What When Where Why

Do you know what this is? Do you know where it was? It was one of several along the waterfront many years ago and there are at least two still in existance.

So that's where all the taxis are!
As can be seen from the photo, this was once a very busy location in San Francisco.
The building in the picture is no longer there and the activity in the area has changed completely, but it is still a very busy location.

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Answer to Taxis;
This was the Third and Townsend Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. Commuter trains and long distance trains came and went from there for many years. The depot was torn down in 1976. A new railroad station was built at 4th and Townsend Street, where today Caltrain operates commuter trains to the peninsula and beyond.
The entire block betrween Third and Fourth and Townsend and King Streets, that used to be the old S.P. depot, is now being developed and will be part of the huge Mission Bay project. The new Pac Bell Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, is located on the corner of Third and King, across from the train station.

This was a one-of-a-kind street in San Francisco until World War ll.
The metal arches were taken down to be used in the war effort.

Do you know the name of the street and/or the time period?

Answer at bottom.

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Does anyone out there know what this is? Where it was?
How long it operated? When? From where to where?
Has anyone out there ridden it?

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Answer to Mystery Photo above.

This is the Cliff House station of the Sky Tram that traveled
above Ocean Beach, behind Sutro Baths, to Point Lobos.
The tram was in operation from c1955 to c1967.

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This photo was taken at the time of a significant event. Does anyone know
what that was? Where was this merry-go-round located?
Does anyone know the present whereabouts of this carrousel?

Answer to street and arches:
The photo is of Fillmore Street and the arches were at each intersection between
approximately Eddy Street and Sutter Street. They were erected in the early 1900s.
The steel/iron arches were removed in c1943 to be recycled for use in the war effort.

Answer to Merry-go-round:
This photo was taken on September 24, 1972, the last day of its
operation at Playland at the Beach. Playland was in the process of being
demolished so after going round and round for 58 years, the carrousel was
being saved for another run somewhere else.
Completely refurbished and looking as good as new, today the old merry-
go-round is once again making children happy. This time it is on the roof
top at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.

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Mystery Photos #2
What Where When Why

mibgda-2day@sfchangehappens-books.com