Building History

The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company erected this office building c. 1865-1866. The company had been founded in 1860 by Peter Donahue (1822-1885) and Timothy Dame (1817-1901) on 08/18/1860. It began to lay tracks between the two cities on 07/15/1861 and completed the route about two-and-a-half years later, on 01/16/1864. The first CA-built locomotive made the journey on the 49.5-mile line on 08/30/1865. The railroad operated independently from 1860 until the Southern Pacific Railway (SP) purchased it in 03/1868. Services were fully integrated with those of the SP by 1870.

This was the second location of the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society, operating at Montgomery Street and Post Street. The bank moved into a portion of the building c. 1867 and took over the remainder after the purchase of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad by the SP, c. 1870.

In 1892, it built its beloved third office at 1 Jones Street, a winning competition entry by the local architect, Albert Pissis (1852-1914).

Building Notes

The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Building occupied a choice piece of land, at the corner of Market, Post and Montgomery Streets. It was, for the time, a substantial building, three stories high, with a stucco exterior and Italianate styling. Its first floor had rusticated detailing, with three bays separated by cast-iron pilasters with vermiculated blocks on the Montgomery Street facade, and four separated by simpler piers on Post. The second floor had notable curved balustrades under Italian Renaissance windows; this composition was formed of pairs of arched windows contained within a larger arched opening topped by a roundel in the middle. The Montgomery Street second floor facade had a central, rounded bay that projected out above the main entry, flanked by two Italianate windows on either side. This rounded bay had arched windows and pronounced machicolations. The second floor facing Post Street was lit by a series of four of these distinctive windows. The third floor Montgomery Street facade had a series of three Italiante windows, the middle crowned by an ornate pediment, the Post Street side with four of the same lights. The cornice contained a bold faux machicolations above which were castellations above the eaves. The corners of the roof featured turrets.

PCAD id: 20923