San Francisco, CA Cliff House Fire, Sep 1907

CLIFF HOUSE IS DESTROYED.

FAMOUS LANDMARK IN SAN FRANCISCO BURNED DOWN.

WAS A FAVORITE SHRINE OF PILGRIMAGE TO THE GOLDEN GATE CITY -- LOSS IS $50,000.

San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 9. -- The Cliff house, San Francisco's first attraction for tourists, was burned to the ground. The fire started about 5 o'clock and an hour later a blackened heap of ruins was all that remained of the famous structure.
The house was built of wood, and, fanned by a lively ocean breeze, the flames made such headway before the nearest fire company arrived that it was realized that the place was doomed, and more attention was paid to saving adjoining property than to the burning building. The Cliff house had been closed for some time, as the new lessee, JOHN TAIT, was remodeling the interior. Workmen were about the place until noon and then departed for the day. How the fire started is a mystery.
This was the second Cliff House to be destroyed by fire. The building which was destroyed by fire was built about 20 years ago by ADOLPH SUTRO of Sutro tunnel fame. It was owned by the SURRO estate and was valued at $50,000.
The Cliff House was ranked as one of the best known resorts of America. Located on a rocky promontory outside the city, directly above the surf of the Pacific and overlooking the famous Seal rocks, it was a strong attraction for visitors, and from its broad porches hundreds of thousands of people obtained their first view of the Pacific.

Stevens Point Daily Journal Wisconsin 1907-09-09
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!