Dedication of N.S.G.W. Building
Mason Street
Between Geary and Post Streets
San Francisco, California
Sunday afternoon, September fifteenth, Nineteen
hundred twelve
History of the NSGW Building
by Lewis F. Byington, Past Grand President
The
new Native Sons’ Building, just completed and situated on the east side of
Mason Street, between Geary and Post Streets, is unquestionably the best
appointed and arranged fraternal building in California, and for the lodge and
social purposes the most centrally located of any in San Francisco. It stands
on the same block as the St. Francis Hotel and within a radius of two blocks
are Union Square at the heart of the city, the Hotel Bellevue, the Stewart
Hotel, the Olympic Club, the Bohemian Club, the Union League Club, and the
Elks’ Club, the Columbia, Alcazar and Orpheum Theatres, and most of the leading
hotels, clubs, restaurants, and places of amusement in San Francisco.
It
is a “Class A,” steel frame structure, eight stories in height, with a
beautiful and ornamented façade of granite, terra cotta and brick. Around the
two main entrances to the building are placed medallions of distinguished men,
who are thus honored and commemorated for their services in connection with the
discovery and civilization of California. They are: Cabrillo, discoverer of
California; Father Junipero Serra, civilizer and founder of missions; General
John A. Sutter, typical pioneer; General John C. Fremont, U.S.A., the
Pathfinder; Admiral John Drake Sloat, U.S.N., who raised the American flag at
Monterey; James W. Marshall, the discoverer of gold; Peter Burnett, the first
American governor of California; General M. G. Vallejo, typical
Hispano-Californian; General A. M. Winn, Founder of the Order of the Native
Sons of the Golden West.
Set
in the front of the building at the height of the second story are six terra
cotta panels, the work of Domingo Mora and his son, Joseph J. Mora,
artistically designed and depicting important historical events, namely: “The
Discovery of California”; “Civilization”; “The Raising of the Bear Flag”; “The
Raising of the American Flag”; “The Pioneers”; “The Discovery of Gold.” The
sculptured heads of grizzly bears, which mark the line of the third floor, have
been designed as emblematic of California, while the sculptured phoenix, placed
over the doorways, typifies San Francisco.
The
phoenix was a wonderful bird, fabled to exist for 500 years, the only of its
kind. It built a funeral pile of spices and aromatic gums, lighted the pile
with the fanning of its wings, and was burned upon it, but from its ashes
revived in the freshness of youth. It is the emblematic bird of San Francisco,
adopted and placed upon its seal in early days after the city had been four
times destroyed by fire. During a recent visit to Europe, Mr.
James D. Phelan, the president of the Hall association, found in the
Vatican at Rome the most ancient sculptured representation of the phoenix and
which is attributed to the famous Greek sculptor Praxiteles. Mr. Phelan secured
a splendid reproduction in marble of this work of art and presented it to the
Hall Association, and it is now in the new building.
The
building contains one of the largest and best-appointed assembly halls for
dances, concerts and entertainments in California; also fourteen well-lighted,
handsomely furnished, and artistically arranged lodge rooms; the offices of the
Grand Secretary; Library and Reading Rooms. Over the main assembly hall is the
largest steel truss ever built in California, and which supports the floors
above. The eighth floor is arranged for club room purposes and is admirably
designed for this object. The rooms are spacious, high and well lighted, both
from above and from the front and sides. In the front an artistic loggia has
been placed from which the city to the west may be viewed, while at the rear a
pergola, over which vines will be twined, furnishes an artistic, sheltered,
open-air places for the members to sit. The Grand Parlor has taken steps to
secure all books, data and records bearing upon the history and development of
California and these doubtless will be stored here. In time, an Historical
Museum will also be maintained within the building.
In
the main hall are twenty circular windows, which it has been decided to use for
art glass portraits of twenty Native Sons and Native Daughters who have won
distinction in the arts and sciences, literature and drama. The names of the
following have so far been selected: Gertrude Atherton, literature; Sybil
Sanderson, music; Mary Anderson, drama. Upon the walls of the upper floors will
be hung portraits of the distinguished men and women, not natives of
California, who have in this State won distinction in literature, science and
the arts. The grandeur of the Yosemite and our mountains and lakes may also be
depicted upon other windows and these features will add materially to the
beauty of our building and will make it unique among the structures of the
country. The building will stand as the home of the Order in the State, and as
the noblest and most enduring monument to the perpetuity of the organization
and for the advancement of its principles of Friendship, Loyalty and Charity.
The
architects of the building are Righetti and Headman (E.H. Hildebrand,
associate). The superintendant of construction was Mr. P.J. Walker and his
foreman Mr. J.S. Fifield.
Since
the destruction of the Native Sons’ Building by the fire of April 18, 1906, it
has been the desire of the members to see erected in this city, and upon the
lot where that building stood, a home for the fraternity, within which the
local lodges may meet and where members from all over California may find an
hospitable welcome amidst pleasant and comfortable surroundings. That desire
has now been realized.
The
Hall Association of the Native Sons of the Golden West was incorporated April
5, 1893, for the purpose of securing a site upon which to erect a home for the
Order. The first Board of Directors selected was composed of the following
members of the fraternity: John H. Grady, Henry Lundstedt, Dr. C.W. Decker,
W.W. Shannon, T.E. Keough, George D. Clark, John T. Greany, John A. Steinbach,
W.H. Miller, J.R. Kropp, Adolph Eberhart, Lewis F.
Byington, T. C. Conmy, John H. Nelson, T.P. Leonard,
Joseph B. Keenan, H..J. Seitz, G.H.S. Dryden, W. J. Wynn, W. E. Foley,
Daniel Suter, C.H. Hobson, J.P. Donovan, R. Horber, C.H. Mass, J.W. Reinfeld, H.G.W. Dinkelspiel, Sol. Bloom, J.R. Howell, Louis Nonnenmann, H.E. Coffey, Jas. P. Sweeney, L.L.
Dennery, L.M. Bannan, W.P. Johnson, and A.E. Holmes.
The
Association purchased from the Congregation Ohabai Shalome, for $42,500, the
lot located on the east side of Mason Street, sixty-eight feet and nine inches
north of Geary Street, and having a frontage of sixty-eight feet and nine
inches and a depth of one hundred and thirty-seven feet and six inches. One of
the first synagogues erected in this city stood upon the lot.
Competitive
plans for a lodge building were invited and those submitted by Mr. A.C. Lutgens
were selected and the handsome five-story “Class C” building erected which
stood until destroyed in the early morning of April 19, 1906, by the disastrous
fire which then swept the city. It was erected at a cost of about $82,000, and
contained a large assembly hall, the offices of the Grand Secretary, the
Library and Reading Room and seven lodge rooms. The corner stone was laid on
Washington’s birthday, 1895, and the building was dedicated February 9, 1896.
Shortly after its completion, Irving M. Scott presented to the Hall Association
a magnificent painting by William Keith, California’s greatest landscape
artist. It depicted one of California’s fruitful valleys and was entitled “The
Heritage of the Native Sons.” It was burned with the building.
When
the Association concluded to rebuild upon the old site, it was determined to
erect a “Class A” building in line with the spirit of progress which animated
the citizens of the new San Francisco. The capital stock of the Association
was, therefore, increased to $400,000 (50,000 shares of a par value of $8.00
each).
The
corner stone of the new building was laid February 22, 1911. It is the old
corner stone saved from the fire with a new stone covering it. Upon the old
stone appears the inscription:
HALL OF
NATIVE SONS OF
THE GOLDEN WEST
WASHINGTON’S
BIRTHDAY
A.D. 1895”
And
upon the stone above is carved:
BUILDING
DESTROYED BY FIRE, APRIL 19, 1906
CORNER STONE
RELAID FEBRURARY 22, 1911
The
cost of the new building is approximately $210,000.00, and the dedication
thereof will take place Sunday afternoon, September 15, 1912, at three o’clock.
This is the only large fraternal building in San Francisco entirely paid for
when completed, and without any bonded indebtedness or encumbrance of any kind
upon it. This splendid building is built of California material and by
California workmen, and reflects credit upon those who planned it, those who
constructed it, and the young men whose means contributed to its erection.
Dedication Exercises
Sunday,
September fifteenth, nineteen hundred twelve at 2:00 P.M.
Program
Introductory:
Louis Nonnenmann, Chairman, Dedication Committee
Address:
Lewis F. Byington, Chairman, Building Committee
Vocal
Solo: (a) Aria from La Somnambula (b) “Sunshine Waltz,” Harriet Ware, Stella M.
Coughlin
Address:
Clarence E. Jarvis, Grand President, N.S.G.W.
Address:
Olive Bedford-Matlock, Grand President, N.D.G.W.
Baritone
Solo: (a) “Song of Thanksgiving” by Allitsen (b) “Mother of Mine” by Tours,
Jack Edward Hillman
Address:
James Rolph, Jr., Mayor of San Francisco
Musical
Selection, Orchestra
Address:
Charles M. Belshaw, Chairman, Ways and Means
Committee
Address:
James D. Phelan, President, Hall Association
Contractors of the Native Sons’ Building
Mason Street
between Geary and Post Streets
Righetti
& Headman, E.H. Hildebrand, Associate ARCHITECTS, Phelan Building, Douglas
884
H.L.
Peterson, CONCRETE, 407 Pine Street, Douglas 1113
Percy J. Walker, SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSTRUCTION,
Monadnock Building, Kearny 1096
Lettich
Brothers, PLUMBING AND GAS, 365 Fell Street, Park 234
Pacific
Rolling Mill, STEEL FOR BUILDING, Seventeenth and Mississippi, Market 215
Standard
Electric Co., ELECTRICAL WORK, 60 Natoma Street, Kearny 894
Clinton
Fireproofing Company, CONCRETE WORK, Mutual Bank Building, Sutter 2269
Butcher
& Hadley, BRICK WORK
Floodberg
& McCaffery, PLASTERING, Monadnock Building, Douglas 2478
Gladding,
McBean Company, TERRA COTTA WORK, Crocker Building, Douglas 540
Val
Frenz, CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER, Builders’ Exchange, 180 Jessie St., Kearny 4700
John
C. Sutton Company, HEATING AND VENTILATING, 243 Minna Street, Douglas 3048
C.J.
Hillard Company, Inc., ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKS, 215 Eighth Street, Market 6468
Van
Emon Elevator Company, ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, 54 Natoma Street, Douglas 857
P.N.
Kuss & Company, PAINTERS AND DECORATORS, 612 Fourteenth Street, Oakland,
Cal.
Shermund
& Krauss, GAS AND ELECTRIC FIXTURES, 1473 Mission Street, Market 1482
Jos.
Musto Sons-Keenan Company, MARBLE AND TILE, 35 North Point Street, Franklin 6365
A.W.
Pike Company, HARDWARE, 711 Mission Street, Kearny 4226
California
Plate & Window Glass Co., GLASS FOR BUILDING, 846 Mission Street, Kearny
641
Eilers
Music Company, PIANOS, 975 Market Street, Douglass 1400
Conlin
& Roberts, ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METAL WORK, 410-416 Natoma Street, Kearny
1697
Nieblas
& Ledgewick, SCENIC ARTISTS, Columbia Theatre, Geary Street
McGilvray-Raymond
Granite Co., GRANITE WORK, Seventh and Townsend Streets, Market 246
Reigle
& Jamison, DAMPROOFING AND WHITEWASHING, 251 Kearny Street, Douglas 2430
H.D.
Samuels, ROOFING
Henry
Gervais, TERRAZZO WORK, 1727 Mission Street, Market 6128
Jos.
Fredericks & Company, FURNITURE AND CARPETS, N. E. Cor. Post and Stockton
Sts., Sutter 2100
Mangrum
& Otter, TILE WORK, 561 Mission Street, Kearny 3155
Hall Association Committees
Dedication Committee
|
Louis
Nonnenmann, Chairman Chas. W. Heyer, Secretary |
Building Committee
|
Lewis F.
Byington, Chairman Wm. E. Foley,
Secretary |
Chas. M.
Belshaw |
Thos. C. Conmy |
Ways and Means Committee
Chas. M.
Belshaw, Chairman
|
Jos. B. Keenan,
Secretary |
Ed. Blackman |
Finance Committee
|
Jos. B.
Keenan, Chairman |
Wm. J. Wynn |
Furnishing Committee
|
Geo. B. Barber Henry G.W.
Dinkelspiel |
Chas. D.
Steiger, Chairman |
|
Hall Committee
|
Angelo
J. Rossi |
Photos
#7 Daniel E. Murden, #5
Ellis A. Blackman, J. B. Stoval P. Noble
Transcribed by
Brianne Newell.
Proofed by:
Jeanne Taylor.
Source: “Program: Dedication of NSGW Building 1912”. Published by NSGW, San
Francisco, Cal.
© 2010 Brianne Newell.
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