Portsmouth Square: The Plaza: Difference between revisions
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''from The Annals of San Francisco, 1855'' | ''from The Annals of San Francisco, 1855'' | ||
[[Image:Portsmouth-Square-May-4-1850.jpg]] | |||
'''Portsmouth Square, May 4, 1850... is the man in the white hat the famous John Sutter of Sutter's Fort in Sacramento?''' | |||
''Photo: via John Alioto, FB.'' | |||
[[Image:PorthsmouthSquare.jpg|720px]] | |||
'''Portsmouth Square, 1851''' | |||
''Photo: Shaping San Francisco'' | |||
[[Image:Portsmouth-square.jpg|720px]] | [[Image:Portsmouth-square.jpg|720px]] | ||
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The little open space which was left by the crowds we have been describing, was occupied by a multitude of nondescript objects, by horses, mules and oxen dragging burdens along, by cars and carriages of various kinds, boys at play, stalls with sweetmeats, newspapers, prints, toys and other trifling articles of merchandise. | The little open space which was left by the crowds we have been describing, was occupied by a multitude of nondescript objects, by horses, mules and oxen dragging burdens along, by cars and carriages of various kinds, boys at play, stalls with sweetmeats, newspapers, prints, toys and other trifling articles of merchandise. | ||
[[Image:Portsmouth-Square-1905-via-Mike-Fusello-fb.jpg]] | |||
'''Portsmouth Square, c. 1905''' | |||
''Photo: courtesy Mike Fusello, via FB'' | |||
[[Image:Portsmouth Square March 1924 AAA-7073.jpg]] | [[Image:Portsmouth Square March 1924 AAA-7073.jpg]] | ||
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''Photo: Courtesy of Jimmie Shein'' | ''Photo: Courtesy of Jimmie Shein'' | ||
[[Image:Portsmouth Square before construction with old Hall of Justice AAA-7079.jpg]] | |||
'''Portsmouth Square before garage construction, old Hall of Justice still on Kearny Street, early 1960s.''' | |||
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library'' | |||
[[category:Annals]] [[category:1840s]] [[category:Gold Rush]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:1950s]] | [[category:Annals]] [[category:1840s]] [[category:Gold Rush]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:1900s]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:41, 8 April 2019
Primary Source
from The Annals of San Francisco, 1855
Portsmouth Square, May 4, 1850... is the man in the white hat the famous John Sutter of Sutter's Fort in Sacramento?
Photo: via John Alioto, FB.
Portsmouth Square, 1851
Photo: Shaping San Francisco
Portsmouth Square, Kearny in foreground, Washington Street running east/west along plaza.'
Photo: Bancroft Library
Portsmouth Square, from the Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
Collage depicting The Plaza by Satty, from "Visions of Frisco" edited by Walter Medeiros, Regent Press 2007
Near the center of town is a square, which... is called the "Plaza;" two sides of this are occupied by brick buildings, devoted solely to gambling. We have the "Veranda," "El Dorado," "Parker House," "Empire," "Rendezvous," "Bella Union," in one row... On entering one of these saloons the eye is dazzled... by the brilliancy of chandeliers and mirrors. The roof, rich with gilt-work, is supported by pillars of glass: and the walls are hung with French paintings of great merit, but of which female nudity forms alone the subject. --Frank Marryat, 1855
The eye was delighted with the varieties of costume, and more readily distinguished the wearers; while the ear was only confounded with the babble of unknown, and to its harsh gutteral and meaningless sounds which flowed from every mouth, and where all alike talked loudly, and many furiously gesticulated.
Thus the people passed in pairs or in crowds--they loitered, stood still, and moved on again, while other parties jostled beside and around them. A horse or bullock breaking loose would dash along the way, and make a momentary struggle and flight; but soon again the scene resumed its old appearance. On two, if not three sides of the plaza, were the open doors of the "hells" of San Francisco, where gamblers, and others for amusement, stood out and in during the whole day. On the other portions stood hotels, stores and offices, the custom-house and courts of law, all thronged with numerous visitors.
The little open space which was left by the crowds we have been describing, was occupied by a multitude of nondescript objects, by horses, mules and oxen dragging burdens along, by cars and carriages of various kinds, boys at play, stalls with sweetmeats, newspapers, prints, toys and other trifling articles of merchandise.
Portsmouth Square, c. 1905
Photo: courtesy Mike Fusello, via FB
Portsmouth Square, corner of Clay and Kearny, March 1924.
Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Portsmouth Square looking north/northeast, c. 1950s.
Photo: Courtesy of Jimmie Shein
Portsmouth Square before garage construction, old Hall of Justice still on Kearny Street, early 1960s.
Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library