FoundSF

Unfinished History

Old Ford factory at 21st and Harrison, which became Samuel Gompers Trade School in 1946.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Harrison Street in the Mission was for most of its life a major thoroughfare for rail traffic, as the San Jose-San Francisco line ran on it, as did many freight trains, including one that went right by the factory above to pick up finished new Ford autos as they rolled off the assembly line.

1905 image of San Jose-San Francisco Railroad near 21st and Harrison.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Atlas Stair Building, a strange little house next to a curving driveway behind the Western Plywood warehouse, on 22nd just west of Harrison. The curving driveway, currently claimed by the wood company, is actually public space illegally closed off by private landowners, and was once the railroad's right of way through the block. Old train tracks can still be seen here, between 22nd and 23rd, Harrison and Treat.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Another shot of the plant in 1946.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

A 1927 shot of rail cars parked alongside warehouses on 15th Street between Harrison and Folsom Streets.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

Cement factory at 17th and Harrison (right), 1933. This lasted until the 21st century when it was finally torn down and replaced by loft-style condominiums.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

John O'Connell School, a technical high school, in the former Ford Motor Co. factory building, 21st and Harrison, 1953.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

This old loading dock at 20th and Harrison used to have box cars parked alongside it as recently as the early 1990s.

Photo: Chris Carlsson