116 Chattanooga Street

The Whiteside House, named for its first owner, is a classic San Francisco Italianate home. The home was built in 1872 by architect Henry Bestor. The building’s prominent three-sided, two-story bay, which is typical of Italianate homes of its period, is a custom, architect-designed feature. The false mansard roof, with bracketed cornice that extends the height of the building, is another prominent feature worthy of note. These features were more common at the time of construction, but due to maintenance concerns many homes lost these stunning elements over the years. Other features of the house, such as the original brick fireplace, were lost to natural disasters like the 1906 earthquake.

Additional notable features include incised images in the window corners and fluted columns bordering the windows. With the advent of steam powered machinery in the 1880’s, the cost of mass producing Victorian detailing was greatly reduced and builders were able to buy bulk decorative materials. As a result, home exteriors became more ornate, sometimes fanciful. This 1872 home’s original simpler detailing demonstrates the cost associated with building structures like it at the time and what might have been afforded by Mr. Whileside, a porter at the time. However, in 1880 Mr. Whiteside commissioned at least $1,000 in architectural details for the building, probably creating what we see today. The house is proudly featured in the Junior League’s “Here Today” book on page 257.

Alexander Whiteside purchased the home from Henry Bestor in 1872 as indicated by Spring Valley Water Company’s records of the first water connection. Mr. Whiteside worked as a porter in the city. A porter’s job varied depending on the type of company, but Mr. Whiteside’s work was likely related to custodial services based on the companies he worked for. First, he worked for Root & Bailey, a prominent printing and publishing company that was particularly known for producing high-quality maps, city directories, and other printed materials. He later worked as a porter for Cartan, McCarthy & Co., a wholesale liquor dealer notable for importing and distributing a wide range of wine and spirits in support of the city’s bustling social and commercial activity. It is interesting to note that Cartan, McCarthy & Co, glass bottles are now highly collectible, showing up on numerous online auction sites.

Mr. Whiteside later sold the home to Caroline and Charles Meissner. They had three children: Sophie, Carl, and Ida. Charles, a musician, worked in the city until his death in 1892. Caroline remained in the home for 26 years, being the owner of record until her death in 1918. Their daughter, now Sophie Schmidt through marriage, owned the house through at least 1935 as indicated by ownership records. For a glimpse at the character of the Meissner’s daughter, Sophie Schmidt, we encourage you to read the excerpt of the San Francisco Call newspaper from December 15, 1905 detailing her encounter with a would-be suitor for her own daughter, also named Sophie. As one of three children raised by her widowed mother, Sophie was tough. She met her daughter’s boyfriend, beat him up, and when the police arrived, the cops arrested the suitor for disturbing the peace. The lesson? Don’t mess with Sophie Schmidt!!

Sophie Schmidt eventually sold the home to Laverne and Leif Westwick. While records are unclear, Leif Westwick appears to be a Swedish immigrant who made a name for himself in the 1940s as a modern art dealer. The house wound up in heavy disrepair at the time Ellen and Tom Abels purchased the home for $29,000 in 1971. Tom, an architect, recalls the great price may have been influenced by the advent of the “School Bussing Program,” which drove many parents to leave the city. The Abels’ added the sunroom and downstairs bath and laundry in 1986 and garage in 2002. Ellen and Tom look forward to you visiting their home of 53 years.

Research by Max Mertens and Gary Goss, 2024
Edited by Max Mertens, 2024