St. Francis Hotel
Entry Author: Charles
A. Fracchia
 The
St. Francis Hotel (officially the Westin St. Francis) was
conceived in the early years of the twentieth century as an
investment by the trustees for the heirs of the deceased Charles
Crocker, son of the railroad mogul of the same name, and completed
in 1904. [1]
Photo courtesy St. Francis Hotel
It was designed by the architectural firm of Bliss & Faville
and was constructed on Powell Street, facing Union Square
and was originally built with two of its present wings. Later
construction would add two more wings facing the square, and
in 1972, a 32-story tower was built behind the hotel on Union
Square. [2]
 In
1906, the hotel was gutted in the fire that took place after
the earthquake of April 18. Shortly thereafter, the owners
built a temporary replacement called the "Little St.
Francis" in Union Square. By the end of 1907, the hotel
had been reconstructed and was open to guests.
Ruins of St. Francis Hotel,
circa 1906 (from OAC)
From the time of its initial construction in 1904, the St.
FrancisHotel had been one of the most prestigious hotels in
the West. Its public rooms and restaurants have been famous
for their being the venues for events for renowned public
figures, and for hosting the functions of San Francisco's
social elite. U.S. presidents and the emperor of Japan, the
shah of Iran and the king of Malaysia, Douglas MacArthur and
Ernest Hemingway have been among those notables who have stayed
at the St. Francis Hotel; and it was a favorite hostelry with
actors and actresses from Hollywood. In 1921, the highest
paid actor in the world, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle,
checked into a suite on the twelfth floor, where there ensued
a tragic death of a woman who had attended a party he had
given - a death which Arbuckle had nothing to do with - and
which ended his career.
The St. Francis Hotel had been noted for its beautiful and
prestigious public rooms. For many years, its restaurant was
presided over by the legendary chef Victor Hirtzler; and for
many decades, the elite of San Francisco society would lunch
each Monday in the Mural Room where the Swiss maitre d' Ernest
Gloor would seat the socialites in hierarchical precedence.
Meeting one's friends, family members, and business associates
for drinks or meals has been a custom for many since the hotel
opened in 1904. Still heard in San Francisco is the expression,
"Meet me under the clock" - an expression that refers
to the extraordinary Magneta grandfather clock in the lobby
of the hotel.
[1] There had been another St. Francis Hotel, which was
constructed in 1849, and destroyed by fire in 1853, but there
is no connection between the two hotels.
[2] The Tower building was designed by architect William
Pereira and features five high-speed glass elevators offering
astounding views of the city.
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The hotel was completed in 1904