Sailors' Union of the Pacific Building: Difference between revisions

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'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''
'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''


by Libby Ingalls
''by Libby Ingalls''
 
<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/hidden-san-francisco-stop-l-4-sailors-union-of-the-pacific" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
<hr>
 
[[Image:Foundsf-hsf-icon.gif|link=Mission Plank Road]]<br>
Next Stop #4: [[Mission Plank Road|Mission Plank Road]]
 
<hr>


The Sailors' Union of the Pacific building was constructed in 1950, providing a permanent home for the maritime union founded in 1885.   
The Sailors' Union of the Pacific building was constructed in 1950, providing a permanent home for the maritime union founded in 1885.   
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[[Image:Groundbreaking for SUP building 1947 AAD-5681.jpg]]
[[Image:Groundbreaking for SUP building 1947 AAD-5681.jpg]]


'''Groundbreaking for the SUP building in 1947 at Fremont and Harrison.'''
'''Groundbreaking for the Sailors' Union of the Pacific building at originally intended location, Fremont and Harrison, on September 30, 1947.'''


''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
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[[Image:Construction site of Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters at Fremont and Harrison streets sept 1947 AAD-5702.jpg]]
[[Image:Construction site of Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters at Fremont and Harrison streets sept 1947 AAD-5702.jpg]]


'''Construction site at Fremont and Harrison, September 1947, with Bay Bridge nearby.'''
'''Original construction site at Fremont and Harrison, September 1947, with Bay Bridge nearby.'''


''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
The above photos show the intended site and foundation being dug for the Sailors' Union Of The Pacific headquarters in 1947. By March 1948 construction was halted by a court order obtained by the state, whose Division of Highways wanted the location for test borings for the adjacent Bay Bridge. The Sailors' Union of the Pacific was forced to find a new site, which they did, at the corner of First and Harrison Streets, the present-day building location seen below.


[[Image:SUP Bldg 1950 AAD-5684.jpg]]
[[Image:SUP Bldg 1950 AAD-5684.jpg]]


'''Sailors' Union of the Pacific building at Fremont and Harrison, 1950.'''
'''Completed Sailors' Union of the Pacific building at First and Harrison Streets, 1950.'''


''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
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''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''


Andrew Furuseth (1854-1938) was a Norwegian sailor who played a major role in strike activities, labor reform, and the legal emancipation of the seaman. In 1886 he was Secretary of the Coast Seaman’s Union, and then Secretary-Treasurer of the Sailors Union of the Pacific from 1891-1936. He was a key figure in the passage of the Seamen’s Act of 1915, along with three other reforms that changed the lives of mariners.  
[[Image:A large crowd gathering for the dedication of a statue of Andrew Furuseth Sept 1 1941 AAA-9300.jpg]]


[[Image:Sailors-Union-of-the-Pacific-1880s.jpg]]
'''A large crowd gathered to dedicate the statue of Andrew Furuseth, Sept. 1, 1941. It has since been moved to the plaza in front of the SUP Building at First and Harrison.'''


'''Sailors Union of the Pacific building along the waterfront in the 1880s.'''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''


''Photo: Library of Congress''
Andrew Furuseth (1854-1938) was a Norwegian sailor who played a major role in strike activities, labor reform, and the [[Shanghaiing|legal emancipation of the seaman]]. In 1886 he was Secretary of the Coast Seaman’s Union, and then Secretary-Treasurer of the [[Sailor's Union of the Pacific|Sailors Union of the Pacific]] from 1891-1936. He was a key figure in the passage of the [[Red Record|Seamen’s Act of 1915]], along with three other reforms that changed the lives of mariners.


[[Image:Harry Lundeberg at the Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters June 16 1950 AAD-5686.jpg]]
[[Image:Harry Lundeberg at the Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters June 16 1950 AAD-5686.jpg]]

Revision as of 13:37, 31 August 2020

Historical Essay

by Libby Ingalls

<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/hidden-san-francisco-stop-l-4-sailors-union-of-the-pacific" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Foundsf-hsf-icon.gif
Next Stop #4: Mission Plank Road


The Sailors' Union of the Pacific building was constructed in 1950, providing a permanent home for the maritime union founded in 1885.

Groundbreaking for SUP building 1947 AAD-5681.jpg

Groundbreaking for the Sailors' Union of the Pacific building at originally intended location, Fremont and Harrison, on September 30, 1947.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Construction site of Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters at Fremont and Harrison streets sept 1947 AAD-5702.jpg

Original construction site at Fremont and Harrison, September 1947, with Bay Bridge nearby.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

The above photos show the intended site and foundation being dug for the Sailors' Union Of The Pacific headquarters in 1947. By March 1948 construction was halted by a court order obtained by the state, whose Division of Highways wanted the location for test borings for the adjacent Bay Bridge. The Sailors' Union of the Pacific was forced to find a new site, which they did, at the corner of First and Harrison Streets, the present-day building location seen below.

SUP Bldg 1950 AAD-5684.jpg

Completed Sailors' Union of the Pacific building at First and Harrison Streets, 1950.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Designed by San Francisco architect William Gladstone Merchant, the building is an Art Moderne classic, built of white stone and concrete. At four stories tall, it has a soaring central hall, balconies shaped like parts of a ship, and interior porthole-style windows. Two fine large models of square-rigged sailing ships decorate the lobby.

Interior SUP w portholes nd AAD-5693.jpg

Interior of SUP building with portholes over tables in cafe.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Dispatching hall at Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters Sept 1950 AAD-5685.jpg

Dispatch Hall in SUP headquarters, September 1950.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

The Dispatch Hall, or Hiring Hall, is a grand maritime-themed space on the main floor where the union matches sailors with jobs, following a protocol established by the union. Wall cases display proclamations, awards and other memorabilia, while the walls hold photographs, paintings and commemorative prints, along with examples of sailors' folk arts. The building also houses a library, required in all Sailors’ halls by the SUP Constitution, and a 2,000-seat auditorium.

The building serves also as a landmark of labor history, located near the site of the infamous "Battle of Rincon Hill" where strikers fought San Francisco police during the 1934 waterfront strike.

Outside are busts of two labor heroes: Andrew Furuseth and Harry Lundeberg.

Andrew Furuseth 1928 AAD-2798.jpg

Andrew Furuseth, 1928.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

A large crowd gathering for the dedication of a statue of Andrew Furuseth Sept 1 1941 AAA-9300.jpg

A large crowd gathered to dedicate the statue of Andrew Furuseth, Sept. 1, 1941. It has since been moved to the plaza in front of the SUP Building at First and Harrison.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Andrew Furuseth (1854-1938) was a Norwegian sailor who played a major role in strike activities, labor reform, and the legal emancipation of the seaman. In 1886 he was Secretary of the Coast Seaman’s Union, and then Secretary-Treasurer of the Sailors Union of the Pacific from 1891-1936. He was a key figure in the passage of the Seamen’s Act of 1915, along with three other reforms that changed the lives of mariners.

Harry Lundeberg at the Sailors Union Of The Pacific headquarters June 16 1950 AAD-5686.jpg

Harry Lundeberg at the Sailors Union of the Pacific headquarters, June 16, 1950.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

The other bust is of Harry Lundeberg (1901-1957) who led the SUP from 1936 until his death in 1957. Also born in Norway, he came to prominence as head of the SUP Strike Committee in Seattle during the 1934 Maritime Strike. In 1938 he became the founder and president of the Seafarers’ International Union of North America (SIU).