A Brief History of Forest Hill
Harold A. Wright
August 2011
Forest Hill was created by subdivision maps filed in 1913. The owner was the Newell-Murdoch Reality Co., with investment by John Rosenfeld’s Sons. The maps were drawn by Mark Daniels, a “landscape engineer,” who had previously laid out “Thousand Oaks” in Berkeley. Daniels was a friend of Maybeck and the first Superintendent of National Parks. It was the first San Francisco subdivision with streets that followed the contours of the land.
The start of World War I in 1914 slowed interest in home building and by 1918 only about 60 homes had been built in Forest Hill. Competing subdivisions had opened up in western San Francisco, some of which had larger street frontages and larger parks.
(to learn more about the pre-1918 period, go to Forest Hill - the Dream page.)
In 1918 the Forest Hill Association was created as a non-profit corporation to maintain the public landscaping and streets, and to enforce the building restrictions. The property owners signed a 50 year agreement to fund the Association through regular assessments. Newell-Murdoch and John Rosenfeld’s Sons deeded lots to the Association for a Clubhouse and park. One of these lots already had a small building (the upper garage) which served as a sales office.
The first Association Board of Directors included Edwin C. Young, a bachelor and businessman, for whom Maybeck had designed a house at 51 Sotelo. Ed Young remained a Director until his death in 1931. He was the Director responsible for seeing that the Clubhouse got built, although he had no construction experience. The Directors hired a Superintendent to oversee the landscaping, the streets and the building of the Clubhouse. He hired the workers who built the Clubhouse and lived in the Clubhouse apartment after it was completed. The completed Clubhouse was dedicated at a ceremony in March 1920. A manager or caretaker lived at the Clubhouse until 2007.
In the early years the Clubhouse was used for Church services, pre-school, and the Boy Scouts (which continue to this day), in addition to Association meetings and parties. The smaller garage served for a time as a police station with one car. The large garage was added to hold a large truck and a road paving machine which was sometimes used in other subdivisions.
In the early years the Clubhouse was used for Church services, pre-school, and the Boy Scouts (which continue to this day), in addition to Association meetings and parties. The smaller garage served for a time as a police station with one car. The large garage was added to hold a large truck and a road paving machine which was sometimes used in other subdivisions.
In 1931 the Forest Hill Garden Club was founded to promote gardens in Forest Hill. It evolved into a Women’s social club with daytime meetings and evening parties which included husbands. The Garden Club became the most important social group in the neighborhood. Other groups which at one time used the building were the Girl Scouts, a square dance group (the Forest Hillbillies), a bridge group, a mahjong group, a social group for teenagers (the Forest Hill Juniors) and numerous musical productions. In 1955 the Garden Club parties (particularly the Christmas party) had become so popular that not everyone could attend and the Association decided to expand the Clubhouse to the rear. About this time the main furnace and its room were also added.
In 1968 the Garden Club hired a landscape architect to develop a garden plan which included the upper patio and brick retaining walls as they now exist. Unfortunately many of the plantings have since died.
In 1968 the Garden Club hired a landscape architect to develop a garden plan which included the upper patio and brick retaining walls as they now exist. Unfortunately many of the plantings have since died.
In 1936 the Association and other local associations formed the West of Twin Peaks Central Council, a non-political organization, to protect the residential character of our neighborhoods, and improve conditions. The council still meets at the Clubhouse.
The original agreements which funded the Association were set to expire in 1968 and prior to that time a campaign was begun to sign up all the property owners to a new agreement which continues in perpetuity.
In 1984 the Association helped get the City to assess the neighborhood for one time street improvements and the City then took responsibility for maintaining the streets and curbs of Forest Hill, thus removing that obligation from the Association after more than 60 years.
About 1985 the Clubhouse roof was re-shingled. About 1988 the brick paving on the Clubhouse entry patio was replaced with a concrete slab surfaced with brick tiles. About 1990, the Clubhouse water supply piping was replaced with copper pipe.
About 1985 the Clubhouse roof was re-shingled. About 1988 the brick paving on the Clubhouse entry patio was replaced with a concrete slab surfaced with brick tiles. About 1990, the Clubhouse water supply piping was replaced with copper pipe.