The San Francisco call., 1909-09-26


built the wing which was named in
Sonor Of the old company. This done
the roster OF the company, in q sub
stantial embossed leather cover, and
its banners were given to the man
ayers of the orphanage. Sentimen,
fingered about these gifts and they
have been carefully preserved. A few
substantial relics In the shape OF
hooks and ladders were also turned
over to the asylum
The Sansome wing was commenced
in June. 1852, and completed In June
1863 1t was much larger than the
original building and would have suf-
feed for the needs of the asylum for
a long time but for the calamity
These buildings passed through the
earthquake of 1868 without serious
damage, but there was different story
to tell after that of 1906. After an ac-
count was taken of the extent of in
juries to the building two stories of
the Sansome wing were ordered torn
down. This has made temporary struc-
lures on the grounds imperative. A
two story wooden building was con-
verted into cozy infirmary, and a
general assembly hall was built, one
which serves many uses.
Just about the time the Sansome gift
was made to the orphanage it was
deemed advisable to reincorporate so
that the name of the San Francisco or
phan asylum could be changed to the
San Francisco Protestant orphan asy-
1um. With the establishment of the
Roman Catholic orphan asylum in 1852
by the sisters of charity as told in
the second article Of this series, only
children of Protestant faith were com
ing to the older asylum. IT seemed
expedient therefore to make the desig-
nation more definite. This change
came in the natural evolution of char
ity work from that of the village to
the more complex city.
The Early Trustees
When the name of the asylum was
changed in November. 1852, the trus-
tees of the society were Joseph b.
Thomas. Frederick Billings. Samuel r.
Throckmorton. Robert J. Van Dewater
and Joseph B. Crockett The board of
lady managers signing the articles of
Incorporation were c. A. B. Rankin.
Susanna Throckmorton, Mary ]. Ger
berding, Sarah B. Gillespie. w. A.
Haight, G. B. Dodge, Rachel Middleton,
Mary p. MacCrellish. Ann T. Swain.
Mary Downer, Sarah C. H. Cheney and
Anna Virginia Wakeman.
OF these managers but one remains
Mrs. MacCrel1ish, widow OF Frederick
MacCrellish, identified in the early
years VI odD ETdDClSCO with the DatIV
Alta California. When the fiftieth an
niversary OF the founding of the or
phanages came she was still at the post
of secretary. For the last three years
Mrs. MacCrellish has come but seldom
to the meetings of the board, of which
she is still a member She lives out
Of town. Besides outliving all her CO.
signers of the Incorporation papers in
1852 Mrs. MacCreIlish is the only sur
vivor of the group of women who or
ganized the asylum In 1851
Something further Of the spirit of
devotion that has characterized the
work of the women who have been
connected with this charity is shown
in the fact that Mrs. w. r. Smedbcra
of the present board has served 35
years. Mrs. d. W. Hosburgh 90 years
and Mrs. William Ashburner IL years.
The entire history of this orphanaRe
emphasizes the disinterested and all
encompassing work OF it's directors.
San Franciscans who think that
Haight street was named tor the late
Governor Haight and Waller street for
some other dignitary may be glad to
know that these two thoroughfares
were named for two managers OF the
orphanAge, Mrs. Henry Haight, wife
OF the nephew of the governor Of the
same name, and Mrs. Waller, who
gave many years of conscientious en-
deavor toward making this institution
what 1t is today. OF tho other women