On the next block, between Mason and Taylor streets, were the Hamilton home, the home of Ex-Mayor E. B. Pond and that of the Tobins. While on the block from Taylor to Jones street stood the A. N. Towne, H. H. Sherwood and George Whittell residences. Just beyond Jones street, on the same side, stood the home of E. J. (Lucky) Baldwin of race horse fame.
In 1861 I moved to 1211 Taylor street, between Clay and Washington, and resided there continuously until 1878, a period of 17 years. And I knew of Stanford, Hopkins, Crocker and Huntington, the quartet of railroad magnates, better than they knew of me. But what shall I say of them? They have all gone beyond the boundaries of human existence and their mansions, together with all the other homes on the hill, were burned in the fire of April 18-21, 1906. They were all men of master minds and are deserving the highest praise for their enterprise, determination and perseverance in the great work they undertook. It was not their money that did it, it was their heads. And there is where the great indebtedness of the State of California comes in to these men.
Going down the eastern slope on California, just below Powell on the south side, at the corner of Prospect Place, stood a house once occupied by Lieut. John Charles Fremont, while on the corner below stood the home of Col. Jonathan D. Stevenson. This building was built in 1851 and had two tiers of verandas that extended entirely around the building. The Colonel died at the age of 94 but had not owned or lived there for many years. It had been converted into a hotel and known as the Harvey House.
Across the street on the other corner stood the Grace Episcopal Church. The Crocker heirs, not desiring to rebuild on their property on California, between Taylor and Jones streets, bequeathed it to the Episcopal Diocese on which to build a new Grace Church. It is now in course of construction.
On Pine street, at the southwest corner of Stockton, stood the Wilson home. On the southeast corner of Mason stood the home of J. D. Oliver, while on the southwest corner stood the home of Mr. Fred McCrellish, the owner of the "Alta California," while just beyond were the homes of Woods, Jarboe and Harrison and others. On the next block was the old Stow residence while across the street Isaiah W. Lees, chief of police, resided. He was the greatest detective this coast has ever had—his was instinct and intuition, and his records will always remain a lasting monument. On the northwest corner of Jones stood the home of the late James G. Fair, of mining fame, of Nevada.
Going north on Powell street, at No. 812, Mr. Chilion Beach, the bookseller, lived, while next door, No. 814, Mr. D. D. Shattuck resided. This building was erected in 1854—Mr. Shattuck came to California via the Isthmus and resided here 47 years. On the next block (same side) stood a little one-story house with a high basement in which J. D. Spencer, a brother of Spencer the sociologist, lived for many years. Just beyond stood the old High School building. On the next block, at No. 1010, resided for many years another of the old booksellers, Mr. George B. Hitchcock, proprietor of the "Pioneer Book Store," opposite the "Plaza."
At the northwest corner of Washington stood the first brick building built in San Francisco. It was built in 1851 by John Truebody, the brick being brought from New York. It was originally two stories high but upon the grading of the streets it was built another story downward to the new grade. He later added another story, the fourth, on top. Even to the time of the fire (1906) you could see the various stairway landings on the Washington street frontage. Mr. Truebody originally owned this entire block.
The first church building in Yerba Buena (as San Francisco was formerly called) was the First Presbyterian Church on the west side of Powell near Washington. It was built in 1849 of hand-hewn timbers from Oregon. Upon the erection of the First Methodist Church it was moved to the rear and used as a Sunday school. John Truebody constructed it.
In this immediate neighborhood were many a frame building that had been brought around the Horn "in the knocked down state."
Powell street, from Clay to North Beach, was graded in 1854. It and Stockton street to the east, from Sacramento street north to Green street, were lined with neat homes and was then considered the fashionable residence section of the city, while on Powell street were three churches.