The Masonic Streets of San Francisco

Masonic Connections on almost every street corner

By Ian A. Stewart

In 1847, the Irish-born land surveyor Jasper O’Farrell set out to redraw the map of San Francisco. As part of that, he gave many of the newly made streets their names—including O’Farrell Street—and in so doing, began a long and rich naming tradition that’s probably totally invisible to those outside the craft. But for those in the know, there’s a fraternal link, wink, and nod on just about every other street corner in San Francisco.

O'Farrell Street

Born to a prominent Masonic family in Ireland, O’Farrell surveyed much of Northern California on behalf of the Mexican government. After receiving land grants in the Sonoma Valley, he became a member of Temple № 14. His namesake street in San Francisco runs through the Tenderloin and ends— fittingly—at Masonic Avenue.

Washington Street

One of the first streets O’Farrell christened was in honor of George Washington. In time, four more San Francisco streets would be named for Masonic presidents: Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, and Franklin.

Sloat Boulevard

Commodore John D. Sloat—the man who claimed California for the U.S., and a Mason in New York—first lent his name to what’s now Sansome Street. Around 1919, his name reappeared on this main drag through the westside.

Stevenson Street

Named for Jonathan Drake Stevenson, the state’s first grand master and a charter member of California № 1. Stevenson arrived as commander of a regiment of volunteers in the Mexican-American War and later made a fortune in mining and real estate.

Folsom Street

Just south of Stevenson is a street named for Captain Joseph Libby Folsom, a member of Stevenson’s staff and another member of California № 1. The Sierra foothills town of Folsom is also named for him.

Brannan Street

San Francisco’s first millionaire, Samuel Brannan led a party of 250 Mormons to California in 1845 and founded the California Star newspaper. However, he and church leader Brigham Young eventually had a falling-out, and Brannan became a powerful figure in local politics. In 1855, the Grand Lodge effectively blackballed Brannon but, curiously, rescinded its order two years later, allowing him to join Occidental № 22.

Townsend Street

Just south of Brannan is Townsend, named for John Townsend, the state’s first licensed doctor and junior warden of San Jose № 10.

Belden Place

Named for Josiah Belden, the first mayor of San Jose. Like Townsend, he was a member of San Jose № 10 from 1854–59.

Stanford Street

A curiously small strip considering its namesake, Stanford Street pays homage to Leland Stanford, former governor of California and one of the Big Four railroad tycoons. Stanford helped found Michigan City № 47 in 1855 in California’s Gold Country.

Revere Avenue

This street in the Bayview is named for Joseph Warren Revere, son of Paul Revere—hero of the American Revolution and a former grand master of Massachusetts. The younger Revere was part of the force that raised the Bear Flag at Sonoma in 1846.

Rizal Street

The SoMA Pilipinas Cultural District includes several streets named for Filipino national heroes, including Masons Jose Rizal y Mercado and Andres Bonifacio, leaders of the Philippine independence movement.

Gilman Avenue

Charles Gilman was nearly the first grand master of California. A past grand master of both New Hampshire and Maryland, Gilman helped organize the first Masonic convention in California and was nominated as its first leader. However, planning to return to Baltimore, he declined the honor.

Lesse Street

Jacob Primer Leese came to San Francisco in 1836 and built one of the first houses in the Yerba Buena settlement. In 1858, he joined California № 1.

Drumm Street

This street was named for Lieutenant Richard Coulton Drum (with one m), an adjutant general of the Department of the Pacific during the Civil War and a member of Oriental № 144.

Davis Street

Wiliam Heath Davis, pilot of John Sutter’s vessel up the Sacramento River, was a trader in 1830s San Francisco who helped found San Diego № 35 in 1851.

Geary Boulevard

One of the longest streets in San Francisco is named for General John White Geary, a colonel in the Mexican-American War and San Francisco’s first mayor. Geary left San Francisco in 1852 and later served as a major general in the Civil War, was appointed governor of the Kansas territory, and was eventually elected governor of Pennsylvania. He was a charter member of California № 1 and its first secretary.

Rolph Street

Named for James Rolph Jr., or “Sunny Jim,” the longest-serving mayor of San Francisco and one of its most popular. Rolph, a member of California № 1, resigned in 1931 to serve one term as governor of California.

Brenham Place

Captain Charles J. Brenham was a steamboat captain who came to San Francisco in 1849, became the city’s second mayor, and in 1855 joined California № 1.

Fallon Place

This tiny street in North Beach is named for Thomas Fallon, a member of San Jose № 10 who recruited a company of volunteers during the Mexican-American War in 1846 and raised the U.S. flag over San Jose.

Crocker-Amazon

The neighborhood takes part of its name from the Crocker Holding Company, which once owned the land. Brothers Charles H. Crocker and William Henry Crocker, sons of the Southern Pacific Railroad tycoon Charles Crocker, were active members of California № 1 and the local Scottish Rite.

Haight-Ashbury

Ground zero of the hippie movement is named for two Masons: Gov. Henry Haight, a member of Pacific № 136, and Munroe Ashbury, a member of the Board of Supervisors who helped plan Golden Gate Park.

Stanyan Street

Nearby, Stanyan takes its name from Charles Henry Stanyan, another city supervisor involved in the building of Golden Gate Park, who belonged to Oriental № 144.

Cole Street

William Beverly Cole was a surgeon and founder of the University of California Medical School. In 1862, he joined Occidental № 22.

Masonic Avenue

So named for the old Masonic cemetery on what’s now the University of San Francisco campus. The cemetery was shuttered in the 1920s during a wide-scale reinterment of the city’s cemeteries to the town of Colma.

Mason Street

Ironically, Mason Street bears no connection to Masonry— like Fort Mason, it’s named for Col. Richard B. Mason, the fifth military governor of California.