The history of one hills plaza
Shipping ports, railroads, and industrial buildings were the heart and lifeline
of San Francisco in the 19th century. Dunsmuir’s Sons Co. Coal Yard, located
on East St. (Embarcadero) between Folsom St. and Harrison St. provided the
area with its most valuable resource: coal.
Coal, steel, iron, and lumber mills sold their land and moved further south
after the 1906 earthquake. Austin and Reuben Hills seized the opportunity to
anchor their growing company in this prime waterfront location.
The Hill Bros. plant was designed by George Kelham in Romanesque Revival
architectural style. The building's masonry includes patterned brickwork,
arched doorways and windows, bronze grillwork doors, and a large tower
where the coffee beans were stored and blended. The Hills Bros. coffee plant
Left: Breaking Ground. Above: Hills Bros. Building. Date: Dec. 15, 1924. Courtesy of the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society
is the last building in San Francisco to be built in this style.
TIMELINE:
The Hills Brothers break ground on their headquarters and plant to East Street (Embarcadero) between Folsom St. & Harrison St.
Arabian Coffee & Spice Mills officially mores in to their new Romanesque Revival designed plant.
1909
1938
1916 1917
1938
1912
1922
1927-1929
1932
1906
1924
1926
1890
1900
1910
1920
1940
1930
George William Kelham builds Edwards Stadium at UC Berkeley .
George William Kelham builds the Security Pacific Building .
George William Kelham builds the Mount Davidson Cross of San Francisco.
George William Kelham builds the Russ Building (the tallest building in San Francisco u ntil 1964), Bowles Hall at UC Berkeley, & the Shell Building.
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