Dashaway Hall

139 Post St. | map |


Opening: 1862. It was on the south side of the street between Kearny and Grant, the latter originally called Dupont St. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing this version of a c.1867 photo by Eadweard Muybridge. 
 
The signage on the kiosk is advertising McCarty's Dancing Academy, located in the building. San Jose State University notes that this is written on the back of their copy of the photo: "Dashaway Hall-San Francisco; Occupied for a short time in '1865'; One of 6 homes of SJSC in San Francisco. Occupied by Calif. State Normal School in 1865."
 
 

The stereo card version of the Muybridge photo. Thanks to Glenn Koch for sharing this image of the card that's in his collection. A view of another copy of the card is on Calisphere from the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library.
 
Capacity: 1,000 

Architect: Unknown

It was built as an auditorium for the Dashaway Society, an organization of volunteer firemen started in 1859 whose goal was to provide a social outlet but to encourage members to "dash away" any alcohol from their lips. Beginning on page 8 the PDF of the National Register Application - house at 1366 Guererro has lots to say about the Dashaways as one of the residents of that house belonged to the organization:
 
"Instead of gathering to drink together, the Dashaways gathered for food and song. San Francisco had a new and welcome social focus, one for which the populace had been yearning, and the Dashaway Society became an immediate success not only in San Francisco but also in the mining towns and in Sacramento where branches of the organization were founded. As the Dashaways became part of San Francisco's social fabric, 'wealth poured into their coffers.' Soon, they purchased a sandlot on Post Street for $6,000 and built an auditorium seating 1,000 persons..."

There was already a building on the property that the Dashaways were using. The September 23, 1860 Daily Alta California had an article about a fundraiser for the purpose of acquiring the lot. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the article via the California Digital Newspaper collection:  

"Appeal of the Committee of 30. GRAND BALL AT THE PAVILION for the PURCHASE OF DASHAWAY HALL. The Dashaway Association appeal to their fellow citizens for the pecuniary aid to enable them to purchase the lot on which is located their Hall and Home of the Inebriate. Since their organization, the Association have encountered and overcome many difficulties, and having abiding faith in moral suasion as the greatest instrumentality for reforming men... they hereby appeal to the generous public for their donations whereby the property can be purchased forthwith, and permanently invested for the purpose of social and moral improvement, by total abstinence from all that can intoxicate... The property to be held in trust forever for the benefit of the Dashaway Association... The Ball at the Pavilion will come on Thursday, 25th of October. Dancing to commence punctually at 9 o'clock...."
 
 

The cornerstone for the new building was laid November 5, 1861. This ad appeared in the November 2, 1861 Daily Alta California. It's on the CDNC website. 

The dedication of the new building was held March 30, 1862. It got a mention that Art Siegel found in the March 28, 1862 Sacramento Daily Union. It's on the CNDC website. In a report about actions of the State Assembly: 

"The Speaker presented a communication from the Committee of Arrangements of the Dashaway Association, inviting members to attend the dedication of the new Dashaway Hall next Sunday, at half-past two o'clock p.m."
 
In 1865 San Francisco started paying their firemen and the societies of volunteer firemen began a rapid decline. 
 
In 1866 Madame Pindell gave a concert:

"Madam Pindell's Concert.—This celebrated vocalist will give a grand concert on Tuesday evening next, 16th inst., at Dashaway Hall. Madam Pindell has traveled extensively in this and adjoining States, and has received flattering encomiums from the press, and from critics wherever she has appeared. She is acknowledged as a superior singer and an accomplished musician, and has been deservedly called the 'Nightingale of the Pacific.'"

Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this item in the January 12, 1866 issue of The Elevator, a paper covering the local African-American community. It's on the CNDC website. 
 
 

A drawing of Annie Pauline Pindell (1834-1901) that appeared in the November 1901 issue of Colored American magazine. The drawing and the article it appeared with are on Flickr from Bluesy Daye. Thanks to Art for locating this. 
 

The rear and east wall of Dashaway Hall are seen in the center of this 1867 image. The rear of the hall with the stage was on Morton St., now called Maiden Lane. The windows on the side wall were at the hall's balcony level. It's a photo by Thomas Houseworth taken from 3rd and Market that appears on the Open SF History Project website.

The site notes that it's the Temple Emanu-el at the center and the Denman School in the distance on the left. The photo comes from the Martin Behrman Negative Collection of the archives of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. T.E. Hecht was a collector and photo dealer. 
 
John Lumea comments about a famous attendee at meetings at the hall: 
 
"For several years between 1869 and 1874, Emperor Norton came here for meetings of the Lyceum of Self–Culture. Which is why Dashaway Hall is included in The Emperor Norton Trust's Emperor Norton Map of the World on Google Maps. Click the pin for details. For more on Dashaway Hall and Emperor Norton's engagements there, see my September 2018 article 'The Longest Proclamation?' on the Emperor Norton Trust site." 
 

An 1873 ad for a Somerset Social Club Ball at the Dashaway. Thanks to Mark Reed for locating this in the July 19 issue of The Elevator. It was included in a post on the San Francisco History to 1915 Facebook page discussing venues where events for African-Americans were held. Mark comments on the August 6 ball:

"... In August the following year (1873) the Somerset Social Club sponsored its first 'public entertainment' -- a Grand Ball at Dashaway Hall, 139 Post. The Elevator (9 Aug) reported that the Ball was a 'decided success... patronized by a large company... A novel feature was introduced called the "Moonlight Quadrilles," illustrated by beautiful Calcium Prismatic lights. The effect was beautiful and elicited the approbation of the guests.' Although a success, the Elevator noted a tense encounter -- 'several white young men entered the hall with their hats on smoking cigars. They were rebuked by the managers, but they should have been expelled immediately.'"

Mark notes that the August 9, 1873 Elevator is available on the website of the California Digital Newspaper Collection. 

The Pacific Coast Architecture Database has a page about Dashaway Hall. One of their comments: 

"San Francisco citizens interested in establishing the city's first public library gathered at Dashaway Hall in 1877 to discuss the issue. Andrew Hallidie (1836-1900), the cable car developer, convened the meeting." 

The meeting about the library is also mentioned in the Wikipedia article about the Rogers Free Library Act. Another event in 1877 was a June 29 speech by Col. Henry S. Fitch for the convention of the National Currency Party. You can by a reprint on Amazon
 

An 1877 view southeast taken from the top of the Mark Hopkins mansion on Nob Hill. It's an Eadweard Muybridge photo appearing on the Open SF History Project site. It's panel 7 of a panorama series from the Martin Behrman Negatives Collection in the archives of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Thanks to Art Siegel for spotting Dashaway Hall in the image a bit above and to the left of center.
 

Dashaway Hall is in the center of this detail Art Siegel extracted from the 1877 Muybridge image. Thanks, Art!

The Dashaway Society was disbanded in 1883. In 1884 the building was sold and renamed Irving Hall. Evidently the new owners had thought of calling it the Irving Opera House. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this item in the April 15, 1884 Daily Alta California

"Instead of the old Dashaway Hall being re-named Irving Opera House, the change is only to the modest one of Irving Hall, and will not be occupied by Wyatt's Minstrels, though unsuccessful endeavors have been made to secure it. The hall has been finished and refitted in a most elegant manner, and will be occupied soon by Professor Fowler for a stay of one week, to be followed by various gatherings, which its excellent location makes it so desirable to secure."
 

Events in May 1884 at the "Late Dashaway Hall." Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the ads in the May 7, 1884 Daily Alta California. The issue is on the CDNC website. Fowler's last performance was May 6, the night before the ad appeared. But the big occasion was the "Grand Opening," celebrated with a ball on May 8. 

The July 25, 1885 Daily Alta California had a description of the decorations at the hall following the death of Ulysses S. Grant. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this on the CDNC site. The paper did a survey of decorations all over town. In their "On Post Street" section they noted:  

"The entrance to Irving Hall is shrouded with trimmings, indicative of the loss sustained by the nation."

In 1886 a speaker at Irving Hall discussed the Dashaways and how they lost the property. Art Siegel located it in the January 11, 1886 Daily Alta California

"THE DASHAWAY STEAL - R. Guy McClellan Graphically Recounts the History of It. A very large audience was present at the meeting of the Temperance Legion at Irving Hall last evening, the attraction being an announced lecture by R. Guy McClellan on the 'History of the Dashaways.' Mr. McClellan was introduced by the President, and after a humorous prelude entered into the subject of his lecture. 

" 'Twenty-five years ago,' said the speaker, 'a number of drinking men met in an engine-house in this city, and when they had filled their glasses with liquor, suddenly resolved unanimously to quit the habit of drinking from that time on, and the result was they all dashed their caps down, or dashed them away, from which act they took the name of the Dashaways. They formed themselves into a society for the promulgation of temperance. There were in the new association such men as Chief Whitney, Judge Weed and Dr. Henry Gibbons. Shortly after their organization I became a member. 

" 'The good work went on, and the association grew in popular favor until it became the talk of the town. Subscriptions were taken up for it, and nearly every one subscribed something; even saloon men gave a few dollars each. With the money thus acquired we bought the ground where this building now stands, and put up a building in which was a meeting hall. In that hall there were some rousing meetings and grand music. Hundreds of men walked up at every meeting and signed the pledge to abstain from intoxicating liquors. Sorrowing wives were made happy and altogether we did a great deal of good. 

" 'In the midst of this great success Dr. Gibbons came to me and asked me if I would sign for the organization of another temperance society in another part of the city. I told him that I would, and for a dozen, gladly. I signed, and the Temperance Legion was organized. I then left for Boston, and while there received a letter which stated that Chief Whitney, Judge Weed, Dr. Gibbous and myself had been expelled from the Dashaway Association. The reason for the expulsion I will give you: They had gone away back in the Constitution and had found a blind clause which said that no member could belong to any other temperance society. We had joined the Temperance Legion, for which offense we were expelled.'

"THE FIRST MOVE.  'This was the preliminary step for grabbing this property. Shortly after our expulsion they ceased giving public meetings. The lights were turned out; no more music; all about the building was dark, dreary and foreboding. The building that had been constructed by a charitable public for charitable purposes was taken from the people to which it rightfully belonged. The members dropped out one by one. Step by step they drew closer the lines of their conservative conclave. Members were watched, and when found drunk were instantly expelled. Spies were put upon their tracks to watch them and to lure them into saloons and to drink, that a reason might be found for their dismissal. When a member died they thanked God for it. They had no more right to appropriate that building then I have to take the hat off a stranger's head. I am glad to be able to say, however, that there were but a few of the old original members in the steal, for such it was. They put this property under the hammer and knocked it down for $160,000, and like midnight highwaymen, divided the proceeds of the sale.' The lecturer spoke with great feeling and in a very eloquent manner, and was frequently applauded."

Closing: Irving Hall was auctioned off in 1886. A sale of a number of properties, this one among them, was announced in the July 19, 1886 Daily Alta California. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this item in the "Real Estate" column: 

"A Monster Auction Sale, Which is Announced for Next Month. THE DASHAWAY HALL PROPERTY - On the Catalogue, which Includes Some of the Most Valuable Realty in the City - Local Firms - Building Improvements... Maurice Dore & Co. announce for August 11th, an auction sale of such magnitude as has occasioned great excitement in realty circles. The property offered is so valuable, and as the sale is advertised as special, peremptory and without limit or reserve, capitalists are already manifesting great interest in the coming event. 
 
"The catalogue embraces the Irving Hall property on Post street, formerly known as Dashaway Hall. The lot is on the south side of Post street, 60 feet east of Dupont street, having 53 feet front by a uniform depth of 122.6 feet, with a substatial [sic] three-story brick building thereon..."

An item in the August 12, 1886 Daily Alta California announced the results of the sale:

"REAL ESTATE AT AUCTION. A Large City Sale Yesterday With Good Prices Ruling. At Maurice Dore & Company's real-estate auction yesterday the following sales were made: ... Lot on the south side of Post street... together with the substantial three-story brick building thereon, known as Irving Hall; store leased to November 1, 1887; rent, $750 per month; upper floor leased to June 1, 1889; rent, $275 per month; total annual rent, $12,300. Sold for $150,000. Buyer, H. Liebes."

"Used for Concerts." Irving Hall is seen in the center of this detail from image 23 of the 1887 Sanborn Real Estate Survey Map. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating it in the Library of Congress collection. He notes that here they show it as a three story building.

The wrap-around balcony was on the second floor and a lodge room was on 3. They show the "Stage and Scenery" as "Seldom Used." That's Morton St. on the left, now called Maiden Lane. On the right it's Post St. Note the Palace Varieties, a basement venue, in the building to the west, on the corner of Post and Grant.

Litigation among the Dashaways was discussed in the November 23, 1989 Daily Alta California. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this story: 

"THE DASHAWAYS. A New Trial Ordered in the Suit Brought by Charles Ashton. MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS. The Supreme Court Holds That the Association Was Not Incorporated for Pecuniary Profit. The Supreme Court yesterday rendered a decision ordering a new trial in the case of Charles Ashton vs. the Dashaway Association. This was a suit by Charles Ashton, a member of the Dashaway Association, against the corporation, its five trustees, and a majority of the other members, to compel the restoration of funds alleged to have been misappropriated. The trial Court nonsuited the plaintiff, who appealed from an order denying his motion for a new trial.

"The original association was an incorporated temperance society. It was formed in January, 1859, at the Howard Engine House, by seventeen men, who took a pledge to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, except for medical purposes, the necessity of which was to be certified by a physician... In 1860 the association purchased a lot on Post street, near Dupont, for $6250, and erected a building. This is the property now known as Irving Hall. In 1862 the association was incorporated. The articles stated that the organization was 'a benevolent association formed for the purpose of promoting the cause of temperance.' There were 3163 names before the incorporation and 4904 since the incorporation. In 1882 the membership had dwindled to 59.

"In the following year notice was given of a meeting of members to consider the question of selling the property in order to pay the debts, and to reinvest in other property. The Superior Court granted leave to sell the property. The property was sold for $156,000. Of this sum $45,000 was used in discharging indebtedness, $31,543.54 was placed in savings banks, where it is to be presumed it now is, and $73,500 was divided among 49 members, including the trustees. The answers to Ashton's complaint deny that the defendants 'unlawfully or fraudulently' took or received any of the money, or that they took or received any money 'that was held by said corporators in trust,' but do not deny the taking or receiving, and the evidence of the taking is uncontradicted. At a meeting of the members held in December 1883, the minute book shows that a resolution was adopted donating to each member in good standing $1500 for past services. Forty-nine members came in for this benefit. 

"The Supreme Court says: 'In the present case there was a plain misappropriation of corporate funds. The corporation was not dissolved, or so far as appears, to be dissolved. It was a simple case of trustees who were in possession and in control of corporate funds, acting in pursuance of a vote of the majority of its members, "donating" the corporate funds to themselves and other members, upon the pretext of "past services," although the fact was, as admitted at the trial, that no services had been rendered other than such as the parties were bound to render as members of the Association...'

"There is another suit against the association which the Supreme Court will probably pass upon this month. It is entitled The People of the State of California vs. The Dashway Association. It was brought in the Superior Court, the prayer of the complaint being that the association be disincorporated, that a receiver be appointed, that its property escheat to the State and that the trustees be enjoined from appropriating or dividing up any of the funds... It will be remembered that after Ashton had begun his suit against the association one of the members, who had shared in the division, shot him, making a severe wound in the neck. For a long time Ashton was in a critical condition, but finally recovered."

A followup article regarding Mr. Ashton's suit appeared in the May 4, 1890 San Francisco Call. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the story:  

"DASHAWAY HALL. Charles Ashton Wins His Suit, but Who Will Pay the Money? The Supreme Court yesterday handed down a decision in the case of Charles Ashton, appellant, against the Dashaway Association and others, as follows: This appeal was heard in Department 2, which reversed the judgment and order of the court below... This decision gives judgment for Ashton, but as the property of the association Dashaway Hall, now Irving Hall, has been sold and the money divided among the members of the association, it leaves the question of from whom the plaintiff shall recover his money in obscurity."



Mr. Leibes moved his H. Liebes and Co. fur store into the building "on or about" August 1, 1890. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this ad in the June 9, 1890 Daily Alta California. He added a new top floor to the building.
 
The demise: The building was seriously rebuilt for office use in 1893. 

 
 
The Chronicle called it a building with "a history stained in blood." It's an article about the "demolition" of the building located by Art Siegel in the paper's January 26, 1893 issue. 
 
 

A followup story in the March 16, 1893 Chronicle offers clarifications. It was to be a major renovation of the Dashaway Hall building but not quite a demolition. 
 
 

An item Art located in the June 8, 1893 issue of the Chronicle.  
 
 

The remodeled building is seen in the center of this detail from image 10 of the 1899 Sanborn Real Estate Survey Map. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this on the Library of Congress website. He notes that here it's shown as a five story structure with offices on the 2nd through 5th floors. And a 'fur factory" on 5 as well.

The end: The building was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. 
 


A 1906 view by an unknown photographer of Post St. near Grant. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the image on the Open SF History Project website. The site notes that it's a view southeast with the ruins of the Monadnock Building, the Mutual Savings Bank and the Call Building in the background. 
 
 

Another 1906 view of the south side of the street located by Art on the Open SF History Project site. It's a photo by B.L. Singley. They note on the site: "View east on Post to west side of Crocker Building in distance, ruined building held up with long beam at right, stone rubble filling street, downed power line on left. Top story of Chronicle Annex, under construction at time of quake, in distance top center." 

Thanks to Art Siegel for all his research on this building.

More information: See "Early Day Theatricals," an article in the April 21, 1901 San Francisco Call. It's on the CNDC website. 

Jack Tillmany's Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres of San Francisco" can be previewed on Google Books. It's available from Amazon or your local bookseller.

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