Ghost Sign #22 -- August 22, 2013

I took this photo of a restored ghost sign in Old Sacramento during our visit in July.  What Cheer House was a generic name in 19th Century California for hotels that did not serve alcohol.  There was a What Cheer House at Sacramento and Leidsdorff Streets in San Francisco. 

Ghost Sign #21 -- July 23, 2013

I took this photo of the Thomson Machine Works sign on Second Street near Howard on 01-April-2008. 

Ghost Sign #20 -- June 22, 2013

I spotted a slice of a ghost sign on Market near 8th on 10-May-2013. 

Ghost Sign #19 -- May 24, 2013

Carl Nolte mentioned in his Chronicle column that a building across the street at Fifth and Mission had been torn down, which uncovered a ghost sign, although he did not use that phrase.  The sign must date back to just after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.  It says "RICHARDSON BROS. AGENTS" something "SAFE CO."  Below it mentions beer-drawing apparaturs, German silver and copper something and Beer Pumps.  Was that another business, or did Richardson Bros have a sideline besides safes?  The sign probably won't be there for long.

Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.  I did not reduce the size of the image so people could see the details.  

Firehouse #67 -- May 6, 2013

I worked across the street from Station One on Howard Street for almost 20 years.  During that time it became the busiest firehouse in San Francisco, and one of the busiest in the country.  The Museum of Modern Art wants to expand, so they built a new firehouse for Station One on Folsom between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  The Alley Cats moved in March.  I walked by on 01-April-2013 and found the old station was closed, with all exterior signs removed. The ghost of 1/SFFD remains above the center door. 

Ghost Sign #18 -- April 23, 2013

A ghost sign for the Brannan House, a former hotel, in Old Sacramento.  I took the photo when we visited the California State Railroad Museum in July, 2012. 

Ghost Sign #17 -- March 21, 2013

Jack's Restaurant on Sacramento Street survived from 1863 to 2000, when it shut down because of skyrocketing real estate prices.  The upper floors contained private dining rooms, an old San Francisco tradition.  Chef Philippe Jeanty took over the location as Jeanty at Jack's, but had to give up in 2009.  The building is vacant and the sign remains. 

Ghost Sign #16 -- February 22, 2013

The South End Warehouses on Delancey Street have been converted into pricey lofts.  I took the photo from the steps up to Bryant Street. 

Ghost Sign #15 -- January 23, 2013

Ghost signs for Morelo's Hotel and Boss of the Road Overalls, "The Watchdog of Quality," across I Street from the California State Railroad Museum. I took the photo during our visit in July, 2012.

Ghost Sign #14 -- December 29, 2013

This may not be a ghost sign, because the Old Ship Saloon has been open at Pacific and Battery since 1851, when it opened in the beached ship Arkansas.  On the other hand, Henry Klee took over in 1897, so he is only on the premises in spirit. 

We took BART to the Embarcadero and walked out Davis to Pacific.  Christmas decorations were being taken down at some buildings.  We walked up Pacific, where I took this photo, to Grant.  We went over to Ross Alley and the Fortune Cookie Factory, which had a line out the door.  We got some cookies for family.  We went to a store on Grant to get a scroll calendar for my mom.  Then we went to the Irish Bank for lunch.  We stopped by Macy's to see the animals in the windows, then took BART back. 

Ghost Sign #13 -- November 26, 2012

This restored ghost sign, for the Marine Electric Company (MECO), is on the side of the building at First and Fremont Streets, which now houses the Town Hall Restaurant. 

It was very foggy yesterday and this morning. 

Ghost Sign #12 -- October 23, 2012

The letters "YMCA" are barely visible on the former Army-Navy YMCA building on the Embarcadero. 

Ghost Sign #11 -- September 27, 2012

Despite its ghostly quality, perhaps this is not a ghost sign, since the business is still there.  Edwin Klockars' Blacksmith Shop, on Folsom between Fremont and First Streets, is San Francisco's only remaining blacksmith shop. I took the photo of the sign on 03-March-2008. I took the broader view of the shop today.

Ghost Sign #10 -- August 24, 2012

The town of Radiator Springs is the center of the new Cars Land in Disney California Adventure. I liked this sign, with the ghost of at least one other showing behind it. 

Ghost Sign #9 -- July 21, 2012

This ad for Heines' Tobacco on Howard near Second became more visible after they tore down the ramps from the East Bay Terminal.  I took the photo on 15-August-2011.

Ghost Sign #8 -- June 22, 2012

The E Jordan Brookes Company is still in business, but not in this building on Howard near Second.  The sign has been more visible since they tore down the ramps from the East Bay Terminal, but someone has stuck a big For Lease sign on top of it.  I took the photo on 15-August-2011.

Ghost Sign #7 -- May 24, 2012

The former (I think) Sussex Hotel stands at Sutter and Taylor Streets in San Francisco.  There is a Subway Sandwich shop on the ground floor and a For Sale sign on the wall. 

Ghost Sign #6 -- April 27, 2012

A ghost of a ghost sign appears on the side of the Hobart Building at Market and Montgomery.  The hexagon contained a picture of a stagecoach for years after Wells Fargo moved its branch out of the building just visible at the bottom of the photo.  The tall building in the background was once the Wells Fargo world headquarters.  I don't remember when the stagecoach and the words Wells Fargo got painted over. I took the photo on 12-March-2012.

Yesterday we learned that our office is moving to another building this year. 

Ghost Sign #5 -- March 23, 2012

This sign on California near Grant reminds us about the late, great Sing Fat Company Oriental Bazaar, seen below in an old postcard.  The sign is on the uphill side of the building on California Street. 

Ghost Sign #4 -- February 24, 2012

The Flag Makers/Emerson Manufacturing Company sign is just off of Natoma, between New Montgomery and Third.  It is in an open space that is going to be destroyed when the Museum of Modern Art expands.  I don't know what is going to happen to the sign.  This has been a favorite of mine since I started working in the neighborhood many years ago.  It used to be easily visible from Third Street after they tore down the old buildings on Third and before they built the museum and the W Hotel. 

---

Today at the Petaluma Depot, there was a groundbreaking ceremony for SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit), which will operate DMUs on the Northwestern Pacific right-of-way. Phase One will go from the Larkspur Ferry Landing to Santa Rosa. Phase Two will extend to Cloverdale:
http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/#