son, observe the time and fly from evil. ecc.IV.23. religion & porno series.

[duccio]

Down at the end of the alley, across California Street, is Old St Mary's Cathedral (c. 1854). There were many brothels in the area back then, probably the predecessors of these buildings: the fabled Lotus Garden for instance, hence the admonition placed on the church tower. The church, as well as the brothels certainly had excellent views, along with competing plans for fleecing the Gold Rush city, both being equally high on Pacific Heights and crazily inclined California Street.

Here's a picture after the fall.

Comments

[shinsetsu]

What a shame to squish up like that what is probably an interesting church building.

[duccio]

The front of the church, which you can see at the end of the alley is on California Street, which is a very wide thoroughfare that goes straight downtown right to the Ferry Building. A cable car line passes by and stops there at the corner. It is a main artery, so the church has plenty of space on it's front side.

Along it's west side (hidden but to the left) is Grant Street which is the main tourist street through Chinatown. Grant is a rather narrow one-way street of one wide lane with parking on one side. Chinatown is very crowded and an old part of town, so the other two sides of the church are right up against other buildings. Although it is called a cathedral, it is really a rather small church that now days is parrish church for Chinatown.

Here is another entry from last February when I was around there. The first one shows the corner in front of the church at Grant and California - the church is to the right with the stores across Grant Street on the left. Then there is an interior to show the size - I was sitting in the back pew. And finally, a detail in a side chapel to the right of the altar.
http://duccio.dreamwidth.org/111731.html

The church survived the 1906 earthquake with very minor damage, but a day later, the fires that were the main agent of the destruction of San Francisco reached the church and gutted it. The walls and tower remained standing - a hollow burned out shell, and the decision was made to rebuild using the gutted remains as is, so pretty much, it is some in large part the original structure.