San Francisco Images

Entrance Gate to Golden Gate Park, c.1900

2016-01-02T12:11:00.000-08:00

Entrance for Golden Gate Park c1900

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"A cigar stand and ticket office were located at this entrance gate to
the Park, facing the turnaround of the Park & Ocean Railroad line.
Diverse leisure activities were available in the Park, including strolling,
canoeing, swimming and touring museums, exotic gardens and lakes."

Available through our galleries on World Wide Archive

Flick Gallery - Bennett Hall • Golden Gate Park

Reference:

David Gallagher

there were two different lines with confusing names. one was called the "Geary, Park, and Ocean Railroad" which ran in the Richmond District and this one which was called the Park and Ocean Railroad. this ran from this station (which was in the Park on Stanyan between Haight and Waller) cutting the corner of the park through where Kezar Stadium would be, then down H street (Lincoln Way) to 48th avenue where entered the park and passed through to La Playa where it ended at Balboa. The router though the west end of the park is still there as a walking path.

ahndy Actually the Turn-around for the park and ocean line was at Fulton and 5th: www.cablecarmuseum.org/co-geary-st.html

David Gallagher PRO 5y

ok Langley's 1890 map (from the David Rumsey Collection) shows a building on the west side of Stanyan at Haight -www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/s/20362k

and here's something else from the market Street Railway blog atwww.streetcar.org/blog/2003/07/streetcars-in-the-sunset-t...

In 1883, the Park and Ocean Railroad established the first viable means of access to this desolate area, building a steam railroad from Haight and Stanyan (where the cable car line from the Ferry Building ended) along H Street (now Lincoln Way) almost to Ocean Beach, then north through the western edge of Golden Gate Park into the outer Richmond District, ending at B (Balboa) Street. This steam route was electrified in 1898, and by 1902 was operated by conventional streetcars.

so, I'd say that our suspicions are correct, and that the car on the left is a Haight Street cable car from downtown

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Wikipedia on GGP

History of Golden Gate Park

Image from collection of Bennett Hall / Business Image Group

Fort Point & the Golden Gate

2015-12-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

The Golden Gate viewed from above Fort Point
toward the Marin Headlands c. 1890

Original photograph attribute to the studio of Taber - but, who knows who actually shot the image
Hand-tinted restoration by Bennett Hall

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Fort Point was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1853 and 1861

to prevent entrance of a hostile fleet into San Francisco Bay during the Civil War.

Between 1933 and 1937 the Fort was used as a base of operations for the

construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Castillo de San Joaquin was the original facility that later became Fort Point. As with Fort Point,
it was erected to guard the mouth of the Bay from intruders. On July 1, 1846, a critical event occurred with the timing of the raising of the Stars and Stripes in Monterey and later elsewhere over California, prior to statehood. More to follow on this nuance....

Order this Image

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From Wikipedia:

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work on Fort Point in 1853. Plans specified that the lowest tier of artillery be as close as possible to water level so cannonballs could ricochet across the water's surface to hit enemy ships at the water-line.^[3] Workers blasted the 90-foot (27 m) cliff down to 15 feet (4.6 m) above sea level. The structure featured seven-foot-thick walls and multi-tiered casemated construction typical of Third System forts. It was sited to defend the maximum amount of harbor area. While there were more than 30 such forts on the East Coast, Fort Point was the only one on the West Coast. In 1854 Inspector General Joseph K. Mansfield declared "this point as the key to the whole Pacific Coast...and it should receive untiring exertions".

A crew of 200, many unemployed miners, labored for eight years on the fort. In 1861, with war looming, the army mounted the fort's first cannon. Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of the Department of the Pacific, prepared Bay Area defenses and ordered in the first troops to the fort. Kentucky-born Johnston then resigned his commission to join the Confederate Army; he was killed at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862."

Reference

The History of Fort Point for the National Park Service

Fort Point Today - links and reference

Golden Gate and Fort Point after passing storm

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Hand-tinted black and white Photography, Bennett Hall, 1980

"This photograph of the bridge was made between passing storms with an 8x10" view camera. Waves from the heavy surf hit the sea wall causing these spectacular curtains of water, shooting up to 20' into the air. The motion effect is created using a slow shutter speed, about 1/4 second."

web galleries contemporary

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hand-tinted@Bennett Hall • 2014
Original hand-tinted print: available

SOURCE: Collection of Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images; digitally mastered by Business Image Group.

Articles and stories in this post © Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images / Business Image Group • PURCHASE: You can acquire copies of these images framed and unframed through our World Wide Archive Web Galleries.

Tour San Francisco from the Air during the Roaring Twenties

2015-11-19T14:48:00.001-08:00

Aerial of the San Francisco's developing Southern Waterfront

3rd and 16th and mariposa, viewing up 6th toward Market Street

Central Basin area, viewing toward the future site of USCF and Koret Center &

location of Bayfront park on the right, City Hall and Mount Tamalpais in distance
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from original silver gelatin print, collection of Bennett Hall

Stay tuned - more coming soon...

Other Aerials on Flickr:

Reference on the Pier 70 area

The Emperor Norton has so decreed that a bridge shall be built...

2015-11-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

The Bridge Shall be Built...

The Emperor has so decreed that there shall be a Bridge across our Bay (and, in the future, when said bridge is completed, it shall be named after me, so get over it)
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WHEREAS, we issued our decree ordering the citizens of San Francisco and Oakland to appropriate funds for the survey of a suspension bridge from Oakland Point via Goat Island; also for a tunnel; and to ascertain which is the best project; and whereas the said citizens have hitherto neglected to notice our said decree; and whereas we are determined our authority shall be fully respected; now, therefore, we do hereby command the arrest by the army of both the Boards of City Fathers if they persist in neglecting our decrees. Given under our royal hand and seal at San Francisco, this 17th day of September, 1872

–Emperor Norton, (c.1818-1880)

Order a print of the Emperor

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The following is decreed and ordered to be carried into execution as soon as convenient:

That a suspension bridge be built from Oakland Point to Goat Island, and then to Telegraph Hill; provided such bridge can be built without injury to the navigable waters of the Bay of San Francisco.
That the Central Pacific Railroad Company be granted franchises to lay down tracks and run cars from Telegraph Hill and along the city front to Mission Bay.
That all deeds by the Washington Government since the establishment of our Empire are hereby decreed null and void unless our Imperial signature is first obtained thereto.

March 1872
Website with the full array of Proclamation by the Emperor: http://www.notfrisco.com/nortoniana/
here is the rest of the story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton

link to the campaign:http://www.emperorsbridge.org/introduction/

From the Campaign website:

"But it’s not only Emperor Norton’s connection to the Bay Bridge itself that warrants naming the bridge for him.

The Emperor was a champion of racial and religious unity; an advocate for women’s suffrage; and a defender of the public interest, above all.

He was known for his kindness. He was both passionate and whimsical. Not least, in asserting his own right to be heard, he stood for the outsider, the dreamer and for the idea that people should be accepted for who they are.

In all of these ways, the Emperor was himself a “bridge” who embodied and heralded the values of tolerance and eccentricity that came to be associated with San Francisco, Oakland and the Bay Area."

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You can follow today's Emperor here on Facebook:

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Background The Emperor was England born
and journeyed to California during the Gold Rush in 1849. Arriving via South Africa he had initial windfalls from real estate and various ventures until he became penniless via a poorly conceived plan to order the rice market. Ultimately, his palace was less than palatial as he reigned from a rooming house at 624 Commercial Street was less than salubrious. Nonetheless,was given a pass wherever he went, given the best seat in the best restaurants of the day with never a bill to be presented. A general at the Presidio provided his uniform, which as it eventually deteriorated, the Board of Supervisers pitched in a provided another.

At the time, the Emperor was not alone with respect to the eccentrics of the day. One street character had dubbed himself George Washington II, adorned in Revolutionary War garb, there was the Money King who celebrated his position as a skin flint, and even a bizarre man who simply went by the title of the Great Unknown. Were they smoking something back then? Who know, but the Emperor seems the one who has staid the test of time and with us to this day.

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Hand-tinted by Bennett Hall, 2015
Order a print of the Emperor
from San Francisco Images

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! The story of the Tree in Union Square

2014-12-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

Original image collection of the History Room of the Oakland Library, Hand-tinted © Bennett Hall 2015)

Union Square's Christmas Tree c1915-1920
A tradition for over 130 years
Attributed to Emperor Norton

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Since 1880, and every year since, a magnificent tree or a facsimile or creation resembling a tree, has adorned Union Square during the holiday season. This annual tradition has, like many things in the City's history, been credited to Emperor Norton (1818-1880), who it is said, in his normal fashion to such matters, simply decreed that this shall be done. Norton, the City's great eccentric, has also been noted as the first person to envision bridges across the bay, not to mention he is a man who created his own currency. Apparently, this was also the first public-space Christmas tree in the country.

REFERENCE:
Click here to order a print of the Tree in Union Square

Hand-tinted San Francisco Archive on the Flickr

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...But is this a Real Tree?

The tree in this photograph is apparently not be tree, rather it is a work of landscaping artistry that surrounds and adorns the monument, using its structure to create the form of a tree.

TODAY: For many years the trees cut for the Square were real - however starting in 2011, as no one really wanted the cut tree after the season, the decision was made to shift to an artificial tree. This Story explains the details of the 17 1/2 ton 86' high creation adorned with 33,000 LED light bulbs.

The Emperor in full regalia

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Union Square's name originated from pro-Union rallies held on the eve of the Civil War. Built on what was originally a sand dune, the Square became a public park in 1850.

Learn more about first Emperor and his important decrees

Order a print of the Emperor

(Original image collection of the San Francisco Images, Hand-tinted © Bennett Hall 2014)
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Dewey Monument, Union Square viewing North c1905

Union Square, the center of the City in pioneer days, was deeded for permanent public use on January 3, 1850 during the administration of John White Geary, San Francisco's first mayor and postmaster. The 97-foot Corinthian column is topped by a figure representing Victory.

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Dedication of Dewey Monument, May 14 1903

President Roosevelt dedicated the Monument in Union Square to honor the victory of Admiral George Dewey and the American fleet over Spanish forces at Manila Bay, the Philippines in 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The Monument is also a tribute to the U. S. Navy sailors.

Articles and stories in this post are © Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images / Business Image Group

Source: (Tree shot) Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, digitally mastered by San Francisco Images / Business Image Group. You can acquire copies of these images framed and unframed through our World Wide Archive Web Galleries. A portion of all sales will be donated to the History Room to assist them with their work preserving local history and to maintain their collections.

Can you help me date this picture?

There is a question as to the date of this view - the image below shows details of the cars in from of the St. Francis Hotel - Do you know a vintage car buff who could advise as to the makes and model / years so I can confirm the date. If you know- please comment / send me an email.

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The Emperor also was the first to foresee and ultimate decree that a Bridge should be constructed across the Bay - here is his original declaration on the matter:

If you like what you see here and would like to help support local history, please become a member of the Oakland Public Library History Room.(Oakland History Room)

San Francisco History on Display at Swiss Louis on Pier 39

2014-07-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Main Dining Room • Overlooking marina area, Forbes Island and Golden Gate Bridge

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Swiss Louis, a long time San Francisco tradition established in North Beach in 1936, chose to showcase its City local roots by installing a collection of San Francisco historical images for their flagship restaurant on Pier 39. These dramatic vintage views of our City form a key design element of their restaurant's experience, second only to their spectacular floor to ceiling views of the wharf and Golden Gate Bridge.

Tour Swiss Louis San Francisco History Collection

The collection was curated and produced by Bennett Hall, of Business Image Group, drawn from their San Francisco Images archive of local photographs of the Bay Area. Feature mural-size pieces are printed on canvas, hand-tinted by Hall. Each piece was locally framed by Eco Framing using sustainable U.S. forested and milled frame moulding made from solid walnut.

Banquet Seating

1) Worker on Cables during construction of the Golden Gate Bridge

2) Transamerica Pyramid under construction, 1972

It started more than a half century ago in 1936 when a Swiss Italian immigrant named Louis opened the original Swiss Louis Restaurant in North Beach in San Francisco on Broadway Street.

Over the years, as the popularity of the restaurant grew, so did the need for larger facilities. In 1978, after 42 years on Broadway in North Beach, this popular dining establishment moved to Pier 39 near Fisherman’s Wharf. Today, as in the past, Swiss Louis Restaurant continues to provide diners a cozy and casually elegant dining atmosphere.

The current owner, also from Italy, came to Swiss Louis almost 40 years ago and continues the tradition of serving the finest Italian dishes and the freshest seafood.

Main Lounge and Bar Area, Swiss Louis on Pier 39
2nd floor - North side facing Golden Gate
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Tour Swiss Louis San Francisco History Collection

Main Website with slide show

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Articles and stories in this post are © Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images / Business Image Group

PURCHASE: You can acquire copies of these images framed and unframed through our World Wide Archive Web Galleries. A portion of all sales will be donated to the History Room to assist them with their work preserving local history and to maintain their collections.

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Construction

2014-06-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

Bay Bridge, West Tower, c. 1937
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The Bay Bridge originally accommodated 3 lanes of car traffic for each direction on the upper deck, the lower deck being reserved for trucks, buses, and trains. In 1957, the railroad tracks were removed to allow eastbound traffic on the lower deck and westbound traffic on top.

Designer Charles H. Purcell
Chief engineer was Ralph Modjeski.
Construction began July 9, 1933

Picnic on Yerba Buena Island
Viewing East toward Long Wharf & Oakland Mole, 1886
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First established by the military in 1868, Yerba Buena Island was originally intended for artillery batteries to defend the Bay. It served as a regular Army camp until 1880, when the island was then transferred to the Navy. Extending into the Bay in the distance are the Long Wharf, used for shipping, and the Oakland Mole (right), which served commuters traveling across the Bay.

The railroad extended its Oakland wharf to the edge of the deep water in San Francisco Bay to allow larger vessels to connect with its overland trains and to shorten the trip by ferry to the opposite shore. The Long Wharf (on the left) was used for shipping, Oakland Mole pier (right) was used for passengers. The pier extended over 2 miles into the Bay, serving commuters traveling to and from San Francisco and the East Bay.

This 116 acre island later became the mid-point of the Bay Bridge,
which was completed in only three years, opening in November 1936.
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The Push to Span the Bay

San Francisco's leaders recognizing that they were on the wrong side of the Transcontinental railroad, realized that to protect their growing economic ambitions that bridging the Bay was not optional - this was a matter of when not if.

The Emperor has Spoken:

A Bridge Shall be built...

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WHEREAS, we issued our decree ordering the citizens of San Francisco and Oakland to appropriate funds for the survey of a suspension bridge from Oakland Point via Goat Island; also for a tunnel; and to ascertain which is the best project; and whereas the said citizens have hitherto neglected to notice our said decree; and whereas we are determined our authority shall be fully respected; now, therefore, we do hereby command the arrest by the army of both the Boards of City Fathers if they persist in neglecting our decrees. Given under our royal hand and seal at San Francisco,
this 17th day of September, 1872

–Emperor Norton

(PS: what was the reason we are not naming this after him again?)
Emperor Norton Bridge Campaign

(this image from collection of San Francisco Images)

Bay Bridge Tower Construction from Rincon Hill Area c. 1934

Charles M.Hiller, photographer, from the Library of Congress
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Bay Bridge Construction from Telegraph Hill, c. 1934

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This view over waterfront piers shows one of the four towers of the Bridge
at different stages of construction. Building a bridge across the Bay had been a dream since the days of the Gold Rush often attributed to Emperor Norton who in 1872 issued a decree demanding
the construction of the bridge.

Construction of the Bridge finally commenced in 1933, and was completed only three years later. Timothy L. Pflueger was the chairman of the committee of consulting architects on the
Bay Bridge project.

The crossing from Yerba Buena Island to Oakland was spanned by a 10,176 foot cantilever bridge, the longest bridge of its kind at the time. To enable a shorter path across the Bay, a tunnel was created through the Island - the largest diameter bore tunnel in the world at 76’ wide, 58’ high. The Bridge was completed in 1936, accommodating automobile traffic on the upper deck, and the Key Rail system, buses and trucks on the lower deck.

Workers under the Caisson supporting the San Francisco
Bay Bridge during construction

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"Underneath the world's largest caisson, 92' wide by 197', which we will launched today at Moore Dry Docks, Oakland, this section will be christened when a beribboned bottle will be broken over its brow by Mrs. C. H. Purcell, wife of Chief Engineer of the SF Bay Bridge.

This caisson will be be sunk through mud and clay to bedrock and form the bottom of a concrete and steel structure extending 478.5 feet from the floor of the bay to a point 298.5' above the water midway between SF and Yerba Buena Island"

Installing the Shroud atop of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 1936
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"Installation of "Shroud" on the $77MSF-Oakland Bay Bridge on the center anchorage.
The shroud will cover eye-bars and "A-Frame" atop this mid-water monolith to which giant cables are attached. It will soon be filled with concrete for a rigid grip. 6-20-1936"

Workers on North Catwalk
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Crew securing 100-foot sections of wire-mesh flooring on the cables at

Tower West two • August 17, 1935

Bay Bridge Lighting During Construction, December 1935
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Chosen for their soft, non-glare illumination, the sodium vapor lamps hung from the
Bay Bridge’s western span suspension cables added a festive quality.
The Bridge was now less than a year from completion,
and would soon enable significant expansion to the East Bay.

East Side of Yerba Buena Island during construction of Cantilever Section • c.1935
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Yerba Buena Island during the construction of the Cantilever section of the Bay Bridge
Two 500-foot anchor arms are started to connect 1400' of double deck bridge just east of Yerba Buena Island. The western anchor arm, shown at the right, will be completed when it reached Pier E2
in the water just off the island The 1400-foot cantilever span will not be joined until early 1936 accordingly to Chief Engineer C. H. Purcell

Hoisting the last section of the Cantilever section of the Eastern Span from a barge positioned on the Bay below. This is very nearly the section that collapsed on to its lower deck during the 1989
Loma Prieta Earthquake • c1936

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West Tower of Bay Bridge, Under Construction, 1935
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The West Tower of the Bay Bridge rises 281 feet above the Bay,
with a concrete anchorage sunk 235 feet below the water line. Its
total height is taller than that of the largest of the Pyramids of Egypt
and it contains more concrete than the Empire State Building.

(this image from collection of San Francisco Images)

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North and South Cables spanning the Anchorage of the Bay Bridge, Photographed October 15, 1935

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Opening Day Ceremony, 5th Street Terminus
November 12, 1936
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5th Street terminus (off ramp) of the Bay Bridge on the day of its ceremonial opening - traffic moved in two direction in the day of c ours with the Key Line system and other rail systems on the lower level. Remember, when the Bay Bridge opened automobile traffic was on the upper deck, moving in two directions, with rail and public transport on the lower deck.

This image shows the elegant original design with a plaza-style experience upon entry or exit from the Bridge. I hope to find a image of the center point and will post that as soon as I can locate it.

Clyde Sunderland, Photographer, from the Library of Congress

Eye Bolt of the Original Eastern Span

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Hand-Tinted black and white photograph by Bennett Hall ©1980/2014
shot with an 8 x 10 view camera on mobile dolly

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Articles and stories in this post are © Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images / Business Image Group

Emperor Norton Bridge Campaign

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the New Eastern Span construction: "The Bridge Builders" by Joseph Blum Photography
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Flickr Collection on the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island

Wikipedia on the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge

Bancroft Library Digital Archive of Construction
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Donate to the Oakland History Room at the Oakland Library

SOURCES: Unless otherwise indicated, these images were sourced from the Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, and have been digitally mastered by San Francisco Images / Business Image Group.

PURCHASE: You can acquire copies of these images framed and unframed through our World Wide Archive Web Galleries. A portion of all sales will be donated to the History Room to assist them with their work preserving local history and to maintain their collections.

In Remembrance ...Returning sailors, new recruits at the enlisting office, Fort Point

2014-05-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

Returning Sailors at Hunter’s Point, January 1945
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Enlisted men, wounded in battle and home again after many months,
eagerly read American newspapers. This ship, the USS President Hayes,
was an attack transport in 1943 serving the Pacific area, and participated
in the successful invasion of Guam in July 1944 and Leyte in October.

Enlisting in the Marines. Recruiting office. San Francisco, California
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photograph by John Collier (1913-1992)
Published: 1941 Dec.

Top of the Mark, Mark Hopkins Hotel

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Opened in 1926, the Hotel was named after Mark Hopkins, founder of the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1939, the 19th floor penthouse was converted into a glass-walled lounge offering 360 degree views of the City. WWII servicemen toasted the Golden Gate for luck before shipping out.

Victory Parade, Spanish-American War, c. 1898

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At the turn of the century, San Francisco was the jumping-off point for America’s imperialistic adventures

annexing land in the Pacific. Crowds lined Market Street to celebrate the homecoming of their

'California Boys' in appreciation of their efforts during this War.

Golden Gate from Above Fort Point, c. 1890

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Fort Point was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1853 and 1861 to prevent entrance

of a hostile fleet into San Francisco Bay during the Civil War. Between 1933 and 1937 the Fort was used

as a base of operations for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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Hand-tinted by Bennett Hall / 2014

"Cup Tasting" at #2 Harrison, San Francisco c1930, now Google's San Francisco workspace

2014-04-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

Google and Mozilla expand their San Francisco footprint into 350,000 square feet of landmark Hills Plaza, originally headquarters of Hills Brothers original coffee processing plant on the Embarcadero

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The tradition of quality analysis, innovation and experimentation continues today at the site of
Austin and Reubin Hills original "cup tasting room". This property, built by the Hills Bros. at #2 Harrison, is where vacuum packing and other innovations in the coffee processing industry spurred the explosive growth of their company. The aroma of roasting coffee from Hills Bros. plant dominated the waterfront experience for generations. The plant and company's executive operations continued through the properties redevelopment in the 1990s while they were owned by the Nestle Beverage Company. They later relocated to Los Angeles and are now owned by Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA. Google, Gensler, and Mozilla are now primary tenants.

This photograph shows the company team at the table conducting cup-testing (c.1930), #2 Harrison, led by Reuben Hills, Reuben Hills, Jr., Elliot Cofer, Dick Bennetts, Gene Hoelter and younger members of the Commodities Department. This testing procedure continues today with highly qualified personnel using the most advanced equipment to augment their expertise in judging coffee quality by taste and smell, although no longer at this location.

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Hills Bros. was founded February 14, 1878, in San Francisco when two brothers, Austin H. Hills (1851-1933), and Reuben W. Hills (1856-1934), formed a partnership to sell retail dairy products in a stall in Bay City Market located at 1146 Market Street. Three years later they became owners of Arabian Coffee & Spice Mills. This marked the beginning of their growth to become one of the nation's largest and most notable coffee companies. Burned out by the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906, these courageous brothers went on to achieve their destined mark in coffee history. This building was the home office and plant for Hills Bros. from January 1926 until April 1990, when remodeling began to make this structure a vital part of the new block-square Hills Plaza.

Current on exhibit at #2 Harrison is a permanent exhibit that I designed and produced in the 90s for the re-developer Betawest, under the design guidance of Whistler Patri Architects and project lead architect David Colleen.

http://www.businessimagegroup.com/enterprise_Nestle.html

Hills Bros. Company History
http://www.hillsbros.com/history

Future Site of Hills Brothers Coffee Company 1851

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In 1851, the shoreline of San Francisco Bay came close to the foot of Rincon Point. This resulted in extensive land-filling before this building could be constructed on the first block of Harrison Street in 1924.hand-tinted by Bennett Hall for exhibit in lobby of #2 Harrison Street

Hills Bros. Arabian Coffee & Spice Mills, located at the corner of Sansome and Sacramento Streets was factory and home office for the growing company from 1884 to 1894. This site later became the site of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Construction progress of 2 Harrison, November 8, 1924

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Overlooking Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Exposition, and
the Hills Bros. Coffee Plant 1939

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--from James Holden mural showing a woman viewing the World's Fair on Treasure Island in 1939, from the top of Rincon Hill. The Hills Bros. Coffee illuminated sign on the roof of the Hills Bros. building at 2 Harrison Street is easily readable from the Bay day or night. We published this image and 5 others by Holden depicting the history of coffee and Hills Bros as a set of notecards for Nestle in 1996. (available through our studios in limited supply)

The notecard full set of Holden Murals - framed

Thomas Hodge (in derby hat) in Hills Brothers Warehouse, 1905

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Hills Bros. disposed of its Retail Diary Business in the late 1880's. The company continued its operations as Commission Merchants wholesaling butter, eggs, cheese, walnuts and honey in addition to the Arabian Coffee & Spice Mills (photo 1905). This commission business, located at 23-25 California Street in the Hansford Block, involved a third partner, Thomas Hodge (in black derby and morning coat), who died shortly after helping to revive the Earthquake-stricken business. Two years later in 1908, that part of the business was turned over to three former employees and operated successfully for several years.

Thomas Hodge's son, Carroll (Hodge) Wilson, was employed by Hills Bros. in 1924, starting in the warehouse and eventually retiring in 1966 as a vice president and member of the board of directors. Mr. Wilson has continued in his retirement years to work with Nestle Beverage Company preserving the memories and archives of Hills Bros

Cross-section Elevation of No. 2 Harrison Street Facilities
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This cross-section illustration of the Hills Bros. plant at 2 Harrison Street shows the path coffee beans traveled after arrival in the warehouse until they were blended, roasted and vacuum-packed for shipment. The orange bins in the center of the Green Coffee Mixing Tower were used in combining various lots of coffee to prepare the final Hills Bros. blend. The cup testing rooms are at the top right side of the building.

Storefront Display, Merchant Corp, led by Carol T. Wilson

Archivist of Hills Bros. Company

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Hills Brothers Coffee, Merchant corp program who set up store displays for local area stores - crew of 26 at the peak of the program. A three-quarter ton panel truck was designed to accommodate all the display materials used by the Advertising Service Representatives.

Similar displays were installed throughout Hills Bros. marketing area by a crew of Advertising Service Representatives. Beginning with two men in 1924, this team grew to twenty-four in 1936, when changing styles in grocery store architecture outmoded this type of advertising.

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We believe legacy is a valuable asset, one earned not purchased.
If you've got it, by all means, tell your story well.

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note: all photographs are from original source images; hand-tinting © Bennett Hall

Additional Reference on Hills Brothers Coffee Company:

Behind the Cup - vintage film on Hills Bros from 1930

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Our projects with Hills Brothers and Nestle

Our Portfolio of Projects involving History

Our Exhibit Program Methodology

History of Hills Brothers - Blog post on San Francisco Images

Hills Bros Flickr Gallery
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Chronological gallery of San Francisco history:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennetthall/sets/72157602799295941/

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Leasing and building office at Hills Plaza

Hills Bros from Wikipedia

Happy 75th Anniverary to Treasure Island and the Golden Gate Exposition

2014-02-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

This collection of photographs date back to Emperor Norton who was credited with being the first to envision a bridge spanning the Bay.

Our blog post on the Emperor

Picnics and journey's to what was also called Goat Island and Yerba Buena (Spanish for Mint) were a common diversion. Treasure Island, a massive land fill project was originally envisioned as the site of the San Francisco airport, when China Clippers ruled the skies. The construction of the Bay Bridge changed everything of course and in 1939 the Golden Gate Exposition was arguably one of the world's most spectacular fairs.

Our Slide show of Golden Gate Exposition Images

What lies ahead for our Waterfront and how do we have to wait for its renovation?

Who knows what will become of the world's most valuable islands? Let's hope that "they" get this right! I suggest a visit to Sydney and Darling harbour to study their exceptionally well executed urban waterfront experience, combining hotels, museums, restaurants, open space supported by a seamlessly integrated water and light rail integrated transportation. Sydney's development did have the advantage or pressure depending on how you look at it, of hosting the Olympic Games, and event that expediting every project possible being approved and funded for International spotlight. Do we have to wait for the Olympics to be assigned to San Francisco - or could we "just do it?"

Many of these images are available through our web galleries:
World Wide Archive - San Francisco

reference:
Great story on Emperor Norton on SF Gate:

Happy Chinese New Year

2014-02-15T17:47:00.003-08:00

Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco • 1978

Hand-tinted black and white photograph by Bennett Hall

The Lost negatives of the Transamerica Pyramid

2014-01-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

Transamerica Pyramid under construction May 1, 1972

600 Montgomery Street - Financial District

Order a print of this image

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With structures presently going up supplanting the dominance, in theory, of the Transameria Pyramid, I thought it a good time to pause and reflect on the City's original iconic skyscraper that has reigned for over forty years, and share the story about our archive content on its construction. We will add more images to this page as we scan from the approximate 1,000 original 2 1/4" square negatives in our collection. This archive consists of the professional still photography, documenting the site development and construction, then CEO Becket signing the "first beam" as it was put in position, the gradual rise of the Tower, the demolition of the structures and retail stores on the site that preceded the skyscraper to its completion in 1972, and shots inside its tip.

"The Lost Negatives" • Saving the Film from Oblivion ____________________________________________________________

Most of this content has never been seen before, in fact it was nearly lost. We saved it from certain doom, which would have been silver reclamation to be specific. This was the time when the Hunt Brothers were trying to corner silver, trading about $50 an ounce. About the time I was producing the cover for Huey Lewis and News' epic album SPORTS in 1984, I attended an auction and purchased a massive collection of hundreds of thousands of original negatives, transparencies and prints when a local photo studio closed its doors, an entire career left for the highest bidder. I say 'rescued', because my opposing bidder had only the plan to chemically dissolve the film to sell its inherent value converted into silver. 'Melting your film and prints down for its silver is a fate worse than death for a photographer's life work and images. This I was intent to thwart and I won the highest offer for the lots involved.

After making this purchase, we moved about twenty loaded 4-drawer file cabinets and 300 linear feet of shelving jam packed with content, filling nearly a half semi-truck of film and prints to our studios on what was then called Army Street, the 'Old Sears' building. We proceeded to gradually shift through box and box of material, tossing the obvious worthless, yet gradually hidden treasure was revealed, most notably, the original negatives of the construction of the pyramid. Saved! *
(*PS shout out to Bob and Connie Trupp for their part in this herculean process)

This process, culling the collection, is still going on today, with tens of thousands of images not yet reviewed, and likely it will never be completed. Nonetheless, an important part of San Francisco history was saved.

Flickr Gallery on the Transamerica Pryamid

Construction Process
Construction began on the 3,478-windowed structure in 1969 and finished in 1972, overseen by San Francisco-based contractor Dinwiddie Construction (now Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company). The building's foundation is 9 feet (2.7 m) thick, the result of a 3 day, 24-hour continuous concrete pour. The four-story base contains 16,000 cu yd (12,000 m³) of concrete and over 300 miles (480 km) of steel rebar. The building's façade is covered in crushed white quartz, giving the building its light color, which undergoes a “brightening” about every 10 years, involving about 18,000 work hours.

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Hand-tinting © Bennett Hall

Construction Progress from a standard position overlooking project
July 30, 1971 • May 1, 1972 • November 15, 1972

(order print of this triptych - black and white)
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Building the Pyramid

The Pyramid, which has no public access unfortunately other than its lobby, created considerable controversy in the day, yet it surprised everyone and eventually became a beloved symbol for the City, even a key component of Herb Caen's immortal logo. The 48-story Pyramid has reigned as the tallest building in San Francisco since its construction, third highest California. The Transamerica building was commissioned by Transamerica CEO John (Jack) R. Beckett, who made the claim that the design intent was that he wished to allow light into the street below versus the impact a conventional building may have upon the street experience. It was designed by architect William Pereira, (check out this article on his work)

Transamerica Pyramid under construction - June 29, 1971

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Originally designed to be 1,150 feet tall, the building was lowered to 853 feet due to protests against changing the City skyline dramatically, it was sometimes referred to by detractors as "Pereira's Prick". The proposal was rejected by the city planning commission, saying it would interfere with views of San Francisco Bay from Nob Hill. However, its slender, pyramidal configuration does in fact allow more light to reach the street than a conventional, box-like building design and it ultimately succeed as a City icon.

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Inspecting the-steel near the top of the TransAmerica Pryamid, San Francisco 1972
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"Several thousand dollars in quarters and change were thrown
into the pit by observers surrounding the site at street level during the pouring, for good luck."

Ever wondered what it looks like INSIDE the San Francisco Transamerica Pyramid uppermost tip?

This is shot from inside of the tip of the Transamerica Pyramid as construction was being completed of the shell in 1972.

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A Little Vertigo anyone?

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Transamerica under construction from Montgomery and Clay Street • June 29, 1971

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The diagonal trusses and horizontal X-bracing at the base of the pyramid, along with the shape of the building distribute the shear force of the quake and reduce the moment impact of the wave.
Learn more about the seismic engineering including the base horizontal X-bracing crtical to keeping this building safe in the event of a major temblor
(thanks Dennis M. Barry for sharing this)

Transamerica Building from Montgomery Street, Telegraph Hill • 10-15-1971

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Did you know that only two of the building's
18 elevators reach the top floor?

Transamerica Building and other buildings under construction, I know this plaza but cannot recall excatly where this was shot from - If you recognize it - please let me know!
location TBD January 1972

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Inside the tip of the Transamerica Pyramid, 1972

A glass pyramid cap sits at the top and encloses red aircraft warning light and the brighter seasonal beacon. This 6,000-watt beacon was envisioned by the architect as the building’s “crown jewel”.

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Montgomery Split by future site of Transamerica Pyramid c1885
Montgomery Ave ( left fork) later renamed Columbus Ave.

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San Francisco Bay and its sloughs used to come up to Montgomery Street, and ships were anchored only feet from where the Transamerica Pyramid stands today. Neighboring excavations have revealed the remains of ships where dry land is now throughout San Francisco. The Pyramid was erected on the site of the historic Montgomery Block. The hull of the whaling vessel Niantic, an artifact of the 1849 California Gold Rush, lay just a few feet from the base of the Transamerica Pyramid, the location marked by a historical plaque outside the building (California Historical Landmark #88).

Old Transamerica Building, 4 Columbus Avenue, c. 1928 to the Pyramid.
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Charles Paff designed this ornate flatiron building in 1907 for Banco Populare Italiano.
It was founded by Italian immigrant John Fugazi, who expanded his travel business into an independent bank. The Transamerica Corporation, established in 1928, was based here from 1938 until it moved to the Pyramid.
Order a print of this image

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John King of the San Francisco Chronicle summed up the improved opinion of the building in 2009 as "an architectural icon of the best sort - one that fits its location and gets better with age."

Today, there are four cameras pointed in the four cardinal directions at the top of the spire which provide visitors with a virtual observation deck. This lobby system was installed after the 27th floor observation deck was closed after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Four monitors in the lobby, whose direction and zoom can be controlled by visitors, display the cameras' views 24 hours a day.

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Tip in the fog, by Bennett Hall

All content shown from original negatives in the collection of
Bennett Hall / San Francisco Images © 2014 • All rights reserved

Order Prints of San Francisco History

Reference on the Pyramid
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San Francisco Gate Article on History of Pyramid

Recent images inside the Tip by a seismologist via Huntington Post

The Official Tourist Site of the Pryamid

My Perch on Sutro Tower - The top of San Francisco

2013-10-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Something with a little vertigo anyone?

Rust-colored Alien-like "Prongs" extend from the
Tower to create the perfect vantage point

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Imagine the grinding of metal gears, scrapping of metal on metal siding, snapping and popping as they engaged thankfully, one by one, thus enabling a painfully slow but necessary ascent inside one of the three metal legs of Sutro Tower. Looking out mid-climb from the man cage, an emerging vanishing point fortold the vertigo enducing future that was a mere 15 minutes away as the elevator slowly took us toward the non-aviation related highest perch in San Francisco.

Not content for the simple experience however, we had decided to lug of all things an 8 x 10" view camera , one of those Ansel Adams size monster cameras that would capture images that could be blowup the size of a house. What were we thinking? Oh yes, it was 1984 and we did things like this back in the day.

Once we summitted, there was suffice to say some further adjusting to do. First and foremost, as you step off the man cage, you realize that your walking platform is see-through expansion metal-grating. This means, if you chose to look at your feet, you are also staring straight through your new 'floor' roughly 750 feet to the cement deck below. This is a bit unnerving. You get used to it. Thank god for the hand rails.

Upper Castro area from top of Sutro Tower

Next up, because I simply must get the best possible shot and view, that bloody giant camera had to be the hoisted up and out onto the most outer perch of the prongs of this alien-like antenna tower. Yes, that means ropes and more vertigo and realizing that in addition to the visuals, that this entire contraption swayed in the wind. Only common sense and knowing that it was still standing after all these years made it possible to ignore the fear that otherwise would have quashed our sense of adventure.

Your truly back in the day

Now we were at our finale. Rest assured that the view is worth it - and, there was something supremely surreal and extraordinarily exhilarating about dangling our feet off the edge of this perch and contemplating the City and Bay Area expanding in 360 degrees in all direction. This was indeed a grand place to live and the ultimate view point. By the end of the day, the wind gradually moved from gentle to hurricane force. Same time, we started to feel our genetic material being altered by the distinct buzz of the radio waves. In an abundance of caution, we realized it was time to retreat, and enjoy another fifteen minute long man-cage decent back to the normal terra firma of the City...

Available: http://worldwidearchive.imagekind.com/SanFrancisco-Contemporary
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http://www.sutrotower.com/

History: from Wikipedia
Named after Adolph Sutro, a businessman and former mayor of San Francisco who had a mansion located about 100 feet away from where the tower is now located, the tower stands 977 feet (298 metres) above the ground and 1,800 ft (549 m) above sea level. It is the tallest structure in the city, surpassing the 853 ft (260 m) Transamerica Pyramid by more than 100 ft (30 m). In addition, it is built on one of the highest peaks in the city, the old site of the Sutro Mansion owned by Adolph Sutro's descendants.

The facility is easily accessible by car and the site offers beautiful panoramic viewpoints of San Francisco, and there is a platform near the top of the tower, 762 ft (232 m) above ground. Authorized maintenance workers access the tower by a small two-person elevator that runs inside the west tower enclosed leg.

Fog City Reborn 2.0 ??

2013-10-24T17:59:00.004-07:00

The Original Fog City Diner, gleaming Chrome and "Don't Worry" Neon Clock

Driving by the 're-manufactured' Fog City Diner, fully modernized to 2013 aesthetics and no doubt the latest culinary best practices, I found myself missing its original gleaming chrome, the design genius from its launch at this prime Embarcadero location across from the San Francisco Bay Club. OK, it was originally the Mildred Pierce, a favorite haunt for the "Mad Men" of San Francisco back in the 70's and 80s prior to Fog City's original birth June 12, 1985.

The legendary Herb Caen went to the grand opening of Fog City Diner and proclaimed its white hot nature in his famous column:

"Another day, another new restaurant. These things cost big bucks and are a high-risk business, but I guess when they pay off they pay off big. I know a lot of rich restaurant owners and several who died multimillionaires. Wednesday night’s kickoff was for the Fog City Diner, owned by the three people (Bill Higgins, Bill Upson, Cindy Pawlcyn) who made a winner out of Mustard’s in the Napa Valley. This one’s at Battery and the Embarcadero, on the spot where two earlier places died – Mildred Pierce’s and Battery Point – but I think they got it right this time. The diner is a stylized super 20th Century Limited “car” that cost half a million in chrome alone. In the fog, which was thick Wed. night, the Fog City Diner looks ready to roll. I think you’ll need reservations.

Well said but is this an improvement?

I am sure it is better for business, and for those of us that study historical preservation it will always bring up the questions as to whether demolition leads to a better experience, asking what should we save, when and why.

What do you think of the change at Fog City?

Bill Higgins said the “diner” concept has had its run and Pawlcyn left over a decade ago. Higgins says, "the concept isn’t commensurate with current dining expectations."

Full Disclosure:
Back in the day, those of us, known at the time as the "Three Amigos" did admittedly frequent the Fog City Bar after a grueling workout playing badminton at the Bay Club. OK laugh. But, if you ever played serious shuttlecock you would know that this involved serious sweat. Anyway, this led us to the world famous Billy Berger, his hijinks in general, the Knights of Knee, popular at the time, and the best Mai Tais on Earth and and the correctly named "Tim and Tonic", after Tim Hill naturally, and eventually, a eventually a bronze plaque, appropriately nailed to the bar upside down in our honor. The Three Amigos are long gone, but not have not forgotten. Such is the nature of the "Bar in San Francisco", an experience with countless thousands of stories over nearly hundreds of years now, all with variations on a similar theme. PS, we were always successful at "working off the work out" at Fog City - they Delivered in spades - Thanks Billy Berger(sp), Nancy Hahn, Bill Higgins, Ty Joseph wherever you may be and everything Fog City.

    And, I miss what was no doubt the best pork chop on Earth and notably the first time I had ever heard about a farm-fresh Sonoma grass fed pig, cattle, chicken anything - and that was in the 80s.
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PHOTO NOTES: Some decades ago, I shot this exterior view of the Fog City Diner, at the time commissioned by founder Bill Higgins, for a promotional postcard. The final was actually a hand-tinted version of this view. 6 x 7cm old school transparency film of course.

Reference: Waterfront History of San Francisco

BART on track to Fremont, 1972

2013-10-18T00:34:00.001-07:00

BART Strikes—
if it is not one thing it is another . . .

ABOVE: BART train, built by California based Rohr Industries, on the MacArthur-Fremont route, the first line in service, opened September 11, 1972 (hand-tinted by Bennett Hall, original sourced from Oakland Public Library)

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Regretfully on the heels of the government allowing the Cliff House, Muir Beach and Yosemite to reopen, our community is suffering another body blow, that the Fremont Train has been idled... one crisis ends, another begins. Regretfully, it seems that rules dating back to the date of this photograph are being assigned the blame for the disruption that is upon us. Union argues they should get overtime under 40 hours, and refuses electronic pay stubs. Really?

The truth keeps percolating out and it is not pretty. Wondering if the work rules also allow BART to hire replacements?

The estimates of economic loss, $73M/Day and massive CO2 releases spiking from this conundrum make this especially tragic. Let's hope this ends right away and the losses minimized.

Perhaps someone will listen to the Magic Unicorn who says:
"Get back to Work!!"

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Construction of Elevated track , 1972

First Routes: MacArthur–Fremont (MacArthur, 19th St. Oakland, 12th St. Oakland City Center, Lake Merritt, Fruitvale, Coliseum/Oakland Airport, San Leandro, Bay Fair, Hayward, South Hayward, Union City, Fremont)

Background:

BART history from their website featuring a video and some very big hair

BART history on Wikipedia

BART can do it better than this right?

This is a typical seen as you follow the BART tracks - debris seems to reflect the nature of the conflict.

#BARTstrike

Cliff House, Sutro Bathes and Ocean Beach

2013-10-09T12:33:00.001-07:00

sCliff House & Sutro, a set on Flickr.

Slide show with the best of the history of this area that I have on hand - ENJOY!

In honor of those who lost their jobs today due to the unnecessary actions of the certain parties in the Federal Government.

Hoping that more rational heads prevail soon, and they protect the public from things like Foster Farms' Salmonella instead of shuttering the livelihood of thousands and denying Veterans access to the WWII monument in DC in example.

Thus, the Government defines which employees are essential and which are not; And, that is where things get interesting:

CHECK LIST: Shutting Down the Cliff House: ESSENTIAL -
Protecting the public from Foster Farms Salmonella rich Chicken: NOT ESSENTIAL -
Stop Veterans from visiting WWII memorial in DC: ESSENTIAL.

See a pattern here??

WHO CREATED THIS LIST?

Therefore, IMO this may be the moment for citizens to step up and demand accountability and transparency from who ever is in charge of this and examine fully what is happening here.

Cliff House Closed by Federal Government and Citizens out of Work - Really?

2013-10-09T10:10:00.002-07:00

Honoring the Cliff House and its long and Storied history in San Francisco

The second Cliff House, built by Adolph Sutro in 1896, was an 8-story Victorian structure. It offered fine dining, panoramic views, and art and natural science exhibits, which made it a popular attraction for the City's elite. It survived the 1906 Quake, but was destroyed by fire in 1907.

Cliff House Closed by Federal Government and Citizens out of Work - Really?______________________________________________________________________

In case you have not been following this story, spirited entrepreneurs trying to keep unemployment of their staff and their enterprise afloat were shuttered by policies and rules of their landlord, the Federal Government, claiming that they cannot be open or serve the public or provide employment with Washington in its tizzy. Really? This is necessary why? This helps who? What kind of point are [t]hey trying to make?

Are we lemmings or are we men?

I will add more to this and share the rest of the Cliff House history here later as I have more time

Cliff House Flickr Gallery

US District Court, Ceremonial Community Mural, San Francisco Federal Building

2013-10-08T23:56:00.001-07:00

Heritage Mural of the Northern District Counties

Design by Bennett Hall and Helen Rischbieth,
Production by Business Image Group and Eco Framing, Oakland
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US District Courts • 19th Floor
Phillip Burton Federal Building
450 Golden Gate, San Francisco
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On March 28th 2013, coinciding with the induction of Judge Tigar, we debuted this feature mural, a mosaic representing the legacy of the 15 counties that the United States District Courts Northern District serves. This piece culminated a 10 year project working with the Court under the leadership of Judge Charles Breyer, whose efforts have spearheaded numerous improvements to the Courts facilities. It has been our honor to design and produce these extensive community history exhibits.

This mural celebrates the rich local history, diversity and achievements of the fifteen countries served by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. The Northern District of California encompass fifteen counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma. These counties are served by four federal courthouses located in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Eureka.

"Outside the door to the ceremonial courtroom is a wall of 33 images depicting the district, which is mentioned three times in Breyer's job title, and runs through 15 counties from the Oregon border to south of Big Sur" —Sam Whiting, Chronicle

The project was curated, designed and produced locally by Bennett Hall and Helen Rischbieth, principles of Business Image Group. The mural is set into a frame made in Wisconsin using solid cherry wood, also grown in America. The mural is the culmination of a nearly 1000-piece exhibit throughout the U.S. District Courts, Northern District of California, that has been gradually been installed throughout the Bay Area regions facilities in San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland over
the last ten years.

Specifications of Mural
Overall Size: 168" x 46"
Media type: Canvas, printing on z3200 HP 12 color pigment printer
Images are digitally mastered in the studio by Bennett Hall
There are a total of 33 individual canvas, each 14 x 14", wrapped around a stretcher frame, made in our Oakland digital studio, with Eco Shield protective coating
Sign: Cast prismatic bronze 3" letters, made in US by Gemeni

Framing - display
The canvases are fastened to three interlocking leather wrapped backing panels.
Framing around each section is in Cherry wood that was grown in America and milled and finished by the Larson Juhl Company in their Ashland, Wisconsin facilities.

Program Background

United States District Courts adjudicate matters rooted within the local community that are
governed by federal law, aligning District Courts with the communities they serve.

When it became time to commission decoration for the walls of the Northern District courthouses,
including public corridors and jury rooms, the Courts chose to form this program around this local
community, using its rich heritage as the subject matter. Today, the Northern District courthouses feature displays of local historical photographs providing context and an authentic narrative of the greater San Francisco Bay Area’s legacy. Each image has been carefully selected and grouped, digitally restored, and is accompanied by stories that provide an educational experience.

"You can learn the breadth, the scope and the reach of the court of the Northern District of California," says Breyer. "You get a panorama of the diversity of the region."

See article on program in Chronicle by Sam Whiting, April 2013

The program was the inspiration of the Honorable Judge Charles Breyer, who from inception in 2002 has guided the project, initially focused on enhancing the juror experience in the rooms where deliberations are conducted. Local historical photography drawn from dozens of sources, with accompanying educational narratives, was selected as the theme. The program presently covers all the public spaces of the Bay Area region courts, juror rooms and most of the chambers areas with content depicting our local heritage.

Over the last ten years, Bennett Hall, designer and curator of Business Image Group and his partner Helen Rischbieth, have worked with the United States District Courts to provide this local experience for their facilities working with their numerous public historical collections as well as private and their own archives.

This project has been completed during several phases over the past 11 years, covering their facilities in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. The program is ongoing with additional refinements to ensure the the best representation of the Counties in respective facilities. In 2014, the program will be expanded to include the new Federal Courthouse under construction in Eureka/McKinleyville.

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No public funds were used in this program.

US District Court Heritage Program
San Francisco Bay Area • Community History exhibits, 2002-2013

US District Court Program in Oakland
History of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties

US District Court Program in San Jose
History of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito Counties

San Francisco Content Libraries

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Happy Birthday Coit Tower!

2013-10-08T15:33:00.001-07:00

Coit Tower with Moon, Bennett Hall, 1995

Future site of the Coit Tower
Observatory and Signal Station, Telegraph Hill, c. 1890

The Observatory, built by Frederick O. Layman in the style of a German baronial castle, opened in 1882 with a restaurant and concert hall. Unfortunately the cable car system designed to climb the steep Hill was unsuccessful, and the place failed. It was burnt down in 1903.

Observatory and Signal Station, Telegraph Hill, c. 1870

Telegraph Hill, showing crowd assembled on the future site of Coit Tower c1923

Pioneer Park, at the summit of the Hill, was donated to the City in 1876. Many plans were debated for its development. Eventually, in 1923, a serpentine road was graded to the summit. The parking area was surrounded by a 4 foot concrete balustrade with large decorative urns.

Coit Tower during Passing Storm, Bennett Hall 1992

Coit Tower from Kearny Street looking north.
8 x 10" view camera, Bennett Hall 1994

San Francisco Images on Amazon

2013-10-05T13:57:00.001-07:00

Hilltop of San Francisco, California, looking toward the bay 1849
Marryat, Frank, 1826-1855 , artist, hand-colored chromolith

Worldwide Archive and San Francisco Images on Amazon

You can now purchase any of our collection of images from San Francisco and beyond through Amazon's new art services. We have a terrific range of images including the San Francisco Bay Area, Yosemite, LA, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, NASA images. Media types vary, black and white, sepia and hand-tinted images, with a selection of framing options.

We are just launching this so it is beta and we are looking for feedback and ideas on how to refine and improve this, within the limits of Amazon's system and our production partner ImageKind, a Cafepress Company

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For additional options of media types and frame selection, see our main web galleries on Imagekind.
ImageKind San Francisco Images

Hills Brothers Coffee - Interpretive exhibit at #2 Harrison Street

2013-09-21T16:54:00.002-07:00

Hills Brothers Coffee Legacy Exhibits
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Now home to Mozilla, Google, Gensler Architects, and a host of innovative firms, you can tour the history of San Francisco's original coffee company, Hills Brothers, established in the late 1800s, viewing this interpretative exhibit in the historic lobby of 2 Harrison Street. This property was original constructed by Hills Brothers, opening in 1925. The lobby exhibits showcase the legacy of Hills Bros. from their humble beginnings, through the construction of this building, opened late 1925, through their expansion into a global leader in the coffee industry.

Reception Desk at 2 Harrison, 1935 SF Bay Bridge Panorama

To create this program, we had the pleasure of working with the building's original developer Betawest, Hills Brothers, project architect David Colleen of Whistler Patri, and perhaps most memorably, Carol T. Wilson, the company's historian, who began his career in this building in 1924.

Panoramic Mural
This hand-tinted 12' wide panoramic photograph showing Hills Plaza and the Bay Bridge under construction full size is a one-of-kind photographic print made from the original negative.

Main Exhibit - historic lobby of 2 Harrison Street

Hills Bros. Coffee Mills Storefront from 1884 to 1894

Hills Bros. Arabian Coffee & Spice Mills, was located at the corner of Sansome & Sacramento Streets, serving as both a factory and home office for the growing company from 1884 to 1894. This site later became the site of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Unloading coffee at Hills Bros. at 175 Fremont Street c1915

Following two years in temporary quarters after being nearly wiped out by the Earthquake and Fire of 1906, a new building was completed for Hills Bros. at 175 Fremont Street. Hills Bros. grew rapidly from 1908 through 1925, when they moved to 2 Harrison Street.

Dedication Plaque honoring Hills Bros Founders

--> The partnership Hills Bros. was incorporated in 1914, but the name was not changed to Hills Bros. Coffee, Inc. until the early 1930's. These are the three generations of Hills men who directed the daily operations of this 98-year-old family-owned business until it was sold in 1976, later to become a strategic part of the new Nestle Beverage Company. The company was later sold to Sarah Lee in 1999 and was sold to Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA in 2005

Three Generations of Hills Brothers

Austin H. and Reuben W. Hills break ground for their new building at
2 Harrison Street, August 12, 1924

The sons of the founders. . .

Herbert G. Hills next to his father A. H.; Leslie W. Hills, Edward E. and
Reuben Hills, Jr., the three sons of R. W.

The Grandsons. . .

Herbert G. Hills Jr., Austin H. Hills, Leslie W. Hills (second generation),
and Reuben W. Hills, III

Main Lobby Exhibit, #2 Harrison

This group showcases historical milestones of the Hills Brothers Coffee Company, featuring the famous tasting table a 2 Harrison as its centerpiece, set onto a 4" x 2" solid mahogany backing, flanked by two reproductions of the Holden Murals depicting the history of coffee. Image on the far right is a 1851 shot of South Beach area showing the future location of the building before the landfill was done.

Construction progress of 2 Harrison

This series shows the construction progress of the 2 Harrison Street plant and offices of Hills Bros. from ground-breaking August 12, 1924, until near completion at the end of 1925. The architect was George W. Kelham; builder was P. J. Walker Company.

Cross-section Illustration of #2 Harrison showing original operations in the property

Sculpture in Hills Plaza Courtyard by Spyro Anargyros
of the turbaned icon of the Hills Brothers brand

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Dedication plaque

Electric Roof Sign, Hanging the "H" on 2 Harrison Street

LEFT: In 1935, the original electric roof sign facing the Bay was converted from incandescent globes to red neon tubing.

Background: This photographic model appeared frequently in promotional materials for Hills Bros. Coffee in the late 1920's.

Additional Reference:

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More information about our projects with Hills Brothers and Nestle

History of Hills Brothers - Blog post on San Francisco Images

Hills Bros Flickr Gallery

Leasing and building office at Hills Plaza

Wikipedia

The New Bridge - accessible for everyone

2013-08-29T01:10:00.001-07:00

Woman in wheel chair with friends
Crossing the Western Span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge

"Point and shoot" photography with an 8 x 10" View Camera (Ansel Adams size, the kind with the dark cloth)

Note on photography: the fall off on the corners shows how the lens renders a circular image on teh 8x 10" sheet film; this is cropped in slightly; the circular image is about 7.5". This lens also has extreme depth of field, so that the 8x10" camera could be prefocused and thus used as a "point and shoot" camera: Aim, Load, Pull the dark slide, and click the shutter. This is not easy to do on a massive bridge keep in mind, especially when you are pushing a monster camera on a dolly in a traffic lane with hoovering CHP not super amused with the rig.

Camera: 8x10 view camera, 75mm super Angulon, pre-focused,
Film: color negative

Capture: film

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennetthall/1563213193/in/set-72157626793740417/

The Cone Heads are Out and About

2013-08-28T20:43:00.002-07:00

Construction is underway...

8x10 view camera on dolly pushed across
San Francisco Bay Bridge Bridgewalk, 1980

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennetthall/9602452204/

That's All folks...

2013-08-28T20:30:00.002-07:00

Step away from the Bridge

CHP Officer, Western Span, Bridgewalk, 1980

8 x 10" view camera, candid shot

Perhaps the world's only 'point and shoot' 8 x 10" photography, employing a pre-set focus with a 75mm super Angulon. I knew I would have zero time for the traditional dark cloth and focus loop - ultimately as I predicated, I was forced into the CHP car, but not before I had made it all the way to mid-cantilever section on the decline into Oakland. Persistence. #8x10

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennetthall/9617013657

Bay Bridge series; Longshoreman at lunch

2013-08-22T10:40:00.001-07:00

Longshoremen's lunch hour, near the site of the Waterbar, 1937

San Francisco, California

Dedicated to the talent and labor force in our community that created the original span across the Bay and the new one imminently opening

Dorothea Lange, photographer

Date Created/Published: 1937 Feb.

from the Library of Congress

Web Galleries: San Francisco Images - Bridges

Flickr Galleries - San Francisco Bay Bridge and Crossing

San Francisco Images

Entrance Gate to Golden Gate Park, c.1900

Fort Point & the Golden Gate

Tour San Francisco from the Air during the Roaring Twenties

Aerial of the San Francisco's developing Southern Waterfront

The Emperor Norton has so decreed that a bridge shall be built...

The following is decreed and ordered to be carried into execution as soon as convenient:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! The story of the Tree in Union Square

Union Square's Christmas Tree c1915-1920A tradition for over 130 yearsAttributed to Emperor Norton

The Emperor in full regalia

Dewey Monument, Union Square viewing North c1905

Dedication of Dewey Monument, May 14 1903

Can you help me date this picture?

San Francisco History on Display at Swiss Louis on Pier 39

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Construction

The Emperor has Spoken:

A Bridge Shall be built...

Workers on North Catwalk________________________________

Eye Bolt of the Original Eastern Span

In Remembrance ...Returning sailors, new recruits at the enlisting office, Fort Point

"Cup Tasting" at #2 Harrison, San Francisco c1930, now Google's San Francisco workspace

Google and Mozilla expand their San Francisco footprint into 350,000 square feet of landmark Hills Plaza, originally headquarters of Hills Brothers original coffee processing plant on the Embarcadero

Happy 75th Anniverary to Treasure Island and the Golden Gate Exposition

What lies ahead for our Waterfront and how do we have to wait for its renovation?

Happy Chinese New Year

The Lost negatives of the Transamerica Pyramid

Construction Progress from a standard position overlooking project July 30, 1971 • May 1, 1972 • November 15, 1972

(order print of this triptych - black and white)____________________________________________________________

Building the Pyramid

____________________________________________________________

A Little Vertigo anyone?____________________________________________________________

San Francisco Gate Article on History of Pyramid

Recent images inside the Tip by a seismologist via Huntington Post

My Perch on Sutro Tower - The top of San Francisco

Something with a little vertigo anyone? Rust-colored Alien-like "Prongs" extend from the Tower to create the perfect vantage point

Fog City Reborn 2.0 ??

The Original Fog City Diner, gleaming Chrome and "Don't Worry" Neon Clock

BART on track to Fremont, 1972

BART Strikes—if it is not one thing it is another . . .

________________________________________

Perhaps someone will listen to the Magic Unicorn who says: "Get back to Work!!"

Construction of Elevated track , 1972

Cliff House, Sutro Bathes and Ocean Beach

Cliff House Closed by Federal Government and Citizens out of Work - Really?

Honoring the Cliff House and its long and Storied history in San Francisco

US District Court, Ceremonial Community Mural, San Francisco Federal Building

Heritage Mural of the Northern District Counties

Program Background

Happy Birthday Coit Tower!

Future site of the Coit TowerObservatory and Signal Station, Telegraph Hill, c. 1890

Observatory and Signal Station, Telegraph Hill, c. 1870

San Francisco Images on Amazon

Hills Brothers Coffee - Interpretive exhibit at #2 Harrison Street

The New Bridge - accessible for everyone

The Cone Heads are Out and About

Construction is underway... 8x10 view camera on dolly pushed across San Francisco Bay Bridge Bridgewalk, 1980

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennetthall/9602452204/

That's All folks...

Step away from the Bridge

Bay Bridge series; Longshoreman at lunch

Longshoremen's lunch hour, near the site of the Waterbar, 1937

San Francisco, California

Union Square's Christmas Tree c1915-1920
A tradition for over 130 years
Attributed to Emperor Norton

Workers on North Catwalk
________________________________

Construction Progress from a standard position overlooking project
July 30, 1971 • May 1, 1972 • November 15, 1972

(order print of this triptych - black and white)
____________________________________________________________

A Little Vertigo anyone?

____________________________________________________________

Something with a little vertigo anyone?

Rust-colored Alien-like "Prongs" extend from the
Tower to create the perfect vantage point

BART Strikes—
if it is not one thing it is another . . .

Perhaps someone will listen to the Magic Unicorn who says:
"Get back to Work!!"

Future site of the Coit Tower
Observatory and Signal Station, Telegraph Hill, c. 1890

Construction is underway...

8x10 view camera on dolly pushed across
San Francisco Bay Bridge Bridgewalk, 1980