History of the North Mission SF Neighborhood

I have lived in the North Mission neighborhood of San Francisco for the past ten years and worked here for over 20 years. As a tribute to this diverse immigrant and working class neighborhood, I am creating this blog to celebrate its rich history.

Friday, October 28, 2005

Labor Buildings in the North Mission

There were several labor buildings in the North Mission built in the early 20th century in addition to the Labor Temple (see next post). Here are a few:

- 224 Guerrero Street (near 14th St.): Metal Workers International Hall: Local 104 of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association built this labor hall in 1906, dedicated on December 29. The new "structure displayed craft and glory inside and out with an embossed sheet-metal facade, and ceilings and paneling of metal trim." In addition to its offices upstairs, Local 104 rented its downstairs quarters to a saloon keeper whose bar was happily patronized by the tinsmiths and Building Trades Temple members next door. Over the years Local 104 out grew the hall and moved to Market street. The old Guerrero street hall still stands beautifully today in all its old glory except for its missing emblem, a zinc eagle on a ball, that perched atop the building. The eagle was purchased by the union members sometime after the building was erected as a crowning ornament, a symbol of sheet metal artistry as well as trade union power. After the building was sold in 1979, some members came one night, as the story goes, and took down the eagle from the roof and brought it to its new downtown hall where it was displayed in a fine case within the building. Local 104's Guerrero street hall was designated local Landmark No. 150 by the SF Landmarks Board, the oldest hall especially built to house a trade union in California.
Source: Labor Folklore and Culture, "An Eagle's Tale" by Archie Green

- 200 Guerrero Street@ 14th St.: Building Trades Council Temple: Dedicated April 25, 1908, it housed many unions related to the building trades such as carpenters, painters, iron workers, cement workers, plumbers, plasterers, marble cutters, glass workers, wood, wire and metal lathers, brass and chandelier workers, and many others. This labor hall no longer exists at this site.

- 112 Valencia Street: Home to the Carpenters Hall Association, Auto Mechanics Local No. 1305, Bakery Wagon Drivers Local No. 484, Barbers Local No. 148, and many more.

- 225 Valencia Street: Home to the Railroad Machinists Union Local No. 72 and the Engravers Union Local No. 424, ...

- 229 Valencia Street: Home to the Electrical and Radio Workers B202, ...

- 474 Valencia Street: Now known as Centro del Pueblo and home to many important non-profits serving the Mission district, it formerly housed a variety of unions such as the Scrap Iron Metal Salvage and Waste Materials Union Local No. 965, Hod Carriers, Construction and General Laborers, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Stationery Local No. 39, ...

- 478 Valencia Street: Home to the Teamsters Union Local No. 216 and the Automobile Drivers Union Local No. 960, ...

- 542 Valencia Street: Home to the Cigar Makers Union Local No. 228, Public Works and Unemployed Union, Railway Shop and Maintenance Workers Union Local No. 1, ...

- 3004 16th Street: Home to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 64, Laundry Drivers Local No. 256, ...

- 3009 16th Street: Home to the Locomotive Fireman and Engineers Union, and the Asphalt Pavers Union, ...

- 3053 16th Street: Home to the Sausage Makers Union, Independent Workers Union, ...

- 1886 Mission Street: Home to the Bill Posters Union Local No. 44, ...

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