A San Francisco Inn with an Intriguing Past
On a recent visit to San Francisco, I stayed at the Queen Anne Hotel. A dusty rose-colored Victorian located in the quiet western section of the city.
The salon with its deep red velvet drapes, hand carved Griffin Head priest’s chair and an acolyte pew gave me the feeling of traveling back in time to the turn of the 20th century.
Built in 1890 by Senator James G. Fair, the building has an intriguing past. Originally, Miss Mary Lake’s School for Girls, the student body comprised of sixty-five to seventy upper class young women who were groomed for their future roles in San Francisco society. At the time, the imposing Victorian was double the size than it is now. The third and fourth floors were dormitories; each room was designed in different colors with fireplaces and bay windows, which at the time offered pastoral views. The architects of the school had designed closets large enough to hold Saratoga trunks that accompanied each girl. A power trunk lift was installed at the school’s rear entrance in order to haul the heavy trunks to the top floors.
Nine years after the school opened, the building was sold. The prim and proper former occupants packed their trunks and departed. Ironically, the Cosmos bought the Victorian building and it became an exclusive and discreet gentleman’s club, whose members may have been fathers – or future husbands -- to some of the previous students. For obvious reasons, the club zealously guarded their privacy.
The club narrowly escaped the 1906 earthquake and fire. The firewall was only a mere three blocks away. After twelve years, the Cosmos sold the building to who else, but the Episcopal Diocese. The diocese remained for twenty-five years and then sold it after World War II. As time passed, the building went through several owners and became decrepit. By the late 1970s, the building was boarded up.
In 1980, the property was purchased and work began immediately to renovate, restore and salvage the unique ambiance of the house. In 1985, The Queen Anne was accorded with the coveted Four Star Award for Excellence, making the luxury guesthouse the smallest property to achieve this honor in San Francisco.
For an evening out on the town, take the two-hour Ghost Hunt walking tour, which departs from the lobby of the Queen Anne Hotel. The guide with lantern in hand will take you on a one-mile walk. You will visit some of the city’s most notorious and historic haunted places.
Afterwards, have dinner at the highly popular Stinking Rose Restaurant, which draws locals and visitors in droves. Known for their garlic dishes and cozy ambience, it’s a fun spot in the hip and hopping historic North Beach district. They serve over 3,000 poundsof the pungent herb each month, so if garlic is not to your liking, try Calzones across the street. The trendy, but reasonably priced restaurant, offers tasty and unusual pizzas and, of course, calzones. Last, but not least, Pasta Pomodoro is yet another Italian restaurant. Situated across from Washington Square, they offer fresh Italian dishes and have the best prices in town.
The Queen Anne Hotel
1590 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 441-2828
www.queenanne.com
The Stinking Rose
325 Columbus
(415) 781-ROSE
Calzones
430 Columbus
(415) 397-3600
Pasta Pomodora
655 Union St
(415) 399-0300
by Susan Fogwell
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