FoundSF

Unfinished History

by Alyssa Boragno, San Francisco Museum and Historical Society

St. Paulus Lutheran Church.
Photo: San Francisco Museum and Historical Society

One of San Francisco's landmarks, St. Paulus Lutheran Church was located at 999 Eddy Street at Gough. It was built in 1893, and seated about 1,000 people. The church's services were held in German until 1920, when it added English services. It was not until the mid-1930s that English was the dominant language for the church. In 1906, St. Paulus served as a shelter and hospital for the victims of the earthquake and fire. In 1940, St. Paulus church suffered from a fire that destroyed its roof and tower, which were eventually restored. St. Paulus was known for their many missionaries. The church also makes an appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's film, "Vertigo."

In 1995, St. Paulus suffered another fire that eventually destroyed the church. For a few years the land was farmed by activists with the Free Farm movement in San Francisco.

Free Farm at Eddy and Gough, 2010.

Photo: Chris Carlsson