Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower

 Posted by on May 29, 2012
May 292012
 
Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower

To understand Coit Tower you must first understand Lillie Hitchcock Coit.  A nice tale is told here from the Virtual San Francisco History Museum written by: By Frederick J. Bowlen, Battalion Chief, San Francisco Fire Department.

One of the most unusual personalities ever connected with our Fire Department was a woman. She was Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who was destined not only to become a legend but to attain that eminence long before her life ended.

She came to this city in 1851 from West Point, where her father had been an army doctor. Seven years later, when only 15 years old, she began her famous career with Knickerbocker Engine Company No. 5.
One afternoon that pioneer fire company had a short staff on the ropes as it raced to a fire on Telegraph Hill. Because of the shortage of man power, the engine was falling behind. Oh, humiliating and better was the repartee passed by Manhattan No. 2 and Howard No. 3 as the total eclipse seemed to be but a matter of seconds. Then, suddenly there came a diversion. It was the story of Jeanne d’Arc at Orleans, The Maid of Sargossa and Molly Pitcher of Revolutionary fame all over again.Pretty and impulsive Lillie Hitchcock, on her way home from school, saw the plight of the Knickerbocker and tossing her books to the ground, ran to a vacant place on the rope. There she exerted her feeble strength and began to pull, at the same time turning her flushed face to the bystanders and crying: “Come on, you men! Everybody pull and we’ll beat ‘em!”…It continues:When Mrs. Coit died here in July 22, 1929, at the age of 86, she gave practical evidence of her affection for San Francisco. She left one-third of her fortune to the city “to be expended in an appropriate manner for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city which I have always loved.”For several years after her death, there was question as to the most fitting interpretation of the “appropriate manner” in which to make the memorial. The executors of her will at last determined to erect a memorial tower in honor of this colorful woman.

Coit Tower was built in 1933. The concrete tower was constructed by Arthur Brown Jr., best known for City Hall. The tower is adorned with one simple ornament by Robert Bordman Howard, the phoenix, symbolizing San Francisco’s repeated growth after its many fires.

The structure is made of unpainted reinforced concrete. Contrary to urban legend, the building was not made to resemble a fire hose.

There is a small studio apartment on the second floor of the tower, which was originally used as lodging for the structure’s caretaker.

If you are interested in learning more about Coit Tower, I highly recommend Masha Zakheim’s book Coit Tower, San Francisco Its History and Art

 

 

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  15 Responses to “Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower”

  1. Paul in Powell River says:
    May 29, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    I’ve seen it from about the same distance as your picture, several times,but never really knew what it represented – thanks!!

  2. RedPat says:
    May 29, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    Love it – wouldn’t you like to live there?

  3. gina says:
    May 29, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    Great story of Lillie! I will have to read more of her bio. A rather masculine monument for the lady, no?

  4. bfarr says:
    May 30, 2012 at 12:11 am

    Thanks for the interesting of Coit Tower. This is one of my favorite SF landmarks. Go,Lillie!

  5. Cathy H. says:
    May 30, 2012 at 12:45 am

    Fascinating story and wonderful tower!! She looks like she was quite a character!!

  6. JM says:
    May 30, 2012 at 11:51 am

    Interesting story. Ms. Coit definitely loved her city.

  7. AVCr8teur says:
    May 31, 2012 at 4:39 am

    I haven’t been there in years, but one can’t miss the seeing the famous landmark up on the hill. I never heard that story of Ms. Coit’s early childhood. Quite fascinating.

  8. Washington Square – Fireman’s Memorial » Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    June 28, 2012 at 6:55 am

    […] was paid for by a portion of the monies left behind by Lillie Hitchcock Coit.  You can read about her and Coit Tower here. Be Sociable, Share! TweetShare this:Print  Posted by admin at 6:53 am […]

  9. Chinatown – 8 Immortals » Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    June 28, 2012 at 6:55 pm

    […] his father, architect John Glen Howard, he went to work for Blakewell and Brown, the architects of Coit Tower.  He worked with landscape architect Mark Daniels on this […]

  10. Beach Chalet Murals – Part II » Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    July 5, 2012 at 7:17 am

    […] Brown Jr.. Brown was the Architect of City Hall (shown over his left shoulder) and architect of Coit Tower, where Labaudt worked as well. A few scenes from around San Francisco including Japantown. […]

  11. Chinatown – 8 Immortals | Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    July 13, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    […] his father, architect John Glen Howard, he went to work for Blakewell and Brown, the architects of Coit Tower.  He worked with landscape architect Mark Daniels on this […]

  12. Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower | Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    July 31, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    […] statue of Christopher Columbus sits in the center of the parking lot for Coit Tower. The figure of Columbus, the famous Italian explorer, gazes out over San Francisco Bay standing on […]

  13. Telegraph Hill -Coit Tower Murals | Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    August 1, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    […] Francisco became District 15 of the National Plan. Coit Tower was one of three large WPA mural projects in San Francisco the others are at Rincon Annex Post […]

  14. Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower | Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    August 1, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    […] little seated boy looks at a page whose page shows the date of Coit Tower (1933) and the date of the Public Works of Art Project (1934). * Animal Force by Ray Boynton […]

  15. Telegraph Hill – Coit Tower Murals | Art and Architecture - San Francisco says:
    August 1, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    […] geographic positions. * * * Some things of note, the fire engine is Number 5, which was Lillie Hitchcock Coit’s beloved Knickerbocker Volunteer Fire Department.  Newspapers that include New Masses, Daily […]

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