San Francisco History Association

MEETINGS 2025

We hold live meetings with an option to view remotely via Zoom. Meetings start at 7 p.m. Congregation Sherith Israel is located at 2266 California Street, at Webster.

Parking: Check the signs. The surrounding streets contain several passenger white zones that are not active after 6 p.m. and can be used for parking in the evenings. Note that paid parking at the closest garage to Sherith Israel IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE after 7 pm at CPMC at 2100 Webster, AKA the Pacific Professional Building.

There is 24-hour parking available a half-block further north on Webster at 2401 Clay, with entry on Clay Street.

Muni: 1, 2, 22, 24.

Admission is free for members; there is a $10 admission for nonmembers. (More information can be found on the membership tab.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 7 P.M., live and on Zoom:

Jim Caddick: Before and After the 1906 Earthquake and Fire

When Jim Caddick worked at the Exploratorium, he was introduced to a 16mm film copy of the pre-1906 City. Subsequently he has collected other film footage of that 1906 event. Some actual film footage of both before and after the 1906 event will be shown at our meeting. The rest, as they say, is history. 

If you live in San Francisco, it is nearly impossible to ignore the history of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. This year will mark the 119th anniversary of San Francisco’s infamous event. The severity of the fire can be attributed in part to the inoperability of the water pipes, and consequently the fire hydrants, with the exception of a single hydrant. Can you guess where that one is?

About our speaker:

Jim Caddick’s family was originally from Ohio. When Jim was 13, they moved to San Francisco where he first attended Roosevelt Middle School, and then Presidio Middle School and Washington High School. His family moved temporarily to Long Beach and returned to the City. Jim attended San Francisco State University where he became interested in the history of photography. This turned into an interest in actual photographic postcards, and in the 2000s Jim joined the San Francisco Bay Area Post Card Club.

How to watch the presentation online

Zoom streaming is available only for SFHA members. The San Francisco History Association will send out the Zoom link and password to current members on the morning of the meeting day. Check the website membership tab to renew or obtain current membership. Please add info@sanfranciscohistory.org to your email address book, and check your spam or bulk mail folder.