In his early biography of Carleton Watkins [An early California photographer: C.E. Watkins], Charles Turrill says that the top floor of the 4th and Townsend Building was outfitted for photography. Can anyone tell me what city the 4th and Townsend building was in and what it's purpose was?
—Glenn Willumson
Here is a San Francisco 1906 earthquake photograph of "S.P.R.R. [Southern Pacific Railroad] Bldg. 4th and Townsend St., April 18-06."
ReplyDeleteFrom: "Glenn G. Willumson" gwillumson@arts.ufl.edu
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the link and thank you also to all those people who were so quick with their help. I just wish all my questions were so easy!
—Glenn
From: kylewyatt@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThat was the general offices of the Southern Pacific (and Central Pacific) in San Francisco, located adjacent to and across the street from the depot at that time. It was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire.
The story goes that employees had set up a photo darkroom in the offices (probably just a large closet, certainly not the entire 4th floor). CP Huntington came to town, found the dark room, and had it dismantled in favor of having his friend CE Watkins do the needed work.
—Kyle