Layng & Tinney Mortuary Files revisited

The newest SMCGS project has begun.  The over 7000 files in the Layng and Tinney Mortuary Collection will be scanned to ensure they remain available for researchers use even if the physical files disappear.

The files can provide a wondrous amount of information on a family.  Take the file of John Bryson Abbott who died 28 Jan 1935.  Inside you will find newspaper clippings tracking his family for quite a few years.  In wondering why, we discovered that his bill was not completely paid until 1946.  

The file includes a Certificate of Burial which gives parents names and birth places, his wife, the fact he had lived in Redwood City for 9 years and that he is buried in Alta Mesa Cemetery.  There are two typed obituaries, plus two clipped from newspapers.  

There is a copy of the bill for the funeral and a notice of a trustee sale for the property in 1941. 

In addition there is a notice of his son Cyril's marriage license application as well as one for a nephew, an article about his son's fiance's bridal shower, an obituary for his sister, a hand written note sending the viewer to another file for information on the marriage of another son.  In other words, a lot of genealogical information that could save hours of research time.

This project is no small undertaking.  As Barbara Ebel and I set up the process today, just three files took us 45 minutes, so we can use all the help we can get.  If you would like to lend a hand using the library scanner, or by scanning at home contact Publications@smcgs.org for details.

SMCGS Databases Online: Layng & Tinney Mortuary  Sep 2017

Sanchez Adobe

Nestled in San Pedro Valley (Pacifica)  is the second oldest house in San Mateo County.  Begun in 1842 by Don Francisco Sanchez it sits on land that had originally known as the village Pruristac home of the Ramaytush band of the Ohlone Tribe. 

Diagram of Mission Buildings

In 1776 Mission Dolores established an outpost, San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia, on the site to facilitate mission work and to grow food for the mission.  Logs mark the boundaries of the original buildings.  

The outpost was abandoned in 1834 when the mission system was dismantled. 

In 1836 the land was part of the Rancho San Pedro grant to Francisco Sanchez.  Sanchez was Commandant of the Presidio and the eighth Alcade of San Francisco.  The house was finished in 1846.

In 1871 the adobe was purchased by James Regan, who defaulted on his mortgage.  It was then sold to Gen. Edward Kirkpatrick, commander of the presidio,  in 1879.  Kirkpatrick expanded the adobe to 20 rooms.  It then became Hotel San Pedro;  the Prohibition era speakeasy, Adobe House; and an artichoke storage facility before being purchased by the county in 1947.  Restoration of the original adobe was completed in 1953.

Today Sanchez Adobe is a County Park managed by the San Mateo County Historical Association.  Plans are underway for an interpretive center and other facility upgrades.  

Inside the adobe you will find examples of tools, furniture, fixtures, and more from the time of the Sanchez and Kirkpatrick families.  

Each year on the third Saturday of September, Rancho Day at Sanchez Adobe offers early California music and dance, original Rancho food, demonstrations of bygone trades and the opportunity to participate in do it yourself crafts.  This year that would be September 15.  This is a great opportunity to experience a little bit of San Mateo County's past. 

Location: 1000 Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica

Learn More

• Sanchez Adobe - San Mateo County Historical Association
• Rancho Day at Sanchez Adobe
• Sanchez Adobe - San Mateo County Parks
• Historical Site Masterplan
• SMC Parks Foundation Newsletter spring 2017
• Sanchez Adobe - City of Pacifica  (nice timeline)
• Sanchez Adobe - National Park Service
• Wikipedia
• Sanchez Adobe  
• Francisco Sanchez 
• Rancho San Pedro
• Diseno del Terreno de S. Pedro

Historic United States Court of Appeals

In 1891 ground was purchased for a new Federal Building in San Francisco.  Designed by James Knox Taylor, supervising architect for the United States Treasury, it was planned to hold a Post Office, the Federal Courts and other Federal Agencies in the area.  Construction commenced in 1897 and seven years and $2.5 million later it was finished in time for the opening on 29 Aug 1905. 

Less than eight months later the building was one of two in the south of Market area to survive the 1906 earthquake and the subsequent fires.  Just one room, the redwood room succumbed to fire, thanks to the diligent efforts of the post office workers who used water from the hydraulic elevator to stop the fire at the doors.  The other building to survive was the US Mint.

Eighty three years later, the Loma Prieta earthquake caused enough damage that there was a possibility the building would be demolished.  However, history won out and a $91M renovation took place.  After the earthquake the Post Office moved out leaving the US Court of Appeals, 9th circuit which maintains its headquarters and four courtrooms in the building.

Mail windows in first floor corridor

Mail Chute

Marble & Mosaic on the 2nd Floor

This simple history doesn't include information on the 1933 addition, the removal of the US District Courts to the new building on Golden Gate Avenue in 1964.  There is so much more to know, including the fact that there have been only 100 9th Circuit Appellate Court Judges since the court was established in 1891. 

Mexican Mahogany Doors
Green Paint was removed
after Loma Prieta

Courtroom One

Courtroom Two

And there is so much to see.  The marble in the hallways and Courtrooms 1-3, especially Courtroom 1 is as spectacular as anything I've seen in the palaces of Europe.  It was brought in from all over the world including some exquisite green marble from Vermont.  Then there is the Redwood Room, which was rebuilt after the fire.  It was originally created for a judge from Eureka who wanted to be surrounded by his beloved forests.

So I urge you to take a tour.  Just two blocks from Civic Center Bart, it is easy to get to.  There are public tours  on many Tuesdays and you can arrange group tours in advance.  You can also wander through parts of the building on any day it is open, use the law library (created from space originally occupied by the post office), or attend an appeal hearing.  Check the website for more information. - Cath Trindle

Courtroom three

Redwood Room

Courtroom Four - Art Deco

• MORE PICTURES - by Cath
• San Francisco Federal Building  GSA website includes information on Art in the Courthouse
• United States Court for the 9th Circuit
• United States District Court for Northern California
• About the court - history including the four buildings in which the court has been housed
• 9th Judicial Circuit Historical Society
• Northern District of California Historical Society
• National Archives 
• RG 21 - US District Court Records in San Bruno
• RG 276 - US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• Indexes to Court Records held at the National Archives hosted on the SMCGS website