As many of you know, today is the anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake which occurred on April 18, 1906. All week I’ve been posting eyewitness accounts of the disaster that occurred 109 years ago. I hope you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into the lives of the people who survived.
Also, in honor of the anniversary, I’m giving away two books from my Golden Gate Chronicles series, set during the time period. It’s time to announce the winners!
The winner of Out of the Ruins is . . . Jasmine Augustine!
The winner of the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of Beyond the Ashes is . . . Mary McLeroy!
Congratulations to you both! Send me an email with your shipping address and I’ll get your book in the mail right away.
Today, I’m going to wrap up our look at the disaster by focusing on San Francisco’s recovery. Yesterday, I left off with the tent camps forming in many parks and vacant lots throughout the city. (If you want to catch up on previous posts, see the links down below). The tent cities were a temporary measure, and as the months passed, it was evident that a longer-term solution was needed. The San Francisco Relief Corporation, the San Francisco Parks Commission, and the Army came together with union carpenters to construct 5,000 tiny wooden cottages to house refugees. If you’d like to learn more about the earthquake cottages, I encourage you to read this wonderful article, “Remembering Earthquake Shacks, San Francisco’s Original Tiny Houses.” Here are some eyewitness memories of life in the months that followed the great quake:
Howard T. Livingston: I recall how quickly the city began to rebuild. As early as Saturday morning following the
fire, newsboys in our neighborhood were selling copies of the San Francisco newspapers printed on presses in Oakland. The Hearst publishers rapidly erected a wooden building and in two weeks were publishing The Examiner in San Francisco. The United Railroads started work to restore streetcar service, and the first car ran on the Fillmore and 16th Street line on Sunday morning. I rode it to the end of the line, and I think that most of the other passengers felt as I did, that it was good to be doing something so normal as riding a streetcar. We began to look upon the restoration of the streetcar service as the first step in rebuilding the city. The mayor was at the controls as the first car was started on each rebuilt line.
There were, of course, thousands of refugees for whom life was anything but normal. The army set up all its available tents in public squares and in Golden Gate Park, and a few days after the fire the city began to erect wooden barracks. Some of them were occupied for more than a year.
Report written September 27, 1906 to a Relief organization: They must have a roof over their heads and a dry floor under foot before the rainy season. this is necessary, not only for health, morality, etc., but to clear the situation so that you can continue family life and get people settled when one can find them and correctly ascertain actual necessities. Private enterprise is not providing for this necessity. The committee therefore has under construction and rapidly being erected 6,000 cottages or shacks on the public parks. They are built under contract and a bonus and a forfeit, and cost $100 for a two-room shack and $150 for a three-room shack. They are matched boards, shingle roof, three sliding windows, one outside and two inside doors, with a rough board floor. . . .
We are firmly convinced that this was the best and probably the only way to meet the housing problem and preserve the public health.
John J. Conlon, son of a SF Fire Battalion Chief. Age 7 at the time of the quake: The fire was no sooner controlled on Friday, April 20th, than human activities rapidly began to return to normal. Work of all kinds was plentiful. Many of the Fire Companies from the burned districts, temporarily not needed, were discontinued. This made possible leaves of absence to firemen who returned to former pursuits. The Department was full of highly skilled men, attracted to the fire service by the steady employment.
All good things in a youngster’s life must and, and all too soon. About October lst our April-October vacation was over. Principal Alice Chalmers and her dedicated staff of Jackson Primary School on Oak near Stanyan Street, in welcoming us back, I am sure, overlooked our glum looks.
The Painters’ Union, Local 19, Meeting minutes from April 21, 28, and May 5, 1906 [Combined edition].: San Francisco has a future, and the painters who remain will reap a harvest, as work will be plentiful in a very short time. If your overalls, putty knife and duster were burned, ask the Financial Secretary to supply you with a new outfit. This applies to those who are deserving only. Do not try to take advantage of this offer, as you will be turned out if not burned out.
Some of the boys claim that they are getting fat since the earthquake. No one has starved up to date and the prospects look good for a full dinner pail for some time to come.
Beyond the Ashes, Book two of my Golden Gate Chronicles series picks up several months after the 1906 earthquake. While living in Sacramento, a young widow finds herself drawn to the plight of the San Francisco refugees. Where better to start a new life than in a city struggling to rise from the ashes?
Ruby King Mars
hall: “I refuse to attend another wedding. I’m through.” Ruby King Marshall juggled two glasses of punch in her gloved hand as she shepherded her blind cousin through the overcrowded ballroom. Each doting couple waltzing around the polished floor reminded Ruby of her loss, like a needle thrust into her heart. Widows and weddings— shouldn’t it be bad luck?
Miriam gripped Ruby’s elbow, leaning forward to be heard over the dozens of nearby conversations. “Then I’m relieved mine was last December. I’d have been sad if you’d missed it. And don’t forget Anne Marie’s next month.” A tiny smile flirted at the corner of her lips.
Ruby glanced out the ornate windows, the quiet evening beckoning. Only her cousin—and best friend—would have the audacity to make light of the situation. Newspaper stories of San Francisco’s earthquake refugees weighed on Ruby’s heart. “With everything that’s happened this year, it seems inappropriate to turn a simple wedding into a grand social occasion.”
Miriam adjusted her smoky-hued spectacles. “We’re not suffering here in Sacramento, Ruby. Besides, love is always worth celebrating. Our hurts remind us to delight in life’s joys.”
Dr. Gerald Larkspur: A beam of sunlight pierced the stained glass window in Dr. Gerald Larkspur’s study, casting a rosy glow on the stationery in his hand. He eyed the dainty feminine script marching across the page in ordered lines. Gerald lowered the letter, staring at Robert over the stacks of medical files littering his desk blotter. “Your sister wants to come to San Francisco now? Does she understand the city is in shambles?”
His friend leaned on the oak desk. “Ruby wants to help with the relief work. She’s had extensive nursing training. My sister even assisted our father in surgeries, back when we were children.” . . . Robert leaned forward, placing both palms against Gerald’s desk. “I know it’s asking a lot. With your mother living here, and your cousin’s family, and me—maybe I should put Ruby off the idea.”
Gerald rested his chin on his palm, the paper’s rosewater scent lingering on his skin. Another woman in the house? So much for the quiet bachelor life. “I can’t see why not. What’s one more?”
I hope this quick look has piqued your interest in the new book. Beyond the Ashes releases June 16, but it’s available for pre-orders now. I’m so excited for this story to get out into the hands of readers. I fell head-over-heels for Ruby and Gerald, and I believe you will, too. Here’s what RT Times had to say:
This next week, I’ll have at least one more earthquake-related post for those of you who are enjoying this look back at 1906. Another author shared with me his ancestors’ memories of the disaster. I think you’ll enjoy it, so I asked him to guest post. We’ll be hearing from him early next week. I hope you’ll check back.
Do you want to catch up on all of the Anniversary week posts? Here are the links to each of them.
- Introduction
- Part 1: The Shaking Begins
- Part 2: Searching for Safety
- Part 3: Feeling the Heat
- Part 4: The Days That Followed
- Part 5: Up from the Ashes
Congratulations to the book winners! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. 🙂
Karen