The morning call., 1893-02-28
TO THE GROUND.
Tearing Down a Building
of Pioneer Days.
THE OLD NEW YORK BAKERY.
Interesting Facts About the First Oc-
oupant of the Structures Some
Startling Figures.

One ofT,he buildings Of pioneer days Is
being taken down 10 make way FOR modern
building. The structure is on the east side
of Kearny street, between Commercial and
Clay, and in later days was known as the
New Y ork Bakery.
On the site of the building that is new
being torn down there was built, by
a Mrs. Haskell. frame building, and it ad-
Joined the City Hotel. which stood on the
southeast corner Of Clay aud Kearny
streets.
The original building was swept away by
the fire of May /, 1850. Another WAS built
on the site, and that was burned by the
MAY fire Of 1851. Then tie building which
is now peing torn down was erected on the
smoldering ruins Of its predecessor.
l. July, 1851. the building. which had
beer leased by N. L. Winn, was opened as
a first class dining room and icecream
saloon. and he called it THE Fountain
Head"
This Mr.. VIM came TO San Francisco in
1879 without a cent in his pocket Soon
after landing he borrowed a few dollars
from one who had been fellow-passenger
with him from Panama. manufactured
candy and offered it on the streets from
tray made of the lid of a trunk and sus-
pended from his neck by a pair OF old sus
penders.
He walked through the streets offering
his candy and crying out at the top Of his
voice, Here is your own California candy.
It has neither come around the Horn nor
across tue iSthmuS, but is made in your
own city. and none but VIM can make il
Here il is; buy ii. taste it and try it. he
made money rapidly. opened store and
was burned out He began anew and was
burned out a second time, and made his
third venture in the building already al
luded to.
TIE place was thronged daily and, In
fact, was too small to accommodate all who
wished to be served, so VIM opened what
he called "Winn's Branch" at the corner
Of Washington and Montgomery streets.
That was large saloon. furnished IN the
most tasteful and elegant manner. and was
conducted Oh the strictest temper ance prin-
eipes, and in it only icecream. Jellies and
cakes were sold.
The Fountain Head was for a time prior
70 tie opening Of the Branch the place
where. alter the opera was over, II was the
fashion to have an ice or en- oc0late or tea.
The following from the san Francisco
Commercial Advertiser of April 8. 1854.
gives an idea of the amount Of business
that was done in the Fountain Head and
the Branch:
The famous Fountain Head" was started
in July. 1851, after the proprietor had been
burned out twice, and losing everything he
owned in the world. The Branch" at the
corner Of Washington and Montgomery
streets. was first opened in January, 1853.
We learn from Mr.. VIM that the average
nun Der of persons entering his two estab-
li>hments daily. TO satisfy the craving or
hunger. are 5000. He has 100 attaches ia
the two establishments, at an average salary
OF so per month and boarded.
Inc meat bill per month is 5000; -four
bill. $4,000; milk, 5000; sugar. 5000; butter.
5000: other items necessary to carry on the
two establishments, 5000; rent in both
places for one yaer sol coo; improvements in
both places during the past year, So, 600; can
seat IN both places, $50 persons At one time
paid FOR ice and eggs last season. in i've
months, SIS, 900, more than has ever been
paid IN same length OF time before or since;
has sold in one day 1890 glasses OF icecream.
This was on July last year. Keeps
eighty lights burning ia both places every
night; oil bill $500 per month; 1000 -four
barrels used TO pack soda crackers to be
sent into the country; manufactures and
sends into the country about six hundred
50pOund boxes OF candies; packs from 200
TO 800 boxes of crackers for country and city
trade; takes every city Newspaper and every
newspaper published in thu State; has
N paid in one month $1,000 for advertising and
U printing; carpenters bill has averaged
5000 during the last twelve months; print
eT's bill ID same time about 5000; has often
fed 5000 persons in one day; uphOlsterer's
bill fol the last twelve months has been
been about $1,000; employs two draymen
constantly; had az agent IN New Ork TO
ship stores until they got so low here II was
found to be cheaper TO buy them in
California; last year consumed daily
about 125 dozen Of eggs; sells about
$50 worth OF oysters day: maDufac-
lures 100 gallons of Nlnn's golden
syrup per month-not furnished 10 any but
private families. Receipts RI both houses
average $751; 600 per month, or little short
of $1,000 per day: artesian well lately dug
at the Fountalnhead; has paid before $500
per month for water; Is selling confectoa-.
aries TO 90 to all parts OF the world. aud oc-
casi0naIly packs a few boxes as specimens
70 New York and London; has sold as high
as COCO pounds Of buckwheat in month,
made into cakes; has paid one man
IN his employ for seventeen months
services $1,000 and board. receives less
custom on Sundays than week days; bill
for eT0ekeTy and glassware Tor the last year
has been about $4,000; consumed $1,000
worth of coal IN one month; has paid
$1,000 for potatoes in one month; ice bill for
one month has amounted to $1,000. All the
foregoing prices should be taken as the
largest expenses in any one month; some
times they have been twO-thiTds less; for
Instance, has paid 5000 per month for eggs
and az low as $1,000; other articles the
same. Paid last year for taxes and licenses
$3.50.
In addition the above we are enabled to
state that Mr.. VIM has made very extern
sIve donations for charitable purposes.
Each day his expenses for feeding poor and
hungry applicants in both Of his establish
ments amounts 10 $50
His known kindness in these matters sends
crowds to him. from whom he never asks a
dime The sufferers by the Sacramento fire
and By the Independence and by every pub
lie calamity have been the recipients Of his
bounty. He has paid away IN his last year,
Independent OF the above, $1,000 Tor the sup
port Of ministers and churches.
In after years VIM retired from bust
ness and the place on Kearny street be-
came known as the New York Bakery"
and was continued as a restaurant up to
about three years ago, when it was closed.
When the place was first conducted under
the name OF the New York Bakery it was
patrnniZed by many Of the better class Of
citizens, but as time went on and better
and more stylish places were established
the upper crust withdrew, and the restaur-
ant changed with the class of patrons
Prices came down 10 suit the times, and
from a heightened place in which 81 was
paid for porterhouse steak it came down
TO three-fOr-a-quarter place. and when the
doors were closed IL was a dime coffee
house.
After the coffee-honse was closed the
building was occupied by several parties,
the latest being dealer in clothing. The
place was destroyed in part by fire, and as
under the law it could not be rebuilt, it is
being taken down.