The San Francisco call., 1908-07-18
400 ARE WORKING
FOR IMPROVEMENT
Promotion Association
Advancing the Welfare of
the District
By r. J. Churchill

In a few days the Mission promotion
association Will give up its present
quarters at Twenty fifth and Guerrero
streets and move into it's newly built
home In Valencia StEeet near sixteenth.
The association had Intended buying
suitable corner lot and erecting a pre-
tenttOuS 10 story structure, but owing
to the strtngency of money and the dlf-
f1culty Of securing the location they de-
sired they have contented Ihemselvea
with leasing a lot, 20X7O, and putting
up q modest one story building thar
will amply cover their needs for tina
The front is treated in the mission
style; the plaster, rich dark brown
trimmings and the Spanish red tiles on
scheme. Glazed plate glass windows,
large torch electroliers and ornamental
grill work over the basement windows
The secretary's office and a small
committee room are located on either
side of the tiled entrance vestibUle,
which leads to the assembly hall, an
airy, well lighted room. 24x58, with a
seating capacity Of about 250. 1t Is pro-
end and ladies' gallery. The base-
ment viii be given up TO StOrerOomS
and a billiard and lOunging room.
This building cost in the neighbor-
hood OF $4,000 and was erected in 45
days. Its mushrOomlike growth is
characteristic Of all the work OF the
Mission promotion association The 400
members are painStaktng, industrious
and wide awake men who pull together
with a will and waste little time argu-
ing. about what should be DONE They
do it and then talk afterward The as
ISOLATION had its origin In the Organiza-
tion of the relief work In the Mission
and today enjoys an income OF nearly
$4,000 year, making IT not only one
of the most influential but one OF the
Wealthiest promotion organizations In
San Francisco.
out of it brought together many earn
est men who had before lived in tha
Mission. comparative strangers to one
another. These men met at the ROlph
avenue and Twenty fifth street. and or
ganized to relieve the distress of the
district. James ROlph Jr. turned his
grounds over to the workers and from
the ROlph barn the relief work was di-
rected- The suggestion was made that
those who were engaged in this work
should continue their efforts for tbe
upbuilding of the district and thus re-
suited the organization of the Mission
promotion association.
The majority of the officers were men
who had been prominent in relief work
and many of the original members were
those who had been more or less iden-
titled with the relief administration.
The first officers of the association
We're: George L. Center Chairman:
James Rolph Jr, vice chairman: f. j.
Churchill. secretary and manager: the
MISSION bank, treasurer. When the or
ganizatiOn was year old these officers
were reelected TO serve during the
coming year. Upon being appointed 70
the board of supervisors Mr. Center
rendered his resignation as chairman
and James ROlph j. he vice chairman.
was elected to fill the vacancy Eus-
tace Cullinan was elected vice chair
man.
The meetings are largely attended
each Monday night. when every topic
vitality affecting the city, and especially
the Mission, IS earnestly discussed. AS
q result. from the day of its organiza-
tiOn the Mission promotion association
has been a power for good. II has been
foremost in all the large plans for
imprOveme in the district and has
done much to promote the interests OF
the Mission and it's residents. Its in
fiuence is felt throughout the city and
all the Improvement clubs OF the south
side OF San Francisco look upon it as
a sort Of central body to be called upon
whenever assistance Is needed TO pro-
mote a local Improvement. To these
demands upon 1t the association never
fails to respond.
The members are planning to make
the formal opening OF their quarters
on Monday evening. July p. gala
event A number OF men prominently
identified with the Mission will partIci-
pate and an enjoyable evening u a.
sured.