The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-15
THE MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT.

One More of San Francisco's Historic
Landmarks to Be ObIiterated.
The woodman's ak awakens the echoes
and the blows are telling che outrageous
tall trees that for so many years have stood
and spread their branches over the north
west corner of Suffer and Stockton streets
A gang of graders are at work clearing away
the soil, ali preparatory to laying the founda-
ton for a modern building, which is to be
four stories in height above the basement
and ground floor.
To the later-day resident this means SIM
ply that an Improvement, an adjournment to
that section of the city is to be added; but
TO those who Were here in the early days IL
means tue total obliteration of landmark
that in its time was the most attractive and
noticeable. When San Francisco was, conf
paratiyely, a village, when its limits were
within line of sand hills just south OF
Bush street, with 1.-THE Sandy Hill Market
as the last house on Kearny street, near
where the Maison Dore is now, and the line
OF ungraded land west OF Dupont street,
there were but three ways OF reaching the
Mission Dolores One was by water to the
'EmbarcaderO," at the foot of what is now
Sixteenth street, and from there across an
ungraded roadway to the old Mission
Church; another was along a narrow trail
over the sand dunes, dagonally from Bush
and keaTny to Mission and Third streets, and
thence out the Mission road; the third was
over an irregular trail that ran up Bush street
TO stockton. then in a southery direction up
grade and downgrade through soft, yielding
sand down into st. AIMS Valley to near
the corner of Eddy and Powell streets,
where under the shade OF oaks stood the
cottage of John Sullivan, one of The early
pioneers. The place was surrounded Oy
neat garden and primitive lighthouses. From
there the trail continued on over an undu-
lating sand region amid California box
wood, scrub oak, purple and yellow lupin,
golden-hued eschschotZia and California
lilac. From this trail could be seen here
and there brush huts occupied by French
men who were engaged in the business OF
burning charcoal, and others by Chinese
woodchoppers. The former brought their
product, six sacks at time, on the back OF
a mule, and the Chinese carried load on
each end Of long pole, and each load Of
this wood weighed not less than fifty pounds.
| The trail, hard for horses and still harder
for pedestrians, continued until there came
In view a long white house, the home Of
Colonel Thomas Hayes, after whom Hayes
Valley was named. In addition 10 being
his home il was a waySlde inn, at which
almost every one going along the trail rested
Tor refreshments. From there ii was but a
short distance, after crossing willow
edged creek near where Fourteenth street is
now, TO reach the Mission road.
1t was when Stockton street along this
| trail was reached that the eyes OF the one
who had never gone ever it were greeted
with a surprising view. 1t was an elegant
cottage with a peaked roof, with a large
veranda around il, built of composite STYLE
Of architectural cross between that of the
old-fashiOned home Of a Southern planter
and that of the Swiss chalet 1t was
painted white. had bright green shutters.
and around the porch supports were climb
ing vines and flowers. and roses were not
wanting. Around the cottage was beaut-
fully laid out garden. with platS and walks,
and this, together with the snow-white
lace curtains at the windows-a rarity in
those days-potted plants on the veranda
and large cane or rattan lOungng chairs
and sofas, together with all the comforts of
a home. gave proof that the occupants
were people of refined tastes. The view Of
this dwelling, So neat and so cosy in its
solitude, brought TO the mind of those who
came around the Horn, over the plains or
acr OsS the isthmus memories of some home,
sweet home, in the East or on the Continent
The cottage was built for and occupied by
Judge Burrit 1t was subsequently the
home of Lueien Herman, and the last who
occupied il as a dwelling exclusively was
the late Dir. A. J. Bowie, with his family.
lie was It's occupant until early in the '70'S,
when in the early hours OF morn Ii was
partly destroyed by fire.
After the IRE il was repaired, the interior
changed, and il was converted into public
resort known as The Vienna Garden. -
\ few years ago the building was taken
down, as arrangements had been made 10
use the site for swimming baths. with salt
water brought from the ocean, but the
project fell through and the property re-
manned idle until now, when the owner has
n