by Michael Helquist
Copyright 2007 All rights reserved, Michael Helquist
North of Panhandle neighborhood history is full of stories of working and middle class families who settled here with dreams of gaining a secure footing in the rapidly growing San Francisco of decades past. The background of the two-flat building at 2009-2009a Golden Gate reveals one such family story, that of Italian naturalized immigrants who established a cement contracting business that served the extended family for many years.
Ettore Massagli became a U.S. citizen in 1916 and his wife, Antoinette, followed suit the next year. Residing briefly at 2298 Turk, 836 Central, and 2067 Golden Gate, Ettore and Antoinette finally settled into 2009 Golden Gate in 1920. By then they had established the family cement business. During their five year stay at 2009, Ettore and his wife, no doubt, watched with satisfation as their relatives settled nearby. John and Jennie at 147 Parker, Raphaello and Nancy at 2298 Turk, Joseph and Diva at 737 Baker, and Albert and Stella at 658 20th Avenue all joined in the contracting business which continued well into the 1970s. As the family grew, a few members struck out on different paths: Joseph Massagli and Louis Queirolo became butchers and formed their own meat processing company; Louis and his son Emil went into the cigar business.
In the early 1980s, Angelo Massagli was the president of Massagli Motors, Importers of Fiat and Lancia Automobilies, in Daly City.
The Massagli family wasn’t the first to reside or own 2009 Golden Gate. Richard L Conn, a plumber and tinsmith, applied for water service at 2009 in 1889, when the street was still known as Tyler Street. Conn evidently did not live at the Golden Gate address for several years until 1898, but he then remained there with his wife, Kate, until 1909.
William Clyde Hall, age 37, a clerk for U.S. Steel Products, moved across the street from his father’s home at 2014 Golden Gate, into 2009 during the year 1909 where he remained until 1917 when he returned with his wife, Lena, to 2014 (an address no longer used). In 1911, the other flat in the building was the residence of a 39 year old engineer, George M. Lovely and his wife, Madeleine.
Following the Massagli family residence at 2009 in the 1920s, city records are sparse for listing the inhabitants until the 1950s. (Reverse city street directories, listing each city address and then the resident, did not appear until 1954; unfortunately, these tremendously helpful directories were discontinued in 1981). Hiram Roberts, a porter for Southern Pacific, and his wife, Chloe, made 2009 their home from 1954 until 1972, residing in the building for the longest period until current owners, Jack and Jill Bascom, purchased it and moved into the upper flat in 1981.
Long-time NOPNA member, Jack Bascom, pointed proudly to the large round skylight above the hallway and the stairs leading to the upper level. “This cranberry colored skylight is what made the sale for my wife,” he commented. Under the rich glow of the natural light, the hallway leads to the front fainting room, now used as a bedroom, with the original coal burning fireplace and wainscotting in the rectangular bay window. Of particular note is the carved male head, with moustache, and butterfly that are part of the bay window interior brackets.
The front room, with remodeled bath and its own bay window to the side, leads through pocket doors to the original living room. The one, and only, closet off the hallway reveals the period preference for using armoires instead of closets. The hallway then leads to the much-enlarged kitchen which replaces the original cluster of three or four small pantry rooms and enclosed porch. The remodeled kitchen is now bright and airy with its wall of windows at the rear providing views of Buena Vista park, UCSF, Mt. Sutro, and Twin Peaks. At the base of the front stairs leading to the upper flat, there is evidence behind the front door that the two units may have been joined as one with a passageway between the two.
Jack Bascom worked for 27 years as a medical laboratory technologist; a year ago he started a greeting card business called “Remarkables.” He is also active in the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) effort. Jill Bascom has been a nurse with Kaiser Hospital’s labor and delivery unit, working with mothers and infants, for 20 years. We appreciate their ongoing contributions to NOPNA and look forward to having them as neighbors for many more years.
Sources include the Index to Register, San Francisco Block Books, City Directories, Municipal Reports, and Sanborn maps.