The San Francisco call., 1910-10-22
EAST END CLUB RESTORES
FAMOUS OLD R[NCON HILL
New Era Of Prosperity for District Evolved Out Of
Wreck and Chaos Caused by Fire

Rincon hill was once the bon ton
district of san Francisco, in which
were located the mansions Of the city's
millionaires- Even at the time of the
great fire there were located there the
homes OF Peter and Joseph Donahue.
irving NJ Scott, Henry Miller of Miller
& Lux. Baron Won Schroeder, Antoine
Korbel. Millen Griffith, John ". Farren,
~. F. Babcock, Captain Charles Mel
son, Con O'Connor, John Kentfeld.
Harriet de Witt Kittle Mrs Plutander,
A. lincoln, Ailos Gopcevic, Mildred L.
5oodsell and. many other men of
wealth. But all Of these monuments
# grandeur were destroyed, never
again to be rebuilt In their place
ave sprung up shacks. cottages, fats.
apartment houses. hotels. lodging
i.ouses and manufacturing establish
-nents.
From the base of the bill float the
s.aoke and dust Of tie factories,
cqundries and locomotives that de-
note the encroachment of industrial
a6tivities. At the Brannan street
H-harres. a short distance away, the
isew seawall is rapidly nearing compile
ZION.
There rail and sea meet and there
are to be found warehouses for the
transshipment Of freight. Extending
from Second street to East and
from Folsom street TO Brannan is the
foundry and machine shop district in
which there are few lodging houses,
saloons and private dwellings.
on Rincon hin between First and
second streets and Folsom and Bryant
.aost Of the dwellings are TO be found.
This is one of the most slightly and
healthful spots in the city When men
af great wealth built their mansions
there II is certain that the location
must have afforded exceptional advan-
tsges
From this hin. sheltered from the
ireezes that obtain in other parts of
The city q magnificent view of the bay
Is to be had. Near by was and still is
The Sailors home. and prior 70 the fire
81. Mary's hospital was an old and well
known institution.
ORGANIZATION OF CLUB
Tn this Rincon hill district the East
End district Improvement club was or
-4nized September "a, 1907. The pur-
pose OF the club was TO promote the
building and Improvement of the
district between Folsom and Brannan
streets and from Second to East streets.
When the club was organized the
iStrict was in a state Of chaos. There
were no lights. no water no letter
,oNes. no FIRE protection. The streets
for the most part were impossible.
The club first directed its attention
- TO securing more lights for the dis
trict The board Of supervisors was
induced to follow the suggestions of the
3ssociatiOn.
The residence portion Of the district
was given incan ndescent gas lamps; the
factory section got arc lights. This
rrangement has been found the most
economical and effective
The next thing that attracted the at
tention Of the club was the condition
of the streets and sidewalks. These
I'm 2 short time were cleared. The club
then took up the matter of having fire
boxes and letter boxes restored, In
which work it also met with encour-
sging success
The removal Of the Second street
bridge against the earnest protest of the
club was for 4 time A great annoyance
10 the residents living near by. 1t prac-
tfceIlv cut off their access TO the stores
and water front district. School chill
dren were also greatly Inconvenience
because Of inability TO reach school
easily.
The club. however. is determined that
either new bridge shall be built or
the hill so graded that Harrison street
will again become a thoroughfare. The
nm is now being graded from Second
street 10 Essex, and the club hopes that
this work will be pushed through rap