Spring Valley Water: A Closer Look

by Arnold Woods

One of the guiding principles for the early development of towns was that you would settle near a fresh water source. Without water to tap, your town would not survive. When the Spanish settled San Francisco in 1776, they placed their Mission, the center of their development, by Mission Creek so that they would have fresh water. They established the Presidio not far from Mountain Lake.

As San Francisco grew, the demand for fresh water naturally increased. Various creeks were tapped by private companies and the City itself looked at various water options, including as far away as Lake Tahoe. One of the private companies was the Spring Valley Water Company, which purchased the water rights to Lake Merced and bought up almost 3000 acres of land near the lake.1

Spring Valley flume discharging into settling pond, June 9, 1904. (wnp36.10127; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The Spring Valley Water Company also owned the Pilarcitos, San Andreas, and Crystal Springs Reservoirs in San Mateo County. Water from Lake Merced had to be pumped up to the Laguna Honda Reservoir, where the company had taken a natural lake, drained it, and lined it, in the mid-1860s to create the reservoir. From there, the reservoir used gravity to deliver water down to the downtown area where most people lived at that time. Spring Valley Water became the major water supplier to San Francisco.

Spring Valley Water pumping station at Sloat and 22nd Avenue. (wnp36.00557; DPW Horace Chaffee – SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector))

In order to make this water system work, a huge infrastructure was required. Spring Valley Water built dams, canals, flumes, culverts, pipes, pumps, powerhouses, and bridges. Because it needed workers to maintain the system, the company also built residences for employees, along with stables, chicken coops, coal bins, and wells. They even built a railroad spur from the Southern Pacific San Francisco-San Jose steam train line to deliver supplies.

Lakmer Pump Station, just northwest of present day Brotherhood Way, June 9, 1904. (wnp36.10129; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

One of Spring Valley Water’s big projects was the Lakmer Pump Station by Lake Merced, just northwest of the present day Lake Merced Boulevard – Brotherhood Way intersection. It pumped water from Lake Merced and also was part of the system that pumped water from the San Andreas Reservoir into the City. The pumping station still exists today as part of the City water system.

Spring Valley Water Flume crossing gully, January 3, 1903. (wnp36.10037; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The company’s flumes delivered water around the City. The flume pictured above crossed a gully in the area between today’s Lowell High School and Stonestown. Among other structures, the Spring Valley Water Company also had reservoirs on Russian Hill…

View east from Larkin across Francisco Street Reservoir, June 20, 1904. (wnp36.10055; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

…and near Holly Park…

View south from top of Holly Park Reservoir aerator/purifier/radiator, circa 1910. (wnp36.10034; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

…and on the north slope of Mount Davidson…

Construction of Stanford Heights Reservoir, August 22, 1923. (wnp36.10133; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

…as well as the eponymous tank on Tank Hill…

View north at tank on Tank Hill, circa 1904. (wnp36.10045; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

…and even a tank at Carville.

Carville tank on 48th near Judah, 1900s. (wnp36.10064; Spring Valley Water Co. from SFPUC – Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The Spring Valley Water Company became the largest privately-owned public utility water company by the 1910s. However, complaints about the lack of service in some areas and poor water quality, particularly after the 1906 earthquake, led San Francisco to investigate alternative water supplies. After passage of a bond measure, the City began the Hetch Hetchy project to deliver water from the Sierras to the City.

City purchase of Spring Valley Water Company dedication ceremony, March 10, 1930. (wnp36.04486.jpg; DPW Horace Chaffee – SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The Hetch Hetchy water project created an awkward partnership between San Francisco and the Spring Valley Water Company as Sierra water was integrated into Spring Valley Water lines. The City also began developing some of its own water infrastructure. Spring Valley Water could see the end was near. In 1921, the City and the company entered into an agreement where the City had a 12 year option to purchase the company for $38 million. Nine years later the City exercised that option and formally delivered a check to the company on March 2, 1930, ninety years ago this week. A formal purchase dedication ceremony was held by the shore of Lake Merced on March 10, 1930. The Spring Valley Water Company era was over.

Notes:

1. “San Francisco’s Lake Merced: Spring Valley Water Company” by Woody LaBounty, https://www.outsidelands.org/lakemerced3.php.

Children’s Pet Exhibition: A Closer Look

by Arnold Woods

One of the features during the closing days of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (“PPIE”) was a children’s pet show. Over 1000 children came from Northern California and neighboring states to show off their pets in the Motor Transportation building at the PPIE. As the Chronicle reported, the pets included “snakes, lizards, [rac]coons, mice, bantams, fighting guinea pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, turtles, various kinds of insects, goats, and even a burro and a bear.1”

Girl with dog, boys with duck and rooster at Children’s Pet Exhibit at Argonne Playground, 1940s. (wnp26.1561; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The PPIE children’s pet show proved to be very popular. As a result, city educators and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“SPCA”) worked together to make it an annual event. By the early 1920s, the annual Children’s Pet Exhibition was getting hundreds of entries.

Women and children with dogs at Argonne Playground, 1940s. (wnp26.1564; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The annual Children’s Pet Exhibition featured a number of prizes and cup winners, such as Best Trained and Best Stunts, and continued to include all kinds of different pets. In a number of years, the Boy Scouts had and received commendations for an exhibition on how to give aid to animals. The show also had visitors vote on their favorite pets for their seven loving cups awards. In 1929, the Frank McCoppin School was awarded a silver cup for promoting love of animals.

Boy and his dog by slide at Argonne Playground, 1940s. (wnp26.1566; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

Over the years, the pet show occurred at a number of locations around the City, everywhere from the Dreamland Auditorium to the Larkin Auditorium to the Civic Auditorium. Rehearsals for the event were held at some schools. As we have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of Argonne Elementary School, we have been spending time reviewing the images we have of the school. Among these, we have a number of children and their pets at the Argonne Playground images.

Girl and her dog in front of slides at Argonne Playground, 1940s. (wnp26.1562; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

Argonne not only participated in the annual Children’s Pet Exhibition for many years, but they also held rehearsals at the Argonne Playground in some years. The images in our collection are from one of these rehearsals, though the exact year and the photographer are unknown. From vehicles in the background of the images, our best guess is that this rehearsal took place in the 1940s. However, rehearsals were held at Argonne as early as 1925.

Boy and his dog at Argonne Playground, 1940s. (wnp26.1563; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

It is clear from these images that dogs were the dominant pet species at the particular Children’s Pet Exhibition rehearsal featured here, though the duck and rooster in the Del Monte box in the first image above provided some variety. Maybe the City’s pet shows didn’t have the fighting guinea pigs, burro, or bear that the PPIE pet show had, but we’re certain that there was more than just dogs, ducks, and roosters. The Children’s Pet Exhibitions no longer happen, another civic event that has gone by the wayside. However, if you ever participated in one of these exhibitions, we would love to hear from you. If you have a Children’s Pet Exhibition story to share, contact us.

Notes:

1. “Kiddies’ Pet Show Will Open Today ” San Francisco Chronicle, December 2, 1915, p. 11.

Mt. Davidson Mudslide: A Closer Look

by Arnold Woods

After two weeks of steady rains across Northern California, Mount Davidson could contain itself no longer. Just after noon on February 6, 1942, the southern slope of Mount Davidson collapsed, sending a mudslide six feet deep down the slope to Foerster Street. On its way there, it knocked a half dozen houses off their foundations. From there, the slide continued to ooze down Foerster toward Monterey Boulevard.

The day after the devastation from the Mount Davidson mudslide, February 7, 1942. (wnp27.7188; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

Residents reported that the first indication of the mudslide was a thunder-like rumbling sound.1 Several houses were carried into the street. One was knocked on its side. Other houses were flooded with mud.

Looking south on Foerster Street after mudslide, February 6, 1942. (wnp26.181; DPW Horace Chaffee – SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

One of the wrecked homes was the residence of Dora Kammer. Her brother-in-law, Thomas Hill, was at the house when the mudslide came down. He described trees coming through the roof and mud flooding the house. When the house was knocked over, Hill was thrown out a window and pinned by some heavy timbers and Kammer was buried in the mud in her kitchen. Hill was rescued by emergency responders, but his leg was so badly injured that it was feared that it may have to amputated. While he was initially expected to recover, he would succumb to his injuries two days later. Kammer had been so thoroughly buried under tons of mud and rubble that her body could not be recovered until five days after the mudslide.

View south on Foerster Street beyond house knocked on its side after mudslide, February 6, 1942. (wnp26.179; DPW Horace Chaffee – SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

When the mudslide came to a halt, it covered several blocks of Foerster Street with five feet of mud and debris. San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi visited the area on the day after the mudslide. He said that he thought the slide was caused by dirt being dumped from a private development project.2 Mayor Rossi stated that he would be introducing legislation the following Monday to stop that practice. San Francisco Public Works Director A.D. Wilder had his crews digging ditches to divert water away from the slide area so that the mud would harden and be easier to remove. He promised a thorough investigation. After the investigation, a company that was building a subdivision was blamed by the City for the mudslide. The negligent manner in which the company had deposited dirt in the area was cited as the cause.3

View north on Foerster Street after mudslide, February 7, 1942. (wnp27.7189; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The rains affected not just San Francisco, but much of Northern California. Mudslides and flooding also damaged homes on Diamond Street in San Francisco as well as buildings in Fairfax, San Anselmo, Napa, Crockett, Oakland, and Berkeley. At least five people, including Hill and Kammer, lost their lives. Flooding on the Sacramento river and its tributaries would cover over 30,000 acres over the next few days after the Foerster Street mudslide. Roads and highways were closed across Northern California. Clean-up and repair would take a long time.

People standing on muddy debris on Foerster Street after mudslide, February 6, 1942. (wnp26.176.jpg; DPW Horace Chaffee – SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

In the years after the mudslide, the south slope of Mount Davidson became covered with homes and streets which hopefully stabilized the hill sufficiently to prevent any further slides. Today, that section of Foerster Street is a suburban neighborhood, hopefully blissfully unaware of the devastation that occurred there 78 years ago.

Notes:

1. “River of Mud: Woman Buried Alive as an Avalanche Crashes Through S.F. Homes ” San Francisco Chronicle, February 7, 1942, p. 5.

2. “More on Bay Area Repairing Flood Toll,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 8, 1942, p. 9.

3. “Valley Floods: Sacramento Waters Slowly Recede; Red Cross Cares for Evacuees,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 12, 1942, p. 13.

The AAFC 49ers: A Closer Look

by Arnold Woods

Five months ago, back at the beginning of football season, I wrote a post about the San Francisco 49ers’ Kezar years. I wasn’t expecting to do another 49ers post anytime in the near future. However, two things have happened to change that plan. One, we uploaded 679 new 49ers images to OpenSFHistory earlier this week. And two, the 49ers are playing in Super Bowl LIV. So please indulge another 49ers post so soon. This time, I’m taking a closer look at the 49ers pre-NFL years.

With the NFL resisting calls to expand in the mid-1940s, a Chicago sportswriter, Arch Ward. already famous for originating the idea of baseball’s All-Star game, came up with the idea of starting a new professional football league. Ward put together some rich men to create eight teams for a new league dubbed the All-American Football Conference. One of those men was San Francisco lumber magnate Tony Morabito, who had been trying for some time to get an NFL team for the City. Thus, the San Francisco 49ers were born.

San Francisco 49ers preseason publicity photo, August 1946. (wnp14.5054; Examiner Negative Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The AAFC was initially scheduled to debut in 1945. The 49ers hired noted local college football coach Buck Shaw to be their head coach. Shaw had famously led Santa Clara to two Sugar Bowl victories in 1937 and 1938, but lost his job when Santa Clara dropped its football program in 1942. When the AAFC’s start date was pushed back to 1946, the 49ers allowed Shaw to take the University of California, Berkeley head coaching gig for a year. Finally, in September 1946, the AAFC was ready to take flight.

San Francisco 49ers’ backfield of (L-R) Len Eshmont, Norm Standlee, Frankie Albert and John Strzykalski, August 1946. (wnp14.5057; Examiner Negative Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

The 49ers were part of the AAFC’s West Division with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Rockets, and Los Angeles Dons. The 49ers opened their first season on September 8, 1946 at their Kezar Stadium home against the New York Yankees. They would lose 21-7, but would fare much better during the rest of the season. They would beat the Los Angeles Dons twice during the season for West Coast supremacy.

49er right end Bob Titchenal running for 42-yard TD reception against Brooklyn Dodgers, September 22nd 1946. (wnp14.5163; Examiner Negative Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

1946 was a good season for the 49ers. They finished 9-5 and outscored their opponents 307-189. Quarterback Frankie Albert finished 2nd in the league in passing yardage. Running backs Norm Standlee, John Strzykalski, and Len Eshmont finished with the 2nd, 8th, and 13th (respectively) most yards gained. Left end Alyn Beals tied for the league lead in receptions and was 2nd in receiving yards. The 49ers scored the 2nd most points in the league and gave up the 2nd least amount of points. You may have seen the theme here. The 49ers finished 2nd in a lot of categories. They also finished 2nd in the West Division to the league champion Cleveland Browns, who beat the East Division winner Yankees in the league championship game.

49er running back Norm Standlee running the ball against the Buffalo Bisons, November 2, 1946. (wnp14.5001; Examiner Negative Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

In a probable publicity stunt, the 49ers obtained the rights to legendary Army Heisman-winning running backs, “Mr. Inside” Felix Blanchard and “Mr. Outside” Glenn Davis in 1947. However, their attempt to get the Army to release them to play proved unsuccessful. The 49ers opened the 1947 season with a 23-7 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Kezar in front of over 31,000 people. They finished with an 8-4-2 record, but individual players did not finish as well as they had the prior year on the passing, rushing, and receiving charts. Once again, the 49ers ended up 2nd to the champion Cleveland Browns in the West Division.

Quarterback Frankie Albert running the ball against the Cleveland Browns, November 28, 1948. (wnp14.6206; Examiner Negative Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

In 1948, the Niners had their best season yet, finishing with a 12-2 record. They scored 495 points during the season, over 100 more than any other team. Their rushing and overall offense was the best in the league. The season marked the debut of future Hall of Fame running back, Joe “The Jet” Perry, who gained 562 yards on only 77 carries. However, the two losses the Niners suffered that season were both to the undefeated Cleveland Browns, resulting in the 49ers finishing second in the West Division yet again. Despite having the second best record in the league, finishing second in the division meant the 49ers missed the playoffs.

49er running back Joe Perry carrying the ball against the Cleveland Browns, November 28, 1948. (wnp14.6397; Examiner Negative Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

As the 1949 season dawned, the AAFC lost a team, so the league was reorganized as one, 7-team divison. As with the prior year, the 49ers again easily had the league’s best rushing offense and maintained the best overall offense. Joe Perry led the league in rushing yardage and had a league-best 6.8 yards per rushing attempt. The 49ers finished with a 9-3 record, which resulted in a, wait for it, 2nd place finish behind the Cleveland Browns. However, because the AAFC now only had one division, the 49ers were finally playoff-bound. In a new playoff format, the top four teams in the league made the playoffs. The 49ers beat the New York Yankees 17-7 in the first round, but fell to the Cleveland Browns 21-7 in the title game.

Two days before the AAFC championship game, the NFL and AAFC agreed to a merger. The 49ers, Browns, and Baltimore Colts would join the NFL and the AAFC’s Los Angeles Dons would merge with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams under the Rams name. The remaining AAFC teams folded. The 49ers, one of the AAFC’s best teams, were a natural fit as a West Coast rival for the Rams. After four years, the AAFC was through and the 49ers would begin the 1950 season in the NFL as part of what was first called the National Conference and later renamed as the West Conference. The 49ers proved to be one of the best teams in the AAFC over those four years, but had the misfortune of being in the same division of an even better Cleveland Browns team in each of those years.