Building History

John Ralston and his brother, Henry Russell Ralston, left Scotland for the US in about 1865. They made their way to San Francisco, CA, by 1870, at which time they established the Ralston Iron Works. They opened their first factory on Howard Street.

Another location of the Ralston Iron Works was in opertion by 1915. H.J. Ralston was the President and H. Hall, Secretary, of the Ralston Iron Works in 1918. It produced structural and ornamental iron work, and were general house smiths. The firm also specialized in jail cells and prison work, motor trucks, and tractors and trailers. Its plant was located at 20th Street and Indiana Street in San Francisco, CA. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1918, p. 1399.)

PCAD id: 23425