Grove of Memory
Alma Spreckels’ Legion of Honor project in San Francisco’s Lincoln Park was completed in November 1924. In addition to being a repository for Alma’s French artwork, the museum was meant as a memorial to the California dead of World War I.
One hundred years (and a few months) ago, on January 10, 1925, Spreckels presided over a ceremony to add to a nascent “honor grove” of trees on the east side of the building.
French marshals Ferdinand Foch and Joseph Joffre had already planted trees on their visits to the site in 1921 and 1922. Now Alma had a pine put in memory of her recently deceased husband, Adolph Spreckels, and another in honor of her living brother-in-law, John (who donated a $100,000 organ to the museum.)
For the event, France donated two bronze palm trees to honor the memory of American fighting men.
Some elements of this “honor grove” are still in place 100 years later, including plaques recognizing Joffre and Foch. I do not know which of the other eight pines still standing may have been dedicated to the Spreckels brothers. No sign of any bronze palm trees...
On Memorial Day in 1925, ceremonies were held in a less picturesque location at a humbler honor-grove a couple of miles south:
In 1920, the Native Sons of the Golden West planted 39 acacia trees on a median strip of Junipero Serra Boulevard between Sloat Boulevard and Ocean Avenue to honor the 39 members of local parlors who lost their lives in the “war to end all wars.”
Each tree bore a bronze marker with the name, date of death, and parlor affiliation of one of the war-dead. Poles for the United States and California flags were set in the middle of the grove.
The Native Sons and Native Daughters of the Golden West are social organizations formed in 1875 and 1886 with a focus on California heritage. Both are still around, although the associations used to play more prominent role in city society and politics, some good, some definitely not good.
Each Memorial Day a delegation from the 29 local parlors of the Native Sons and the 25 parlors of the Native Daughters visited their roadside “Grove of Memory” to place flags and flowers. Local boy scout troops participated and provided a bugler to play “Taps” at the end.
A Grove of Memory Association was incorporated by the Native Sons and Daughters to raise money for improvements to the grove, including a grander interpretive marker for the site. Monthly fund-raising card parties were hosted at the Native Sons’ building at 414 Mason Street.
The initial target was for $40,000 to secure “the most beautiful memorial monument in San Francisco” through a prize-competition offered to sculptors of American and Europe.
The “monster whist” tournaments did well, but a major change of plans came in 1927. In October of that year the city’s park commission agreed to set aside a new Grove of Memory between 15th and 17th Avenues on the north side of today’s John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park.
The action likely came from a parallel movement to create a memorial grove dedicated to all mothers who had lost sons and daughters in American wars. The idea of this “Heroes Grove” had come from a newspaper campaign and trees were planted in the park between 10th and Funston avenues.
Having the Sons and Daughters’ Grove of Memory near Heroes Grove made sense. Golden Gate Park certainly had more prestige than a median strip next to streetcar tracks, although perhaps less visibility.
On November 6, 1927, the Grove of Memory was re-dedicated with 39 redwood trees a couple of blocks west of Heroes Grove. You can easily walk them both. They are quiet places, considering the rivers of traffic nearby.
In 1930, the monument dreamed of during many a Native Sons and Daughters’ card tournament was installed in the meadow bordering the Grove of Memory.
Sculptor M. Earl Cummings, who was a park commissioner and the creator of many of its monuments and memorials, used a seven-foot-high boulder flanked by flag poles to hold a plaque of honored names and a sculptural figure.
Cummings shunned the typical war-memorial action pose. Instead of a heroic figure with a weapon, the young doughboy stands erect, sleeves rolled up, his collar open. He holds a wreath to his chest.
Nine years later, an even larger and deadlier conflict followed the war to end all wars. A replacement plaque dedicated on June 3, 1951 listed additional Native Sons lost in World War II.
Today, the Grove of Memory consists of dozens of mature redwood trees. Thousands of drivers on the Park Presidio Bypass curve around them on their daily commute, no doubt unaware of the significance.
On most Memorial Days the doughboy receives flowers and a wreath at his feet. It may happen again on Monday. We should walk over and check it out.
Over on Junipero Serra Boulevard between Sloat Boulevard and Ocean Avenue there are still trees on the median. Maybe one or two are from the original acacia grove of 1920.
Anyone know a forensic arborist?
Woody Beer and Coffee Fund
The Friends of Woody coffee and/or beer meetings have really picked up, even though I am in the middle of a gala-planning frenzy. (Our accompanying silent auction opened yesterday, and one item has a drink-a-beer-with-Woody component.)
Chip in to the fund if you are feeling bold and generous with the spring weather. When shall we get together?
Sources
“Memory Grove Dedicated to Heroes of War,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 6, 1921, pg. 3.
“French Idol Spends Second Busy Day Here,” San Francisco Examiner, April 8, 1922, pg. 3.
“Donors of Palace to American Dead to Be Honored at Organ Dedication,” San Francisco Bulletin, January 10, 1925, pg. 3.
“Park Organ is Fittingly Dedicated,” San Francisco Examiner, January 12, 1925, pg. 7.
“Natives Honor Hero Brothers,” San Francisco Examiner, June 6, 1926, Part 2, pg. 1.
Ethel R. Shorb, “Club Plans Dinner for New Heads,” San Francisco Bulletin, February 1, 1927, pg. 15.
“Native Son Statue to Be Unveiled in Park Sunday,” San Francisco Examiner, May 29, 1930, pg. 3.