More Photos From April 18th

Here a few more photos from April 18th that I took. Again I had a great time and as soon as I can I will edit the video footage that I and others shot and will link it to a video sharing site.

One of the vintage fire trucks we had a chance to ride in.

Some of the other historical groups that showed up that morning.

Another crowd photo of 2oth and Church St.

Gold Color Hydrant

Saturday April 18th 2009 started very early for me. I awoke at 2:30 AM, dressed in a period military uniform and got in my car for a short drive into San Francisco in the dark.  The streets were practically empty when I made it to my finally destination at the old 30's fire house located at Third and Four Street.  

Why you ask, would one get up at that ungodly hour to drive to an old fire house? Well, this was the meeting place for the start of the 103 Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco Fire and Earthquake.  I was there to meet with some friends, family and some members of The San Francisco Fire Department.  

We all loaded up in two vintage fire engines and headed down to Union Square to meet up with everyone that would be in the parade down to Market and Kerny Street, where the main celebration would be. 

After the remembrance and introduction of the remaining survivors (there are still three, one is over 105). The group headed over to 20th and Church Street with police escort.  The reason we all went over to 20th and Church was because the fire hydrant located on that corner was the only hydrant that was working in the city after the earthquake. So that is the reason why the hydrant is painted gold. 

My family has made this a yearly event due to the fact that my great-great grandfather and great-grandfather were burned out of their homes after the 06 Quake.

The crowd that was at Market and Kerny  St.

The fire hydrant at 20th and Church St.

My Father (R) painting the Hydrant.

I will put up more photo of the parade and the events at the hydrant in the next couple of days.

A Photo From The Past

I found this photo of my great-grandfather while looking through some genealogical material.

He lived when the State of Arizona was still a territory, in a town that would later be synonymous with cowboy lore and Wyatt Erp. If you couldn't guess, it was Tombstone.

All that we have left is some stories, a few personal items and photos. Hopefully the continuing research into the families past will help to shed some more light on him.

The Cosmoline Army

It is a new month again, so I made my pilgrimage to Battery Chamberlin to do some living history for the public with my comrades from the Coast Artillery Historical Association.

This month one of the association members came wearing a United States Coast Artillery uniform from the 1904-1912 period, complete with sidearm.

The service coat, hat, pistol belt and pants are original articles from that period. I still find it amazing to believe that you can find these uniforms in reasonable good condition and they fit someone a 100 years later.

I really like the uniform of this transition period from the blue to khaki tan and finally to green service uniform and it goes perfect with the 6 inch gun as they were both from this time frame.

Here you can see the what the difference about 20 years makes in military uniforms.  The One on the right is WWII about 1942-44

Here is a close up photo of the S&W revolver in its' leather holster. This sidearm would be used through the beginning of WWII.

Finally, here is a photo of the left side of the pistol belt. It has four ammunition pockets sewn into the belt with brass eagle snaps for closing.