A Visit to the House on Jackson Street ....... October 4, 2023

Photograph taken by Lester Hayes in 1907. From the King Album.

 

The exterior of the Jackson Street home. Pictures taken October 4, 2023 by Patti Alden.

   Way back on August 15, 2021 I posted several pictures of a home that my Great Great Grandfather Charles J. King built in San Francisco in 1907.  The photographs were in a family album embossed with the name Mrs. C.J. King.  You can read about the journey to find the home and its location by clicking the link Jackson Street House on the right.  Since then I have been in contact with the new owner of the home off and on, waiting for an exterior renovation to be completed so that we could visit the home in person.  That day came in early October of this year! The weather was a beautiful 84 degrees in San Francisco and the sun was shining.  It was a great day for a quick trip to the coast. 

   

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge!

     A  little visual history first.....

The home in 1907 during the initial construction.  You can see the three stories with the top window framed in and the large bay window underneath that had been started.  The home was built as two separate family dwellings with access to the top two stories via a staircase that ran up the right side of the home. 

A 2021 Google Image.  At an unknown date the exterior of the home was simplified and many decorative details were left off after a thick layer of stucco was added.  A garage was also added underneath the bottom story some time ago when the street levels were lowered. 

   The Jackson Street House after exterior renovations by the current owners.  Note the exterior lighting and new landscaping.  It has a fresh, modern look that is well balanced with the addition of molding that mimics the original. The roof railing at the top was not added back as a part of the renovation, primarily due to the additional cost. The next door neighbors look like they are in the middle of exterior renovations also. Shared by the owner September of 2022.

  The home on the left was there when C.J. King built this home. 

 

 You can see the back portion of the home. 

    The beautiful bay windows. They are exquisite!

Looking up! The smooth texture of the stucco gives the home a modern look.  This looks very similar to the finish that was on the original home. 

The staircase and stairwell leading up to the top floor apartment.  There is also access to the second story apartment from here. The owners also added a small elevator to the home.  The first floor apartment is accessed by the second front door, and is currently being  rented out and was not available to look at. 

A closeup of the lattice on the landing. The owner believes it is original to the home.

I had shared a digital copy of our original photograph with the owner several months ago.  Their print is proudly displayed at the top of the stairs to tell the story of the home. 

The owner of the home led us up to her top story apartment and balcony.  This is the view from the balcony.  We have driven over the Golden Gate Bridge many, many times not even knowing that we could see this house from there!

Mom (Margaret) enjoying the view from the top floor balcony. Of course, her Great Grandfather would not have had this view of the bridge as it wasn't completed until 1937. Solar panels were a thing of the future too!  The owners installed solar panels on this home, and drive an electric car that is charged with the electricity generated by the solar panels.  As an engineer, I think Charles would find it all very fascinating!

An interior archway in the upstairs apartment.  At the time the home was built, the family servant may have lived up here.  The space has since been renovated with an updated kitchen, bath and laundry area  as well as extra living space extending out onto a new balcony.  You can still find original details here and there!

A close up of the archway molding detail. 

The curved vestibule leading to two similar bedrooms.  The floor is original. 

 Closeups of the floor and curving floor molding.  

Detail of the hallway molding....

Original windows in the small  hallway leading to the back portion of the apartment. There was lots of storage space in this section of the top story, and may have been where the household helpers kept the family linens or other items.  There is now a large updated bathroom at the end of this walk thru that serves as the master bathroom.  

Down on the second level is the owner's son's apartment and living quarters.  We were able to take a peak at some of the original elements in the rooms.  This room may have been a dining room at one point, but has been remade as a master bedroom.  The ceiling molding is absolutely beautiful!

Close up of the beautiful plaster work.

Mom (Margaret) admiring the plaster work ceiling molding in this bedroom.  

   Before we left, the owner showed us down to the basement/ garage area (we used the elevator!) and showed us where the little Airbnb apartment was in the back (yes, you can rent it out!!).  It was an amazing tour and we were so appreciative of the time she took to show us around her home and share her family's story.  She and her family have kept the look and feel of the original home while adding modern updates as most older homes in the area have done.  They have been a part of  preserving the valuable history of this beautiful city.  We certainly felt a tangible and physical connection to the past in this home, and a connection to Charles King especially.  He was known as a master carpenter and woodworker and we could see the craftsmanship and attention to detail in this home.   I am so thankful that his work has been preserved for many more generations to come. 

Margaret (Hansen) Boothby, Stephanie (Boothby) Efstratis, Patti (Boothby) Alden October 4 2023.

Jackson Street House, front steps. 

Heading home across the Golden Gate Bridge......

  Relationship Reference:  Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby->Margaret Elizabeth Hayes Hansen->Emma King Hayes Van Duzer->Charles and Anna King from St. Austell, Cornwall, England.