on August 14 and August 28. The cost is $40 per person and includes a 9am continental breakfast at the Cliff House followed by a 1.5 hour history walk at 10am. A $60 admission also gets you the book, The San Francisco Cliff House, by Mary Germain Hountalas.

Click here to reserve your spot or call the Cliff House Gift Shop at 666-4006.

Sarah B.

A golfer gets ready for his next shot on Lincoln Golf Course near The California Legion of Honor museum. Nearby is a commemorative plaque that reads, “This Tree was planted by Joseph JOFFRE Marechal de France. April 7, 1922.”

Photographer 2Composers adds, “The golfer is probably unaware of the fact, that both Maréchals de France, Joffre and Foch, visited The Legion and commemorated the war dead.”

Sarah B.

In case you missed this great documentary when it was playing at the Balboa Theater, you can catch it again at a free screening at the Richmond Branch Library on Wednesday, July 28 at 6:30pm.

The full length documentary tells the history of San Francisco’s famous 10-acre seaside amusement park, Playland at the Beach. Located next to Ocean Beach, it was torn down in 1972 to make way for a condominium development. Gone now for more than 3 decades, it remains one of the city’s lost treasures.

Go back in time to see Laffing Sal, the Fun House, the Carousel, the Big Dipper, the Diving Bell, Dark Mystery, Limbo, Fun-tier Town, and much, much more, all through the eyes of the people who were there. The first and only documentary ever made about Playland, it features 12 interviews, 20 minutes of archival footage, 187 photographs and original music.

I’ve seen the film and highly recommend it. It’s a great look into our neighborhood’s entertaining past.

“Remembering Playland” filmmaker Tom Wyrsch will also be at the Library presentation to intro the film and take questions. The program room at the library is not very big, so be sure to arrive early if you want a seat.

And if you can’t make it, the “Remembering Playland” DVD is available for $15 (+$2.50 for shipping). Click here to order it online. The DVD also includes three short subject films on Playland.

Sarah B.

Ellen Murphy celebrates her 100th birthday. Photo by Marilyn Garry-Mulkeen from the Bay Citizen

The Bay Citizen today has a nice article by Martin Mulkeen about his 100 year old great aunt who has spent her entire life living in the Richmond District.

Having moved only once in her life – from 23rd and Lake to 27th and Balboa – Ellen Murphy must hold the record (or at least be in the top 3) for the longest residency in our neighborhood.

The article has some interesting reflections on her years in the city – riding the trolley cars, wooden sidewalks, and her memories of swimming at Sutro Baths.

She recently celebrated her 100th birthday at where else…the Cliff House! She recalled when the sea lions were constantly barking and she could hear them blocks away at her home. And she reflected sadly on the time when her brother drowned in the bay.

Read the full article here

Happy 100th birthday to Miss Murphy! I’ve only got about 90 more years to catch up with her Richmond District record, what about you?

Sarah B.