January 25, 2005
A bit of SF history...
After the Earthquake and fire of 1906 left about 200,000 people homeless, the City of San Francisco built more than 5,000 of these simple cottages. Working class families in the refugee camps could haul a cottage to a vacant lot and live in it for $2 a month. The money went into a trust fund, and when the family leased or bought a lot, the money was returned to them.
There are just a handful of them left, usually encrusted with additions so the original cottage is invisible... A few are being restored to their original condition.
Cool, cool post. This is what I love about blogging.
Do you have any pictures of the interior, or, better yet, plans?
They very well could be one large room. If you're sleeping on cots, the entire space becomes usable as living space as well.
Posted by: B. Durbin at January 27, 2005 01:22 PMAs I understand it, the cottages had no interior walls or insulation. I imagine some were upgraded, and many were demolished when real houses were built. Or became sheds or garages.
I'm going to look for some I've heard of, on Kirkham St, near the beach. I'll report if I see anything interesting.
Posted by: John Weidner at January 27, 2005 02:31 PM
