Dear President Hasz and Members of the Commission:

Transcription

1 HEARING DATE: March 4, 2015 CASE NUMBER: TO: FROM: RE: L Swedish American Hall Histric Preservatin Cmmissin Jnathan Lammers Preservatin Planner Landmark Recmmendatin Reslutin Dear President Hasz and Members f the Cmmissin: On Nvember 19, 2014, the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin (HPC) adpted Reslutin N. 740 t initiate Article 10 landmark designatin f Market Street, knwn histrically as the Swedish American Hall. Under Article 10, initiatin and recmmendatin are tw distinct steps f the landmark designatin prcess which require separate hearings and reslutins. On December 17, 2014, the HPC cnducted a publicly nticed hearing t cnsider recmmending t the Bard f Supervisrs the designatin f the Swedish American Hall as a San Francisc landmark. That item was cntinued until the present hearing in rder t prvide the building wners, the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, additinal time t review and cmment n the Landmark Designatin Reprt. On February 12, 2015, the Swedish Sciety Bard vted unanimusly in favr f landmark designatin. Attached is a draft Reslutin t recmmend apprval t the Bard f Supervisrs the designatin f Market Street, the Swedish American Hall, as a San Francisc landmark under Article 10 f the Planning Cde, Sectin The Planning Department (Department) recmmends adpting this Reslutin. Als attached is a revised Landmark Designatin Reprt that incrprates varius minr edits made in cnsultatin with the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc. Mst ntably, the reprt has been augmented by several imprtant histric images f the Swedish American Hall prvided by Swedish Sciety member, Ted Olssn. These include tw images f the Hall taken shrtly after its cnstructin (pages 34 and 50), as well as histric interir views f the Balder ldge rm and Freja Hall (pages 53 and 57). ATTACHMENTS: Draft Reslutin Landmark Designatin Reprt (Revised February 19, 2015) frm Ted Olssn, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc Nvember 19, 2014 Case Reprt Reslutin 740

2 DRAFT LANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT Swedish American Hall Market Street Draft Article 10 Landmark Designatin Reprt submitted t the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin, March 4, 2015 City and Cunty f San Francisc Edwin M. Lee, Mayr Planning Department Jhn Rahaim, Directr Landmark N. XXX

3 Cver: Swedish American Hall, The Histric Preservatin Cmmissin (HPC) is a seven-member bdy that makes recmmendatins t the Bard f Supervisrs regarding the designatin f landmark buildings and districts. The regulatins gverning landmarks and landmark districts are fund in Article 10 f the Planning Cde. The HPC is staffed by the San Francisc Planning Department. This Draft Landmark Designatin Reprt is subject t pssible revisin and amendment during the initiatin and designatin prcess. Only language cntained within the Article 10 designatin rdinance, adpted by the San Francisc Bard f Supervisrs, shuld be regarded as final. CONTENTS OVERVIEW... 3 BUILDING DESCRIPTION... 4 Primary Facade... 4 West & Rear Facades... 6 Entry Hall... 7 Odin Ldge Rm (First Flr)... 9 Freja Hall (Secnd Flr) Balder Ldge Rm (Secnd Flr) Valhalla Banquet Rm (Secnd Flr, Mezzanine Level) Verdandi Club Rm (Third Flr) Svea Ldge Rm (Third Flr) Interir: Main Stairway and Landings Interir (First Flr): Frmer Cmmercial Space at 2172 Market Street Interir (First Flr): Frmer Cmmercial Space at 2168 Market Street Interir: First Flr Ante Rm & Kitchen Interir (Secnd Flr): Freja Hall Cat Check and Vestibule Interir (Mezzanine Level): Kitchen Interir: Restrms Cafe Du Nrd CONSTRUCTION HISTORY Architectural Influences August Nrdin, Architect Early Scial Halls SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION AND THE SWEDISH SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO Scandinavians in Upper Market USE OF THE SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL Early Cmmercial Tenants Fraternal Organizatins ARTICLE 10 LANDMARK DESIGNATION BIBLIOGRAPHY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS APPENDIX A LIST OF OCCUPANTS APPENDIX B HISTORY OF ALTERATIONS APPENDIX C ORIGINAL DRAWINGS OF THE SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

4 Swedish American Hall Market Street Built: 1907 Architect: August Nrdin Builder: Andrew Olsn OVERVIEW The Swedish American Hall at Market Street (APN 3542/017) is a cmbinatin scial hall and cmmercial building cnstructed in It is lcated in San Francisc s Upper Market area, within the Upper Market Neighbrhd Cmmercial Transit zning district and the Califrnia Register-eligible Upper Market Street Cmmercial Histric District. Cmpleted a year after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, the building is the mst significant extant building assciated with San Francisc s Swedish cmmunity, and is als emblematic f the develpment f a larger Scandinavian enclave in the Missin Dlres and Upper Market area at the turn f the 20 th century. Indeed, the building s lcatin was central t the city s Scandinavian ppulatin, as evidenced by the nearby cnstructin f a number f cultural institutins, including the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church at 15 th and Dlres (1904), and St. Ansgar s Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church at 152 Church Street (1905). 1 Since its cnstructin the building has served as the hme f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, funded in 1875, while als prviding a meeting place fr scres f fraternal and scial rganizatins related t San Francisc s Scandinavian cmmunity. The building is als architecturally significant as an embdiment f the distinctive characteristics f a type, perid, and methd f cnstructin, as well as fr being an architecturally significant wrk f master architect, August Nrdin. The building s architectural finishes are unusually fine and demnstrate a superir level f craftsmanship. The building s exterir emplys a rich palate f materials and rnament which cnveys an unusually strng street presence cmmensurate with its use as a public meeting hall. The interir includes a number f ldge rms that als feature superir detailing and are individualized such that each has its wn distinctive identity, while remaining harmnius within the verall cmpsitin. The building s largest public assembly space, Freja Hall, features highly rnamental finishes and saring truss wrk that rank it amng the finest expressins f the Arts & Crafts style in Califrnia. The building survives with relatively few alteratins frm its riginal design, and retains an utstanding level f architectural integrity. Adding weight t its significance is the building s utstanding level f preservatin. Other than its strefrnts, the building has experienced relatively few alteratins t its character-defining features and retains a high degree f physical integrity. Nte that the phts in this dcument were taken in Nvember 2013 and February 2014, just befre a majr rehabilitatin prject was undertaken. This prject, nw nearing cmpletin, is designed t insert a new restaurant within the building, as well as renvate the Cafe Du Nrd. The wrk included inserting a new ADA accessible elevatr, recnfiguring the interir partitins and finishes f the tw, previusly altered, cmmercial strefrnt spaces, as well as recnfiguring a nn-histric kitchen space n the secnd flr. Changes were als made t the vestibule area fr Freja Hall, and several bathrms were relcated r upgraded. 1 Edward Martinus Stensrud, The Lutheran Church and Califrnia, (San Francisc: E. M. Stensrud, 1916), Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

5 BUILDING DESCRIPTION Knwn thrughut its histry as the Swedish American Hall, Market Street is a three-stry-ver-basement (plus mezzanine), wd frame, cmmercial and public assembly building lcated alng the nrth side f Market Street between Church Street and Sanchez Street (APN 3542/017). Designed with a blend f Scandinavian and Arts & Crafts influences, the crnerstne was laid in July 1907 and the building was frmally dedicated in December The Swedish American Hall is rectangular in plan, clad predminately with unpainted wd shingles n its primary façade, and clad with wd rustic channel siding n its secndary facades. The building is capped by tw rf sectins which differ in height. The frnt f the building features twin gables piercing a flat-rfed sectin. The rear sectin is lwer in height and includes a shallw gable rf with twin skylights crwning a duble-height interir hall. A nn-histric metal fire escape is affixed t the center f the building, with landings at the secnd and third flrs, as well as a ladder t the rf. Primary Facade The primary façade faces sutheast nt Market Street and is three bays wide. The first stry is clad with plychrme brick with clinker brick accents laid in a Flemish bnd and includes the primary entrance t the Swedish American Hall at the west end. This entry features a shallw brick arch flanked by large wden brackets and truss wrk supprting a gable hd with ntched rafter tails and scallped barge bards. A nn-riginal cpper light fixture hangs frm the central purlin f the gable hd, while wden dimensinal letters reading Swedish American Hall are affixed t the base f the truss. T the left f this entry is a pink-clred crnerstne stating Erected by the Swedish Sciety An irn security gate screens the entry vestibule, which includes plychrme terrazz Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

6 flring with a yellw field surrunded by brders f green and brwn. An additinal, nn-riginal hded cpper light fixture hangs frm the center f the vestibule ceiling. West f the main entry are tw strefrnts divided by the entrance t the Cafe Du Nrd. Bth f the strefrnts feature nn-histric multi-light windws. The western strefrnt includes a brick stp and a multi-light pedestrian dr at its west end. It is framed by flat bard trim. The eastern strefrnt is similarly cnfigured, althugh the brick at the base f the windws des nt appear riginal. The Cafe du Nrd entrance is screened by a wrught irn security gate and features a recessed entry vestibule with a terrazz threshld. The terrazz field is yellw, with green terrazz letters reading Cafe Du Nrd. Beynd are wd duble drs with diamnd-light glazing leading t a stairway which runs dwn t access the café. An aluminum and fabric awning crwns the Cafe entry, while abve a black and white prcelain nen sign als reads Cafe Du Nrd. The sides f the entry are flanked by nnhistric metal and glass sign bxes. Gable hd abve the main entrance t the hall View f the strefrnts. Nte the nn-histric brick cladding beneath the strefrnt windw at right Detail f crnerstne Detail f terrazz threshld at the main entry The upper flrs are dminated by a massive bay windw at the center f the secnd flr, rising t a pair f twin gables featuring massive scallped barge bards and twin finials. At the secnd flr level, the bay windw features duble-height, duble-hung wd windws with leaded sixteen-ver-sixteen light sashes. The windws are set within a paneled wd surrund and crwned with individual, single-light transms. T the west, a small beveled bay windw with duble-hung, twelve-ver-twelve light wd-sash windws is lcated abve the gable hd f the Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

7 main entry. This bay windw is capped by a hip-rfed hd with shaped rafter tails, while abve is anther dublehung wd windw with a flat bard sill. At the east end f the secnd stry is a Tudr-arch windw with nailhead trim returns. It features twin, duble-height, duble-hung sixteen-ver-sixteen leaded glass lights, with a flat bard base accented by nailhead wd trim. The third stry includes fur, duble-hung sixteen-ver-sixteen leaded glass windws at center, with a massive sill resting n nailhead blcks. At the center f these windws is a pilaster crwned with a lantern capital, while abve is ne f three ntched wden brackets resting beneath the barge bards. Flanking the base f these windws are tw prjecting metal flagples with ball finials. The gable ends are flanked by tw drmer windws featuring gable hds with scallped barge bards. Each drmer is clad with wd shingles and includes a duble-hung, wd-sash windw with leaded glass diamnd lights. Abve the windws is a depressed arch header crwned with a branching W f flat bard trim. Beneath these drmers is a side-gable rf element with runded and ntched rafter tails. The façade terminates in a parapet with tabs at the east and west ends crwned by metal flagples. Gable drmer at the west end f the rf. Detail f the barge bards and shadw lines Detail f trim wrk n the upper facade Detail f arched windw West & Rear Facades The west facade f the Swedish American Hall faces Sanchez Street. Until recently, it included tw light wells tward Market Street, ne f which was remved in 2014 fr the cnstructin f an ADA elevatr. A large freestanding billbard in this area was als remved in 2014 t accmmdate cnstructin f a new residential building n the Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

8 adjacent lt. The suthernmst light well begins at the secnd stry level and includes a duble-hung, ne-ver-ne wd-sash windws with flat bard trim at the secnd, mezzanine and third stry levels. Leaded art glass wd windws prviding illuminatin fr the main interir staircase als face suth nt this light well. Metal cnduits are likewise lcated within the light well. The nrthern light, since remved, included duble hung, wd sash windws, including leaded art glass lights at the mezzanine level. The rear façade f the building features irregular massing, with an L-shaped prjectin supprted n wd psts at the center. A metal vent runs alng the east end f the rear elevatin, while a fire escape is lcated at the west end. The grund flr level is enclsed by metal and wden fencing and includes duble wd drs at the west end which prvides egress frm an interir kitchen. A paneled wd dr with tw leaded glass lights is lcated at the secnd flr level and prvides egress frm a main hall t a metal fire escape. Visible fenestratin includes a band f three single-light wd windws with flat bard at bth the east and west ends f the secnd flr. Within the main hall, these windws have been blcked ff with remvable panels. The rear façade terminates in a stepped parapet with center tab. View f the west and rear (nrth) facades Entry Hall The main entry hall is accessed frm the exterir vestibule thrugh a pair f fully-glazed wden drs with narrw sidelights and a fixed transm. Immediately t the left in the entry hall is a carpeted wd stair featuring a bard and batten wainsct n the exterir wall, and a decrative screen railing n the interir side featuring a pierced teardrp mtif. The newel pst is painted white and includes an incised flral mtif. The newel pst cap and the handrail tpping the screen are bth stained wd. These finish details are used n this stair at all levels f the building. The entry hall features wd flring with a stained rectangular brder immediately in frnt f the stair. The walls in the hall feature a tall bard-and-batten wainsct. Many f the wainsct panels feature a cladding material that appears t be a versin f leather paper, a relief wall cvering designed t cpy the grain and patterns f antique leather. Leather paper and ther embssed wall cverings, such as Lincrusta (a linleum like prduct), were amng the mst ppular wall cverings frm the late 19 th century thrugh the 1920s. 2 2 Smithsnian Institutin Natinal Museum f Design, Wallpaper in the Cllectin f the Cper-Hewitt Museum, (Eastern Press, 1981), Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

9 Beynd the stair t the left is a vestibule featuring a nn-histric bar island. The nrth wall f this vestibule includes a strage clset, which in 2014 was being cnverted t an elevatr shaft. The elevatr shaft was riginally designed fr this lcatin, but nt built. The suth wall f the vestibule includes a paneled wd dr which prvides access t a wden staircase leading dwn t a basement mechanical rm. Cntinuing dwn the hall, a wman s restrm is lcated alng the west wall, while a strage clset and unisex restrm are lcated alng the east wall. Beynd the wmen s restrm is a wden staircase which runs dwn in a quarter turn t access a back f huse area fr the Cafe Du Nrd. The upper staircase landing features a newel pst and decrative screen railing identical t that used fr the main stair. The upper walls f the stair enclsure feature bard and batten panels with leather paper cladding. View f main entry drs and entry lbby. Detail f the staircase. View suth alng the entry hall. Nte the visual cnnectin t the frmer stre at 2172 Market Street at right. Detail f the leather paper wall cladding Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

10 Odin Ldge Rm (First Flr) Oppsite a set f stairs near the nrth end f the main entry hallway is a small vestibule with an angled drway leading t the Odin ldge rm. A tall stained wd bard-and-batten wainsct wraps the rm and features nailhead trim blcks crwning the battens beneath the rail. The ceiling features bxed-beam detailing and is supprted by tw metal clumns which divide the center f the rm int thirds. Where the bx beams meet the wall they jin with decrative piers crwned with scallped and ntched wden brackets. The upper wall features a cntinuus band f flat bard crwn mlding with a bullnse detail. The flrs are wd and feature a stained grid pattern. The nrth end f the rm is fenestrated at the east and west ends with three duble-hung wd windws. These windws feature textured glazing with a flral pattern in the upper sash and a wave pattern in the lwer sash. A paneled wd dr is lcated near the nrthwest crner f the rm and accesses an adjacent kitchen. Lighting is prvided by half-rund hanging fixtures and scnces attached t the perimeter piers. View f the Odin ldge rm. The windws lk ut t the rear f the lt. Detail f trim wrk in the first flr meeting rm. Detail f windw glazing in the first flr meeting rm Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

11 Freja Hall (Secnd Flr) View east acrss Freja Hall shwing trusses and trim wrk. Nte the staircase leading t the balcny level at lwer right. Lcated at the nrth end f the secnd stry, Freja Hall is the principal interir rm f the building and the fcus f its mst lavish rnamentatin. Its elabrate wd trusses and spectacular trim wrk mark it as amng the finest expressins f the Arts & Crafts style in Califrnia. Occupying the entire nrth end f the secnd stry, this duble height space, measuring apprximately 51 feet deep by 48 feet wide, is crwned with a series f three massive wden trusses interlaced with kntted X-braces. These trusses span the entire east-west length f the hall and are cnnected t smaller nrth-suth braces at the rear f the hall abve the balcny. The exterir perimeter f the balcny, as well as a staircase at the sutheast end f the hall, bth feature stained wd fretwrk set against a field f red. This clr scheme was reinfrced by tw pairs f steel-frame, red-glazed skylights (recently replaced with clear glazing) lcated near the center f the rm flanking the rf ridge. Mechanical lighting is prvided by pendant lights hanging frm the trusses and beneath the balcny. The ceiling cnsists f white-painted expsed rafters and diagnal bard sheathing. The lwer prtin f Freja Hall features a wden flr (re-stained in 2015) with raised wden platfrms apprximately three feet wide alng the east and west walls, and an apprximately five-ft-wide platfrm alng the nrth wall. The walls themselves are wrapped by a tall stained wd bard-and-batten wainsct with nailhead trim blcks crwning the battens beneath the rail. There are three entry pints at the suth end f the rm beneath the balcny. The primary entrance is accessed via a vestibule and cat check area at the suthwest end f the hall and features a pair f riginal, paneled wd drs. A secnd entry is lcated near the sutheast end f the hall and includes a paneled wd dr accessing an ante rm and hallway t the Balder ldge rm. Near the center f the suth end f the hall is a paneled wd dr with textured glass glazing in the upper panel. This dr accesses a strage area adjacent t the cat check area. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

12 View suth acrss Freja Hall shwing entries beneath the balcny. View west in Freja Hall. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

13 The fcal pint f the rm is the stage alng the nrth wall, which features a stepped maple platfrm and a prscenium framed by darkly-stained wd psts, versized brackets and nailhead trim. T the right (east) f the stage is a paneled wd dr partially glazed with tw bullseye lights which accesses a small dressing rm. T the left (west) f the stage is a partially glazed wd dr with panic hardware prviding access t a rear fire escape. Other ntable features f the lwer prtin f Freja Hall include a paneled enclsure near the suthwest crner with a leaded glass windw featuring circular green-tinted lights. There are als a series f cast irn radiatrs with embssed flral rnament, including tw radiatrs flanking the stage, a radiatr near the suthwest end f the rm, and a radiatr alng bth the east and west walls. These radiatrs include eleven fins and feature embssed flral rnamentatin. View nrtheast frm the balcny f Freja Hall t the stage. The balcny f Freja Hall runs the full length alng the back (suth) wall, and partial width alng the nrth and suth walls. It flats abve the main flr supprted by six metal rds which run thrugh, and are suspended frm, the truss wrk at the ceiling. These bars cnnect t additinal metal bars secured alng the interir edge f the balcny railing. The walls f the balcny feature a paneled wainsct perimeter identical t that used n the main flr. The interir railing f the balcny features a beadbard base crwned with wden psts and a brass railing. The west wall f the balcny includes three paneled wd drs which access strage clsets. There are tw entrances at either end f the suth wall f the balcny. Each features a paneled wd dr with stained flat bard trim. These drs are flanked n the utside edge by small leaded glass windws featuring greentinted bullseye lights. The dr at the suthwest end f the balcny accesses a small vestibule with a batten wainsct with leather paper cladding. A duble-hung, fur-ver-fur leaded glass windw in the vestibule prvides access t a light well. The dr at the sutheast end f the balcny accesses the Valhalla banquet rm. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

14 View west alng the balcny. Nte the metal bars which help suspend the balcny abve the flr. View east alng the balcny Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

15 Detail f skylights Detail f stair newel pst and fretwrk View nrthwest frm balcny using nly natural light Detail f balcny fretwrk Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

16 Balder Ldge Rm (Secnd Flr) The Balder ldge rm is lcated at the sutheast crner f the secnd flr. The hall features tw bracketed trusses which divide the ceiling int thirds. Nailhead trim blcks run alng the lwer face f the truss, and brass caps cver the truss rds. Three pendant lights hang frm the base f each truss. The walls are clad with a batten wainsct featuring leather paper wall cvering. The leather paper in the upper prtin f the wainsct features fur yellwpainted squares in each panel. The nrth, east and suth walls are crwned with a band f flat bard trim. The flring appears t be sheet vinyl. The east end f the rm features tw battered engaged clumns crwned with capitals featuring an X mtif. The upper face f each clumn includes yellw-painted square and rectangle reliefs, as well as a lighting scnce. Running between the tps f the clumns is a wden mantle resting n nine scrlled brackets. The wall beneath the mantle includes a paneled wd base with a leather paper panel abve. The wainsct at the west end f the rm is als capped by a mantle with scrlling brackets. The suthwest end f the rm is illuminated by fur pairs f sixteen-ver-sixteen light, leaded glass, duble-hung windws crwned with transms. A leaded glass arched windw is lcated near the sutheast crner f the rm. There are tw, ten-fin, cast irn radiatrs embssed with flral rnament in the rm: ne lcated near a drway at the suthwest crner f the rm, as well as tward the center f the nrth wall. An electrical panel is als lcated t the right f the drway at the suthwest crner. Secnd flr ldge rm, view t west wall Secnd flr ldge rm, view alng nrth wall Secnd flr ldge rm, view t east wall Detail f scrlled brackets beneath the east wall mantle Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

17 Detail f leather paper wall cladding. Nte damage. Detail f arched windw near the sutheast crner f the rm A drway at the suthwest crner f the Balder ldge rm accesses an ante rm t the west. The suth wall f the ante rm includes a stained batten wainsct with leather paper panels, as well as a small ceramic water funtain. A pinted bay windw with an interir seat is lcated in a nk at the suthwest crner f the ante rm. The dublehung wd windws features twelve-ver-twelve leaded glass lights, and the ceiling f the nk is clad with stained bead bard. The west wall f the ante rm includes a number f paneled lckers with a stained wd finish. The flring is sheet vinyl. Suth f the ante rm is a shrt hallway and wmen s restrm. Detail f radiatr in the Balder ldge rm Detail f ante rm with pinted bay windw at left. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

18 Valhalla Banquet Rm (Secnd Flr, Mezzanine Level) The Valhalla banquet rm is lcated at the secnd flr mezzanine level, directly suth f the Freja Hall balcny. The rm is wrapped by a mdified bard and batten wainsct featuring wide, hrizntal bards separated by beadwrk trim. The battens feature small nailhead trim blcks, with the largest sitting beneath the rail. A stained flat bard stringcurse wraps the upper level f the wall, surmunted by a narrwer painted wd stringcurse. The flring is sheet vinyl, and the rm is crwned with a bxed beam ceiling and painted beadbard. There are three entrances: a pair f paneled wd duble drs at the west end f the rm adjacent t the stair landing, and paneled wd drs at the nrtheast and nrthwest crners f the rm which access the balcny aisle. Abve the duble drs is a bxed sffit featuring simple flat bard panels and small nailhead trim blcks. The rm s mst utstanding architectural feature is a ribbn f six windws alng the east wall, each featuring a textured amber glass light crwned with a stained glass transm featuring a shield mtif. These windws feature perable hpper mechanisms and face an interir light well crwned by a skylight. Beneath these windws, the basebard includes a series f decrative metal vents. There is als an riginal, fur-fin cast irn radiatr alng the nrth wall f the rm which features embssed flral embellishment. View east f windws in the Valhalla rm. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

19 View west in the Valhalla rm tward the mezzanine level stair landing. Detail f textured and stained glass windws Detail f wainsct in the Valhalla rm Verdandi Club Rm (Third Flr) The Verdandi club rm was traditinally used as a library by the Swedish Sciety and is lcated n the third flr ppsite the stair landing. It is accessed by a small, strait run f fur steps with a slid, painted wd bannister featuring an incised flral mtif. The entry is a stained, paneled wd dr with flat bard trim. A metal sign reading: Club Rm SW Sciety s Members Only is lcated n the upper prtin f the dr. A similar sign reading Verdandi is lcated n the flat bard trim abve the dr. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

20 The interir f the rm features wd flring and includes a fireplace inglenk against the east wall. The fireplace features a firebx crwned with an arched brick surrund with keystne, while the base features green-glazed ceramic tiles. A stained wd mantle is supprted by nailhead trim blcks. Flanking the fireplace are built-in bkcases with a stained wd finish. At the uter edge f the bkcase tps are curved wden elements with a pierced heart mtif. The upper walls flanking the fireplace feature small wd windws with bullseye glazing. The inglenk itself is flanked by clsets featuring paneled wd drs with bullseye-glazed lights. Entry t the Verdandi club rm View east in the Verdandi club rm Detail f the fireplace inglenk in the Verdandi club rm View west in the Verdandi club rm The rm is crwned with a bxed beam ceiling, while the walls feature stained wd piers and a chair rail with nailhead trim blcks. Large brackets with a scrlled prfile are lcated where the piers meet the bxed beams. Three windw penings are lcated alng the nrth wall. These feature bullseye glazing and stained wd surrunds with nailhead trim blcks at the crners. Mechanical lighting in the rm is prvided by nn-histric wall scnces, as well as tw large nn-histric pendant lights. Large, flr-t-ceiling built-in bkcases are lcated alng the west wall f the rm flanking the drway. These feature cabinets with paneled drs at the base, and glass-frnted bkshelves at the tp. A set f stairs at the suthwest crner leads dwn t the Svea ldge rm t the suth. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

21 Svea Ldge Rm (Third Flr) The Svea ldge rm is lcated at the suthern end f the third flr and huses the Swedish Sciety s archives. The rm features trapezidal walls angling inward t meet a stained wd bxed beam ceiling. At the center and west end f the rm, stained wd piers with versized brackets jin with the bxed beams. The walls feature a stained wd wainsct set in a grid pattern. The flring is carpeted. A lw platfrm is lcated at the east end f the rm. The rear f the platfrm is flanked by tw battered engaged clumns which are essentially identical t thse fund in the Balder ldge rm. The clumns are crwned with capitals featuring an X mtif, and the upper face f each clumn includes painted linear reliefs, as well as a lighting scnce. Running between the tps f the clumns is wden mantle resting n nine scrlled brackets. The wall beneath the mantle includes a stained wd chair rail. View tward the east end f the Svea ldge rm View tward the west end f the Svea ldge rm Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

22 The suth wall f the rm includes tw small built-in bkcases beneath punched windw penings. Small metal ladders are affixed t the windw sills. The rm als includes tw riginal, ten-fin cast irn radiatrs alng the nrth and suth walls, respectively. A stained wd dr is lcated near the nrthwest crner f the rm and accesses the hallway adjacent t the stair landing. In this same area is a shrt staircase with a slid bannister featuring a pierced flral mtif rising t meet the dr t the Verdandi club rm. (Members f the Swedish Sciety state that the bannister is nt histric, but was installed fr safety reasns and was designed t match the stair railings elsewhere in the building.) In additin t natural lighting, the rm is illuminated by six nn-histric pendant lights suspended frm the bxed beam ceiling. Interir: Main Stairway and Landings The main stairs in the Swedish American Hall are carpeted and feature similar finishes n all levels. These include a painted bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding n the exterir walls, and a decrative painted wd screen n the interir side featuring a pierced teardrp mtif. The newel psts are painted and include an incised flral mtif, while the newel psts and handrails cnsist f stained wd. The stair landings at each flr level feature sheet vinyl flring and access a nrth-suth hallway. Mving suth dwn the hallway, ne turns right t access the cntinuatin f the stairs t the next level. Frm the Swedish American Hall main entry, the stairs rise in a straight run t the secnd flr landing. Oppsite the landing is a paneled wd clset dr (unpainted) with flat bard trim painted white. The dr header is crwned with nail head trim blcks. T the right f the clset is an identical dr which accesses a men s restrm. The clset area and restrm have since been cnverted t an elevatr shaft. 3 T the right (east) f the secnd flr landing are the drs fr the cat check area fr Freja Hall. T the suth is a hallway which accesses a restrm and an ante rm fr the Balder ldge rm. View nrth up the stairs frm the main entry t the secnd flr landing. Secnd flr landing. Frm left t right a clset, men s rm and duble drs leading t the Freja Hall ante rm. Bth the clset and men s rm were remved in 2014 t install an ADA cmpliant elevatr. Frm the secnd flr t the mezzanine level, the stairs include a quarter turn illuminated by a duble-hung, wdsash leaded art glass windw facing a light well. The windw includes textured glass panels with a diamnd mtif at center. The frame cnsists f painted wd and is crwned with nailhead trim blcks. T the right (east) f the mezzanine level landing are the drs t the Valhalla banquet rm. T the nrth is a hallway and dr t the Freja Hall balcny. T the suth is a hall accessing the dr t a kitchen. 3 In 2014 the clset and restrms at the upper stair landings were remved t install an ADA cmpliant elevatr. Drs and trim wrk were salvaged fr reuse r strage where pssible. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

23 Detail f stairs at secnd flr as they rise tward the mezzanine. Detail f leaded glass windw at the quarterturn landing f the staircase. Frm the mezzanine level t the third flr, the stairs include a quarter turn illuminated by a single leaded art glass windw facing the light well. This windw is very similar t duble-hung windw described abve, but is mre hrizntally riented. The frame cnsists f painted wd and is crwned with nailhead trim blcks. Oppsite the tp f the landing is a paneled wd clset dr (unpainted) with unpainted flat bard trim. The dr header is crwned with nail head trim blcks. T the right f the clset is an identical dr which accesses a wmen s restrm. As mentined abve, the clset area and restrm have since been cnverted t an elevatr shaft. The third flr landing is illuminated by a large, pyramidal multi-pane skylight with a paneled wd base. Flanking the skylight are tw Arts and Crafts style hded brass light fixtures hanging by metal rds frm the ceiling. The light fixtures appear t be cnverted gas lights and are presumed riginal t the building. T the right (east) f the third flr level landing are the stairs and dr fr the Verdandi club rm. T the suth is a hallway which accesses the dr t the Svea ldge rm and library. Detail f windw at the stair landing between the mezzanine level and the third flr. View frm the stairs tward the third flr landing. The dr accesses a clset since cnverted int an elevatr shaft. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

24 Detail f skylight abve the third flr landing. Detail f light fixture. Interir (First Flr): Frmer Cmmercial Space at 2172 Market Street T the right f the entry hall is a receptin area, frmerly used as a stre addressed as 2172 Market Street. The rm can be accessed via pen drways at the nrthwest and suthwest crners. The upper prtin f the wall n the west side f the rm has been partially pened t create a visual cnnectin with the entry hall. This pening is flanked by simple pilasters. The rm features a bard-and-batten paneled wainsct, althugh this finish des nt appear riginal. The nrtheast crner f the rm includes a built-in nn-histric cabinet bkshelf with glass drs. At the nrthwest crner f the rm is a fully-glazed wd dr with flat bard trim which accesses an ffice. This dr, which des nt appear riginal, features frsted glazing and lettering that reads Swedish Sciety f San Francisc 1875 Office. Lighting is prvided by nn-histric scnces with tulip shades. As f early 2014 this rm as well as the stre t the east, histrically addressed as 2168 Market Street was in the prcess f being cnverted int a restaurant seating area. View suth f the receptin area, frmerly used as a stre at 2172 Market Street. View nrth f the receptin area, frmerly used as a stre at 2172 Market Street. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

25 Interir (First Flr): Frmer Cmmercial Space at 2168 Market Street The cmmercial space addressed as 2168 Market Street was mst recently used as a restaurant. Nne f the finishes in this rm appear riginal. The flring cnsists f black and cmpsite flr tiles. A curved wden cunter is lcated at the nrtheast end f the rm, and the suthern end f the west wall includes a wden wainsct. At the nrtheast crner f the rm is a drway accessing a fd preparatin and strage area with ceramic tile flring. A drway in this area cnnects t a hall with ceramic tile flring. The hall runs west t cnnect with the main entry hallway. View suth f the stre area frmerly addressed as 2168 Market Street. View nrth f the stre area frmerly addressed as 2168 Market Street. Interir: First Flr Ante Rm & Kitchen At the nrthwest crner f the first flr, just beynd the rear stairway leading dwn t the basement, is an ante rm and a kitchen. The east wall f the ante rm features tw bands f unpainted flat bards with hanging hks. The west and suth walls include large wden strage cabinets with paneled drs. The flring in the ante rm includes a stained brder. Beynd the ante rm is a small kitchen with a refrigeratr, sink and cabinets alng the west wall. The center f the east wall f the kitchen includes a paneled, unpainted wd dr which accesses the meeting rm. This dr is flanked by large paneled wden cabinets (painted white) that may be riginal t the building. Lighting is prvided by a pendant glbe fixture munted t the ceiling. The nrth wall f the kitchen features nn-histric paneled wd duble drs which access an utdr area enclsed by fencing. Abve the drs is a large wd transm with a wire screen. Sme finishes in this previusly remdeled interir space were altered by the 2014 rehabilitatin prject. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

26 View nrth frm rear stairway tward the ante rm. This stairway leads t a back f huse area fr Cafe Du Nrd. View suth frm ante rm int the kitchen. Nte the rear exit drs. Interir (Secnd Flr): Freja Hall Cat Check and Vestibule Turning right at the secnd flr landing is an entrance t an ante rm prviding a cat check area fr Freja Hall. The suth end f the rm features a lng, nn-histric bar with a laminate tp. The walls behind the bar are clad with nn-histric wd paneling. The flring in the rm appears t be sheet vinyl. The ceiling is bead bard. The nrth side f the rm includes duble drs pening int Freja Hall. A large clset is lcated at the nrtheast crner f the vestibule. Its walls are clad with a bard-and-batten wainsct with leather paper panels. Ante rm with nn-histric bar and wall paneling View nrth alng the vestibule hallway tward Freja Hall. A wden dr is lcated at the east end f the cat check area and accesses a vestibule prviding passage between Freja Hall and the Balder ldge rm. Alng the east wall are a series f paneled wd drs Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

27 pening t strage lckers. Althugh the finish stain n the drs is similar t that used elsewhere in the building, the lckers d nt appear histric as the back walls f the lcker interirs reveal a batten leather paper wainsct. A wmen s restrm is accessed frm the hallway by a paneled wd dr. It features peach-clred flr and wall tiles, likely installed at midcentury. The nn-histric bar, wall cladding and lckers in this area were remved by a 2014 rehabilitatin prject. Interir (Mezzanine Level): Kitchen A kitchen is lcated at the suthwest crner f the mezzanine level. It is accessed via a hallway with tw drways: ne drway pens int the suthwest crner f the Valhalla banquet rm, and the ther pens int the hallway ff the mezzanine level stair landing. The kitchen features wd paneled cabinets, gypsum bard walls and cmpsite flr tiles. A cmmercial grade gas stve is lcated near the suthwest crner f the rm adjacent t a duble-hung wd windw. A stainless steel sink is set at an angle in the nrthwest crner f the kitchen adjacent t a pair f duble-hung wd windws with textured glazing facing a light well. This kitchen was remdeled by a rehabilitatin prject. Detail view suth f the kitchen at the suthwest crner f the mezzanine level. Detail view nrth f the mezzanine level kitchen. Interir: Restrms The Swedish American Hall includes a number f restrms lcated n each flr except the mezzanine level. Onestall men s restrms lcated adjacent t the stair landings n the secnd and third flrs were remved and relcated in 2014 t install an accessible elevatr. Other restrms were remdeled r relcated. Cafe Du Nrd The Cafe Du Nrd ccupies the majrity f the basement level f the Swedish American Hall. It is accessed frm the sidewalk via a terrazz threshld and paired wd drs with diamnd lights. A straight-run staircase leads dwn int the main rm, which features a painted wd bxed beam ceiling. The rm is divided apprximately in half by a series f square clumns running nrth-suth thrugh the space. These clumns feature paneled wd bases, and sme include scnce light fixtures as well as painted acanthus leaf brackets where they meet the ceiling beams. Similar acanthus leaf brackets are als used at the base f sme f the bx beams abve the bar, as well as in the suthwest crner f the rm. The rm is wrapped by a stained wd paneled wainsct. The flring is a mixture f carpet and cmpsite flr tiles. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

28 Detail f nen sign fr the Cafe Du Nrd Detail f terrazz threshld T the east is the bar, which appears riginal t the building. The frnt f the bar features a plished wd tp and a brass railing at the base. The back bar is mirrred and includes a series f square, paneled clumns with a triangle mtif in the panels. These clumns supprt an entablature cnsisting f a paneled frieze with flral rnaments, echinus and astragal mlding, and leaf mlding. The base f the service bar includes a series f drawers and cabinets with metal hardware. Near the center f the bar is an inlayed panel featuring varius silhuettes, including thse f a persn and a spn. At the sutheast end f the rm adjacent t the bar is a kitchen and strage area. At the nrtheast crner f the rm adjacent t the bar is a small seating area featuring a stained wd paneled wainsct. A passageway running east-west frm this area runs beneath the stairs t cnnect with the suthwest crner f the rm. The suthwest crner f the rm features a raised platfrm segregated by brass railing and tw paneled wd psts featuring a triangle mtif identical t that used n the bar. In 2014, this prtin f the rm was cnverted int a restrm area, while ther areas within the Cafe Du Nrd were substantially remdeled. View nrth f the Cafe Du Nrd frm the base f the entry stairs. The stage is visible in the distance at center left. View f the suthwest crner f the Cafe Du Nrd. In 2014 this area was recnfigured t accmmdate restrms. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

29 A stage and dance flr are lcated tward the rear (nrth) end f the café. The east side f this area features a raised seating platfrm separated frm the dance flr by a wden railing. The east wall f the seating area includes a paneled wd wainsct. A sund bth is lcated at the suthwest crner f rm, and an additinal bar is lcated alng the west wall. This bar features a paneled wd base with a brass railing. A passageway at the west end f the stage accesses a quarter-turn staircase rising t the first flr. A flush wd dr near the base f the stairs prvides access t a small dressing rm/strage area with cncrete flring. Detail f the bar. View f the dance flr and raised seating area. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

30 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY The Swedish American Hall was cnstructed in 1907 as a cmbinatin scial hall and cmmercial building fr the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc. It served as a replacement fr Scandia Hall, anther scial hall wned by varius Swedish scieties, which was destryed during the 1906 Earthquake (see the discussin f the Swedish Sciety later in this reprt). The lt where the Swedish American Hall nw stands was previusly ccupied by a tw-stry flats building and a vacant lt wned by Elise A. Drexler, widw f the millinaire Lmis P. Drexler, wh had died in A ntice in The San Francisc Call in 1901 states that, while she was nt a sciety wman in the usually accepted meaning f the phrase, the Van Ness Avenue mansin wned by her and her husband was the site f many scial gatherings. 4 The article als mentins that she wned a large number f buildings in the city, and that as a wman f strng pinins she prhibited the sale f liqur at prperties wned by her. Drexler was a nted develper in the city during the early 20th century, while als using her frtune fr a variety f philanthrpic pursuits Sanbrn Map (sheet 267) with the parcel tday ccupied by the Swedish American Hall highlighted 1901 San Francisc blck bk shwing the parcel as being wned by Elise A. Drexler. Drexler sld the parcel t the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc in September Initially, the Swedish Sciety cnsidered keeping the existing building n the lt, but it prved upn investigatin nt t be fit fr repairs it culd nt be altered as t meet the requirements. 6 The existing building was then sld and mved by its new wner t anther lcatin. 7 The Swedish Sciety then frmed a building cmmittee, and the results were quick and decisive. The well knwn architect, Mr. Aug. Nrdin, engaged by the cmmittee, sn had the plans and specificatins ready, and these were accepted. 8 4 The San Francisc Call, Mrs. Elise Drexler Ntifies Wine Dealers That They May Nt Remain n Her Premises, March 28, 1901, The San Francisc Call, Real Estate Transactins, September 12, 1906, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, San Francisc Architectural Heritage, Swedish Sciety Cntinues Prud Stewardship f its Histric Hme, Heritage News, Vl. XXVIII, N. 3 (May/June 2000), Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, 20. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

31 Funding fr the land purchase and cnstructin f a new hall was prvided by the Swedish Sciety, as well as a large sum ffered by Erik O. Lindblm, knwn as ne f the Three Lucky Swedes wh discvered gld in the Nme mining district during the Alaska Gld Rush. Lindblm invested his cnsiderable frtune in a variety f pursuits, and in 1908 helped create the Swedish-American Bank, fr which he served as vice president. March 1907 view f Market Street. The arrw pints t the future lcatin f the Swedish American Hall San Francisc Metrplitan Transprtatin Authrity archives, pht UO1220. Plans fr the new hall were drawn by architect August Nrdin, wh is discussed at length later in this sectin. They shw the building much as it appears tday, including the unusual twin gables with versized barge bards. Amng the varius items specified fr the primary facade are English discs, apparently crrespnding t bullseye glazing, surrunding the main entry; strefrnt windws and transms with hinged sashes; leaded glass windws; stucc n metal lath cladding in the gable ends; a clinker brick chimney; and a galvanized irn rf ridge. Other drawings shw that the building was served by bth electric incandescent and gas lighting, and that it was designed t accmmdate an elevatr shaft lcated adjacent t the main stairs. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

32 Original drawing f the Swedish American Hall. The riginal building permit, number 9876, was filed in May The permit specifies the cnstructin f a threestry-plus-mezzanine wd frame building. Several sheets f riginal drawings als survive in the Swedish Sciety s archives 9 and shw the frnt elevatin and all flrs except the basement level. A fting and drainage plan is als included (see Appendix). On May 4, 1907 the building cntract was annunced in The San Francisc Call: The Swedish Sciety f San Francisc with Andrew Olsn Rss & McCrmack, Carlsn & Swansn, Victr Stanquist and Richard J. H. Frbes T erect a three stry frame building n NW line f Market Street $35,204. Accrding t the Swedish Sciety s glden jubilee histry, Andrew Olsn cmpleted the wdwrk, Carlsn and Swansn the painting and decratin, Standquist the brick and fundatin wrk, and Mr. Pntus Franklin installed the plumbing These are nt recrd drawings r as built drawings. 10 Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

33 By June the building was under cnstructin. A ntice in the Swedish language newspaper, Vestkusten, included a cnceptual drawing f the building. The accmpanying text states: We are pleased t prduce a picture f the Swedish Sciety building as it will lk when finished. Up t nw the walls are erected t the first flr nly, but the wrk is prgressing rapidly under builder Andrew Olsn's leadership. The architect, wh as well as the builder is Swedish, is August Nrdin. The building shuld be cmpleted at a cst f apprximately $40,000 and includes a large basement, tw stres and a meeting rm n the first flr, a large hall and tw ldge rms n the secnd flr. The frnt f the building is divided int tw flrs abve the shps and cntains a ldge rm, pantry, etc. and a clubrm. N expenses have been spared in the building s cnstructin, thanks t Mr. E. Lindblm's benevlence in placing all necessary means at the sciety's dispsal. The crnerstne f the building will be placed t cincide with a singing festival here at the end f July. 11 A cnceptual drawing f the Swedish American Hall appearing in Vestkusten in June, Vestkusten, June 27, 1907 Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

34 The crnerstne fr the Swedish American Hall was laid n July 27, 1907, with the attendant ceremny described in the San Francisc Chrnicle the fllwing day. The Swedish Sciety f San Francisc and Oakland laid the crner stne f the Swedish-American hall yesterday afternn with much ceremny and great rejicing. The members f the sciety assembled at the Swedish Lutheran Church, Fifteenth and Dlres streets, and marched behind an rchestra t Veterans Hall n Dubce avenue, where the United Swedish Singers f the Pacific Cast, nw hlding a cnventin and singing festival in San Francisc and Oakland, jined the lcal sciety, and the prcessin then marched t the new structure n Market Street. The hall which is in the curse f cnstructin cvers a site 50 by 100 feet; is f mst attractive design and will be quite an rnament t that part f Market street. The grund flr will cntain tw stres and a meeting hall. The banquet-rm and kitchen will be lcated in the mezzanine flr, while the secnd flr will cntain a large assembly hall, a ldgerm, ladies parlr, cmmittee rms and ther apartments. The library and clubrms will be lcated n the third flr, and a large banquet hall fr special ccasins will be lcated in the basement, with a separate entrance frm the street. The building is t be cmpleted and ready fr ccupancy in abut fur mnths. 12 San Francisc Chrnicle, July 28, 1907 The Swedish American Hall was frmally dedicated n December 22, The San Francisc Chrnicle mentins that the dedicatin fr the new $50,000 building included a hliday themed celebratin: Evergreen decratins, apprpriate t the hliday seasn and nt lacking in significance t these peple whse memries hark back t a certain cuntry f Nrthern Eurpe, were artistically arranged thrughut the interir f the beautiful banquet hall f the new building. President R. Dybergh acted as tastmaster f the evening, and the respnses f the fficers and members f the sciety n whm he called were all f a cngratulatry nature and full f praise fr E. O. Lindblm, the sciety s hnrary member. Bth the architect and builder were heartily cngratulated fr the successful terminatin f their plans. 13 One f the nly early phtgraphs knwn f the Swedish American Hall cnfirms many f the details in Nrdin s drawing. The strefrnts riginally featured recessed entry vestibules flanked by display windws, and were crwned by multi-light transms. The piers (r pilasters) flanking the strefrnts and the entrance t Cafe Du Nrd feature simple capitals. The light fixture hanging at the entrance was a rund glbe. Amng ther interesting details in the image, the rfing shingles were applied in patterned curses, and the finials rising frm the twin gable ends were crwned with glbes. The pht als shws that the nrth and suth ends f the rfline were crwned with flagples flying the flags f the United States and Sweden. 12 San Francisc Chrnicle, Crner Stne f Swedish Hall, July 28, San Francisc Chrnicle, Fraternal Hall is Dedicated, December 23, Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

35 The Swedish American Hall, ca. early Nte that the strefrnt at 2168 Market Street is still under cnstructin. (Ted Olssn Cllectin) Architectural Influences Nrdin s design fr the façade f the Swedish American Hall is unique in San Francisc. Sme elements flw frm traditinal Swedish design cnventins, such as the steeply-pitched gable ends with decrative bargebards, as well as the stepped rfline parapets which recall crw-stepped gables used n many histric buildings in Sweden. Other features f the building s exterir are clearly rted in Arts and Crafts design as practiced in the Bay Area, including expsed rafters and brackets, as well as the use f wd shingle and clinker brick cladding. The building s mst cnspicuus exterir feature is the central bay capped by twin gables which, alng with the third flr gable drmers, prvides a symmetrical hierarchy at the rfline. Yet the primary facade is als distinguished by a prnunced asymmetry, as evidenced by the cntrasting flush and bay windw treatments at the secnd flr, as Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

36 well as the prjecting gable abve the primary entry. The building s scale is als cleverly manipulated alng the façade, such that it presents as a three-stry structure, while the interir includes three stries and a mezzanine level. The building s interir is marked by a number f hall rms distinguished by their fine wdwrk, mst frequently expressed thrugh the use f stained wd wainscts, brackets and bxed beam ceilings. While sme f the interir decrative mtifs may recall Swedish r Scandinavian designs, the building s verall interir aesthetic is mst clearly rted in Arts & Crafts design cnventins. In 1916, the San Francisc Chrnicle wrte f the building: The structure is f mst attractive design. The lwer stry, including the vestibule, is f clinker brick and the interir is elabrately finished in stain pine and pressed leather panels. The flrs and rfs are carried n expsed timber trusses, highly rnamented. Leaded windws f palescent glass give a quaint effect t the interir. The ldge rms, halls, banquet-rm and library are all furnished in the mst apprved style and the building thrughut is hmelike and decidedly cmfrtable. The ventilatin and lighting and heating systems culd nt be imprved upn. 14 The Arts and Crafts style tk rt during the late 19th century and remained ppular thrugh the 1930s. 15 Aesthetically, the style emphasized simplicity f design, the use f unadrned natural materials and hand-crafted cnstructin, and was applied t bth architecture and the decrative arts. As expressed in the San Francisc Bay Area by architects such as Bernard Maybeck, the style was als strngly influenced by Gthic design, as well as elements f the Shingle style, and is smetimes referred t as the First Bay Traditin style. The Craftsman style was a subset f the Arts and Crafts mvement, mst frequently emplyed n a mass scale fr the cnstructin f Craftsman bungalws. Indeed, the rectilinear themes and extensive use f stained wd trim used fr the interir f the Swedish American Hall shares much in cmmn with the finishes used in cntemprary Craftsman huses. It is wrth nting that ne distinctive interir feature, the cpius use f nailhead trim blcks, was als emplyed by August Nrdin in his designs fr New Era Hall anther cmbinatin scial hall and cmmercial building lcated n the 2100 blck f Market Street. August Nrdin, Architect Swedish American Hall is significant as an early wrk by master architect, August Nrdin ( ). Between circa 1897 and 1936, Nrdin designed mre than 300 buildings, including fraternal halls, churches, apartment huses, multi-family dwellings and private residences. 16 Surviving examples f Nrdin s wrk demnstrate his mastery f divergent architectural styles and his skill in wrking with a variety f building materials. Nrdin mre frequently emplyed individualized designs as ppsed t variants n a single design theme, and his strengths as a designer are evident in the careful balance f scale, prprtin and rnament. August Nrdin was brn in Stckhlm, Sweden in 1869 and immigrated t the United States in Between 1892 and 1899, San Francisc city directries list August Nrdin (aka Nrden, Nrdan, Niclaus A. Nrdin and N. August Nrdin) as carpenter r cntractr. 17 The Bigraphical Dictinary f American Architects (Deceased) reprts that Nrdin had received a thrugh training in August Nrdin, ca (Cllectins f the Swedish American Hall) 14 Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, In San Francisc sme variatins f the Craftsman Style evlved int the First Bay Traditin architecture. 16 August Nrdin Obituary: The Architect and Engineer, January Research by Tm Mayer, San Francisc Architectural Heritage, Heritage News/Vl. XXVIII, N. 3, Page 7. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

37 architecture and pened an ffice in San Francisc in Hwever, a newspaper real estate ntice indicates that Nrdin was building huses at least as early as The 1900 city directry lists August Nrdin as an architect, with ffices at 1926 Market Street. Fllwing the 1906 Earthquake, Nrdin temprarily relcated t an ffice at 563 Fillmre Street, running almst daily advertisements f his services in the San Francisc Call frm June thrugh September. By 1908, Nrdin had set up practice in the Mills Building at 220 Mntgmery Street where he remained until his death. Nrdin was a member f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc and served n the Swedish Exhibitin Cmmittee in preparatin fr the 1915 Panama Pacific Internatinal Exhibitin where it was reprted that his practical ideas were repeatedly adpted at meetings. 19 He als versaw the nsite cnstructin f the Swedish building fr Exhibitin and was lauded fr his ability t vercme numerus difficulties. At the time it was nted that Nrdin had already designed n fewer than 300 buildings since he belnged t ur sciety [the Swedish Sciety], amng which are several majr htels and residences fr sme millinaires. 20 City directry and U.S. Census recrds indicate that Nrdin frequently mved within San Francisc during his career, living at 853 Flsm Street in 1900; 501 Emma Street in 1905; 1858 Fell Street in 1910; 412 Ashbury Street in 1912; and 1541 Oak Street in 1917; 1360 Page Street in 1920; and 1390 Central Avenue in Nrdin had several children with his first wife, Annie Nrdin, a native f Ireland, wh passed away in Nrdin was remarried by 1910 t Flrence Nrdin, and had ne additinal child. Nrdin appears t have trained his sns, Lenard and Rbert, in the building trades. Bth identified themselves as carpenters during the 1910s and early 1920s, and by 1924, recrds indicate that Lenard was wrking as a building superintendent. Rbert Nrdin received an architectural license in 1931 and als wrked in the Mills building. 21 Several f Nrdin s siblings als lived in the Bay Area. Nrdin s sister, Alice Nrdin, was a trained sculptr, while his brther was described as a prminent electrician living in Oakland. 22 Nrdin wrked directly with the wners f the buildings he designed, rather than fr develpers wh wuld sell the cmpleted building t a third party. In this respect, each cmmissin was unique, and individually designed t address the client s prgrammatic needs withut sacrifice f design. Nrdin s buildings frequently play with massing and vlumes, such as used fr the 1905 huse f Edwin Bennett, a real estate investr wh als cmmissined the cnstructin f New Era Hall at 2117 Market Street the fllwing year. Nrdin als favred strng articulatin and shadw lines, amply represented by the Whiteside Apartments and the Altamnte Htel, bth cmpleted in Fr these buildings Nrdin used the thickness f the wall t create bay windws that are partially inset within the exterir plane f the building. 18 Builder s Cntracts, San Francisc Call, July 3, Vestkusten, Svenske arkitekten, June 26, Vestksuten, Arkitekt August Nrdin, June 24, Mary Brwn, San Francisc Mdern Architecture and Landscape Design Histric Cntext Statement, (San Francisc: San Francisc Planning Deparment, 2010), Appendix B, p Vestkusten, San Francisc Persnal News, January 4, Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

38 and Fultn Street, designed by August Nrdin and cmpleted in (Ggle Maps) Flats at and Cle Street designed by August Nrdin and cmpleted ca (Ggle Maps) Nrdin s designs mst frequently display Classical Revival style rnament, which was dminant in San Francisc architecture frm the turn f the century thrugh the late 1920s. Hwever, Nrdin was equally adept at designing buildings influenced by Queen Anne, Art Nuveau, Spanish Clnial Revival and Craftsman precedents, as well as interpreting Scandinavian architecture thrugh his designs fr the Swedish American Hall and his wrk as supervising architect fr the cnstructin f the Swedish Pavilin fr the 1915 Panama Pacific Internatinal Exhibitin. Nrdin als designed several churches with strng Gthic influences. These include the Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church at 722 Suth Van Ness Avenue (1905), and the Ebenezer Swedish Lutheran Church at 15th and Dlres Streets (1903), which was destryed by fire in Over the curse f his career, Nrdin demnstrated flexibility in adapting his designs t different cnstructin methds. These include the brick masnry Twin Oaks Htel at 1010 Pst Street (1907), the steel frame (clad with brick) Windeler Apartments at 424 Ellis Street (1915), and a reinfrced cncrete parking garage at 675 Pst Street (1919). Other examples f Nrdin s wrk that maintain a high degree f integrity include the Lange huse at 199 Carl Street (ca. 1900); a mixed-use building at 2761 Hyde Street that huses the Buena Vista Cafe (1911); a residence at 435 Cabrill Street (1912); the Cristbl Apartments at 750 O Farrell Street (1913); and a mixed-use building at 295 Miramar Avenue (1917). Whiteside Apartments at 150 Franklin Street, designed by August Nrdin and cmpleted in (Ggle Maps) The Altamnte Htel at th Street, designed by August Nrdin and cmpleted in (Ggle Maps) 23 Builders Cntracts. San Francisc Call. Nvember 11, Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

39 th Street, designed by August Nrdin and cnstructed in 1901 as a can factry. The building was severely damaged in 1906 and subsequently replaced. (Bancrft Library) Ebenezer Swedish Lutheran Church and rectry, designed by August Nrdin and cmpleted in (San Francisc Public Library Histrical Phtgraph Cllectin, AAB-1410) Twin Oaks Htel, 1010 Pst Street, designed by August Nrdin and cmpleted in (Ggle Maps) Cristbal Apartments at 750 O Farrell Street (1913) at tp; Parking garage at 675 Pst Street (1919) at bttm. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

40 buildings incrprate a Greek key mtif. (Ggle Maps) Edwin Bennett residence at 140 Divisader Street cmpleted in (Ggle Maps) New Era Hall at 2117 Market Street, cmmissined by Edwin Bennett and cmpleted in (Ggle Maps) Several f Nrdin s buildings, including 750 O Farrell and 424 Ellis Street, are listed n the Natinal Register as part f the Uptwn Tenderlin District. The flats at and Fultn Street are listed lcally in the Alam Square Landmark District. 150 Franklin Street is listed lcally in the Market Street Masnry Landmark District. The ther buildings are well represented n histric surveys cnducted by the Junir League in the 1960s, and the Planning Department in August Nrdin died f a heart attack at the University f Califrnia Hspital in January His bituary nted that he was a member f Islam Temple Shrine and the Scttish Rite. 24 Early Scial Halls In the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, fraternal scieties were ne f the primary surces f health insurance fr the wrking classes, as well as burial services. At their peak in abut 1920, ver ne quarter f all adult Americans were members f fraternal scieties. 25 Sme fraternal grups limited membership t a particular ethnic r religius grup. Others were pan-ethnic and centered n business r prfessinal affiliatins, ften cmbined with defined rituals and prtcl. Of the latter, the Masns and the Odd Fellws are well-knwn examples. Lesser knwn are grups which include the Knights f Pythias and the Wdmen f the Wrld, tw fraternal ldges that were nce active in the area surrunding Swedish American Hall. Of the 72 scial halls listed in the 1907 city directry, nly eighteen remain extant. Surviving buildings that hused these halls generally cnfrm t ne f three subtypes. The first includes single-stry buildings that may r may nt have been intended t be temprary. Simple in cnstructin, they did nt require elabrate building materials, nr did they supprt ther uses. Many were later replaced by permanent buildings n the same site, such as the Equality Hall at 139 Albin Avenue, while thers were redevelped as residential building sites such as the Veteran Hall at 432 Dubce Avenue. Of the dzen r s examples f this type knwn frm the perid, nly ne has survived: the Wdmen f the Wrld ldge at 2140 Market Street (nw the Lucky 13 bar), lcated n the same blck as the Swedish American Hall. The secnd type included scial halls that ccupied temprary sites within ther buildings. These might include pre Earthquake buildings where a generic strefrnt was used as a hall; r when the lwest flat in a multi-stry apartment building was used as a hall. Tw examples f this type are extant: Callegari s Hall at 421 Unin Street 24 August Nrdin Obituary: The Architect and Engineer, January Wdmen and Fraternalism (bklet), Frm 4154 R-5/97; Mdern Wdmen f America Histry, Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

41 (1906); and Cleman s Hall at 1988 Bush Street (ca. 1902). Hwever, the facades f these building give n indicatin f their use as scial halls. The third type, t which Swedish American Hall belngs, are purpse-built mixed-use buildings where the grund flr was ccupied by strefrnts, while the meeting rms were lcated n the upper flr(s). There are nly nine examples f this type cnstructed prir t 1907 which survive and have gd integrity: Divisader Hall at 321 Divisader Street (1896); Equality Hall at 139 Albin Street (1908); Findlay s Dancing Academy at th Street (1907); Missin Turn Verin Hall at th Street (1910); Oakland Hall at 1805 Divisader Street (1903); Richmnd Hall at 309 4th Avenue (1908); the Sheet Metal Wrkers Hall at 224 Guerrer Street (1906); Stegeman s Hall at 225 Valencia Street (1907) and New Era Hall at 2121 Market Street (1906). The Sheet Metal Wrkers Hall is San Francisc Landmark #150, while Missin Turn Verin Hall is San Francisc Landmark #178. It shuld be nted that New Era Hall was als designed by August Nrdin. Less than three mnths after the 1906 Earthquake, businessman Edwin W. Bennett cmmissined Nrdin t design a speculative cmmercial and public assembly building just ver tw blcks west f the Dlres Street fire line. Bennett, as a real estate investr, was clearly respnding t the saring demand fr bth cmmercial space and fraternal meeting rms. New Era Hall was t be a rental prperty with tw ldge rms that culd be rented t rganizatins in need f meeting places, with added revenue frm tw cmmercial strefrnts n the grund flr. The building is currently part f the San Francisc Histric Preservatin Cmmissin s Landmark Designatin Wrk Prgram. In the years fllwing the 1906 disaster, many fraternal scieties rebuilt their wn permanent scial halls. These included the Odd Fellws, wh cnstructed a new hall at 7 th and Market Streets in The Order f Knights f Pythias built a large brick ffice building with meeting rms at 101 Valencia Street in 1909, and the Masns cnstructed a new ldge at Van Ness Avenue and Oak Street in After Wrld War II, membership in many fraternal rganizatin began a steady decline. Cntributing factrs included a diminishing need fr fraternal rders as insurance cmpanies and dctrs became mre prfessinalized. Wrking class San Franciscans were als presented with an increasing variety f diversins fr their spare time Designed by San Francisc architects Charles Paff and Jhn Baur, the Knights f Pythias hall was subsequently purchased by the Salvatin Army, which used the building as its Nrthern Califrnia and Nevada headquarters until It was cnverted t residential use in the 1990s. 27 Siddeley, Leslie, The Rise and Fall f Fraternal Insurance Organizatins. Humane Studies Review, V7, N. 2 Spring Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

42 SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION AND THE SWEDISH SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO The histry f Swedes in San Francisc dates t the Gld Rush, and a Swedish Cnsular Crps was established in the city as early as May The first great peak f Swedish immigratin t the United States, hwever, ccurred in the late 1860s, due in large part t several crp failures in Sweden. This was fllwed by a sustained wave f immigratin during the 1880s, when sme 330,000 Swedes left fr America. 29 By 1890, apprximately 478,000 Swedes lived in the United States althugh nly a fractin f that number lived in Califrnia. U.S. Census figures indicate that the Swedish ppulatin in Califrnia numbered nly abut 2,000 persns in 1870, althugh it wuld mre than duble ver the fllwing decade. By 1900, the Swedish ppulatin in Califrnia had grwn t sme 14,500 persns. 30 As Swedish immigrants arrived in San Francisc, they frmed varius rganizatins rted in their ethnic identity. Many f these als included immigrants frm ther Scandinavian cuntries. One f the earliest such rganizatins was the Scandinavian Sciety f San Francisc, established in 1859 and dedicated t the welfare and kinship f emigrants frm Sweden, Nrway and Denmark. 31 The charter membership included 46 Swedes, 19 Nrwegians and 12 Danes, and all f these languages were spken at the Scandinavian Sciety s meetings. Alng with fstering a cmmunal scial atmsphere, the expressed cmmn gal was t prvide a meeting place fr Scandinavians living in the Bay Area. 32 The grup prduced theatricals, hsted numerus picnic utings, and als held an annual Midsummer festival. By 1874, a visitr t San Francisc stated that there were ver 400 members f the Scandinavian Sciety, and that the grup had sme $30,000 in capital cntributed by the members. 33 Alng with many immigrant grups, the Swedish and Scandinavian cmmunity was then centered Suth f Market at the time the city s mst ppulus neighbrhd. During this same perid, the Svenska Sällskapet af San Francisc (Swedish Sciety f San Francisc) was frmed, in many ways fllwing the mdel established by the Scandinavian Sciety. Accrding t an article in Heritage News, the Swedish Sciety traces its rts t 1873 and the frmatin f the Original Orpheus Singing Club: After that grup changed its name t the Singing Sciety Svea, it held its first recrded mnthly meeting, April 12, Accrding t the 1925 fficial histry, frm this date it might be truthfully stated dates ur present Swedish Sciety. At the same time, the Svea Sciety, like s many ethnic assciatins in San Francisc, tk steps t prvide its members with sick benefits. Bylaws adpted June 14, 1875, stated: It shall be the purpse and bject f this Sciety t assist the sick and bury its deceased members, t wrk fr the maintenance f a chir, and t give literary and scial entertainments. Fr a time, it appears there were tw classes f members: the singers and the rdinary members, wh prbably jined fr the scial activities and t take advantage f the benefits. The name Svea Sciety did nt survive lng. One attempt t change it, t The Swedish Unin, failed, but at the meeting f September 6, 1875, the membership abandned Svea in favr f The Swedish Sciety f San Francisc. The Sciety s first meetings tk place in a building n Mntgmery Street, n the present site f the Mills Building. In the years that fllwed, City Directries shw the rganizatin at a variety f dwntwn lcatins. 34 The 1876 city directry listing fr the Swedish Sciety states that it was Organized September 20, Numbers f members, eighty. Meets every Mnday evening at 71 New Mntgmery Street. Objects: T take care f sick members, 28 Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Swensn Swedish Immigratin Research Center, Swedish Immigratin t Nrth America, accessed 26 Octber 2014 frm: 30 Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, (Minneaplis: Swedish Cuncil f America, 1975), Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Ibid: Ibid: San Francisc Architectural Heritage, Swedish Sciety Cntinues Prud Stewardship f its Histric Hme, Heritage News, Vl. XXVIII, N. 3 (May/June 2000), 6-7. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

43 aid the destitute, and bury the dead. Alng with these bjectives, a later Cnstitutin f the Swedish Sciety states bjectives t encurage gd singing; t arrange literary and scial entertainments, and t wn and maintain a library fr the prfit and pleasure f the members. 35 Nearly all f the early recrds f the Sciety were destryed by the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, but a retrspective published in 1916 by the San Francisc Chrnicle prvides sme illuminatin f the Swedish Sciety s frmatin and early years. At that time there was $ in the treasury and plenty f enthusiasm in the membership. The early days f the sciety were marked by numerus pleasant events, such as cncerts, dances and picnics. New talent was develped amng the singers, and the strangers and relatives frm the ld cuntry fund at nce upn their arrival here a warm and earnest receptin The first meeting place in San Francisc f the ld Sciety f Svea was in Sanders Hall n New Mntgmery Street. Later the Swedish Sciety met in Irwin Hall n Pst Street, Pythian Castle n Market Street, and Alcazar Hall n O Farrell Street. The early day cncerts, entertainments and theatricals were held by the sciety in Platt s Hall, Odd Fellws Hall, Turnverein and Saratga Halls. 36 The infrmatin abve is largely cnfirmed by a histry f the Swedish Sciety which states that the perid between 1877 and seems t have been a perid f steady grwth and increasing membership and financial strength fr each passing year. Annual utings, usually held at the ld Shell Mund Park scials, musicals and theatrical entertainments appear t have been frequent, and, as appears frm the prgrams still in existence, must have furnished the membership with splendid entertainment. 37 Numerus ther Swedish rganizatins were frmed in San Francisc during the late 19th century, including the Swedish Wmen s Benevlent Sciety (1874), Swedish American Plitical Club (1890), The Swedish Gymnastic Swedish Sciety f San Francisc membership card, (Cllectins f the San Francisc Public Library) Club (1894), Swedish Drama Sciety (1895), and the Swedish Ladies Sciety (1896). 38 A number f Swedish religius institutins were als established all f them in the Suth f Market. In 1884, Swedish immigrants purchased a lt at Missin and 9 th Street and erected the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church. The Missin Cvenant Church, established in 1877, mved int a frmer German church lcated at Jessie and Sixth streets in the late 1880s. The Cvenant Church als perated the Seaman s Hme at Drumm and Cmmercial streets. In 1897, the Swedish Baptist Church cnstructed a new church n 10 th Street in the Suth f Market. 39 One f the mst imprtant develpments fr the Swedish cmmunity was the establishment f Vestkusten (The West Cast), a Swedish language newspaper launched in Originally published by Pastr Jhannes Telleen f the Ebenezer Church, and subsequently by Alrik G. Spencer, the paper was acquired in 1894 by Ernst Skarstedt and Alexander Olssn, bth f whm had previusly wrked n the newspaper s staff. In 1897 Olssn assumed sle wnership, and ver the ensuing decades established Vestkusten as the paper f recrd fr the Bay Area s Swedish ppulatin. Thrugh Vestkusten, Olssn dcumented births, deaths and marriages, advertised cmmercial cmings 35 Objects f the Sciety are Explained, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Ibid: Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

44 and gings, and kept his readers apprised f cmmunity events and celebratins. 40 Olssn wuld als serve as president f the Swedish Sciety frm 1903 t The mst imprtant annual event fr the Swedish cmmunity was the Midsummer Festival, which prvided a symblic bnd between immigrants in the new wrld and their ancestral hme. The prminence f the Midsummer Festival was such that the a number f Swedish rganizatins frmed a cmmittee t rganize festivities fr a Sweden Day, held May 14, 1894 during the Midwinter Fair in Glden Gate Park. The event included a parade f Swedish scieties, as well as a cncert given by the Swedish rchestra and Swedish male chrus. 41 Accrding t a pamphlet prepared fr the Swedish Sciety s glden jubilee, ver 6,000 Swedes participated, marking Sweden Day as the first time n the Pacific Cast that Swedish peple gathered in such great numbers t celebrate. 42 An utgrwth f the rganizing cmmittee was the funding f the Swedish American Patritic League heavily prmted by Alexander Olssn in Vestkusten which wuld prvide a central rganizatin t prmte similar events. Initially, the grup cnsisted f 26 delegates frm 10 rganizatins, f which the Swedish Sciety was the ldest and largest. 43 The League was als instrumental in frming the Swedish-American Hall Assciatin, incrprated in As with the League, The Swedish-American Hall Assciatin was cmprised f members f varius Swedish scieties in San Francisc and Alameda Cunty, including the new Swedish Sciety f Oakland, frmed in 1901 as Branch N. 1 f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc. 45 In Octber 1902, the Swedish-American Hall Assciatin hsted a bazaar with the prceeds t be credited in equal shares t the several scieties participating. 46 In April 1904, the Swedish-American Hall Assciatin celebrated the pening f a new building knwn as Scandia Hall and lcated at 161 City Hall Avenue near what is tday the intersectin f Grve and Larkin streets in the Civic Center area. Amng the speakers was Alexander Olssn, editr f Vestkusten, and a prgram f sngs was sung by the Swedish Singing Sciety. 47 At the time f its cnstructin, Scandia Hall served as headquarters fr the Swedish Sciety, as well as the hme fr its library. 48 Research did nt reveal any phtgraphs f Scandia Hall, but the 1905 Sanbrn map shws it as a twand-a-half stry brick structure with ldge rms n the secnd flr. At the rear, the building was cnnected t anther brick building facing Market Street which included a saln n the grund flr and a dance hall n the secnd stry. The suthwest crner f the ld City Hall std immediately acrss the street, while adjacent t the west was the Califrnia Pttery Wrks. San Francisc Call, May 4, Less than tw years later, Scandia Hall was destryed by ne f the numerus fires that brke ut fllwing the 1906 Earthquake. Its destructin ffered an pprtunity fr the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc which previusly had been nly ne f several scieties invlved in the cnstructin f Scandia Hall t cnstruct its wn facility. As related in Heritage News: In April 1906, their [the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc] meeting place, Skandia Hall, n City Hall Avenue, fell t the flames n the first day f the fire that fllwed the great earthquake. With it, the San Francisc Call, May 4, Ibid: Fr Old Sweden, The Mrning Call, May 15, 1894, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, Ted Olssn, The Swedish American Patritic League, A Histrical Perspective n the 100 th Anniversary, accessed Nvember 7, 2014 frm 44 Sacrament Daily Unin Articles f Incrpratin, June 10, Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), San Francisc Call, Swedish Scieties Hld Bazaar, Octber 7, San Francisc Call, Swedes Cmmemrate Opening f New Hall, May 4, Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), 57. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

45 cnflagratin cnsumed all the Sciety s papers and ther prperty, including its cherished library, begun in 1877 with a handsme $500 apprpriatin t purchase bks. The Swedish Lutheran Church, at 15th and Dlres, which itself had barely escaped the fire, generusly ffered a temprary hme t the Sciety. The disaster fcused the members attentin n having a permanent hme. The Sciety s fficial histry states, Fr many years it had been a latent wish, an unrealized ambitin; but catastrphe and adversity had brught the questin t the fre; it was t be nw r never. With the generus assistance f a member f the Swedish cmmunity wh did nt even belng t the sciety, and insurance mney, paid in full by a Swedish cmpany, the Sciety began its recvery. 49 The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church at 15th and Dlres streets in Dlres Street had been used as a fire break in the aftermath f the 1906 Earthquake. (Califrnia Histrical Sciety) The events f 1906 were als recunted in a retrspective article abut the Swedish Sciety published by the San Francisc Chrnicle in 1916: At the time f the fire f April, 1906, the Swedish Sciety was cmfrtably situated in Scandia Hall The cnflagratin swept away all the recrds f the sciety, furniture in its rms, regalia and a library f several thusand vlumes. But the funds f the rganizatin, amunting at that time t $25,000 were n depsit and did nt disappear in the flames. Nt discncerted in the least by the calamity, but, in fact, bund tgether in clser friendship by the disaster which affected all, the members immediately reassembled and fr sme time cnducted their meetings in the Swedish Lutheran Church, Fifteenth and Dlres streets. The sciety did nt lse a member during these days f calamity. Prmpt aid was given t thse affiliated with the rganizatin and als t their cuntrymen. Tw mnths after the fire the building cmmittee f the rder recmmended the purchase f the fifty-ft lt 2174 Market, near Sanchez Street. The building cmmittee was cmpsed f the fllwing: R. Dybergh, Alfred Lundquist, Alex Olssn, N. Trubeck, O. Sjrgren, O. Pearsn and Emil Hgberg San Francisc Architectural Heritage, Swedish Sciety Cntinues Prud Stewardship f its Histric Hme, Heritage News, Vl. XXVIII, N. 3 (May/June 2000), Members Give Aid t Brthers Sick r in Distress, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, 19. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

46 The decisin t purchase the lt n Market Street was made in cperatin with ther Swedish rganizatins, including the resurrected Swedish Hall Assciatin, which expressed a desire t erect a new meeting place s lng as the Swedish Sciety culd furnish the funds fr the building site. 51 Accrding t Muriel Berza in her bk, Glden Gate Swedes, the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc had sufficient funds t acquire the lt fr a new building, but nt enugh t cnstruct the building they envisined: The prperty was purchased n July 26, 1906 fr $12,000. The ld building n the prperty was sld and mved and a new building was erected. The Swedish American Hall was cmpleted in December 1907 at a cst f $42,720 in additin t the riginal price f the lt. The sciety s funds were nw $21,285.41, nt enugh fr the prperty and a new building. Luckily, ne f the mre affluent members f the Swedish clny, Erik O. Lindblm f Alaska Gld Rush fame, lent the Sciety $40,000 t cmplete the Swedish meeting hall. By the 25th anniversary f the building in 1925 [sic], the mrtgage was paid ff, including the 2% interest rate. At the dedicatin ceremny n December 22, 1907, the Sciety rewarded the generus Lindblm with the first hnrary membership in the Swedish Sciety. It is remarkable that the building was erected with such speed. The crnerstne was laid in July f that year cmplete with a cpper bx f memrabilia including the by-laws, a list f the membership, cpies f the lcal newspapers and the Swedish paper Vestkusten. The Hall was ready fr ccupancy by the end f the year and was available t the Swedish peple. The building was prmptly put t use as a meeting place by all f the nw numerus Swedish rganizatins, a functin which it still serves t this day. 52 Detail frm a circa 1910 pht cllage celebrating the cnstructin f the Swedish American Hall. Nte Erik Lindblm at center, architect August Nrdin at center right, and Vestkusten publisher Alexander Olssn at lwer left. (Cllectin f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc) 51 Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

47 Scandinavians in Upper Market Alng with the Swedes, the late 19 th and early 20 th century was als marked by large-scale immigratin frm ther Scandinavian cuntries. Initially, mst Scandinavians settled in the Midwest, but sizeable West Cast ppulatins were als established in Califrnia and Washingtn. Between 1890 and 1910, it is estimated that sme 150,000 Swedes, Nrwegians and Danes settled alng the Pacific Cast, many f whm wrked in lumber, shipbuilding, and fishing industries. Many thers wrked as carpenters and masns. 53 In Califrnia, the Swedish ppulatin nearly dubled during the first decade f the 20 th century, rising frm apprximately 14,500 t 26,000 persns between 1900 and When the Swedish American Hall was cmpleted, it std in the midst f an emerging Scandinavian enclave that had begun t calesce in the Missin Dlres, Dubce Triangle and Upper Market areas at the turn f the century. With the exceptin f an lder Mexican-American residential enclave adjacent t Missin Dlres, these areas were largely develped between circa 1885 and The catalyst fr sustained develpment f the area was the pening f new mass transit rutes, including tw new lines develped in 1883: the Market Street Cable Railrad s Blue Line, which ran ut Market Street t Valencia Street, as well as the Red Line, which ran ut Haight Street t Glden Gate Park. These were fllwed by the White Line, which pened in 1888 and ran ut Market Street t Castr Street. These lines prvided a cnnectin with the City s dwntwn cre, and by the turn f the 20 th century the blcks in what are tday the Dubce Triangle, Missin Dlres and Castr neighbrhds were in varius stages f being built ut. A majr impetus in the develpment f the Scandinavian enclave in the area was the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, which displaced tens f thusands f residents living in the Suth f Market including a substantial prtin f the city s Scandinavian ppulatin. Even befre the calamity f 1906, hwever, tw majr tuchstnes f the Scandinavian cmmunity had already relcated t the area. The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church mved frm the Suth f Market t 15 th and Dlres streets in Als nearby was St. Ansgar s Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church at 152 Church Street, cnstructed in Given the presence f these existing institutins, it was natural fr many displaced Scandinavians t relcate t the area, much f which had been spared thrugh heric firefighting effrts which cnfined the cnflagratin t the blcks east f Dlres Street. 55 The Vestkusten newspaper likewise mved t the area shrtly after the 1906 Earthquake. Publisher Alexander Olssn purchased a huse at 30 Sharn Street, cnverting the dwnstairs t huse ffices and the printing presses. The paper wuld remain at this address until 1928, when new ffice space was acquired at 253 Church Street Kay Melchisedech Olsn, Nrwegian, Swedish and Danish Immigrants , (Mankat, Minnesta: Capstne Press, 2002): Allan Kastrup, The Swedish Heritage in America, (Minneaplis: Swedish Cuncil f America, 1975), This sectin is derived frm Page & Turnbull, Upper Market Street Cmmercial Histric District DPR 523D frm: Market & Octavia Area Plan Histric Resurce Survey (San Francisc Planning Department, June, 2007). 56 Muriel N. Berza, Frm Ebenezer t Vestkusten, Nrdstjernan, accessed Nvember 7, 2014 frm Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

48 The new hme f the Vestkusten newspaper at 30 Sharn Street, (Nrdstjernan) In the wake f the disaster, numerus ther Swedish and Scandinavian churches relcated t the area, as well as a few recreatinal facilities and scial service rganizatins. Over time, the lcal Scandinavian cmmunity grew t be served by an array f institutins, mst f which were cncentrated west f Missin Street, nrth f 18th Street, east f Castr Street and suth f Dubce Avenue. These included the fllwing: Swedish Lutheran Ebenezer Church (200 Dlres Street) Swedish American Hall ( Market Street) St. Ansgar Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (152 Church Street) Swedish Evangelical Missin Church / Missin Tabernacle (455 Dlres Street) First Swedish Baptist Church ( th Street) First Swedish Methdist Episcpal Church (439 Guerrer Street) Nrwegian Lutheran Church (407 Dlres Street) Nrwegian Singing Sciety (431 Dubce Avenue) Swedish Hme fr Girls ( th Street) Central Methdist (Nrwegian & Danish ) Church ( th Street) Vestkusten Swedish newspaper (30 Sharn Street) Finnila s Finnish Baths ( th Street) Swedish Athletic Club ( th Street) Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

49 1930 view f the Swedish Tabernacle at 455 Dlres Street, cnstructed in (San Francisc Public Library Histrical Pht Cllectin) 1930 view f the Swedish Methdist Church at 439 Guerrer Street, cnstructed in (San Francisc Public Library Histrical Pht Cllectin) As discussed in Glden Gate Swedes, a number f cmmercial enterprises were als established in the area and the whle neighbrhd had acquired a definite Swedish flavr. 57 In additin t businesses such as the Cafe Du Nrd and Swedish Mercantile Cmpany, bth lcated in the Swedish American Hall (see fllwing sectin), sme f the neighbrhd businesses established in the vicinity ver the years included Gerge Hlmgren s cafe and bakery, Arn Swansn s barber shp, and Linde s Market at 15th and Ne streets. The advertising pages f Vestkusten als pint t a strng cncentratin f Scandinavian-wned businesses in the immediate vicinity f the Swedish American Hall. Detail frm the advertising sectin f Vestkusten, September 24, Nte that all f the businesses shwn are cncentrated within a few blcks f the Swedish American Hall. 57 Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), 59. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

50 During the early 20 th century, Swedish and Scandinavian rganizatins als frmed in the Missin, Ptrer Hill and Bernal Heights areas, including the Swedish Lutheran Emanuel Church n Crtland Avenue near Gates Street, the Swedish Finnish Lutheran Church at 1303 Flrida Street, the Swedish Salem Baptist Church at 856 Capp Street, and the Swedish Lutheran Church at 1330 Vermnt Street. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

51 USE OF THE SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL The Swedish American Hall was designed as cmbinatin cmmercial building and scial hall. Incme was raised frm renting its cmmercial spaces, as well as by leasing the ldge rms t a variety f fraternal rganizatins. Nearly all f the interir ldge rms were given names assciated with Nrse mythlgy. Fr example, the Odin ldge rm is named fr the chief gd in Nrse mythlgy, while they building s principal hall is named fr Odin s wife, the fertility gddess Freja. The Balder ldge rm is named fr the Nrdic gd f peace, while the Verdandi club rm is named fr ne f the three nrns, r fates. Likewise, the Valhalla banquet rm is named fr a mythlgical hall f the afterlife. By cntrast, Svea is a Swedish female name that can be translated simply as Swede, r as the female persnificatin f Sweden. 58 The Swedish American Hall pened its drs in December At that time it cntained tw strefrnts: 2168 Market Street t the east, and 2172 Market Street t the west. The ldge rms were accessed frm the primary entry addressed as 2174 Market Street, and the Cafe Du Nrd was addressed as 2170 Market Street. Early Cmmercial Tenants During its first tw decades f peratin, the building s mst durable cmmercial tenants were the Cafe Du Nrd, liqur merchants, and a she stre. Cafe Du Nrd pened n later than September A letter in the Swedish Sciety archives dated 18 September 1907 frm Thmas Hain t the Hall Cmmittee states that: I hereby make applicatin fr the renting f the Basement in the Swedish Hall Building, 2174 Market Sts t be fitted up by me as a first class Saln and Billiard Parlr. It is unclear whether Hain served as the riginal prprietr, as an advertisement fr the Cafe Du Nrd the fllwing year shws Alex Pihlstrm as manager. Of interest, Pihlstrm was als a musical directr fr numerus Swedish singing grups during this perid. Circa view f the Swedish American Hall. Nte the sign fr Cafe Du Nrd. (Ted Olssn Cllectin) 58 Muriel N. Berza, The Swedish American Hall in San Francisc, The Swedish-American Histrical Quarterly, Vl. LVIII, N. 4, Octber 2007, 276. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

52 Regardless f management, there was a clear nging business cnnectin between the Cafe Du Nrd and liqur merchants perating frm the 2168 Market Street strefrnt. As related in Glden Gate Swedes: The Cafe Du Nrd was first wned by the Swedish Mercantile Assciatin. The president f the cmpany was August Gradin and the manager was Mrs. Nels Crnfelt. Gradin was a painter and served as president f the Building Fund fr Scandia Hall. 59 A September 1908 advertisement in Vestkusten lists the Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany, dealers in whlesale liqur, at the same address as the Cafe Du Nrd: 2170 Market Street. By late Nvember f that year, a similar advertisement states that the cmpany had recently pened its stre at 2168 Market Street where they prvided every kind f wine and spirit, bth dmestic and imprted. 60 September 3, 1908 advertisement in the Vestkusten newspaper fr the Cafe Du Nrd and the Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany. The translated text 61 reads in part that: In the Swedish Hall building s basement, 2170 Market St., The Swedish-Am. Mercantile C. is nw pen t the public. All welcme! All kinds f imprted and dmestic wines and liqueurs. Scandinavian and German delicacy dishes served. Subsequent advertisements frm early 1909 shw the Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany as being lcated at bth 2168 and 2170 Market Street. In the 1909 and 1912 city directries, hwever, the cmpany is shwn nly with an address f 2168 Market Street. But again in 1914 the city directry shws the cmpany as sharing an address with the Cafe Du Nrd. In additin, Nils Crnfelt, liqurs, is als shwn at the same address. In 1920, the Cafe Du Nrd is shwn as sharing space with Nils Crnfelt, but there is n mentin f the Swedish American Mercantile Cmpany. Subsequent advertisements in Vestkusten shw that the Swedish American Mercantile Cmpany served as agents fr a number f Eurpean brands. A July 1, 1909 advertisement states: Swedish American Mercantile Cmpany (Swedish Imprt Cmpany) Dealing in all kinds f wines & spirits whlesale and retail. Agents fr Stillahafskusten, fr Tegner & Wilckens Punch, Carlsten Prter and Bisquit Dubusche & C. authentic French cgnac. Blue and Gld whiskey punch and ur wn well-knwn brands. In additin t selling liqur, the Swedish American Mercantile Cmpany als carried specialty fds. Advertisements fr the Cafe Du Nrd shw that it likewise served ethnic fds, such as herring breakfasts and ysters. The Cafe als featured a reading rm and billiards. 59 Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Vestkusten, Nvember 26, The wrding is likely nt exact. Translatins made using Ggle Translate. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

53 March 25, 1909 advertisement in the Vestkusten newspaper fr the Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany. The text reads in part that the cmpany recmmends its well-stcked inventry f abslutely first-rate, dmestic and imprted wines and spirits. We als desire t pint ut that we will sn cmbine ur business with a chsen stck f salable grceries and delicacies Nvember 19, 1908 advertisement in the Vestkusten newspaper. The text reads In the Swedish Hall building s basement, 2170 Market Street. First class bar and grill. Herring breakfasts, ysters and all kinds f delicacies served. Reading rm, billiards, etc. Axel Pihlstrm, prprietr. The ther lngstanding tenant during the early years f the Swedish American Hall was a she stre, smetimes named as Svea Shes, at the 2172 Market Street strefrnt. The shp was pened in early 1908 by C. J. Larsn, wh resided nearby th Street. City directries, hwever, shw Charles Andersn as perating the she stre frm at least 1909 thrugh By 1929, the stre had been taken ver by Charles Leandr, and apparently clsed during the early 1930s when it was replaced by a delicatessen knwn as Nrdic Health Fds. Anther imprtant figure in the Swedish American Hall s peratin was Charles Ramberg, wh served as a lifelng superintendent f the Swedish Hall frm its beginning in 1907 until his death in Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

54 April 15, 1915 advertisement in the Vestkusten newspaper fr Charles Andersn s She Stre (Svea Shes) at 2172 Market Street. The Swedish text reads: New stck f all kinds f ftwear fr men, wmen and children. Repairs f all kinds f ftwear made quickly and cheaply. Fraternal Organizatins While the building s cmmercial tenants prvided a vital surce f incme, the Swedish American Hall s primary purpse was t prvide meeting space fr an array f scial and fraternal rganizatins. As discussed previusly, mst f the meeting rms were named after figures in Nrse mythlgy. The names f these rms als appear t have been specifically assciated with sme f the fraternal scieties that used them. These included the Independent Order f Odd Fellws (I.O.O.F.) Odin Ldge N. 393, frmed in 1904 frm the Knights f the Glden Banner, as well as a wmen s auxiliary f the I.O.O.F., Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284, rganized in Accrding t the Swedish Sciety s glden jubilee histry, these tw rganizatins were the first t apply fr space in the building, and practically all the rms were rented prir t the building s cmpletin. 63 The Balder ldge rm appears t have served as the meeting space fr Balder Ldge N. 393 f the Free and Accepted Masns, frmed in Early 20 th century view f the Balder ldge rm (Ted Olssn Cllectin) 63 Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925), Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

55 Other lngstanding users f the ldge rms included the Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119, frmed in 1907 as a branch f the largest Swedish American fraternal rganizatin in America. 64 City directries als pint t extended use f the building by parlrs f the Native Sns f the Glden West, Native Daughters f the Glden West, and the Ancient Order f Druids. A list f ccupants, including the varius fraternal rganizatins using the Swedish American Hall, is included as Appendix A. Anther lngstanding feature f the building was its use by varius singing grups, especially the Swedish Singing Sciety. As with ther fraternal rganizatins, the singing grup prvided a scial utlet fr members, while als prviding a link t the hmeland. As related by Irving Babw in a histry f the Swedish Singing Sciety f San Francisc: The interest in the mther cuntry and its flk music is sentimental and petic rather than plitical The nstalgic Swedish chrus, unlike the prtest type f singing sciety fund in sme ther immigrant grups, des nt perfrm sngs which reflect immigrant experiences in this cuntry, advcate changes in the institutins r scial rder, r mve utside its immigrant cmmunity in its identificatins. The stress is n kindling and keeping alive pleasant memries f the hmeland. Bth in its scial rganizatin and in the cntent f the flk music which it perfrms and helps t keep alive, the singing club is a way f transplanting and maintaining in the immigrant cmmunity part f the cultural envirnment f the hmeland. 65 Detail frm a pht f the United Swedish Singers f the Pacific Cast in frnt f the Swedish American Hall, June Nte the awning-style strefrnt transm windws and sign fr Acme Beer at far right abve the 2168 Market Street strefrnt. (Cllectins f the Swedish Sciety) 64 Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000) Irving Babw, The Swedish Singing Sciety f San Francisc, The Chrnicle, Vl. 1. N. 3 (Autumn 1954), 6. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

56 As discussed previusly, singing had been a significant aspect f ethnic identity fr Swedish immigrants in San Francisc, and a singing grup was at the heart f the frmatin f the Swedish Sciety. In 1892 an exclusively singing sciety was rganized, and frm the turn f the century thrugh 1933 was under the directin f Axel Pihlstrm, wh als directed Danish and Nrwegian male chruses in San Francisc. 66 Other men s singing grups were frmed in Oakland. These grups als frmed a lcal federatin, the United Scandinavian Singers, fr pan- Scandinavian celebratins, such as Leif Ericsn Day. During Wrld War II, the Swedish American Patritic League jined with Scandinavian singers in a prgram t aid Wings fr Nrway. During the first decade f its existence, the Swedish American Hall als played a vital rle as the central meeting place fr rganizing the cnstructin f a Swedish Pavilin at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Internatinal Expsitin (PPIE). Althugh this wrld s fair was stensibly held t celebrate the pening f the Panama Canal, it als ffered an pprtunity fr San Francisc t celebrate its recvery frm the 1906 Earthquake. The fair pened in February 1915 in what is tday the Marina District, featuring scres f halls shwcasing technlgical achievements, as well as pavilins representing varius U.S. states and natins frm arund the glbe. By the time the fair clsed in December 1915, mre than 15 millin persns had attended. When San Francisc was chsen t hst the fair in 1911, the Swedish American Patritic League sn frmed an exhibitin cmmittee t wrk n fundraising fr the cnstructin f a Swedish pavilin. In additin t these effrts, William Matsn, wner f the Matsn Navigatin Cmpany and Swedish Cnsul General at San Francisc, annunced in 1913 that the Swedish gvernment was apprpriating $160,000 fr cnstructin f the pavilin. 67 Ferdinand Bberg f Stckhlm, architect f the Malm Exhibitin f 1914, was engaged t design the building, with August Nrdin serving as the supervising architect n site. The Swedish Pavilin at the 1915 Panama Pacific Internatinal Exhibitin (San Francisc Public Library Histrical Phtgraph Cllectin) 66 Ibid: Frank M. Tdd, The Stry f the Expsitin: Being the Official Histry f the Internatinal Celebratin Held in San Francisc in 1915, Vlume II, (New Yrk: G. P. Putnam s Sns The Knickerbcker Press, 1921), 117. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

57 Grundbreaking fr the pavilin tk place n May 7, 1914, but its cnstructin was beset by difficulties, nt least f which was the utbreak f Wrld War I. The distance between San Francisc and Sweden als cmplicated cmmunicatins and made it difficult t reslve prblems quickly as they arse. Thrugh all f this, it appears that August Nrdin played a leading rle in the prject s success. As related by Vestkusten n June 24, 1915: One must cnsider the tangled prcess fr apprval f the drawings by the exhibitin bard and ther hrrrs t a degree mre nerus, alng with an apprpriatin made by parliament that had t be used with extreme frugality. Architect Nrdin was the man t bring the great wrk t fruitin, despite all the difficulties. King Gustaf V hnred him n the pening day f the Swedish exhibitin building by appinting him Knight f the Ryal Vasa Order, First Class. The Chairman f the Swedish-American Exhibitin Cmmittee, Richard Bergstrm, as well as secretary A. O. Lindstrm, Alexander Olssn, and builders Arvid H. Bergstrm and Eric Lange, were similarly hnred. 68 It is interesting t nte that August Nrdin was nt the nly member f his family recgnized fr his cntributins t the P.P.I.E. His sister, Alice, was awarded a silver medal at the fair fr her sculpture f a Fisherman s wife. As described by a cntemprary reviewer, the Swedish Pavilin was built f gray stne in the style f a cuntry manr in the sixteenth century, with a twer reminiscent f an ld church in Dalecarlia. The famus design f the three crwns, which may be seen everywhere in Sweden has been used effectively fr a brad stne frieze running at the base f the twer, as well as fr interir decratins. 69 Based n the Official Swedish Catalgue prduced fr the fair, the Swedish Hall featured a number f large rms where visitrs culd see examples f wrk by varius Swedish cmpanies and artists, as well as learn abut Sweden s culture, natural resurces and industry. 70 A Sweden Week was held at the fair frm June 20-26, with activities that included mtin pictures frm Sweden, a Midsummer s Eve presentatin, and a parade frm Van Ness Avenue t the fairgrunds. 71 The Swedish Singing Sciety f San Francisc als arranged a singing festival during the expsitin featuring the United Swedish Singers f the Pacific Cast, described as ne f the greatest effrts ever made by Swedish rganizatins in the United States. 72 Thrughut 1915, the Swedish American Hall received numerus Swedish visitrs, and accrding t a glden jubilee histry, Banquets and festivities f all kinds were frequent, and it might nt be t bastful t say that all citizens f San Francisc f Swedish birth r descent, whether members f the Swedish Sciety r nt, pinted with a great amunt f pride t the beautiful building at 2174 Market Street. 73 An imprtant utgrwth f the fair were cntinued fundraising effrts by the Swedish American Patritic League t purchase Sveadal, a recreatinal and retirement facility lcated n 110 acres in Uvas Canyn near Mrgan Hill. The land was purchased in 1926 and cntinues t be used tday Vestkusten, March 4, The Nrth at the Glden Gate, The American-Scandinavian Review, Vl. III Cntaining Issues f 1915, (New Yrk: American-Scandinavian Fundatin, 1915), Official Swedish Catalgue Panama-Pacific Internatinal Expsitin San Francisc 1915, (Stckhlm: Centraltrvckeriet, 1915). 71 Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, San Francisc Architectural Heritage, Swedish Sciety Cntinues Prud Stewardship f its Histric Hme, Heritage News, Vl. XXVIII, N. 3 (May/June 2000), Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), 85. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

58 Early 20 th century view f Freja Hall. Nte the Masnic symbls hanging frm the balcny. (Ted Olssn Cllectin) In July 1916 the San Francisc Chrnicle published a feature article n the Swedish Sciety entitled, Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin, Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here. It included a brief histry f the rganizatin and its funders, as well as a discussin f the events f 1906 and the subsequent cnstructin f the Swedish American Hall. The article states that the number f first generatin Swedish immigrants residing in San Francisc, Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley at that time was estimated at mre than 16,000. It als states that any able-bdied, mrally and physically sund man, brn f parents speaking the Swedish language, is eligible fr membership. The initiatin fee is $5. 75 At that time, the Chrnicle nted the financial health f the rganizatin, which included assets f $74,000 in additin t the value f the Swedish American Hall and lt, estimated at $60, Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, 19. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

59 San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916 Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

60 The article was accmpanied by phts including a phtgraph f the exterir f the Swedish American Hall, as well as an interir phtgraph f the library, tday knwn as the Verdandi rm. The latter shws that the inglenk in that rm is tday virtually unchanged frm that time. A grandfather clck shwn in the image was dnated t the Swedish Sciety by Eric O. Lindblm and is still lcated in the building, althugh n lnger in that rm. 76 The article cncludes with a discussin f Swedish American patritism, quting a Swedish Sciety fficer as fllws: It is a fact that sner, perhaps, than any ther peple brn under a freign flag, they becme patritic citizens f the United State f America. Sme f them are s ready t d this that they may be said t be at fault in frgetting, in such a shrt time, all abut their native land. 77 Early 20th century pht f the Odin ldge rm. Nte the riginal light fixtures, n lnger extant. (Swedish Sciety Archives) In Octber f 1925 the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc celebrated its fifty-year anniversary, memrialized in a bklet entitled The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee That dcument ntes that the Sciety then cunted 520 active members, and during its existence had paid ut mre than $100,000 in sick and burial benefits, as well as dnatins t members. 78 The prgress f the Swedish Sciety s Oakland branch was als nted, including the cnstructin f Jenny Lind Hall in This building remains extant at 2267 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, althugh it tday serves as the headquarters fr a Buddhist Assciatin. Frm the 1920s thrugh the late 20 th century, the Swedish American Hall cntinued t serve as the central meeting place fr Swedish scial and fraternal rganizatins in San Francisc. It was likewise the site f cncerts, dances and scial gatherings which are t numerus fr this reprt. On several ccasins, the hall als hsted visits frm members f the Swedish ryalty, as well as plitical leaders, including Prince Wilhelm in 1927; Prince Bertil in 1958, 76 Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925, Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here, San Francisc Chrnicle, July 9, 1916, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee , (San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber 1925), 26. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

61 1960 and 1971; Prime Minister Tage Erlander in 1961; Crwn Prince Carl Gustav tday King Carl XVI Gustaf in 1967; and Crwn Princess Victria in While many Swedish rganizatins that used the Hall remain extant in sme frm, their memberships are a fractin f their frmer size. In 1996, with nly a few members remaining, the Swedish Sciety was rerganized. This included adpting new bylaws and cancelling the sick and burial benefits f membership. Arund the same time, the Sciety began a prgram f imprvements that included a new receptin area and management ffice at the 2172 Market Street strefrnt, as well as the installatin f fire alarms and security features. A new Swedish Cultural Heritage Fundatin was als launched, with a twenty-year lease n the library and archives lcated n the furth flr f the Swedish American Hall. 80 The Swedish American Hall in June, One f the few histric exterir phts f the building. Nte the altered strefrnts and the lss f the stepped parapets at the east and west ends f the rf. (Max Kirkeberg Cllectin, San Francisc State University) Sme f the reasns fr the decline in interest in Swedish rganizatins was bserved in Glden Gate Swedes, published in 2000: With few exceptins, the ld Swedish rganizatins are passing frm the scene. They are unable t secure new members; mst f them are nw either the children r grandchildren f the Swedish immigrants. It can be seen by the diminishing members and als difficulty in finding new leadership. The new immigrants frm Sweden have frmed their wn scieties as they have 79 Muriel N. Berza, The Swedish American Hall in San Francisc, The Swedish-American Histrical Quarterly, Vl. LVIII, N. 4, Octber 2007, Ibid: 279. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

62 different interests. Mst f the new immigrants are fluent in English, are well educated and d nt require a safety net r supprt frm fellw cuntrymen t make it in the new wrld. It is sad and nstalgic t see the lder clubs struggling t survive in this mdern age with cnflicting activities and many frms f entertainment and scial cntacts that are nw available. Mst f the club members belng ut f a sense f lyalty t the past and a desire t perpetuate the rganizatins that were s much a part f their childhd and such imprtant institutins in the lives f their parents and grandparents. 81 Fr a mre cmplete understanding f the evlutin f Swedish rganizatins during the 20 th century, please see Glden Gate Swedes by Muriel Nelsn Berza. The cllectins f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc can als prvide additinal illuminatin f this subject. The Swedish American Hall ca (Reprduced frm the Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee brchure) 81 Muriel N. Berza, Glden Gate Swedes, (Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, 2000), 78. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

63 ARTICLE 10 LANDMARK DESIGNATION This sectin f the reprt is an analysis and summary f the applicable criteria fr designatin, integrity, perid f significance, significance statement, character-defining features, and additinal Article 10 requirements. Criteria fr Designatin Check all criteria applicable t the significance f the prperty that are dcumented in the reprt. The criteria checked is (are) the basic justificatin fr why the resurce is imprtant. _X_ Assciatin with events that have made a significant cntributin t the brad patterns f ur histry. Assciatin with the lives f persns significant in ur past. _X_ Embdy distinctive characteristics f a type, perid, r methd f cnstructin, r that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whse cmpnents may lack individual distinctin. Has yielded r may be likely t yield infrmatin imprtant in histry r prehistry. Statement f Significance Characteristics f the Landmark that justify its designatin: Cnstructed in 1907, the Swedish American Hall is a cmbinatin cmmercial building and scial hall assciated with events that have made a significant cntributin t the brad patterns f ur histry. Specifically, the Swedish American Hall is the mst significant extant building assciated with San Francisc s Swedish cmmunity, serving as a physical manifestatin f cllective histry, culture and identity. The building likewise has deep and significant assciatins with the San Francisc s Scandinavian cmmunity as a whle, serving fr decades as a central meeting place fr a variety f Scandinavian scial and fraternal grups. The building is als architecturally significant as an embdiment f the distinctive characteristics f a type, perid, and methd f cnstructin, as well as fr being an architecturally significant wrk f master architect, August Nrdin. As mentined previusly in the intrductin t this reprt, the building s architectural finishes are unusually fine and demnstrate a superir level f craftsmanship that rank it amng the finest expressins f the Arts & Crafts style in Califrnia. The building survives with relatively few alteratins frm its riginal design, and retains an utstanding level f architectural integrity. Assciatin with Significant Events Swedish American Hall is significant fr its assciatin with San Francisc s Swedish and Scandinavian cmmunities. Since its cnstructin the building has served as the hme f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, funded in 1875 and tday the ldest Swedish rganizatin west f Chicag, while als prviding a meeting place fr scres f Swedish and Scandinavian fraternal and scial rganizatins. At the time the building was cnstructed, it represented the aspiratins f pineering Swedes wh began arriving in San Francisc during the Gld Rush, and wh cntinued t cme t the city during successive waves f Swedish immigratin during the late 19 th century. Initially, the city s Swedish ppulatin alng with many ther Scandinavian and Eurpean grups was cncentrated in the Suth f Market, then the city s densest residential neighbrhd. But as the Swedes and ther Scandinavian grups grew bth in number and ecnmic influence, a new Scandinavian enclave began t calesce in the Missin Dlres and Upper Market area at the turn f the 20 th century. The turn f the century was als marked by an explsin f new scial and fraternal rganizatins related t Swedish and Scandinavian identity. This in turn gave rise t the need fr dedicated meeting space, and in 1898 a Swedish- American Hall Assciatin was frmed t cnstruct a meeting hall. In May 1904 the Swedish-American Hall Assciatin celebrated the pening f Scandia Hall in tday s Civic Center area. Less than tw years later, thugh, Scandia Hall was destryed by ne f the numerus fires that brke ut fllwing the 1906 Earthquake. Its destructin ffered an pprtunity fr the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc which previusly had been nly ne f Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

64 several scieties invlved in the cnstructin f Scandia Hall t cnstruct its wn facility. Only tw mnths after the fire, the Swedish Sciety appinted a new building cmmittee t versee the develpment f a new meeting hall. Since its cmpletin in 1907, the Swedish American Hall has served as the hme f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc and its library, while als prviding a meeting place fr scres f fraternal and scial rganizatins related t San Francisc s Swedish cmmunity. These have included the Independent Order f Odd Fellws (I.O.O.F.) Odin Ldge N. 393, Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284, Balder Ldge N. 393 f the Free and Accepted Masns, Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119, the Swedish-American Patritic League, the Swedish Singing Sciety, as well as Swedish parlrs f the Native Sns f the Glden West, Native Daughters f the Glden West, and the Ancient Order f Druids. Thugh nt a primary reasn fr its assciatin with significant events, the building is als emblematic f the develpment f a larger Scandinavian enclave in the Missin Dlres, Dubce Triangle and Upper Market area at the turn f the 20 th century. Indeed, the building s lcatin was central t the area s Swedish ppulatin, and fr decades served as hme fr businesses serving the Swedish cmmunity. Of these, the Cafe Du Nrd pened in 1908 ranks as ne f the city s ldest salns and restaurants cntinuusly perating frm the same lcatin. Significant Architecture The Swedish American Hall is als significant as the wrk f Swedish-brn master architect, August Nrdin, fr being an utstanding example f a type and perid, and fr pssessing high artistic values. As an example f a type and perid, Swedish American Hall is part f a class f scial halls that incrprated a grund-flr cmmercial use with the meeting rms ccupying the upper flrs. Within this typlgy, hwever, the building s design is unique amng cntemprary scial halls in that its design was specifically emblematic f the cmmunity it served. Inspired by Swedish precedents, the building s exterir emplys a rich palate f materials and rnament which cnveys an unusually strng street presence cmmensurate with its use as a public meeting hall. On the interir, the truss wrk and finishes in Freja Hall, the building s main assembly space, are an rnamental tur de frce and place it amng the city s mst significant expressins f the Arts & Crafts aesthetic. The smaller meeting rms likewise feature superir detailing and are individualized such that each has its wn distinctive identity, while remaining harmnius within the verall cmpsitin. Adding weight t its significance is the building s utstanding level f preservatin. Other than its strefrnts and interir renvatins t the Cafe Du Nrd, the building has experienced relatively few alteratins t its character-defining features and retains a high degree f physical integrity. Perids f Significance The Swedish American Hall has tw perids f significance. There is sme difficulty in assigning a perid f significance fr its assciatin with histric events, as the building s use as a central gathering space fr San Francisc s Swedish cmmunity has never ceased. Indeed, the building remains the hme f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, and cntinues t be used fr events assciated with Swedish rganizatins. Hwever, in recgnitin that the building s use by scial and fraternal rganizatins has been in decline fr sme time, the perid f significance assigned is 1907 t circa This perid brackets the building s riginal cnstructin with its peak years f use by the Swedish Cmmunity. Architecturally, the perid f significance is assigned as 1907 t circa This perid reflects the riginal cnstructin f the building as designed by master architect, August Nrdin, thrugh the final year that the primary facade appears t have remained unaltered. In 1938 a large fire escape was installed n the primary facade, and the strefrnts appear t have been altered fr the first time in It is pssible that sme elements identified in this reprt as character-defining features f the prperty, such as the nen sign fr the Cafe Du Nrd, were installed after Building permits indicate the nen sign may have been installed in Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

65 Integrity The seven aspects f integrity are lcatin, design, materials, wrkmanship, setting, feeling, and assciatin in relatin t the perid f significance established abve. Cumulatively, the building at Market Street retains utstanding integrity t cnvey its architectural significance, as well as its use by the Swedish Sciety and ther Swedish rganizatins. The Swedish American Hall retains integrity f assciatin, as it has remained in cntinual use as a cmbinatin cmmercial building and scial hall since its cnstructin. It likewise retains integrity f design, materials, wrkmanship and feeling. Knwn exterir alteratins are relatively limited in scpe and include the additin f a fire escape n the primary facade, as well as alteratins t the strefrnts. At an unknwn date, the stepped parapets at the east and west ends f the rfline were als replaced by a shed rfline. Many f these changes are amng the mst cmmn alteratins made t histric buildings f this type, and they remain subrdinate t the building s verall design and rnamentatin. Similarly, while the interir cmmercial spaces f the building have been remdeled, all f the building s ldge rms, as well as Freja Hall, have experienced few alteratins and readily cnvey their assciatin with the building s histric use. The building s integrity f setting has been mderately cmprmised wing t the redevelpment f several nearby buildings. Hwever, the larger neighbrhd, which was built ut during the same general perid as the Swedish American Hall was cnstructed, retains much f its histric fabric and feeling. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

66 ARTICLE 10 REQUIREMENTS SECTION (b) Bundaries f the Landmark Site Encmpassing all f, and limited t, Lts 17 and 62 in Assessr s Blck 3542 n the nrth side f Market Street between Church and Sanchez streets. Character-Defining Features Whenever a building, site, bject, r landscape is under cnsideratin fr Article 10 Landmark designatin, the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin is required t identify character defining features f the prperty. This is dne t enable wners and the public t understand which elements are cnsidered mst imprtant t preserve the histrical and architectural character f the prpsed landmark. The general character-defining exterir features f the building are identified as: All exterir elevatins, architectural rnament and rflines Specific character-defining exterir features f the building are identified as: Primary (suth) facade All exterir elevatins, architectural rnament and rflines (except the fire escape and altered prtins f the strefrnts) Three stry plus mezzanine and basement height and massing Twin gables crwning the central bay Cladding, including plychrme brick with clinker brick accents in a Flemish bnd at the first stry, and wd shingles and stucc cladding n the upper stries Primary entry including a shallw brick arch flanked by large wden brackets and crwned with truss wrk supprting a gable hd featuring ntched rafter tails and scallped barge bards. This als includes the wden dimensinal letters at the base f the truss reading Swedish American Hall, as well as the clred terrazz threshld paving Crnerstne at left f the entry stating Erected by the Swedish Sciety 1907 Fenestratin, including duble-height, duble-hung wd windws with leaded sixteen-versixteen light sashes and transms in the central bay windw; the small beveled bay windw with duble-hung, twelve-ver-twelve light wd-sash windws lcated abve the gable hd fr the primary entry; the Tudr arch windw at the east end f the secnd stry featuring twin, dubleheight, duble-hung wd sixteen-ver-sixteen leaded glass lights with a mlded drip surrund; the duble-hung, sixteen-ver-sixteen leaded glass wd windws at the center f the third stry; and the duble-hung, leaded diamnd light wd drmer windws at the third stry All wden trim and rnament, including windw surrunds, bargebards with decrative scrllwrk, brackets, nailhead trim blcks, expsed rafters, gable finials, and decrative half timbering Recessed vestibule entry fr the Cafe Du Nrd which features a clred terrazz threshld featuring a yellw field with green terrazz letters reading Cafe Du Nrd Nen sign abve the entry t Cafe Du Nrd reading Cafe Du Nrd and featuring a swped arrw pinting t the entry Strefrnt cnfiguratins cmprised f bulkheads, display windws and transms flanking a central entry t the Cafe Du Nrd Flagples tpped by glbes at the east and west ends f the rfline Rain gutter dwnsputs at the east and west ends f the facade West Facade Rustic channel wd cladding The light well Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

67 Nrth (Rear) Facade Rustic channel wd cladding Tabbed parapet Fenestratin pattern including deeply recessed bands f windws n the upper facade The character-defining interir features f the building are identified as: General Interir Features Bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding and nailhead trim blcks Art glass/leaded glass/textured glass windws Paneled wd drs Main Staircase Pierced wd railing with teardrp and flral mtif; unpainted hand rails and newel psts Bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding Leaded glass windws at stair landings between the secnd flr and mezzanine, and between the mezzanine and third flr Skylight and light fixtures at third flr landing Odin Ldge Rm Stained wd bxed beam ceiling with decrative wd brackets and crwn mlding Stained wd bard and batten wainsct with nailhead trim blcks Duble-hung wd windws with textured glass glazing Wd flring Freja Hall Stained wd ceiling trusses with kntted X-braces supprted by stained wd piers with decrative brackets Stained wd fretwrk and mlding alng upper walls Bard and batten wainsct with nailhead trim blcks thrughut Raised wden stage with prscenium featuring stained wd clumns, versized brackets and nailhead trim blcks Balcny supprted by metal rds and featuring stained wd beadbard alng the interir f the railing and fretwrk with a red backgrund arund the exterir perimeter f the railing Staircase t balcny level featuring stained wd fretwrk with a red backgrund Glazed skylights Painted bard ceiling with expsed rafters Cast irn rnamental radiatrs Wd flring Balder Ldge Rm Wden ceiling trusses with X braces and decrative brackets Bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding Stained wd engaged clumns with decrative capitals and mantle with scrlled brackets n the east wall Wd mantle with scrlled brackets n the west wall Ornamental cast irn radiatrs Ante rm with triangular windw seat/nk and bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

68 Valhalla Banquet Rm Bard and batten wainsct featuring wide, hrizntal bards separated by beadwrk trim and nailhead trim blcks Bxed beam ceiling (stained wd) with painted beadbard Flat bard mlding alng upper wall Ribbn f six windws featuring textured amber glass glazing crwned with a stained glass transm featuring a shield mtif (east wall) Decrative vents beneath the ribbn f windws and decrative cast irn radiatr Verdandi Club Rm Wd flring Stained wd bxed beam ceiling with decrative wd brackets Stained wd trim thrughut Inglenk with brick fireplace, chimney and wd mantle, flanked by stained wd bkcases with multi-light glass drs and wd trim with a pierced heart detail. Als includes stained wd pediment abve inglenk Leaded green bullseye windws flanking fireplace chimney Clsets with paneled wd drs with leaded bullseye glazing flanking the inglenk Leaded bullseye glazed windws with stained wd surrunds alng nrth wall f rm Built-in stained wd bkcases with glass drs and paneled wd cabinets belw alng west wall f rm Svea Ldge Rm Wd flring presumed extant under carpet Stained wd bxed beam ceiling with decrative wd brackets Stained wd trim thrughut (East end f rm) wd platfrm backed by engaged wd clumns with decrative capitals and a mantle with scrlled brackets Wd steps at nrthwest crner f the rm Stained wd built-in shelving alng suth wall f rm beneath windws Cast irn rnamental radiatrs Cafe Du Nrd Painted wd bxed beam ceiling Square clumns with paneled wd bases and bracketed crwns running nrth-suth thrugh the rm Stained wd paneled wainsct Back bar featuring stained wd square clumns with a triangle mtif capped by an entablature with flral, echinus and astragal and leaf mldings. Als the decrative brackets abve the back bar Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

69 PROPERTY INFORMATION Histric Name: Swedish American Hall Ppular Name: Swedish American Hall Address: Market Street Blck and Lt: , Owner: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc Original Use: Stres, saln, entertainment venue and ldge halls Current Use: Restaurant, saln, entertainment venue and ldge halls Zning: Upper Market Neighbrhd Cmmercial Transit District Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

70 BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS + REPORTS Berza, Muriel Nelsn. Glden Gate Swedes. Ysemite, CA: The Range f Light Wrks, The Swedish American Hall in San Francisc. The Swedish-American Histrical Quarterly, Vl. LVIII, N. 4, Octber Brwn, Mary. San Francisc Mdern Architecture and Landscape Design Histric Cntext Statement. San Francisc: San Francisc Planning Department, Kastrup, Allan. The Swedish Heritage in America: The Swedish Element in American and American-Swedish Relatins in Their Histrical Perspective. Minneaplis: Swedish Cuncil f America, Official Swedish Catalgue Panama-Pacific Internatinal Expsitin San Francisc Stckhlm: Centraltrvckeriet, Olsn, Kay Melchisedech. Nrwegian, Swedish and Danish Immigrants Mankat, Minnesta: Capstne Press, Sidwell, Karin, Caitlin Harvey and Jnathan Lammers; Page & Turnbull, Califrnia Department f Parks and Recreatin Building, Structure, and Object Recrd (DPR 523B) fr 2168 Market Street, (San Francisc: Page & Turnbull, Inc., 2007). Market & Octavia Area Plan Histric Cntext Statement. Reprt prepared fr the San Francisc Planning Department. San Francisc: Page & Turnbull, December 20, 2007). Stensrud, Edward Martinus. The Lutheran Church and Califrnia. San Francisc: E. M. Stensrud, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc. The Swedish Sciety s Glden Jubilee San Francisc, Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, Octber Tdd, Frank M. The Stry f the Expsitin: Being the Official Histry f the Internatinal Celebratin Held in San Francisc in 1915, Vlume II. New Yrk: G. P. Putnam s Sns The Knickerbcker Press, Wetterman, August. The Histry and Review f the Scandinavian Sciety f San Francisc. San Francisc: R & E Research Assciates, NEWSPAPERS + PERIODICALS American-Scandinavian Fundatin. The Nrth at the Glden Gate. The American-Scandinavian Review, Vl. III Cntaining Issues f 1915, (New Yrk: American-Scandinavian Fundatin, The Architect and Engineer. August Nrdin bituary. January Babw, Irving. The Swedish Singing Sciety f San Francisc. The Chrnicle, Vl. 1. N. 3 (Autumn 1954). Berza, Muriel Nelsn. Frm Ebenezer t Vestkusten. Nrdstjernan. Accessed Nvember 7, 2014 frm The Mrning Call. Fr Old Sweden. May 15, 1894, 4. Mdern Wdmen f America Histry. Wdmen and Fraternalism (bklet), Frm 4154 R-5/ Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

71 Sacrament Daily Unin. Articles f Incrpratin. June 10, San Francisc Architectural Heritage, Swedish Sciety Cntinues Prud Stewardship f its Histric Hme, Heritage News, Vl. XXVIII, N. 3 (May/June 2000). The San Francisc Call. Builder s Cntracts. July 3, Annie M. Nrdin bituary. February 2, Mrs. Elise Drexler Ntifies Wine Dealers That They May Nt Remain n Her Premises. March 28, Swedish Scieties Hld Bazaar, Octber 7, Builders Cntracts. Nvember 11, Swedes Cmmemrate Opening f New Hall. May 4, Real Estate Transactins. September 12, The San Francisc Chrnicle. Crner Stne f Swedish Hall. July 29, Fraternal Hall is Dedicated, December 23, Swedish Sciety is a Grwing Organizatin Big Fraternal Bdy Strngly Established Here. July 9, Members Give Aid t Brthers Sick r in Distress. July 9, Objects f the Sciety are Explained. July 9, Sctt, Franklin Daniel, Swedish Pineer Histrical Quarterly, Vl , Siddeley, Leslie. The Rise and Fall f Fraternal Insurance Organizatins. Humane Studies Review, Vl. 7, N. 2 Spring Vestkusten. San Francisc Persnal News. January 4, June 27, 1907 Svenske arkitekten. June 26, March 4, Arkitekt August Nrdin. June 24, INTERNET RESOURCES Mayer, Tm. August Nrdin, Architect. Accessed March 2007 frm: Olssn, Ted. The Swedish American Patritic League, A Histrical Perspective n the 100th Anniversary. Accessed Nvember 7, 2014 frm: Swensn Swedish Immigratin Research Center. Swedish Immigratin t Nrth America. Accessed 26 Octber 2014 frm: Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

72 PUBLIC RECORDS Building Permits Sanbrn Maps 1899, 1905, 1913, 1919, 1950 San Francisc Land Use Maps (San Francisc Planning Department) San Francisc city directries U.S. Census recrds Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

73 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS San Francisc City and Cunty Edwin M. Lee, Mayr Sctt Weiner, District 8 Supervisr Histric Preservatin Cmmissiners President: Karl Hasz Vice-President: Andrew Wlfram Cmmissiners: Aarn Jn Hyland Ellen Jhnck Richard S.E. Jhns Diane Matsuda Jnathan Pearlman Planning Department Jhn Rahaim, Directr Tim Frye, Preservatin Crdinatr Prject Staff Jnathan Lammers, research, writing and phtgraphy Mses Crrette, research Additinal Supprt Swedish Sciety f San Francisc Ted Olssn Natalia Kwiatkwska Elizabeth Skrndal Enrique Landa Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

74 APPENDIX A LIST OF OCCUPANTS Belw is a list f the varius ccupants f the Swedish American Hall ver time, rganized by year and address. This shuld nt be cnsidered a definitive list, but rather is drawn frm research using city directries and ther surces. In particular, it is likely that ther scial and fraternal rganizatins, beynd thse listed belw, used the building at varius times. This list als des nt include the numerus cncerts, dances and ethnic celebratins that tk place in the building Market: Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany, whlesale liqur dealers 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd; Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany 2172 Market: Charles Andersn shes 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety; Independent Order f Odd Fellws (I.O.O.F.) Odin Ldge N. 393; Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284; Fresters f America Curt El Drad N. 31; Native Daughters f the Glden West (NDGW) Or Fin Parlr N. 9, Buena Vista Parlr N. 68 and La Estrella Parlr N. 89; Native Sns f the Glden West (NSGW) Missin Parlr N. 38; Calednian Club Market: Swedish-American Mercantile Cmpany, liqur dealers; Clarence Ericksn, egg merchant Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Charles Andersn shes 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Swedish Singing Sciety; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284; Independent Order f Odd Fellws (I.O.O.F.) Odin Ldge N. 393; Native Sns f the Glden West (NSGW) Sequia Parlr N. 160; Starr King Chapter N. 204; Castr Parlr N. 232; Curt Eureka N. 6146; San Francisc Assembly N. 1; Missin Parlr N Market: Swedish American Wrld s Fair League; Swedish Bachelr s Club 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd; Nils Crnfelt, liqurs 84 ; Swedish American Mercantile C., liqurs 2172 Market: Svea Shes (Charles Andersn) 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc Market: N listing 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd; Nils Crnfelt, liqurs 2172 Market: Svea Shes (Charles Andersn) 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Danish Sciety, Danmark Branch N. 2; Swedish Singing Sciety; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284; Independent Order f Odd Fellws (I.O.O.F.) Odin Ldge N Market: Hans P. Frsberg, tailr 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd; Nils Crnfelt, liqurs 2172 Market: Svea Shes (Charles Andersn) 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Danish Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety, Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; Thr Encampment N. 111; Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284; Star f the West N. 120; Templar Grve N A February 29, 1912 advertisement in Vestkusten shws Clarence Ericksn Quality Egg Man, as perating in the 2168 Market Street strefrnt. The city directry, hwever, nly shws the Swedish Mercantile Cmpany. 84 The San Francisc Call f July 29, 1904 shws Crnfelt acting as flr manager fr a celebratin held by the Swedish Ladies Sciety Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

75 Market: Hans P. Frsberg, tailr 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Charles Andersn, shes 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Nrden Sciety; Scandinavian Sciety; Swedish American Patritic League; Swedish Ladies Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Ldge N. 393; Thr Encampment N. 111; Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284; American L O L N. 127; Star f the West N. 120; Native Sns f the Glden West (NSGW) Sequia Parlr N. 160; Native Daughters f the Glden West (NDGW) Linda Rsa Parlr N. 170; Ancient Order f Druids Templar Grve N. 19 and Reseda Circle N Market: Hans P. Frsberg, tailr 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Svea Shes (Charles Leandr) 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Swedish Singing Sciety; Danish Brtherhd f America, Ldge N. 111; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; Freja Rebekah Ldge N. 284; Lyal Orange Institutin, Star f the West, NSGW Sequia Parlr N. 160; NDGW Linda Rsa Parlr N. 170; Ancient Order f Druids Templar Grve N. 19 and Reseda Circle N Market: Fred J. Stenberg, liqurs 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd; Fred J. Stenberg, liqurs 2172 Market: Nrdic Health Fds delicatessen (Axel Stenmark) 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Scandinavian Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety; Swedish American Patritic League; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; NSGW Sequia Parlr N. 160; NDGW Linda Rsa Parlr N. 170; Ancient Order f Druids Reseda Circle N. 117; Thr Encampment N. 111; Fylgia Ldge N. 119; Inter-Ns Circle N. 215; Precita Circle N. 1064; Templar Grve N. 19; Olands Klubben f San Francisc Market: Bishp s A B C Guides a handbk fr the pacific cast shippers 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Natinal Rf & Siding 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Scandinavian Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety; Swedish American Patritic League; Swedish-American Sciety; Swedish Ladies Sciety; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; NSGW Sequia Parlr N. 160; NDGW Linda Rsa Parlr N. 170; Ancient Order f Druids Reseda Circle N. 117; Thr Encampment N. 111; Order f Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119; Inter-Ns Circle N. 215; Precita Circle N. 1064; Templar Grve N. 19; Nrrlands Klubben f San Francisc; Danish Relief Sciety; Bethel N. 107; Hesperian Parlr N. 137; Missin Curt N. 8; Nawa Daha Cuncil N. 132; Olands Klubben; Surf Fishing Club; Order f Railway Cnductrs Ladies Auxiliary Lcal N. 89; Bay City Parlr N Market: Christina Richards, shipping guide 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Earl H. De Rque, general cntractr 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Scandinavian Lutheran Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety; Swedish American Patritic League; Swedish Relief Sciety; Swedish Ladies Sciety; Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; NSGW Sequia Parlr N. 160 and Hesperian Parlr 137; NDGW Linda Rsa Parlr N. 170; Order f Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119; Precita Circle N. 1064; Jb s Daughters Bethel N. 107; Masnic Order f Amaranth Missin Curt N. 8; Calumet Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

76 Cuncil; Order f Railway Cnductrs Ladies Auxiliary Lcal N. 89; Stves Curt N. 8; Star f the West, Pacifica Ldge Market: Bishp s A B C Guides a handbk fr the pacific cast shippers 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Natinal Rf & Siding 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc; Swedish Relief Sciety, Swedish Singing Sciety, Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; Califrnia Mutual Aid Assciatin, Order f Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119; Masnic Order f Amaranth Missin Curt N. 8; Ancient Order f Druids Reseda Circle N. 117; Olands Klubben, Nrrlands Klubben, Inter-Ns Circle N. 215, Market: vacant 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Cast Cnstructin Cmpany, building cntractrs 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety, Swedish Relief Sciety, Swedish Singing Sciety, Balder Ldge N. 393 Masns; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; Califrnia Mutual Aid Assciatin, Order f Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119; Masnic Order f Amaranth Missin Curt N. 8; Ancient Order f Druids Reseda Circle N. 117; Olands Klubben, Nrrlands Klubben, Inter-Ns Circle N. 215, Rainbw Hbby Club Market: Rem Realty 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Charles D. Pley accuntants 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety; Swedish Singing Sciety Ladies Auxiliary; Swedish Wmen s Singing Sciety, Swedish American Patritic League; Swedish Relief Sciety; Swedish Ladies Sciety; Balder Ldge N. 393; I.O.O.F. Odin Ldge N. 393; NSGW Hesperian Parlr 137; NDGW Parlr N. 137; Order f Vasa Fylgia Ldge N. 119; Masnic Order f Amaranth Missin Curt N. 8; Ancient Order f Druids Reseda Circle N. 117; Olands Klubben, Nrrlands Klubben, Skanska Gillet, Tr Ldge, Utile Dulci Club, Yung Scandinavian Club, Order f Ahepa, Market: Allied Business General Cntractrs 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Pley & Rigas Accuntants 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc Market: Pearsn Insurance Agency 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Charles D. Pley accuntants 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc Market: Pearsn Insurance Agency 2170 Market: Cafe Du Nrd 2172 Market: Charles D. Pley accuntants 2174 Market: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc 85 The lack f listings fr rganizatins assciatins assciated with the Swedish American Hall fr this and later years is unclear. The city directry f 1968 includes a listing f benevlent and fraternal rganizatins, but nne are shwn as assciated with the Hall. Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

77 APPENDIX B HISTORY OF ALTERATIONS Prir t the extensive interir remdeling f , knwn alteratins t the Swedish American Hall are relatively few in number. The fllwing is a list f building permit applicatins assciated with the building, as well as a discussin f ther evident alteratins Cnstruct three-stry frame building with mezzanine flr, cncrete fundatin, cmpsitin rf, brick chimneys (permit applicatin #9876). Owner: Swedish Sciety. Architect: August Nrdin, 563 Fillmre Street Install sign at 2170 Market Street 1938 Furnish and install fire escape as required by S.F. Fire Preventin Bureau Repair fire damage at 2168 Market Street resulting frm fire burning between blind walls near fundatin Remve existing wd supprting the existing glass windws; prvide fr new metal supprts fr bth strefrnts and the Swedish American Sciety Build ne new tilet and remdel three tilets Remve existing cncrete curb and cncrete wall at rear f building. Install new fting and cncrete bulkhead Install partitins in basement at 2170 Market Street; Install six-ft-wide statinary canpy awning f steel tubing and canvas fr the Cafe Du Nrd Repair burglary damage Install sign at 2168 Market Street Replace dr at 2170 Market Street with new ne-hur fire rated dr Rerf building; Remve apprximately 500 square feet f existing wd siding, install 15 pund felt and install new wd siding; Install wireless cmmunicatin facility with five panel antennas First flr remdel, new frnt dr and new wd windws; new receptin lbby and ffice; sprinkler the existing first flr crridr and install new fire alarm system fr first flr Install ne autmatic hd and duct fire suppressin system; re-rfing 2005 Permit three existing rectangular signs n west side wall 2006 Cnstruct five-stp elevatr serving all flrs. Wrk includes relcating restrms in basement level night club Replace existing aluminum strefrnt t match strefrnt with transm with sliding glass and fixed windw. Architect: Thedre Brwn & Partners; alteratin t existing grund flr space including new strefrnt and bathrm, and new small restaurant cunter, preparatin area and flring at 2168 Market 86 Installatin f the elevatr was nt cmpleted until Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

78 Street; upgrade the autmatic fire suppressin system t new kitchen hd and duct, install new small restaurant cunter and prep area with new service area flring at 2170 Market Street Drp ceiling in cnference rm by 6 ½ inches with drywall, 30 x 30 area, sme drywall repairs in café, lighting under separate permit; mdificatins t an existing unmanned telecmmunicatin facility including new electrnic equipment; expand the first flr fire sprinkler system with 33 new sprinklers 2010 Replace cracked and brken siding (apprximately 400 square feet) n the west wall f the building; mdificatin f existing unmanned telecmmunicatin facility including adding new RBS cabinet, remving and replacing ne antenna, and adding new runs f caxial cable Vluntary seismic upgrade f existing wd trusses in Freja Hall Mdify apprval f nn-ada elevatr t ADA elevatr; mdify entry and rientatin f apprved tilets and the additin f new tilet stalls; mdificatins t an existing unmanned telecmmunicatin facility including antenna replacement 2014 Remdel existing restaurant and bar at basement level, refurbish equipment, upgrade finishes at kitchen area, bar and cmmn area; explratry demlitin at grund flr restaurant and basement level bar; remdel existing restaurant spaces at grund flr level, remving cmmn wall t cmbine spaces; remdel existing banquet events kitchen at secnd flr mezzanine level, remdel existing bar area at secnd flr, remdel existing ffice at secnd flr; add eight sprinklers at first flr; mdify apprved tilet plans at basement level; remdel tilets n first, secnd and third flrs per plans; relcate equipment cabinets in equipment rm; revisin t apprved permit with minr adjustments t first flr and basement restrms, minr structural changes t elevatr shaft; new 100 square ft shed at rear yard; prvide exhaust fr upgraded restrms; fire alarm panel replacement and upgrade; install new mechanical and lighting fr bar and restaurant areas n first flr and basement; install fire sprinkler head at basement level; Based n histric phtgraphs, ther knwn alteratins include the fllwing: Alteratins t the stepped parapets at the east and west ends f the rfline f the primary facade, such that this area nw presents as a slped rfline. Replacement f all exterir and interir lighting, save fr tw riginal cmbinatin gas and electric light fixtures lcated adjacent t the stair landing n the third flr Remval f the upper prtin f the finials crwning the gable ends n the primary facade Replacement f all entry drs n the primary facade Interir renvatins t the kitchens and pantries Interir renvatins t the Cafe Du Nrd Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

79 APPENDIX C ORIGINAL DRAWINGS OF THE SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL Swedish American Hall Draft Designatin Reprt February 19,

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86 Landmark Designatin Case Reprt Hearing Date: Nvember 19, 2014 Case N.: L Prject Address: Market Street Zning: (NCT) Upper Market Neighbrhd Cmmercial Transit Blck/Lt: 3542/017 Prperty Owner: Swedish Sciety f San Francisc 2174 Market Street San Francisc, CA Staff Cntact: Jnathan Lammers (415) jnathan.lammers@sfgv.rg Reviewed By: Tim Frye (415) tim.frye@sfgv.rg PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS & SURROUNDING LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT Market Street, histrically knwn as the Swedish American Hall, is lcated n the nrth side f Market Street between Church and Sanchez streets in San Francisc s Upper Market area. It is a three-stryver-basement (plus mezzanine), wd frame, cmmercial and public assembly building cnstructed in It was designed by Swedish-brn master architect, August Nrdin, and features a blend f Scandinavian and Arts and Crafts influences. The building riginally cntained tw strefrnts n the grund flr, as well as the Cafe Du Nrd, a saln and restaurant, in the basement. The remainder f the building is principally ccupied by a variety f ldge rms, f which the duble-height space, Freja Hall, is the largest. The attached draft Landmark Designatin Reprt cntains a detailed building descriptin n pages The subject building is lcated in San Francisc s Upper Market area, alng the suthern edge f the Dubce Triangle neighbrhd. This area f Market Street is characterized by a mix f ne- t fur-stry cmmercial and mixed use buildings cnstructed during the recvery frm the 1906 Earthquake, alng with examples f mid-20 th century and later infill. Nearby residential areas are characterized by tw- t three-stry single- and multi-family buildings cnstructed between circa 1885 and PROJECT DESCRIPTION The case befre the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin is the cnsideratin f the initiatin f landmark designatin f Market Street as a San Francisc landmark under Article 10 f the Planning Cde, Sectin , and recmmending that the Bard f Supervisrs apprve f such designatin.

87 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STATUS The Planning Department has determined that actins by regulatry agencies fr prtectin f the envirnment (specifically in this case, landmark designatin) are exempt frm envirnmental review, pursuant t CEQA Guidelines Sectin (Class Eight - Categrical). GENERAL PLAN POLICIES The Urban Design Element f the San Francisc General Plan cntains the fllwing relevant bjectives and plicies: OBJECTIVE 2: POLICY 4: Cnservatin f Resurces that prvide a sense f nature, cntinuity with the past, and freedm frm vercrwding. Preserve ntable landmarks and areas f histric, architectural r aesthetic value, and prmte the preservatin f ther buildings and features that prvide cntinuity with past develpment. Designating significant histric resurces as lcal landmarks will further cntinuity with the past because the buildings will be preserved fr the benefit f future generatins. Landmark designatin will require that the Planning Department and the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin review prpsed wrk that may have an impact n character-defining features. Bth entities will utilize the Secretary f Interir s Standards fr the Treatment f Histric Prperties in their review t ensure that nly apprpriate, cmpatible alteratins are made. SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING CODE SECTION GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY AND IMPLEMENTATION Planning Cde Sectin Eight Pririty Plicies establishes and requires review f permits fr cnsistency with said plicies. On balance, the prpsed designatin is cnsistent with the pririty plicies in that: a. The prpsed designatin will further Pririty Plicy N. 7, that landmarks and histric buildings be preserved. Landmark designatin f Market Street will help t preserve an imprtant histrical resurce that is significant fr its assciatins with San Francisc s Swedish and Scandinavian cmmunities, as well as architecturally significant as a wrk by master architect, August Nrdin, that displays high artistic values and is an imprtant example f a type and perid. BACKGROUND / PREVIOUS ACTIONS Market Street, the Swedish American Hall, was added t the Landmark Designatin Wrk Prgram n June 15, OTHER ACTIONS REQUIRED If the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin decides t initiate designatin f the subject prperty as an Article 10 landmark at its Nvember 19, 2014 hearing, the item will be frwarded t the Bard f Supervisrs with a recmmendatin supprtive f designatin. The nminatin wuld then be cnsidered at a future Bard f Supervisrs hearing fr frmal Article 10 landmark designatin. 2

88 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street APPLICABLE PRESERVATION STANDARDS ARTICLE 10 Sectin 1004 f the Planning Cde authrizes the landmark designatin f an individual structure r ther feature r an integrated grup f structures and features n a single lt r site, having special character r special histrical, architectural r aesthetic interest r value, as a landmark. Sectin als utlines that landmark designatin may be initiated by the Bard f Supervisrs r the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin and the initiatin shall include findings in supprt. Sectin states that nce initiated, the prpsed designatin is referred t the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin fr a reprt and recmmendatin t the Bard f Supervisrs t apprve, disapprve r mdify the prpsal. Pursuant t Sectin f the Planning Cde, if the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin apprves the designatin, a cpy f the reslutin f apprval is transmitted t the Bard f Supervisrs and withut referral t the Planning Cmmissin. The Bard f Supervisrs shall hld a public hearing n the designatin and may apprve, mdify r disapprve the designatin. In the case f the initiatin f a histric district, the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin shall refer its recmmendatin t the Planning Cmmissin pursuant t Sectin (c). The Planning Cmmissin shall have 45 days t prvide review and cmment n the prpsed designatin and address the cnsistency f the prpsed designatin with the General Plan, Sectin pririty plicies, the City s Reginal Husing Needs Allcatin, and the Sustainable Cmmunities Strategy fr the Bay Area. These cmments shall be sent t the Bard f Supervisrs in the frm f a reslutin. Sectin 1004(b) requires that the designating rdinance apprved by the Bard f Supervisrs shall include the lcatin and bundaries f the landmark site, a descriptin f the characteristics f the landmark which justify its designatin, and a descriptin f the particular features that shuld be preserved. Sectin states that if the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin disapprves the prpsed designatin, such actin shall be final, except upn the filing f a valid appeal t the Bard f Supervisrs within 30 days. ARTICLE 10 LANDMARK CRITERIA The Histric Preservatin Cmmissin n February 4, 2009, by Reslutin N. 001, adpted the Natinal Register Criteria as its methdlgy fr recmmending landmark designatin f histric resurces. Under the Natinal Register Criteria, the quality f significance in American histry, architecture, archaelgy, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and bjects that pssess integrity f lcatin, design, setting, feeling, materials, wrkmanship, and assciatin, and that are assciated with events that have made a significant cntributin t the brad patterns f ur histry; r that are assciated with the lives f persns significant in ur past; r that embdy the distinctive characteristics f a type, perid, r methd f cnstructin, r that represent the wrk f a master, r that pssess high artistic values, r represent a significant and distinguishable entity whse cmpnents may lack individual distinctin; r prperties that have yielded, r may likely yield, infrmatin imprtant in prehistry r histry. 3

89 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street PUBLIC / NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT There is n knwn public r neighbrhd ppsitin t designatin f Market Street as an Article 10 landmark. The Department will prvide any public crrespndence received after the submittal f this reprt in the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin s crrespndence flder. PROPERTY OWNER INPUT On December 6, 2013 the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, wners f the Swedish American Hall, prvided the Planning Department with a letter expressing that rganizatin s supprt fr landmark designatin (attached). STAFF ANALYSIS The case reprt and analysis under review was prepared by Department preservatin staff. The Department has determined that the subject prperty meets the requirements fr Article 10 eligibility as an individual landmark. The justificatin fr its inclusin is utlined belw under the Significance and Integrity sectins f this case reprt. SIGNIFICANCE Market Street appears eligible fr lcal designatin due t its significant and lngstanding assciatins with San Francisc s Swedish and Scandinavian cmmunities. Specifically, the Swedish American Hall is the mst significant extant building assciated with San Francisc s Swedish cmmunity, serving as a physical manifestatin f cllective histry, culture and identity. The building likewise has deep and significant assciatins with the San Francisc s Scandinavian cmmunity as a whle, serving fr decades as a central meeting place fr a variety f Scandinavian scial and fraternal grups. Since its cnstructin the building has served as the hme f the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc, funded in 1875, while als prviding a meeting place fr scres f Swedish and Scandinavian fraternal and scial rganizatins. At the time the building was cnstructed, it represented the aspiratins f pineering Swedes wh began arriving in San Francisc during the Gld Rush, and wh cntinued t cme t the city during successive waves f Swedish immigratin during the late 19th century. The building is als emblematic f the develpment f a larger Scandinavian enclave in the Missin Dlres. Dubce Triangle and Upper Market area at the turn f the 20th century. Fr decades the Swedish American Hall served as hme fr businesses serving the Swedish cmmunity, including the Cafe Du Nrd pened in 1908 which tday cunts amng San Francisc s ldest salns and restaurants perating cntinuusly frm the same lcatin. The building is als architecturally significant as an embdiment f the distinctive characteristics f a type, perid, and methd f cnstructin, as well as fr being an architecturally significant wrk f master architect, August Nrdin. The building s architectural finishes are unusually fine and demnstrate a superir level f craftsmanship. The building s exterir emplys a rich palate f materials and rnament which cnveys an unusually strng street presence cmmensurate with its use as a public meeting hall. 4

90 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street The interir features a number f ldge rms that als feature superir detailing and are individualized such that each has its wn distinctive identity, while remaining harmnius within the verall cmpsitin. The building s largest public assembly space, Freja Hall, features highly rnamental finishes and saring truss wrk that rank it amng the finest expressins f the Arts & Crafts style in Califrnia. INTEGRITY The building retains integrity f assciatin, as it has remained in cntinual use as a cmbinatin cmmercial building and scial hall since its cnstructin. It likewise retains integrity f design, materials, wrkmanship and feeling. Based n a review f the building permit histry and visual inspectin, knwn exterir alteratins are relatively limited in scpe and remain subrdinate t the building s verall design and rnamentatin. Similarly, while the interir cmmercial spaces f the building have been remdeled, all f the building s ldge rms, as well as Freja Hall, have experienced few alteratins and readily cnvey their assciatin with the building s histric use. Overall, the Department has determined that the building s primary character defining features, bth exterir and interir, are largely unaltered since the building s cnstructin and Market Street retains utstanding integrity t cnvey its histrical significance. CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES Whenever a building, site, bject, r landscape is under cnsideratin fr Article 10 landmark designatin, the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin is required t identify character defining features f the prperty. This is dne t enable wners and the public t understand which elements are cnsidered mst imprtant t preserve the histrical and architectural character f the prpsed landmark. As described in the Landmark Designatin Reprt, the fllwing is a list f exterir and interir character defining features f the Swedish American Hall. The character-defining exterir features f the building are identified as: General Exterir Features All exterir elevatins, architectural rnament and rflines Primary (suth) facade Three stry plus mezzanine and basement height and massing Cladding, including plychrme brick with clinker brick accents in a Flemish bnd at the first stry, and wd shingles and stucc cladding n the upper stries Primary entry including a shallw brick arch flanked by large wden brackets and crwned with truss wrk supprting a gable hd featuring ntched rafter tails and scallped barge bards. This als includes the wden dimensinal letters at the base f the truss reading Swedish American Hall, as well as the clred terrazz threshld paving. Pink crnerstne at left f the entry stating Erected by the Swedish Sciety

91 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street Fenestratin, including duble-height, duble-hung wd windws with leaded sixteenver-sixteen light sashes and transms in the central bay windw; the small beveled bay windw with duble-hung, twelve-ver-twelve light wd-sash windws lcated abve the gable hd fr the primary entry; the Tudr-arch windw at the east end f the secnd stry featuring twin, duble-height, duble-hung wd sixteen-ver-sixteen leaded glass lights with a mlded drip surrund; the duble-hung, sixteen-ver-sixteen leaded glass wd windws at the center f the third stry; and the duble-hung, leaded diamnd-light wd drmer windws at the third stry. All wden trim and rnament, including windw surrunds, bargebards with decrative scrllwrk, brackets, nailhead trim blcks, expsed rafters, gable finials, and decrative half timbering Recessed vestibule entry fr the Cafe Du Nrd which features a clred terrazz threshld featuring a yellw field with green terrazz letters reading Cafe Du Nrd Nen sign abve the entry t Cafe Du Nrd reading Cafe Du Nrd and featuring a swped arrw pinting t the entry, Strefrnt cnfiguratins cmprised f bulkheads, display windws and transms flanking a central entry t the Cafe Du Nrd Flagples tpped by glbes at the east and west ends f the rfline Rain gutter dwnsputs at the east and west ends f the facade West Facade Rustic channel wd cladding The presence f tw light wells Nrth (Rear) Facade Rustic channel wd cladding Tabbed parapet Fenestratin pattern including deeply recessed bands f windws n the upper facade The character-defining interir features f the building are identified as: General Interir Features Bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding and nailhead trim blcks Art glass/leaded glass/textured glass windws Paneled wd drs Main Staircase Pierced wd railing with teardrp and flral mtif; unpainted hand rails and newel psts Bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding Leaded glass windws at stair landings between the secnd flr and mezzanine, and between the mezzanine and third flr. Skylight and light fixtures at third flr landing 6

92 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street Odin Hall Stained wd bxed beam ceiling with decrative wd brackets and crwn mlding Stained wd bard and batten wainsct with nailhead trim blcks Duble-hung wd windws with textured glass glazing Wd flring Freja Hall Stained wd ceiling trusses with kntted X-braces supprted by stained wd piers with decrative brackets Stained wd fretwrk and mlding alng upper walls Bard and batten wainsct with nailhead trim blcks thrughut Raised wden stage with prscenium featuring stained wd clumns, versized brackets and nailhead trim blcks Balcny supprted by metal rds and featuring stained wd beadbard alng the interir f the railing and fretwrk with a red backgrund arund the exterir perimeter f the railing Staircase t balcny level featuring stained wd fretwrk with a red backgrund Glazed skylights Painted bard ceiling with expsed rafters Cast irn rnamental radiatrs Wd flring Balder Hall Wden ceiling trusses with X braces and decrative brackets Bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding (East Wall) stained wd engaged clumns with decrative capitals and scrlled brackets beneath the mantle (West Wall) wd mantle with scrlled brackets Ornamental cast irn radiatrs Ante rm with triangular windw seat/nk and bard and batten wainsct with leather paper cladding Valhalla Banquet Rm Bard and batten wainsct featuring wide, hrizntal bards separated by beadwrk trim and nailhead trim blcks. Bxed beam ceiling (stained wd) with painted beadbard. Flat bard mlding alng upper wall (East Wall) ribbn f six windws featuring textured amber glass glazing crwned with a stained glass transm featuring a shield mtif. Decrative vents beneath the ribbn f windws and decrative cast irn radiatr Verdandi Club Rm Wd flring Stained wd bxed beam ceiling with decrative wd brackets 7

93 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street Stained wd trim thrughut Inglenk with brick fireplace, chimney and wd mantle, flanked by stained wd bkcases with multi-light glass drs and wd trim with a pierced heart detail. Als includes stained wd pediment abve inglenk. Leaded green bullseye windws flanking fireplace chimney Clsets with paneled wd drs with leaded bullseye glazing flanking the inglenk Leaded bullseye glazed windws with stained wd surrunds alng nrth wall f rm Built-in stained wd bkcases with glass drs and paneled wd cabinets belw alng west wall f rm Svea Ldge Rm Wd flring presumed extant under carpet Stained wd bxed beam ceiling with decrative wd brackets Stained wd trim thrughut (East end f rm) wd platfrm backed by engaged wd clumns with decrative capitals and a mantle with scrlled brackets Wd steps at nrthwest crner f the rm featuring a stair railing with a decrative pierced mtif Stained wd built-in shelving alng suth wall f rm beneath windws Cast irn rnamental radiatrs Cafe Du Nrd Stained wd bxed beam ceiling Square clumns with paneled wd bases and bracketed crwns running nrth-suth thrugh the rm Stained wd paneled wainsct Back bar featuring stained wd square clumns with a triangle mtif capped by an entablature with flral, echinus and astragal and leaf mldings. Als the decrative brackets abve the back bar. INTERIOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION Because the ldge rms in the Swedish American Hall have histrically served as public assembly spaces, landmark designatin f these interir features is authrized under Sectin 1004(c) f the Planning cde, which states that: (c) The prperty included in any such designatin shall upn designatin be subject t the cntrls and standards set frth in this Article 10. In additin, the said prperty shall be subject t the fllwing further cntrls and standards if impsed by the designating rdinance: (1) Fr a publicly-wned landmark, review f prpsed changes t significant interir architectural features. 8

94 Landmark Designatin Initiatin Nvember 19, 2014 Case Number L Swedish American Hall, Market Street (2) Fr a privately-wned landmark, review f prpsed changes requiring a permit t significant interir architectural features in thse areas f the landmark that are r histrically have been accessible t members f the public. The designating rdinance must clearly describe each significant interir architectural feature subject t this restrictin. BOUNDARIES OF THE LANDMARK SITE The prpsed landmark site encmpasses Assessr s Blck 3542, Lt 017 n which the subject building is lcated. PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION Based n the Department s analysis, Market Street is individually eligible fr Article 10 Landmark designatin fr its assciatin with events that are significantly assciated with San Francisc s ethnic, scial and fraternal histry, as well as fr its utstanding architectural expressin. The Department recmmends that the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin apprve the prpsed designatin f Market Street as a San Francisc landmark. The Histric Preservatin Cmmissin may recmmend apprval, disapprval, r apprval with mdificatins f the prpsed designatin f Market Street as a San Francisc landmark under Article 10 f the Planning Cde t the Bard f Supervisrs pursuant t Planning Cde Sectin If the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin apprves the designatin, a cpy f the mtin f apprval is transmitted t the Bard f Supervisrs, which hlds a public hearing n the designatin and may apprve, mdify r disapprve the designatin (Sectin ). If the Histric Preservatin Cmmissin disapprves the prpsed designatin, such actin shall be final, except upn the filing f a valid appeal t the Bard f Supervisrs within 30 days (Sectin ). ATTACHMENTS A. Draft Landmark Designatin Reprt B. Draft Mtin initiating designatin C. Letter frm the Swedish Sciety f San Francisc 9

95 Parcel Map SUBJECT PROPERTY Article 10 Landmark Designatin Case Number L Swedish American Hall Market Street

96 Zning Map SUBJECT PROPERTY Article 10 Landmark Designatin Case Number L Swedish American Hall Market Street

97 Aerial Pht SUBJECT PROPERTY Article 10 Landmark Designatin Case Number L Swedish American Hall Market Street