Lenox Street at Ulloa Street | April 7, 1926

Know the story of this photo? Contact us. Permission to use this image from OpenSFHistory.org, and outsidelands.org

May 2020

West Portal: Twin Peaks Tunnel with Christmas Decorations | Nov. 18, 1958

Permission to use this image from the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Committee

November 2019

Cow in pasture by Sagamore Street and Capitol Avenue | 1915

Donor description: View from Capitol and Sagamore. Circa 1915. Looking south. View of cow out to pasture. Permission to use this image was obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

November 2019

Midtown Terrace | May 26, 1958

Newscopy: “LATEST BIG S.F. HOME DEVELOPMENT—Scene of San Francisco’s latest major home development now under construction on the western slopes of Twin Peaks and Sutro Forest. First of the new Sunstream Homes in the Midtown Terrace project will be opened to the public June 4. Mayor Christopher will officiate at the opening ceremonies.” Permission from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

October 2019

Sloat Boulevard, May 25, 1917

Shifting track on Sloat Blvd., west of 19th Avenue. By Permission from the San Francisco Public Utilities Photo Center

September 2019

West Portal Avenue shopping district | Mar. 4, 1944

Printed by permission: SF History Center, SF Public Library.

June 2019

---

Ocean Avenue Between Faxon Avenue and Jules Avenue,
Looking West | June 7, 1919 |

Printed by permission: SF Metropolitan Transportation Agency.

June 2019

---

Celebrating the L-Line’s 100th Birthday!

L Line Streetcar 170 and White Brand Motor Coach Possibly From 2 Ocean Bus Line at 48th Avenue and Taraval Street | May 15, 1925

The L Taraval is one of the SF Municipal Railway’s original “letter” lines. The L line began as a streetcar and was converted to light rail as a part of the Muni Metro subway project, with Muni Metro opening for full operation in 1982. Prior to the Muni Metro subway, the J-K-L-M-N (and many other Muni streetcar routes) traveled on the surface of Market Street to the Ferry Building.

Today’s L Taraval travels from the Muni Metro Embarcadero station through the Twin Peaks Tunnel, and then to the San Francisco Zoo in the Outer Sunset via Taraval Street.

Beginning operation in 1919, the L started as a streetcar that ran just from West Portal to Taraval at 33rd Avenue. In 1923, the line was extended through the Twin Peaks Tunnel to the Ferry Building and out into the Outer Sunset to Taraval at 48th Avenue. By 1937 the line had been extended all the way to the zoo and the popular Fleishhacker Pool.

Along with the other Muni Metro lines, the route was converted to light rail in a several-phase process that took from the 1970s until 1982.

More information on the origins of Muni routes can be found in the book “Inside Muni” by John McKane and Anthony Perles.

Printed by permission: SF Metropolitan Transportation Agency.

May 2019

---

WPA’s West Portal Branch Celebrates 80 Years

The first West Portal Branch Library was built on a parcel of land which had been transferred from the Board of Education to the San Francisco Public Library in February of 1936. The Branch was opened to the public on May 2, 1936. Just three years later, on May 8, 1939, the Branch was re-opened in a new building designed by architect Frederick H. Meyer and constructed by the Works Progress Administration for a cost of $109,090.

West Portal Branch was designed in a Mediterranean style with colorful red, ceramic roof tiles. Inside, delicate paintings grace the ceiling beams. (sfpl.org)

A WPA-Federal Arts Project stencil from 1939 decorates the children’s and main reading rooms

“Please join us for our Annual Open House and celebrate the 80th Birthday of the grand opening of our WPA building! We will have coffee, snacks, plenty of surprises, a variety of activities throughout the day, and, of course, birthday cake!”

11am Children’s Book Author/Illustrator Lisa Brown (Children’s Room)

12pm Woody LaBounty History Talk (Main Reading Room)

1pm Open Mic~Share library love, anecdotes, and local history (Main Reading Room)

12pm Birthday Hat Making (Children’s Room)

2pm Performance (Main Reading Room) Conservatory of Music

3pm Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company Performance (Children’s Room)

April 2019

 

Golden Gate Park/Monterey Line

1 Monterey Park Line, Motor Coach 06 with Body Built by Meister Brothers in Sacramento | August 19, 1919 | Published by permission of SFMTA Photo Center..

March 2019

---

Ocean Beach Looking South | 1961

Looking Towards Ocean Beach from Sutro Heights | October 13, 1961 | Published by permission of SFMTA Photo Center.

---

Where Is It Now?

In the Westside Observer July-August 2010 edition, this photo was identified as "Westwood Park Grocery Company’s building under construction (not before 1917). Anyone knowing the address or date of this building please contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Photo: Gabriel Moulin,"

In the June 2013 edition, reader Grant Wright asked if it could be Ocean and Granada? He sent us this recent photo of the view at Ocean and Granada.

But long-time Westsider, Trak Trennoche, writes to express a different point of view:

I believe this may be the corner of Ocean Ave. and Faxon Ave. I grew up 1 block up, left onto Wildwood Way…1955 to 1961…Crossing Ocean Ave. here to St. Emydius Grammar School gradded 1959. To the right not in photo was Littleman’s (big for then) Grocery Store…with butcher Dept. (lamb chops…25 cents each).

My buddy was eventually a barber in the left side of this corner Bldg, if not it was the next bldg…further left or west was Homewood Terrace on Ocean Ave., …an orphanage…our back yard on Wildwood bordered the huge grounds and many days was the short cut down to Ocean Ave. to school much of the time. I recall the blackbirds doing violent diving attacks on me…reminding me today of the Bolinas movie The Birds with Tipi Hedron…I was a rock attacker with little luck hitting them.

I had sadness for these kids living in these big old bldgs and no famil. I had it good relatively with a basket ball hoop in our yard…

I was a 50’s Inglesider, we were older before our time and gang members already in mid grammar school…daily alcohol, tobacco, and 2nd story jobs, and much…well…anyway we had many Ingleside hideout alleys...The “K” Ingleside (Fireside) was our wheels, riding on the back where the rope to the trolly was our access to stop the street car where we wanted…door to door…irritated the drivers having to get out andd reset the trolly when we pulled it off the overhead wire with the rope…clutching the rear of the streetcar…just enough room for our toes to clutch the back of the street car. It took several “K” cars to get our gang over to West Portal or even down town to Chinatown to buy and resell firecrackers and cherry bombs from the “Mole”; down in the underground alleys of Chinatown. Intrigue for sure. So much to say…stories of the 1950’s. Westwood started and ended on Miramar like a left or west wnf…Eastwood ws its right side or East counterpart street.

Dudley Perkins Jr. (son of Sr. and owner of the1st Harley Davidson dealer in the USA)…lived at corner of Miramar and Wildwood Way. I eventually rode same, different gang.

—Trak Trennoche

February 2019

Exterior of San Francisco Fire Department Engine 39 at 1091 Portola Drive • Apr. 17, 1941

Reproduced by permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. Curbed San Francisco (sfcurbed.com) features this firehouse :

The San Francisco Fire Department dates back to earliest days of the city, founded in 1849 after a massive Christmas Eve fire destroyed 50 buildings in fledgling San Francisco. Originally all volunteer, the official city fire department was founded in 1866 and has grown to include 44 stations throughout the city. One of those stations, Engine 39 on Portola Drive, used to boast a pretty darn impressive garden behind the station house.

Engine Company No. 39 was formed in 1908 at a station on Geary Street, but was relocated to Portola Avenue in Miraloma Park in 1923. The original station was made of brick and featured a massive tower, made even more imposing since there weren't many other buildings nearby. Houses were soon built up around it, but the fire station maintained a larger lot on the block. Behind the firehouse was a massive garden, planted and maintained by the firemen. Complete with terraces, radiating planting beds, and a cool hedge spelling out 'SFFD', the station's garden was really something to behold.

In 1955, the station was heavily remodeled - the tower was removed and the whole building was covered in stucco. It's been changed again since, with different window openings and a sign ledge added above the garage doors. Somewhere along the line the garden was planted with big trees, so the terraced plots are no more.

December 2018

Ocean Avenue at Junipero Serra Blvd | April 10,1953

Ocean Avenue. Newscopy: "HOW'S THAT AGAIN?—This little gem of traffic planning is to be found at the corner of Ocean-av and Junipero Serra-blvd, and if you occasionally see motorists driving away from that corner, eyes crossed and mumbling to themselves, here's why. In the left foreground, a sign directs drivers to stay away from the rails. In the right foreground, a sign invites them onto the rails, designating the area as a 'Left Turn Lane.' And to make it complete, at the corner is a sign (arrow) saying, 'No Left Turn'—in history's first example of a street with a split personality." (News Call Bulletin) Reproduced by permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

November 2018

Reconstruction of Twin Peaks Tunnel | 1976

Reconstruction of West Portal Station to Expand Passenger Waiting Area and Raise Platforms for New Muni Metro System and New Light Rail Vehicles in 1976 and 1977.| November 16, 1976 Reproduction by permission of SFMTA Photo Gallery

October 2018

Sutro Car House & Sutro Bath Depot | August 10,1942

Terminus of 2 Clement Line and Louis’ Restaurant near Sutro Bath House. The Sutro Car House was built in 1896 on California Street between 32nd Avenue and 33rd Avenue. This structure was originally built to store streetcars for the Clement Street Line. In 1902, United Railroads formed in part by incorporated the Sutro Railway. This included the Sutro Car House and the Clement Line. The car house structure stood until 1951, although the 1 California / Ferries and Cliff Line had been cut back after a landslide in 1925. Reproduction by permission of SFMTA Photo Gallery

Sept 2018

Railway Streetcar Tracks on Junipero Serra

Improvement to Shared Municipal and Market Street Railway Streetcar Tracks at Sloat and Junipero Serra Boulevards | December 4, 1929 • Reproduction by permission of SFMTA Photo Gallery

July 2018

Railway Streetcar Tracks on Junipero Serra

Improvement to Shared Municipal and Market Street Railway Streetcar Tracks View North on Junipero Serra with Commodore Sloat Elementary on Right December 4, 1929. Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

June 2018

Construction of the West Portal Tunnel

WEST PORTAL TUNNEL | July 14, 1916 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

May 2018

THE FUNERAL CAR | March 1903

THE FUNERAL CAR March 1903 Funeral Streetcar 2 at Geneva Car House Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

In 1902, after the City prohibited burials within the City limits, funeral streetcars were instituted to carry mourners and coffins out to the cemeteries in Colma. They were at the peak of service between about 1900 and the 1920s. There were two lines, roughly following the 14 Mission route, a variation took San Jose Avenue in the Glen Park vicinity for a portion of the trip.

There were some funeral homes and mortuaries near the intersection of Valencia and Mission as there are today, and the streetcars stopped there to pick up the deceased in the coffin directly from the funeral home. Mourners could get on the car from funeral homes and ride with it out to Colma

 

 

Remember When Histoic Photo Identified

Scrolling through the subject page on your website, I noted the April 2014 photo taken in St. Francis Wood. You asked for information, though I'm sure by now you already have answers. This is the information I can offer, if it will help:

The visible houses are on San Leandro Way, between Portola and St. Francis Blvd. The observation perspective is through back-to-back vacant lots on San Fernando Way and San Leandro Way.

The large white house seen from the back (on the right hand of your photo) is definitely 50 San Leandro Way, built circa 1925.

The two houses visible from the front are (on the left) 45 San Leandro Way, built circa 1915 and 51 San Leandro Way, built circa 1917.

The vacant lot on San Fernando Way is now occupied by 35 San Fernando, built circa 1926, and 36 San Leandro Way, questionably built in 1923. I do not believe that is the correct building date, because if it were built in 1923, the lot wouldn't be vacant in this photo.

So my best guess is that this photo was taken between 1918 and 1925.

Linda Feldman, 14th & Vicente in West Portal

Editor's Note: Thank you Linda, we will pass this first-hand historical information on to the San Francisco History Center where the San Francisco Historical Photo Collection at the SF Public Library granted our permission to publish the photo.

April 2018

Lincoln & Funston 1944

THE FUNSTON BONEYARD | March 20, 1944 A United Railroads / Market Street Railway facility for storing old streetcars on Lincoln Way between Funston Avenue and 14th Avenue. Also known as the "Lincoln Bone Yard," and the "H Street Car House," although a car house was never built here. | February 3, 1918 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

March 2018

Portola & West Portal 1918

Opening Day Celebration for the K Ingleside Line with Large Crowd at Portola Drive and West Portal Avenue Half of Panorama | February 3, 1918 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

February 2018

West Portal | 1962

Streetcar 1 Restored for Muni Golden 50th Anniversary Exiting West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel and Signed for the 'A Geary' Line | October 4, 1962 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

December 2017

Balboa Park 1928

Company House and Restaurant Near Elkton Shops | October 1928 | Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

November 2017

West Portal | 1949

West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel View From Lenox Way and Ulloa Street | April 29, 1949 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

October 2017

Sunnyside Powerhouse, 1904

Sunnyside Powerhouse with Turrets and Chimney on Monterey Boulevard View Towards Baden | Circa January 1904 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library

September 2017

West Portal 1917

Men standing in a field, West Portal Avenue. Dated 1917 Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center of the SF Public Library

July/August 2017

Laguna Honda Station | 1927

Laguna Honda Station with Municipal Bus 019 Parked in Front | March 17, 1927 | 1 Monterey Park busline. Photo Courtesy of the SFMTA

June 2017

Sutro Baths 1897

Sutro Baths (Looking South) 1897 Photo: W. C. Billington. Published courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org)

On March 14, 1896, the Sutro Baths were opened to the public as the world's largest indoor swimming pool establishment. The baths were built on the western side of San Francisco by wealthy entrepreneur and former mayor of San Francisco (1894–1896) Adolph Sutro.

The structure was situated in a small beach inlet below the Cliff House, also owned by Adolph Sutro at the time. Both the Cliff House and the former baths site are now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, operated by the United States National Park Service.

The baths struggled for years, mostly due to the very high operating and maintenance costs. Shortly after closing, a fire in 1966 destroyed the building while it was in the process of being demolished. All that remains of the site are concrete walls, blocked off stairs and passageways, and a tunnel with a deep crevice in the middle. The cause of the fire was determined to be arson. Shortly afterwards, the developers left San Francisco and claimed insurance money.

May 2017

Wreck of the SS Ohioan

The SS Ohioan was a cargo ship built in 1914 for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. During World War I, she was taken over by the United States Navy and commissioned as USS Ohioan.

Ohioan was built by the Maryland Steel Company as one of eight sister ships ordered by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company for inter-coastal service cargo via the Panama Canal. When the canal was temporarily closed by landslides in late 1915, Ohioan sailed via the Straits of Magellan until the canal reopened in mid 1916. During World War I, USS Ohioan carried cargo, animals, and a limited number of passengers to France, and returned over 8,000 American troops after the Armistice, including the highly decorated American soldier Alvin York. After Ohioan's naval service ended in 1919, she was returned to her original owners.

Ohioan's post-war career was relatively uneventful until 8 October 1936, when she ran aground near Seal Rock at the Golden Gate, the entrance to San Francisco Bay. Attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful and, because of the close proximity of the wreck to San Francisco, the grounded Ohioan drew large crowds to watch salvage operations. Angelo J. Rossi, the mayor of San Francisco, toured the wreck on 19 October. Ohioan's hulk caught fire in March 1937, and the wreck broke into two pieces in a storm in December. As late as 1939, some of Ohioan's rusty steel beams were still visible on the rocks. (wikipedia)

April 2017

The Twin Peaks Tunnel Opens 99 Years Ago

Opening Day of Twin Peaks Tunnel Showing Mayor Rolph at Controls of Streetcar 11 Emerging From West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel • February 3, 1918 Published by permission of the SFMTA Photo Archives • SFMTA.com/photo • Amazing video of the construction and opening.

Twin Peaks Tunnel Opens

The Twin Peaks Tunnel is a 2.27-mile (3.65 km)-long light rail/streetcar tunnel runs under the Twin Peaks and is used by the K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View, and T Third Street Muni Metro lines. The S Castro Shuttle also uses the tunnel for game day runs.

The tunnel was opened on February 3, 1918. The eastern entrance to the tunnel is located near the intersection of Market and Castro streets in the Castro neighborhood, and the western entrance is located at West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street.

The service through the tunnel has evolved from streetcars into light rail, and while there are longer light-rail tunnels elsewhere (such as Portland's Robertson Tunnel), the Twin Peaks Tunnel remains one of the world's longest streetcar or light-rail tunnels.There are two stations along the tunnel, Forest Hill Station, near the western end, and the now disused Eureka Station, near the eastern end.

When the Muni Metro system and Market Street Subway were built, they were connected to the Twin Peaks Tunnel to be used by the K Ingleside, L Taraval and M Ocean View lines. The Eureka Station was closed, and the Metro lines stop at the nearby Castro Street Station instead.

The original eastern entrance to the tunnel in the middle of Market Street at Castro was removed and new entrances were placed on the sides of the street further up the block, though no Metro or streetcar lines use them in regular service (they were used during construction of the Market Street subway and are occasionally used in non-revenue service such as rerouting trains around construction projects). Instead, trains continue directly from the Market Street Subway into the tunnel without going above ground. West Portal Station, which was originally a surface stop outside of the tunnel's western entrance, was rebuilt as a high-platform station located just inside of the entrance.

Info courtesy wikipedia.com

Dec. 4, 1942

Photo published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

February 2017

The El Rey Theater

Dec. 4, 1942

Photo published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

February 2017

Fox Theater

Fox theater on Market Street advertising a sale before being demolished in 1963. The Fox Theatre was the largest movie palace in San Francisco from its opening in 1929 until its demolition in 1963. On the 50th anniversary of this sad event, some extremely rare footage was unearthed in the Oddball archive of the interior of the theater as well as the Fox's closing night party featuring Hedda Hopper.

Photo published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

December 2016 / January 2017

Irving Theater

Irving Theater | December 10, 1942. Opened: June 10, 1926 First film: “Madam Behave!” starring Julian Eltinge (a famous drag queen) Location: Irving Street, on the north side between 14th and 15th Avenues. Sunset District. Closed: July 8, 1962. The Irving, with its stunning sign that lit up the Inner Sunset at night, was torn down in 1962. An apartment building now occupies the lot. (Info courtesy outsidelands.org) Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

October 2016

Parkside Theater

Exterior of Parkside Theater | Dec. 28, 1928 Notes Written on back: "Taraval near 19th St." Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

October 2016

St. Francis Wood

St. Francis Wood district | 1912 Source: Greg Gaar. Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

September 2016

Lake Merced Boulevard

C.W.A. Workers at Lake Merced Boulevard | San Francisco Call | Jan. 24, 1934 San Francisco Department of Public Works. Photograph published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

CLICK for more information about the Civil Works Administration

July 2016

19th Avenue

19th Avenue and Ortega • April 10, 1934 Infant shelter on east side of 19th Avenue, south of Ortega. Published by permission San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

June 2016

Glen Park

Elise Beneke Tietz with cow in Glen Canyon

Date: 1909
Elise Beneke Tietz with cow in Glen Canyon 1909. (Note with photo) Valborg C. Tietz, owner of picture (above). The lady pictured was my mother-in-law: Elise Beneke, who later married Alexander William Tietz in 1910. Her husband Alexander Tietz was crushed by 2 railroad cars at the Santa Fe yards in 1920, where he worked. He was taken out beyond the ‘Three-mile Limit’ where he was found. There never was anyone charged with throwing the wrong switch. The family was paid $9000 for his death by the Santa Fe R. R. She never re-married, and lived with her son Wilhelm or ‘Bill,’ who was my husband. We married in 1955. She lived with us for 25 years, and died at age 86 in 1976. This picture was taken of her in the Glen Canyon, where there was a dairy for years. The cows were quite tame, as you can see. The Good Brothers owned the dairy.” Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

May 2016

West Peaks Tunnel Construction

Construction along West Portal Avenue

Date: Undated.
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

April 2016

West Peaks Tunnel ('50s)

Twin Peaks tunnel from the West Portal access

Date: 195-.
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

March 2016

Lake Merced Blvd. Construction

Construction of a road around Lake Merced.

Date: Sept. 12, 1934.
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

Gold Mine Hill

View from Twin Peaks. Date 1953, Mar. 26
THE VACANT HEIGHTS--Big, empty hill in center of this picture is Gold Mine Hill, one of three vacant heights on which Redevelopment Agency proposes to build 2300 dwellings. In foreground is Miraloma Park, just beyond that is O'Shaughnessy-blvd and dropping off from the boulevard is Glen Canyon, part of Diamond Heights development which will become big park under present plan. To the left are Twin Peaks, with Midtown Terrace at far left. Photo was taken from Mt. Davidson. Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

Corrected Error Please be advised that you have the wrong date on your Gold Mine Hill photo.You have it, "View from Twin Peaks. Date 1924 Mar. 26" when, in fact, the date was most likely 1953 due to the fact that the homes at the time on Midcrest Way were not built until around 1953. Also, those homes pictured in the distance on Glenview Drive and Dawnview Way were built in 1951. (I know because we moved into our new home on Dawnview Way in 1951 right after it was built.) Marc Paulsen, La Honda, California

December 2015

View from Twin Peaks | Mar. 26, 1924.

Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

February 2015

July/August 2014

June 2014

REMEMBER This old photo published in March 2013? Its location was identified by Alena Klompus (see Letters)

Send your observations about the date or perspective and a corresponding photo of the present of any of our published old photos (www.westsideobserver.com/remember.html). We'll choose the most useful entry and share the info with the SF History Center — AND YOU'LL WIN A PRIZE!

Send to editor@westsideobserver.com

Permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

May 2014

St. Francis Woods

St. Francis Woods [Undated] If you have any information about the date or location from which this picture was taken please share it with us (editor@westsideobserver.com). We will share it with the SF History Center. Permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

April 2014

Sunset District from Golden Gate Heights

Parkside District • Jan 16, 1940

View of the Sunset District from Golden Gate Heights Jan 16, 1940 “Here is a section of the rapidly growing Parkside District, which, like other areas, has its civic problems. Picture taken from Golden Gate Heights looking toward Pacific Ocean. Arrow marks Abraham Lincoln High School, prompt completion of which is a problem which Mr. Fixit plans to discuss in detail.” Permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

March 2014

Diamond Heights

Diamond Heights • Undated

Written on back: “San Francisco--Diamond Heights Redevelopment Project. Unbuilt hilly area as not been developed because of poor street design unsuited to topography. Purchase of property and redesigning of the 325 acres will make this land available for building under the provisions of the California Redevelopment Act and with federal government assistance.”. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

February 2014

Golden Gate Heights

Golden Gate Heights • May 10, 1927

Pacheco Street wall at 15th Avenue - pouring concrete. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

December 2013

Forest Hill

Forest Hill • March 3, 1945

Forest Hill Newscopy: “Cameraman Eddie Murphy, who took this picture, describes it in the following poetic words: ‘A bit of Forest Hill from the grounds of Laguna Honda Home, with Dewey Blvd angling off to the left and the top of Forest Hill Station hiding shyly in the trees at the bottom, lower right.’ (Gosh, you’d never think Eddie had such fancy thoughts in him!)”. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

November 2013

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks • December 27, 1923

View from Twin Peaks, looking northwest

Permission obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

October 2013

Stonestown

Sunset District • May 20, 1953

Permission obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

September 2013

Sunset District

Sunset District Date 1886 Notes: Written on back: “Inner Sunset for sale.” Source: Greg Gaar • Permission obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

July 2013

Inner Sunset

Is It?...

Could this be the same building?

Isn’t this at Ocean and Granada? Reader Grant Wright asks, and he sent us this photo from the view at Ocean and Granada in response to a previous Remember When featuring Westwood Park Grocery Company’s building under construction that was taken sometime before 1920.

If this is the same building there has been some extensive work on the facade, the side and the roof.

Because the San Francisco History Center does not have a date or location for this photo, we asked anyone who knew the address or date of the photo to contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Mr Wright did. Anyone else have an opinion? Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

The photo above is the one that was published in a previous Observer. Our thanks to reader Grant Wright.

June 2013

Inner Sunset

Aerial view of inner Sunset District Date Sept. 6, 1927 . Got info? editor@westsideobserver, we’ll pass it on to the SF History Center. Published by permission of the SF History Center, SF Public Library

May 2013

Ingleside Terraces

Ingleside Terraces. This photo is in the Ingleside Terraces collection, there is no date or observation as to its location or circumstances. Got info? editor@westsideobserver, we’ll pass it on to the SF History Center. Published by permission of the SF History Center, SF Public Library

April 2013

Old Photo Identified

I believe I have identified the location in this photo from your site page: westsideobserver.com/remember.html Photo with the caption "Ingleside Terraces." This is from South side of Urbano St looking North up Victoria toward Ocean Ave.

Christian Mancinetti

April 2016

Sutro Forest

Sutro Forest. This undated photo simply noted as Sutro Forest is in the SF History Center collection, any observations about the date or perspective or a corresponding photo of the present would be welcomed by the Center. Send comments, etc to editor@westsideobserver.com. Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

March 2013

Midtown Terrace

1000 ‘MARINE VIEW’ HOMES SET FOR MIDTOWN TERRACE Here’s an aerial view of the Midtown Terrace subdivision at Twin Peaks. Some 1000 modern detached homes with panoramic marine views and full-sized basements will be built by the Standard Building Co. Date Apr. 27, 1957. Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

February 2013

Mt. Davidson Construction

Written on back: “New housing on slopey Mt. Davidson” Photo by Eddie Murphy | Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

December 2012

View from Twin Peaks

View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks: Sept. 1, 1928. Written on back: S.F. Real Estate; Mediterranean Village | Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

November 2012

Buena Vista Hill

Buena Vista Hill -No date- M. Behrman Collection. Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

October 2012

Diamond Heights

Large earthmoving machinery is hard at work bringing ‘progress’ to Diamond Heights, but there are some in the area who have complained of the dust raised. What used to be such clean nice fog coming over the hill is now full of grime. Construction site in the Diamond Heights district. Date 1960 June 25. Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

September 2012

Sunset Heights

Sunset district homes, looking from 16th ave to golden gate Park. dated as ca. 1950? this would appear to be an error, have a better date? Contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Permission: SF History Center.

July-August 2012

Golden Gate Bridge

Partly constructed Golden Gate Bridge deck hung from steel cables. Not dated. Permission: San Francisco History Center.

June 2012

Sunset District

Abandoned cable cars on sand dunes in the Sunset. Not dated. Notes Written on back: “The beach sand dunes at the foot of the Sunset District was the dumping ground for outmoded horse and cable cars at the turn of the century. They were much in demand by enterprising citizens who converted the old cars into both beach houses and permanent homes [Carville]. A few exist even to this day.” Permission: San Francisco History Center.

May 2012

Ingleside Terraces Homes

Ingleside Terraces Homes ( circa 1911?). From other images that the Ingleside Terraces Home Archives have identified, it’s possibly a view of construction looking south with Merced Ridge in the background. Know more? Contact editor@westsideobserver.com. We will pass the information on to the SF Historical Photo Collection. Printed by permission, SF History Center, SF Public Library.

April 2012

West Portal 1945

View of the West Portal district from Claremont Avenue and Taraval Street. Aug. 4, 1945. By permission SF History Center: Caption “Here’s a shot of the West Portal District taken from Claremont-Av. and Taraval-St. The West Portal School is in the center of the picture.”

March 2012

Glen Park

Admission Day at Glen Park. Sept 17, 1898. Written on front: With S.F. News Letter. September 17, 1898. "The Big Picnic at the Mission Park and Zoo on Sept. 9, 1898." • By permission SF History Center, SF Public Library.

February 2012

Twin Peaks

Market Street from Twin Peaks (Note Bay Bridge construction) • Oct. 12, 1934 • By permission SF History Center, SF Public Library.

December 2011

Lakeshore

Lakeshore (Aeriel view) January 27, 1951. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

November 2011

Golden Gate Heights

Golden Gate Heights - rubble wall on 14th Avenue, northerly to 15th Avenue and Aloha Avenue • Mar. 7, 1927. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

October 2011

Sunset From 26th & Quintara

Sunset Dist. from 26th & Quintara St. to ocean 1945. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

September 2011

Forest Hill

The San Francisco Commercial Club visits Forest Hill, April 18, 1913. Source: Greg Gaar Collection; Dewey/Pacheco Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

July-August 2011

Mt. Davidson

Mt. Davidson S.F. Calif. Date Unknown. Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

June 2011

Ocean Beach

OCEAN BEACH, Car & Bus At End of “B” Line. Date Mar. 20, 1927. Folder: S.F. Districts-Ocean Beach-1920’s. Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

May 2011

Ingleside Terraces

INGLESIDE TERRACES, Ocean Avenue at Cerritos. From the Willard E. Worden Glass Plate circa 1912, by permission of the SF Historical Collection of the SF Public Library. Were the iron Ingleside Terrace signs scrapped for WWII metal? editor@westsideobserver.com

April 2011

Sunset District Development

Sunset District Homes. Date [190-?]. Sunset-1900's. If you have more information about the date and location of this photo, contact: editor@westsideobserver.com. By permission from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

March 2011

Twin Peaks

View From Twin Peaks — (190?) Permission from the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

February 2011

Midtown Terrace

Midtown Terrace May 26, 1958. LATEST BIG S.F. HOME DEVELOPMENT—Scene of San Francisco’s latest major home development now under construction on the western slopes of Twin Peaks and Sutro Forest. First of the new Sunstream Homes in the Midtown Terrace project will be opened to the public June 4. Mayor Christopher will officiate at the opening ceremonies. Permission from the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.

December 2010

7th Avenue and Lawton Street

View of the Sunset District from 7th Avenue and Lawton Street. Date 1921. Location Folder: S.F. Districts-Sunset. Reproduction permission from San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

November 2010

Diamond Heights

Clipper Street freeway extension Date 1947 June 20. S.F. Districts-Diamond Heights-1940’s. Newscopy: “DEBUT FOR FREEWAY DUE—Pictured above is another link in San Francisco’s program of freeway traffic arteries, the Clipper-St extension, scheduled for completion by July 15. Its course traced by arrows, it will be the main east-west arterial to the contemplated second Bay crossing and connect with all north-south arterials between Twin Peaks and the Bay. Meantime, it will provide motorists easier access from Portola-Dr, at point shown in right foreground, to the industrial areas. The new $182,000 road joins Clipper-St near Douglass Playground and is part of the so-called Army-Guerrero-San Jose-Clipper-Sts Project.”

Permission: SF Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.

October 2010

Golden Gate Heights

Golden Gate Heights - 15th Avenue at Noriega Street - steam shovel grading for wall May 10, 1927. Permission: SF Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.

Westwood Park

Westwood Park Grocery Company’s building under construction (not before 1917). Anyone knowing the address or date of this building please contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Photo: Gabriel Moulin, Permission: Moulin Studios. 1460 Grand Ave, San Rafael, 94901 and the SF Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Pine Lake Park

Houses in the Pine Lake Park District, Aug. 27, 1927
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Note the motercycle in the center.

West Portal

West Portal
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Written underneath: “Home Building following completion of Twin Peaks tunnel.”

Diamond Heights

Gold Mine Hill and the surrounding area in the Diamond Heights district, June 26,1953
Notes Newscopy: “THE VACANT HEIGHTS—Big, empty hill in center of this picture is Gold Mine Hill, one of three vacant heights on which Redevelopment Agency proposes to build 2300 dwellings. In foreground is Miraloma Park, just beyond that is O'Shaughnessy-blvd and dropping off from the boulevard is Glen Canyon, part of Diamond Heights development which will become big park under present plan. To the left are Twin Peaks, with Midtown Terrace at far left. Photo was taken from Mt. Davidson.”
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Building Parkmerced

Housing construction in the Parkmerced district. Date Jan. 30, 1943. Newscopy: “Concrete foundations are in and a framework of homes already rising in the midst of scattered debris on the Metropolitan Housing project, Lake Merced. Vast areas of ground are covered by heaped up bathtubs, ready to be moved into completed homes.”
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Golden Gate Heights

Golden Gate Heights • May 10, 1927• From Pacheco and Funston North along 14th & 15th Aves.
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Ingleside Terraces 1911-12
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Mysterious Photo of Houses and Sandunes in the Sunset District
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Homes and Sandunes in the Sunset

Mysterious Photo of West Portal
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Written underneath: “Home Building following completion of Twin Peaks tunnel.”

View of Mount Davidson from Twin Peaks, 1915–1925
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Written on back: “late 1910s early 1920s; Mt. Davidson in 192?; note windmill + farm - houses near French Man’s Creek.”

Forest Hill March 3, 1945 Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Cameraman Eddie Murphy, who took this picture, describes it in the following poetic words: ‘A bit of Forest Hill from the grounds of Laguna Honda Home, with Dewey-blvd angling off to the left and the top of Forest Hill Station hiding shyly in the trees at the bottom, lower right.’ (Gosh, you’d never think Eddie had such fancy thoughts in him!)”.

Construction of Stonestown apartment buildings Date 1949 July 2. Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

“A small city is rapidly springing up west of 19th-ave, on the shores of Lake Merced. It’s ‘Stonestown,’ 23-million-dollar project of Ellis and Henry Stoneson, and this photo shows the rapid progress being made on the four 10-story apartment houses (in the rear) and the smaller two- and three-story buildings in the foreground. Company spokesmen say the smaller buildings will be ready for occupancy about Aug. 1, while it will be another six months before the apartment houses are completed. Work on a complete shopping and recreational area will begin soon. The project will consist of 28 smaller apartment houses, the four large ones, each with 90 apartments, and an extensive shopping center. Between 3000 and 3500 persons will live in ‘Stonestown’ in the 783 rental units. The project covers 67 choice acres. The picture was taken from Vernon and Shields-Sts, a hill just east of the project.”

St. Francis Wood 1912 Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

West Portal Tunnel 1920 Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks: Sept. 1, 1928. Written on back: S.F. Real Estate; Mediterranean Village | Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library