Argonaut #2 2019 Cover.Indd 1 1/23/20 1:18 PM the Argonaut Journal of the San Francisco Historical Society Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Charles A
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1/23/20 1:18 PM Winter 2020 Winter Volume 30 No. 2 Volume JOURNAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOL. 30 NO. 2 Argonaut #2_2019_cover.indd 1 THE ARGONAUT Journal of the San Francisco Historical Society PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Charles A. Fracchia EDITOR Lana Costantini PHOTO AND COPY EDITOR Lorri Ungaretti GRapHIC DESIGNER Romney Lange PUBLIcatIONS COMMIttEE Hudson Bell Lee Bruno Lana Costantini Charles Fracchia John Freeman Chris O’Sullivan David Parry Ken Sproul Lorri Ungaretti BOARD OF DIREctORS John Briscoe, President Tom Owens, 1st Vice President Mike Fitzgerald, 2nd Vice President Kevin Pursglove, Secretary Jack Lapidos,Treasurer Rodger Birt Edith L. Piness, Ph.D. Mary Duffy Darlene Plumtree Nolte Noah Griffin Chris O’Sullivan Richard S. E. Johns David Parry Brent Johnson Christopher Patz Robyn Lipsky Ken Sproul Bruce M. Lubarsky Paul J. Su James Marchetti John Tregenza Talbot Moore Diana Whitehead Charles A. Fracchia, Founder & President Emeritus of SFHS EXECUTIVE DIREctOR Lana Costantini The Argonaut is published by the San Francisco Historical Society, P.O. Box 420470, San Francisco, CA 94142-0470. Changes of address should be sent to the above address. Or, for more information call us at 415.537.1105. TABLE OF CONTENTS A SECOND TUNNEL FOR THE SUNSET by Vincent Ring .....................................................................................................................................6 THE LAST BASTION OF SAN FRANCISCO’S CALIFORNIOS: The Mission Dolores Settlement, 1834–1848 by Hudson Bell .....................................................................................................................................22 A TENDERLOIN DISTRIct HISTORY The Pioneers of St. Ann’s Valley: 1847–1860 by Peter M. Field ..................................................................................................................................42 Cover photo: On October 21, 1928, the Sunset Tunnel opened for the first time. Mayor James Rolph drove the first N Judah streetcar through the tunnel and out to Ocean Beach. Department of Public Works photo, courtesy of Open SF History/wnp27.0493. A SECOND TUNNEL FOR THE SUNSET by Vincent Ring ith the completion of the Twin It is expected that the new trackage . will Peaks Tunnel in July of 1917 and the bring an immense indirect benefit by further inauguration of streetcar service on a opening the beautiful Sunset District with regular basis in June of the following its rolling acres of incomparable home sites. Wyear, one of the main recommendations of the report These wide tracts, a whole section of the of Bion J. Arnold had been fulfilled.1 However, the City, are but sparsely populated because in Twin Peaks tunnel provided rapid transportation the past they have lacked transportation to only for those residents in close proximity to the the heart of the city. This now supplied, it streetcar using the tunnel. The northern section is believed that 50,000 inhabitants is not a of the Sunset District, near Golden Gate Park, still large estimate of the probable Sunset popu- lacked a direct route to the downtown area. lation within the next few years.4 In his report, Arnold had recommended another However, not much more then a year later, the tunnel, the Mission-Sunset tunnel, in conjunction Central Sunset Improvement Association released with the tunnel through Twin Peaks.2 Although he a report claiming that because of the failure of the had given first priority to the Twin Peaks tunnel, he city to provide adequate transportation between felt that both tunnels would be necessary for the full Irving Street and Ortega Street in the northern development of the West of Twin Peaks and Sunset Sunset was failing to develop to its potential. The Districts. The main function of the Mission-Sunset report concluded: tunnel would be to link the Mission District with the northern Sunset District and provide a more The City of San Francisco is losing revenue direct means of transportation between the northern annually in real estate and personal taxes Sunset and the downtown area.3 alone in the Sunset District between Irving During the years of construction of the Twin Street and the Parkside of at least $1,000,000 Peaks tunnel, no serious consideration seems to on account of not having proper streetcar have been given to the proposed Mission-Sunset transportation. tunnel. Even at the time of inauguration of regular Three-fourths of the Sunset District has an streetcar service through the Twin Peaks tunnel in ocean or marine view and is one of the most June of 1918, the president of the Sunset Federation healthy districts in San Francisco, thus mak- of Improvement Clubs, Daniel S. O’Brien, said: ing that District for homes one of the best in the city.5 THE ARGONAUT, VOL. 30 NO. 2 WINTER 2020 6 The Sunset/Duboce tunnel under construction, looking west from the eastern portal. Department of Public Works photo, taken September 29, 1926. Concern for the development of the district was districts for new residents.7 not limited to merely local self-interest groups in the Although the report of the Chamber of Sunset. In early 1921, the San Francisco Chamber Commerce did not specifically mention a tunnel, of Commerce published a report written by Dr. B. serious consideration was given to such a project. M. Rastall. He contended that several districts Aside from Arnold’s proposed Mission-Sunset remained isolated because of the “lack of direct tunnel, consideration was given to a Duboce tunnel, through route streets connecting with the center of from Duboce Avenue and Noe Street, under Buena the city and streetcar transportation.”6 He also stated Vista Hill, to the area of Carl and Cole Streets. The that these districts needed re-planning to break up advocates of this route felt that it would serve the their checkerboard plan and increase the size of double purpose of providing for the residents of their consistent twenty-five-foot lots. With adequate the Pope Tract, in the vicinity of Carl and Cole transportation and re-planning for modern home Streets, as well as providing rapid transportation development, he felt that these isolated districts, for the northern Sunset District to the downtown especially the Sunset, could compete with other and business section.8 7 In September of 1921, the Board of Supervisors 4. The Duboce Avenue route, which had been appropriated $500,000 tor the extension of street submitted in 1918.10 railway service to the Sunset District. It fell to the Of these four routes, O’Shaughnessy personally Office of the City Engineer Michael O’Shaughnessy favored the Duboce Avenue alignment. He said: to suggest the best possible route for the new transit line9. O’Shaughnessy considered four possible This route would be the most direct and alternatives: quickest to the Sunset District. It would 1. Along Grove Street to Masonic, south on also be of material advantage to the region Masonic to Waller Street, west on Waller to Cole along Duboce Avenue from Market Street to Street, south on Cole to Carl Street and them Buena Vista Park and the congested district west on Carl to Irving Street. (Pope Tract) between Buena Vista Park and Golden Gate Park. Duboce Avenue presents 2. A Eureka Valley tunnel, from the Eureka Valley the most favorable opportunity for develop- station of the Twin Peaks tunnel northwest to ment of a permanent solution of the rapid the intersection of Carl and Cole Streets. transit problem for the Sunset District.11 3. A Laguna Honda route, which would use the Twin Peaks tunnel to travel to Laguna Honda By the beginning of 1922, everything seemed to Station and then proceed from there down be proceeding well for the Duboce Avenue route. Seventh Avenue. Not only had this route received the support of O’Shaughnessy and his office, but it also had the This 1853 map described the western part of San Francisco as the “Great Sand Bank.” These areas were later developed and became the Richmond and Sunset Districts, and Golden Gate Park. Courtesy of Richard Brandi. THE ARGONAUT, VOL. 30 NO. 2 WINTER 2020 8 By the late 1800s a few hardy people were grading northern Sunset District land for vegetable gardens and rustic homes. Courtesy of a private collector. support of the Sunset Transportation Committee.12 That it is the intention of the Board of Super- On February 1, 1922, the public utilities committee visors to order the construction of a tunnel of the board of supervisors gave its approval and with appurtenances under the elevation in passed the matter on to the full board.13 During said City and County of San Francisco, State the next few months the office of the city engineer of California, whereon is situated Buena Vista prepared the assessment district for the proposed Park.15 tunnel in accordance with the procedures set down The signing of the Resolution of Intention by the Tunnel Procedure Ordinance of 1912. Finally, brought much satisfaction to those who saw the on May 31, the supervisors passed a Resolution tunnel as a necessity to the future development of of Intention, Resolution No. 20,003 to build the the Sunset. A few weeks before the supervisors had tunnel.14 This resolution, which was signed by Mayor approved the resolution, Theodore J. Savage, the Rolph on June 3, 1922, stated: lawyer for the set Transportation and Development Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of Association, had written to Mayor Rolph: “A few the City and County of San Francisco deems words from you to the Board of Supervisors referring that the public interest and convenience re- to the necessities of the case, the patience of the quires the construction for public use of the Sunset people who have been waiting and hoping tunnel hereinafter described within the City through many disappointments for this relief, vital and County of San Francisco. to the future of the Sunset District.”16 9 This 1875 Langley map shows the Sunset and some of the central part of the city.