30th Anniversary Post: The GFE Area in 1910

In this week’s historical post, we’ll go back even further in time, to 1910 -- 110 years ago! The photo’s caption reads: “Standing at the junction of 7th Avenue and Serpentine Road and L Street (now Lawton) looking south, showing deep hole(s) in 7th Avenue, also in block between Serpentine Road and 7th Avenue. This point is the gateway to Forest Tract and San Miguel Ranch property. The photograph demonstrates the necessity for extensive street and other improvements here.” 

Prior to the establishment of what we now know as San Francisco by Spanish colonizers in 1776, the land that is now the City was inhabited by the Ramaytush Ohlone indigenous people. 

As you see in the photo, the present-day GFE and surrounding area was wild and verdant, and probably still mostly covered with California native plants, but already inhabited by some plants from other places (like Eucalyptus, which was introduced to the Bay Area during the 1850s Gold Rush). 

Time moves forward and land changes hands, and while 80 years passed from the time this photo was taken until GFE’s establishment in 1990 on Public Utilities Commission property, we’re confident we reached the goal in the photo’s caption of improving the area, while also paying homage to the nature present in it so many years ago. Now we’re celebrating our own 30th anniversary, and are grateful to continue educating San Franciscans about the importance of nurturing nature in our city. 

Photo credit: Western Neighborhoods Project - wnp37.03024