The San Francisco call., 1901-12-08
FSSHIoNS5LE
DISTRICTS
rHSr HAVE
FADED INTO
Q 5scURITY

= ed over as If they were toys CT
wood; and that in their places
could be set up the homes of the
people who have made history here on
our little peninsula
Then you would never dream for a mo-
rnent that you were in San Francisco. for
rever did a city change by such swift
magic as this.
The distinctive type of the early day
house was a rambling wooden structure.
either cottage form or square. with bal
COMES above and below. OF this class. in
the northern part Of the CITY, were the
homes Of General ]. P. Haven on Pow
ell street, near Union Che was the we'll
known funny man" of the town and one
Of the first major generals of San Fran
cisco's militia; Colonel ]. d. Fry. on
Pacific street, near Mason; Judge H. 7.
Thornton and his son-in-law, Judge
James D. Thornton. recently of the Su-
preme Court. on Green street, near Stock
ton; S. NJ. Wilson. also on Green street.
in whose house were born his numerous
sons. several of whom are present legal
Iuminaries; George Hearst. on Lombard
street; W. II. V. Cronise, and William
Sharon on Green street.
Although the homes Of our early day
residents were scattered all over the city
o. that period. the fashionable portion Of
the north side Of the town was beyond
question that part Of Stockton street ly-
ing between Clay and Green and its i'm
mediate vicinity. Many of the houses
are still in existence. the buildings look
ing. in the main. outwardly as they did
81.
that the most startling changes have
taken place. and to one who may retain
pleasant recollections of the home life
and hospitality Of that quarter at that
period a visit there now is an actual
shock Outward and visible signs of Chi
nese occupancy are on every hand. and
the dilapidation which follows in it's train
is but too evident Take, for example.
what was the handsome. imposing home
Of Thomas o. Larkin. von the east side
Of Stockton street. between Pacific and
jackson. It was one of the city's most
elegant residences in the early sixties,
and in its spacious parlors was married,
IN 1862, MI Larkin's only daughter. Caro-
lima, TO Sampson Tams- Miss Larkin en-
3oyed the distinction Of being the first
wEite child born of American parents in
Ean Francisco. 1t is now Chinese lodG-
ing-house. with scarcely a whole window
pane TO be seen in the entire structure
On the opposite side of the street other
prominent early day homes have met a
similar fate. Here stand a couple Of
brick houses. In one Of them dwelt-
about 155O-Judge J. P. Hoge and his fam
fly. The twin house was occupied By
Judge NJ Hall McAllister of the United
States Circuit Court and his large fam
fly OF sons and their wives. Mrs. Meal
lister the elder was the soul of hospital
ity, and the McAllister house was one Of
the most delightful in town to visit; the
entertainments were legion. Next in oc-
cupancy came the French Consul, NJ.
Gautier, and his family. who kept up the
houses reputation for brilliant festivi-
ties until the recall Of the Consul by his
Government. The first French consulate
was on the corner OF Jackson and Mason
streets. It was a square three-storied
house, the lower story far below the
grade and most dilapidated in appear
ace.
A third example Of wreck and ruin in
the vicinity Of Stockton street can be seen
in what was known in 1855 as the Gwin
house. on the north side Of Jackson street,
near Stockton. II was one Of the most
substantial in the city at that date and
IN It Mrs. Gwin held almost regal sway,
surrounded by the leaders Of the Demo-
cratic party and numerous satellites. It
was while living here that DR.. Gwin was
reelected 10 the United States Senate
q. w. Guthrie was the. next occu-
pant Of the Gwin house, which was soon
after purchased and improved by DR.. H.
r. Toland and lived in by him and his
family for decade or more. The house
IS now the headquarters Of a Chinese
laundry: in fact the Chinese have alb
sorbed this locality in its entirety and the
old homes Of the elder DR.. j. D. Whitney.
John Middleton, the pioneer auctioneer;
Or. r. T. Maxwell, John Slime, the banker.
and others are now occupied by that race.
There are. however, two exceptions in this
block: one. the home Of Captain Roberts.
on the corner Of Washington street and
the other adjoining it, the carly home of
Captain T. W. Macondray. the pioneer tea
merchant
A building which has seen many vicissi-
tudes stll stands on the southwest corner
Of Powell and John streets. In It were
held the first services of Grace Episcopal
Church. under the especial charge Of the
late Bishop Kip, and when that congrega-
tion moved into the newer church edihce
near by its interior was remodeled into
= dwelling house and was for many years
the abode of J. B. Haggin and family.
TO them succeeded as Joint occupants the
families Of J. c. Duncan and Myers F.
Truett, and at present the lower portion
is used as a grocery store. It was in a
little house just round the corner on John
street now called the ''nigger Quarter'')