A house of welcome on Pine Street
NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY | FROM SF HERITAGE
From 1921 to 1972, 2066 Pine Street was home to the Madame C. J. Walker Home for Girls and Women, a community service organization named in honor of one of the United States’ most successful African American businesswomen and philanthropists.
The Walker club provided lodging and services to African American women newly arrived in San Francisco. In an era of acute segregation and racism, when the YWCA and many boarding houses rejected Black applicants, the organization also kept a registry of other available lodgings, distributed clothing and cash relief, hosted holiday celebrations, and ran an employment agency.
Readers Respond
- Margaret H.December 28, 1969
Wonderful piece. I remember when the jazz clubs on Fillmore stayed open past two — this brought it all back. Thank you for keeping the memory of the neighborhood alive.
- David K.December 23, 1969
We've lived on Pine near Steiner for thirty-one years and it still surprises us how much this paper notices. Please keep going.
- Yuki T.December 15, 1969
A small correction — the mochi shop on Post opened in 1982, not 1985. My grandfather was there for the ribbon cutting. Love the coverage otherwise.
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