Woody LaBounty

Stephen "Woody LaBounty" is a San Francisco history writer, speaker, and general gadabout. San Francisco Story is his side project, done for his own enjoyment of researching and sharing local history.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #017

Biplane autos, prison waffles, and the world isn't that different (good and bad).

Time Machine

San Francisco Time Machine

Woody's top 5 trips using a San Francisco Time Machine.

Western Addition

Tower Trouble

Much of the clean up after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire was done with muscle, including pulling down part of the tower of St. Dominic's Church.

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #016

Everyone put on your San Francisco Time Travel goggles...

Downtown

Atlas Displaced

Searching for surviving pieces of a unique 1874 San Francisco building.

Earthquake Shacks

Mother Minerva’s Fort

In 1926, a woman fought for her home made of three earthquake refugee shacks.

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #015

Earthquake, fires, and true love found... all in one Woody LaBounty Grab Bag.

Jackson Square

Life on Osgood Place

A long look at a short street near Jackson Square.

Presidio

Balloons Over the Presidio

Lobos Creek Valley's lighter-than-air days.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #014

An apology, some grand views, and other Woody grab-baggery.

Cow Hollow

Accordion House

The San Francisco building which once had a keyboard parapet.

Downtown

House Cleaning Day

On March 3, 1907, San Francisco gave its rubble-strewn streets a good sweeping.

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #013

A writing, reading, and watching San Francisco history round-up.

Ocean Beach

The Legacy of Uncle Cliff

Cliff Kamaka ruled Fleishhacker Pool and influenced a generation of Kelly's Cove surfers.

Union Square

Castle on the Square

The mini-citadel which once faced Union Square.

Members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #012

Movie houses, monoku, and membership cards in one big Woody Grab Bag.

Ocean Beach

The Girl from Wyoming

Crossing the continent to San Francisco with $2, a horse, and a dog.

Sunset District

The House Built on Sand

A 1904 DIY house built in the barren sand dunes of San Francisco's Sunset District still stands today.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #011

A man who sleeps a week, Karl Malden, my Dad, and where to eat in 1953.

Pacific Heights

The Irving Institute

The scholastic past of a grand California Street apartment building.

Children's Playground

The Goat Cart Man

Many San Francisco children posed holding the reins of a goat-harnessed rig in the early 1900s. Who was the mysterious King of the Goat Carts?

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #010

Appreciating Skid Row, Juanita's Midwinter Fair act, and the idea of a San Francisco Historian Laureate.

Christmas

The 12 Firehouses of Christmas

From 1948–1950, San Francisco fire stations went crazy with an annual Christmas decoration contest. Here are Woody's top dozen.

Mission District

Maguire's Houses

Life on one Mission District block on February 22, 1887 at 11:35 a.m.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #009

A true Woody LaBounty Grab Bag: Pawn Stars, Chinatown revealed, historic real estate for sale, and the first San Francisco Story Annual released.