San Francisco County
Biographies
THE MATTHIAS
GRAY CO.
THE MATTHIAS GRAY CO.—This old
established music house was founded in San Francisco in 1852 by Matthias Gray,
the pioneer in the music business on the Pacific coast. The business was first
established by him in 1852 in a small way on Washington street, in only one
room, and with a stock consisting of one Steinway piano and two or three of
other kinds. The growth of musical interests in this city has kept pace
with the progress and development in other directions, and now the Matthias
Gray Company carry in their house here as large a stock of Steinway and other
pianos as the manufacturers carry in their warerooms. From Washington
street the establishment
was moved to Clay street,
and at different times occupied different localities on that street, changing
to meet the demands of their constantly increasing trade. From Clay
street they moved to Kearny,
thence to the White House, and finally to their elegant and commodious quarters
at 206 and 208 Post street, these buildings being four stories high. The first
floor of 206 is occupied by the office and counting room, and also contains a
stock of sheet music and small instruments. On the second floor above this
is the attractive music hall, with a seating capacity
of 200. The walls of this apartment are finely ornamented with portraits
of the most eminent musicians. An attractive feature of this department
are the series of concerts and musical receptions given each season, they
having been inaugurated by Woldemar Ludovici, the efficient managing director of the Matthias
Gray Co. One floor is designated the Steinway floor, is divided into
different rooms and fitted up and furnished with elegance and taste. The
"Grand Room" contains the finest pianos in the world, valued at from
$1,000 to $2,000 each. The value of the stock in this room and in the
"Upright Steinway Room" is over $50,000. Another floor contains
pianos and instruments of other manufacturers. Other apartments are used
for receiving goods, tuning and repairing instruments, and still others are
fitted up for the convenience of music teachers who give lessons to private
pupils.
Transcribed
3-31-06 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 403, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2006 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
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Golden Nugget Library