Bernal Heights 1906 Quake Shack survivors
Unfinished History
Earthquake shacks start their exodus from then-Bernal Park (now Precita Park) in 1907.
Photo: Bernal Heights History Project
On the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, the Bernal Heights History Project conducted historical walking tours of the neighborhood, in search of the 1906 earthquake shacks that have become incorporated into the housing on the hill. Here are some of the addresses visited.
About 150 people gathered and divided into three groups. We all started at this place at 43 Carver, which consists of two "B" shacks joined together, and now obviously quite a quaint place to live.
The first occupants of the earthquake shacks at 43 Carver were Theodore and Domicella Ferenz. Theodore Ferenz built the hall between the two shacks, installed the plumbing in the back at a later time. In the beginning, he built an outhouse in the open yard to the left. The outhouse and chicken coops were still there when the house was bought in 1973. One of their children, Aunt Helene, is still alive and has recounted many stories about living at 43 Carver, including remembering going down to the cellar to fill oil lamps, and using buckets to catch water in the leaking hall between the two shacks.
451 Anderson Street
164 Bocana Street
20 Newman Street