Monkey Block San Francisco's Golden History

This episode is a memorial to a Civil War Veteran and locally famous (in his time), San Francisco/Bay Area resident, Henry Fortmann. This story is special to me because it honors my listener's great-great-great grandfather, Henry Fortmann, and his connection to San Francisco's disinterment of the dead.monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

This is Part 2 of my interview with author Terry Hamburg, author of "Land of the Dead, How the West Changed Death in America". In this episode Terry tells us how the four main cemeteries dealt with evicting the dead by the 1940s. I assure you, it's a fascinating story and it will give you historical reference for many parts of San Francisco as well as Colma's necropolis history. Purchase the book, here:https://www.amazon.com/Land-Dead-Changed-Death-America/dp/1633889866/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9JDS5OLKVB7V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qU3vNv3F7ybQif2LJRd7hw.5Y3xrS6Kal6ldEU8bf_GtWAXWQiI3ngY7NSktN58ApA&dib_tag=se&keywords=terry+hamburg+land+of+the+dead&qid=1742942103&sprefix=terry+ham%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

This episode is an interview with author Terry Hamburg, who wrote a very interesting book on all things dying, death, and burial in San Francisco history. We cover the earliest history of Colma and specifically discuss one cemetery, Cypress Lawn. This subject matter might not be for everyone, but please know I approach the discussion about the history of death and burials in San Francisco with respect and genuine curiosity.  I think you'll find it fascinating. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

The history I've read regarding July 9th, 1846, states that the USS Portsmouth pulled up to the shoreline at Montgomery and Clay Street, marines disembarked from the ship and onto land, then marched up Clay Street to raise the American flag in Portsmouth Square. It's stated as if the soldiers stepped off the ship and directly onto land. But, is that accurate? monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Have you ever felt like some stories should feel more connected than they do in your brain but instead they feel like untethered facts that are somehow connected? This episode is about just that. I want to understand how my past few episodes fit together, since they feel stand alone. I revisit some of my recently covered sources which might point me in the right direction. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

By January 30, 1847, the Pueblo de Yerba Buena was officially renamed the Town of San Francisco. Mexican laws weren't very well written, if written at all, which left the US military in charge of creating order in a land (Alta California), that wasn't used to having rules. This episode is a discussion between Girlina and architectural historian, Jonathon Lammers, regarding the Laws of the Town of San Francisco 1847, as captured in what is believed to be California's first pamphlet written entirely in English.monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

In the last episode I discussed the lead up to the Battle of Santa Clara. I chased this rabbit hole of a topic to figure out why Washington Allon Bartlett, Yerba Buena's first American alcalde, was missing for a period of time during his very short term in office. How are these two items connected? Listen and find out. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Today's episode is about the changing landscape of Yerba Buena from July 1846 - 1847, just after the US takeover and the early broken promises to Californios. In the middle of all the changes, Yerba Buena's first American appointed Alcalde, Washing Allon Bartlett, goes missing, and it has everything to do with ... cows. Were the Spaniards really hiding in the brush? Listen and find out. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Listen to me fan girl Richard Miller, the host of Sparkletack. The original podcast on San Francisco history, 2006 - 2009. I modeled my podcast after Sparkletack so getting to interview him was a huge honor. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Today, we do not cover Edwin Bryant's best 1848-selling book but I do have a friendly conversation, with Mr. Bryant. Please sit back and enjoy the rest of my talk with Edwin Bryant. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Today, I virtually interview Edwin Bryant, the author of the 1848 best seller, “What I Saw in California, Journal of a Tour, 1846- 1847”. Through the magic of AI generated voices, I simulate a virtual conversation with Edwin Bryant; a journalist, turned overland traveler, turned the second American Alcalde of Yerba Buena, and then finally, a bestselling author. About 95% of the words our guest speaks, are taken directly from his book. I only made minimal changes to past tense descriptions and similar small changes. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Today's episode is an interview with a new listener and accidental friend of Monkey Block's Facebook Page that led to IMs on Facebook, a rabbit hole on Juana Briones, and then to an online interview. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

The story of the Hudson Bay Company, in Yerba Buena, has been reduced to a few sentences that are very Hudson Bay Company-centric. “That place was miserable, and we didn't make any money, so we left.” It always felt like the guy who says, “Yeah, well, I didn't want that job, anyway.” Today's episode is peripherally about the English Hudson Bay Company's short-lived post in Yerba Buena. But, it's mostly about the people involved at the store, whose credit to that history has been lost over the last two centuries. And, they deserve to have their story retold to a current audience. Maybe, retelling this story today, it can become a part of early San Francisco's history, again. Once you hear the story, you'll know what I mean.I will respectfully tell this story, and, need to provide advisement to my listeners that this episode contains a delicate topic that can be challenging for some people. We discuss self-harm and I'll dance lightly around any details. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

I have found myself drawn to a specific piece of land that figuratively and literally became central to the Pueblo de Yerba Buena. Why was it left empty? And, considering it shows up on every Yerba Buena and early San Francisco map, why is it hard to find early information on it? monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksftwitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

If the Battle of Yerba Buena doesn't sound familiar, there's a good reason for that. The events, just before and after ‘The Battle of Yerba Buena', tell the story. There are two events, in my opinion, that make up the ‘Battle of Yerba Buena'.If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.      monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Today we are celebrating our second year in review. If you've been on this journey with me the two years, thank you for making it to this milestone.  And, a journey is exactly what this has been.  Last year, we traveled from 1837, and we got stuck in 1846. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Letters from CaliforniaThree letters, were anonymously mailed from the Pueblo de Yerba Buena, dated between June 10th and June 29th 1846. The letters were, and probably still are, quite the mystery, not only because no one definitively knows who wrote them, but for the depth of military knowledge the writer had about the happenings in Alta California. Another point of personal interest, the letters were written from our own backyard, Yerba Buena. Hubert Howe Bancroft considers these mystery letters to be the best ‘in the moment' account of the Bear Flag Revolt, and they are the earliest known publication regarding the Bear Flag Revolt just before and just after the Revolt. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

In this episode, we continue with the Bear Flag Revolt, with lots of perspectives and parallel subplots. In this episode, we re-live one part of a bigger story, that starts the revolt. Out of context, this is sheer comedy. In context, the aftermath, which I won't have time to get into, today, lacks humor, and leaves people in both the Mexican and American governments unhappy. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

Today's episode is on ‘The Pathfinder' John Charles Fre'mont and a conflict he found himself in, four months before the start of the Bear Flag Revolt. The differing takes, and spun storylines made today's topic especially hard to ‘eliminate legend or call it out', so it is a longer than usual episode. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)

 The Bear Flag Revolt is a pivotal point in California's history, and the events that led up to the actual revolt are … just as complex as the actual event. Today we take a look at a few preceding storylines leading to the Bear Flag Revolt, give some backstory, some subplots, describe a few main characters, in not enough time to tell them all. There's too much to know, so I'll never know all there is to know about this event. 

 In the last episode, we covered the early United States related history of John Sutter. Today, I pick up where I left off in John Sutter's timeline.  This episode will be longer than my usual episodes, and, frankly, took more research than my other episodes, to ensure I had a solidified story to tell, but, it's John Sutter … so, it's hard to tell what's fact from a creation of his mind.  

Today's episode is about the complicated life of Johann Augustus Suter, better known as John Sutter. There is more to this man's story than I anticipated, and, I went into this knowing there would be a lot to tell. I underestimated how much backstory there was before Sutter arrives in California.

While my intro states I extract legends and tell the real stories, today's episode is a mix of legends and real stories. Today, I am interviewing a connection made via this podcast.Today's guest does San Francisco history ghost tours, focused on, surprise, surprise, early San Francisco history. At first blush, it doesn't seem like a ghost tour and a history podcast have much in common, but, you might be surprised. Stick around and listen.

October 1842, Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones  believes he is about to place his name in the  records of American expansionist history, stating Mexico made a declaration of war against the United States, He plans to seize every California port from Yerba Buena to San Diego, before Mexico can enact their plan to sell California to England, to pay off debts. But, sometimes, things aren't what they seem...

I launched my podcast, last year, 2021, on January 30. Over the past year, I've shared some fun stories about early San Francisco, changed my perspective of lots of things, and met new people, all while gathering information for my podcast. I am happy to say I have a one year anniversary.This episode is a reflection of Monkey Block's first year, and, the journey we've been on, together. 

In previous episodes, I've mentioned the importance of Alta California's Yerba Buena Cove to the overall commerce in the District of San Francisco, consisting of the local rancheros, the Mission, and other local inhabitants. This cove was advantageous, for being a year-round, protected spot for mooring, much better than the originally established Presidio of San Francisco. My episodes, so far, have focused on the business benefit of Yerba Buena Cove, because, that's the easiest information to find. But, not the geography of the shoreline and cove, or, the history, prior to the landfill of 1851 - 1853? I wanted to understand how the different occupants of San Francisco related to the same land. Some information is harder to find. Sometimes, that information is under your nose, hiding in plain sight. And, sometimes, it's just under your feet.

I'm diving into Davis' story because it directly captures Yerba Buena and early San Francisco history, with an insiders look at how one, socially, and financially privileged, foreigner, experienced Yerba Buena, among other … socially and financially privileged foreigners and Californios. 

There are only a few foreigners who lived in Yerba Buena, Alta California, long enough to see the province go from Spanish, to Mexican, to American rule. A person who lived through all that, would have a unique perspective of early Yerba Buena, and California history. William Heath Davis, is the most famous Yerba Buena/San Francisco resident, you've never heard of.

The largest misconception I had, coming into this, was that nothing of importance happened in Yerba Buena, until the United States arrived. That's literally what I was taught in my college California History class, and a common theme you'll find online. How did we collectively get to that idea, believing that Yerba Buena had nothing to offer?Yerba Buena being a ‘nothing little town' is an example of how perception can become the agreed upon reality. However, perception is one person's opinion of reality, which may, or may not be … reality. But, when what you're reading was written by the victor, one person's perception has a way of shaping history, and therefore our sense of reality.Please see the transcript for more details and links to my cited sources.

Today, I explain how Monkey Block came to be, and how the serendipity of the seawall stepped in. I interview the head bartender/part owner of the High Horse, at 582 Washington Street, San Francisco, and ask him about his connection to the seawall, and San Francisco history.This seawall has an unpredictable story to tell. 

San Francisco history enthusiasts like me, already know about Clark's Point. But, how many people know about Thompson's Cove? And, what about Yerba Buena's first civic improvement?

Today's episode is based on what was meant to just be one paragraph, as I continued with the history of Yerba Buena, and the portion of the seawall from the last episode. However, I ran into a reeeally interesting tale, in Yerba Buena's early history- a person whose story is worth telling. But, for reasons, some history never gets told.There's an expression, “He who tells history, decides which history gets told”.

Today's episode is a little different. It's partially based on serendipity, in addition to my normal detective work. I focus on the early activity at the (still) unnamed Yerba Buena cove and the hide and tallow trading in the still named Mission San Francisco District. 

We have the victors who usually write history, and the oppressed, who don't have a lot of say in how their history gets captured. What's interesting, is that sometimes the victor becomes the oppressed, and a new victor gets named.

 Sometimes, history gets buried, as our views on social topics change, and certain events become less favorable to the victor. If you were raised in California, you had the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade California history lessons.  What do you recall about early California history, and the Missions? Who decides how events get captured? Why do some events get morphed from the reality, into fantastic stories?  While other events quietly get removed, and buried in the past? 

Yerba Buena to San Francisco Today's episode, how did San Francisco get its name? I'm born and raised in the immediate San Francisco Area, and I've grown up hearing ‘San Francisco was originally called Yerba Buena'. But, is that true? Let's start my research journey, with San Francisco, before the United States official claim to the area.