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NDGW
Home History
The
concept of establishing a Native Daughters of the Golden West Home—a
place of security, comfort and friendly companionship—was initially
achieved by utilizing a 1892 bequest of Native Son S.P. Rogers which
specified that the funds were to be used for the aid and comfort of NDGW
members.
By the turn of the century, the first “Home” had its humble
beginnings with a rented flat at 925 O’Farrell Street in San
Francisco.
The Order’s ambition to own a facility was realized with the
1903 purchase of a residence at 1113 Hyde Street.
Unfortunately, the Home was destroyed in the fire following the
1906 earthquake.
That
same year, Dr. Marianna Bertola became the Chairman of the Home
Committee (a post she held for the next 47 years) and as a result of her
leadership, a house and lot at the current location, 555 Baker Street,
was acquired in 1913.
In 1924 an adjoining residence on Baker Street was acquired,
which set the stage for the construction of our current Home.
In 1927 Dr. Bertola engaged her friend, Julia Morgan, the famed
architect of the Hearst Castle, to draw plans for our present facility.
The next two years saw the demolition of the original buildings
and the creation of our “new” NDGW Home, which was formally
dedicated in January 1929.
Total cost of the building was just over $91,000.
A campaign (the “Loyalty Pledge”) to liquidate the mortgage
was launched and in August 1932 the Home became free and clear of debt.
This was an especially remarkable achievement considering it was
accomplished by women in the middle of the Great Depression! In
1939 another residence adjoining the Home was purchased and rented for
many years to supplement the income of the Home.
Then in 1965, using funds realized from the sale of property left
to the Home by PGP Emma G. Foley, the adjoining rental property was
converted to garages and meeting spaces.
In 1985 the NDGW Grand Parlor offices were moved from downtown
San Francisco to occupy the second floor of the “Foley Wing.” The
residence program was discontinued as of October 1, 1986, and the Home
currently is maintained for the “aid and comfort of NDGW members” as
a four-story, reinforced concrete House Museum with a Public Reference
Library (Pioneer Roster), and guest rooms for NDGW members and their
guests. Information
taken from the
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