\[\"The Department of the TREASURY NEWS\" banner, with \"The Department
of the Treasury 1789\" seal on right and \"BUREAU OF THE MINT; WASH.,
D.C. 20220 - W04-5011\" on 2nd line.\]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 8, 1976

REMARKS OF DIRECTOR OF THE MINT,

THE HONORABLE MARY BROOKS

AT COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES MARKING THE RESTORATION

OF THE OLD SAN FRANCISCO MINT

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

NOVEMBER 7, 1976

We are here today to pay homage to the Granite Lady as she is finally
officially restored. She has stood, beautiful and strong through a most
exciting history.

Mists of time have swirled around her feet for 102 years. Her first
service to her country came as ~~the~~ gold from the "Mother Lode"
country poured into her two high-ceiling\[ed\] receiving rooms for
refining and safe keeping.

Later, silver treasure from the Comstock Lode and the mountains of
Nevada came in.

Then---one terrible day---the earth moved. Great devastation came upon
~~her~~ a lovely city; But our great lady stood strong and tall through
the quake. She was saved from fire by devoted employees who fought for
her through the night though their own homes were burning. They used
water from wells in her basement to fight the holocaust. When the smoke
cleared away she stood alone in the ruins, still strong and tall.

~~From~~ With her store of \$2 million in gold coins and ~~from~~ her
wells, she was a mother of mercy for the stricken city---serving as
message center and bank, and dispensing her life-saving water to all who
came. The treasure in her vaults helped rebuild her great city.

Then more years passed---\[the\] time came when a new Mint was built and
~~her~~ \[the Granite Lady's\] doors were closed. She stood alone
then---seemingly unloved and neglected. Time and man ravaged her face
and stone---blurring her image. Then voices arose as citizens of the
great state of California came to her defense---a fight began to save
her---controversy surrounded her for years.

Then one day a ~~very nice~~ man, John Brekle \[Mister Brekle!!\], took
a woman---Mary Brooks---\[to visit the lonely lady\] ~~inside her walls
and an idea emerged~~. The litter and refuse had not obliterated her
original beauty.

(Over)

~~The~~ \[An\] idea \[emerged that\] was warmly received by John
Connally, then Secretary of the Treasury, in Washington, D.C. It was
also warmly received by Cap Weinberger, then Director of the Budget.

Money was earmarked from the Mint's reimbursable funds made here in San
Francisco to restore ~~her~~\[the Granite Lady\].

Thus it came about---the first Federal multiple use old building was
saved for generations to come. An exciting museum quickly
developed---thanks to many wonderful people---a Treasury computer center
developed---and millions of orders for official coins and medals are
processed inside her walls. She has more than paid her way in either of
the last two years.

Today we have added a star in her career---the world's rarest gold
coin---courtesy of the A-Mark Coin Company of Beverly Hills.

Our great old Granite Lady stands today restored to her former
loveliness---only a few scars left to show how it was before. She is the
first public building to open in accordance with provisions of Public
Law 92-362. The Law provides for adaptive use of surplus historic
structures.

So let us pay homage to our Granite Lady---still the most beautiful
example of her architecture in the West, if not the whole nation.

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