Corbett Heights Neighbors is 20 years old! Join us to celebrate all that we’ve achieved together to maintain and enhance the character of our neighborhood.
We will meet at Ord & Corbett Park at 5pm on May 3 for refreshments and conversation.
See you there!
Ord & Corbett Park
Education & Business Top Items at CHN All-Members Meeting
The Spring 2024 CHN All-Members Meeting featured three guest speakers: Carolyne Cook (Principal of Theresa Mahler Early
Education School), John Collins (Principal of McKinley Elementary School), and Terry Asten Bennett (President of the Castro Merchants Association).
The trio fielded questions from the neighborhood. Collins and Cook tackled setting children up for success, retaining teaching talent, and current SFUSD initiatives.
Cook advocated for public schools, noting the requirement to be a credentialed teacher. Collins echoed her sentiment, noting
that the community connections that public schools foster “can be a light in the community.”
A consistent theme between the two educators and PTA members who also attended was the idea of getting involved as a parent and advocating for your child throughout every step of the educational journey. “That’s what we all need to do,” Collins said, “to prepare our students for moving into a bigger pond.”
Both Cook and Collins touted the stability of their schools
in retaining talent. Cook noted that in her 12 years she has only needed to hire four teachers. Collins added, “at McKinley, teachers leave when they retire.”
Terry Asten Bennett, a Castro native and co-owner of Cliff’s Variety, provided her perspective on the businesses of our neighborhood. Her Association works with local businesses, our Supervisor, and police to help businesses “find our voices together and make sure we’re heard.”
She noted the many
changes in the Castro over the years; as a seven-year-old, she witnessed the AIDS epidemic. “The one thing that’s special about the Castro, though, is that it’s really a community. It’s a place people come to celebrate and protest. To be a beacon of hope.”
Bennett felt that “marginal” improvements have been made in regard to vandalism and theft, and said the planters in front of Walgreens have been “effective-ish.” She lamented the oft-discussed problems of some of the
city organizations, and noted the myriad issues caused by vacant storefronts.
Optimism prevailed in her comments though. She cited new and reopening businesses, and gushed about the upcoming events in the Castro, including her favorite: Halloween.
She spoke transparently about her passion for the community and its businesses. “Giving people a reason to come back to the Castro is our goal right now.” Neighbors can help. “Eat, drink, shop in
the Castro. Keep it local!”
We thank our speakers for their time and thoughtful replies, and we look forward to our next All-Members Meeting.
Was It Arson?
Last month we reported on the house owned by the infamous Denis Kearney on Clara Avenue (Ord Street) that burned in August of 1891. Denis Kearney was the founder of the Workingman’s Party of 1877. The two main targets of the party were the cheap Chinese immigrant
labor and the Central Pacific Railroad that employed them. The land on which Kearney’s house stood is now the Saturn Stairway.
The San Francisco Examiner, August 19, 1891, p.
3
A day after the fire, Kearney was interviewed by an Examiner reporter as he sat in his back yard, along with his cow, and mournfully regarded the ruins of his burned residence on Clara Avenue. This was not the first fire. It was the Tuesday before, August 11, that his house was partially burned ($700 estimate) and repairs were underway. He was not at home during the nights of the repair, but living at 601 Castro Street. Captain White
of the fire patrol told the Examiner reporter that he was very sure that someone set the house on fire. He believed that Kearney had some enemies, and the blaze was started as a matter of revenge. The loss was $3000 for the house, not including contents. Kearney was heart-broken at the loss of his papers. “I suppose you have come to see me about the fire. Well, it’s hard now, ain’t it? Yes, it’s awful hard. I don’t mind the pecuniary loss, do you see, but all my books,
papers and documents relating to my movement are burned….I worked twelve years to get them together, and someday I was going to publish them, but I can’t now….Why, do you know that some of those letters I had were written by men who would hate to see them published. They’d do anything to get them out of the way and I shouldn’t wonder but that they had sent hired incendiaries out here to scorch me out. I’d give $500 to know who did it.” (San Francisco Chronicle, August 19,
1893, p. 3.) Fire Marshall Charles Towe declared the fire as incendiary in nature. The early morning August 19 fire also caused $150 damage to the neighboring house (72 Ord) (San Francisco Post and Call, August 19, 1891, p. 3).
The 25 ‘ x 136’ Kearney lot remained in the family and at Denis Kearney’s death in 1909, it was appraised at $2500. It was the only piece of real estate in his estate valued at $3000, and it was left to his wife and five
children. (In 1899 Kearney made a fortune in the stock market—that’s a long story, not to be reported here.) In 1916, the city extended Saturn Street to Ord Street and took the lot (and another lot, 28’ x 136’ in 1924), paying his descendants $1750 for the lot (The Recorder, September 7, 1918, p. 6.)
Be on the Lookout (BOLO)
Some months ago a neighbor living near the Corbin Stairway (Panos Place) was assaulted by a William
Eaton, aka Sapphire, aka Ambrosia. She was charged with felony assault of our neighbor. She is partial to Dolores Heights, but Corbett Heights has been of secondary interest. Dolores Heights now reports the following: Be on the lookout (BOLO) – William Eaton/Sapphire/Ambrosia is back in Dolores Heights carrying a machete and destroying plants…Do not approach her – call 911 if she’s destroying property or acting threatening.
Al’s Park
Join us at Al’s at 369 Corbett for a work day on April 13, 2024 from 1-3.
Spring Has Sprung!
One of the great joys of our Corbett
Heights neighborhood is the bounty of flora that blooms in the spring. What are your favorite trees, plants, and flowers in our neighborhood this time of year?
Share photos of your favorites, and they'll be included in the next newsletter!
