September 25 - Increasing Park Access & Amusements The Gift - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

t o r y o f A H i s Golden Gate Park Fromm Institute - Fall 2019 - John Freeman September 25 - Increasing Park Access & Amusements

The Gift That Altered the Park’s Original Concept Gifted: 1877, Completed: 1878-9 James Lick 1796 - 1876

Victoria Regia

1874 Superintendent Hall had 4 rustic shelters constructed of natural materials at eastern end of Golden Gate Park

The Dark Days: Park Leadership Confusion After Hall resigned as superintendent in 1876 (but remained on as engineer), his assistant, William Pritchard became superintendent. Pritchard had engineering experience, but no horticultural training. He did accomplish “engineering” projects, but neglected the park’s plans for horticultural maintenance. His tenure was marked by frugal funding. He resigned in March, 1881. The next six years were extremely challenging for the Park, with poor funding and short-term custodial management. Enter Frank Pixley!!! Pixley was a bombastic, arrogant scoundrel. He got onto the Park Commission and manipulated the proceedings, ran editorials in his Argonaut newspaper, to hound opposing members to resign, so he could stack the Commission for his “pet project” - a rail line for Charles Crocker’s Park & Ocean Railroad.

The Steam train was granted Park Property on Stanyan St. for a station as well as the southeast corner of the park to make the turn to H St. (Lincoln Way) At 49th Ave. the train again entered the Park and crossed it to emerge at 49th Ave. (La Playa) with a station built at B St. (Balboa St.)

The steam train to the beach scheme backfired on Pixley in two ways. This new train brought lots of passengers to Ocean Beach, where a squatters colony sprung up called Mooneysville. These were the undesirable ruffians that Pixley hated so vehemently. Jurisdictional issues gave the squatter the upper hand. Secondly, Pixley was disgraced, mocked by all the newspapers and a new Park Commission was formed to work closely with State Engineer, William Hammond Hall to carry forward his recommendations.

Creating a More Formal Park - c.1885 Base for James Garfield Statue, installed Aug. 24, 1884 First Statue in Golden Gate Park - unveiled July 4, 1885

For those who didn’t own or could afford to rent a horse and buggy there always was “people watching” in Golden Gate Park

Safety Pedestrian underpass

Speed Road was created for sporting men to “exercise” they’re horses. Approved in 1888 Later called “Speedway” Meadow, then Lindley Meadow, now Hellman Hollow. A plan favored by Frank Pixley, but passed after he left the Park Commission. Began in 1888. 40th 24th

Geary St., Park & Mkt. St. Rwy. Co. Ocean RR Co. (extension of Sacramento cable to 6th Ave.) Mkt.St.Rwy. Co. (McAllister St.) Mkt.St.Rwy. Co. (Hayes St.) Omnibus Cable Co. (Oak St.) Mkt.St.Rwy. Co. (Haight St.) Cable Car lines 1893

Mkt.St.Rwy. Co. (McAllister St.) Mkt.St.Rwy. Co. (Hayes St.) Mkt.St.Rwy. Co. (Haight St.) 8 4 3 4 6 6 8 9