Boatwrench
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Petaluma, CA
Today I attend most of the centennial events for "The Big One", San Francisco 1906 Earthquake & Fire. Thought I'd share my day.
Got up early to get to Lotta's Fountain, named for famed Opera singer Lotta Crabtree. Seems one night along time ago after singing all night Lotta wanted a drink of water, but through all the saloons of the Barbary Coast, not one glass of water could be found. Lotta donated this large fountain that until economics and the drought of 1979 had drinking water constantly running for humans, troughs for horses and even smaller bowls for the dogs. After the tragedy of the earthquake & (3-day) fire, dislocated families posted notes at Lotta's Fountain to try and re-unite. So 100 years later at 5:12 AM, two of my daughters and I ventured with about 25K other peolple to Lotta's Fountain for the start of the remembrance.
My daughetrs during the minute of silence following the minute of silence every fire engine wailed it's siren and every church beel rang.
At 7AM we met at 20th & Church Streets, close to the old spanish mission. When all the water mains were shattered citizens found a fire hydrant here that worked. They stretched out hoses for blocks and drew the line in the sand. they saved the mission and surrounding houses, including possibly the one I grew up in and the one Jes currently lives in. (It's a victorian, right Jes?) In honor the fire Hydrant is painted gold every year. The fire chief sprays first, followed by 06 quake survivors (There were 8 present today), then by native San Franciscans.
Here's the ceremony.
and my oldest daughter, 4th generation.
and some re-enactors. The women is re-enacting Lilly Coit, turn of the century fireman groupie. There is a monument bearing her name, because she funded it called Coit Tower, it resembles a fire nozzle. Lily is having her boots painted gold.
Then it was off to the display of antique fire equipment and why I'm posting.
and
thanks for allowing me to share, San Francisco is a home to families, not just the fruits & nuts many think it is.
Tom
NOTE TO MODS:
If it's taking to much bandwidth, just delete.
Thx,
TMC
Got up early to get to Lotta's Fountain, named for famed Opera singer Lotta Crabtree. Seems one night along time ago after singing all night Lotta wanted a drink of water, but through all the saloons of the Barbary Coast, not one glass of water could be found. Lotta donated this large fountain that until economics and the drought of 1979 had drinking water constantly running for humans, troughs for horses and even smaller bowls for the dogs. After the tragedy of the earthquake & (3-day) fire, dislocated families posted notes at Lotta's Fountain to try and re-unite. So 100 years later at 5:12 AM, two of my daughters and I ventured with about 25K other peolple to Lotta's Fountain for the start of the remembrance.
My daughetrs during the minute of silence following the minute of silence every fire engine wailed it's siren and every church beel rang.
At 7AM we met at 20th & Church Streets, close to the old spanish mission. When all the water mains were shattered citizens found a fire hydrant here that worked. They stretched out hoses for blocks and drew the line in the sand. they saved the mission and surrounding houses, including possibly the one I grew up in and the one Jes currently lives in. (It's a victorian, right Jes?) In honor the fire Hydrant is painted gold every year. The fire chief sprays first, followed by 06 quake survivors (There were 8 present today), then by native San Franciscans.
Here's the ceremony.
and my oldest daughter, 4th generation.
and some re-enactors. The women is re-enacting Lilly Coit, turn of the century fireman groupie. There is a monument bearing her name, because she funded it called Coit Tower, it resembles a fire nozzle. Lily is having her boots painted gold.
Then it was off to the display of antique fire equipment and why I'm posting.
and
thanks for allowing me to share, San Francisco is a home to families, not just the fruits & nuts many think it is.
Tom
NOTE TO MODS:
If it's taking to much bandwidth, just delete.
Thx,
TMC
Last edited:
