I have found an old newpaper article which refers to "south of market boys" around the year 1900 I believe. Thank you,

-- Patti Curran (Cornvillemama@aol.com), January 26, 2003

Answers

Good question.

The South of Market Boys were like a gang of some sort, they defined life in dowtown. Antother name for South of Market is "South of the Slot". All of them South of Market Boys' homes were set ablaze and destroyed in 1906. Every year, the South of Market Boys place a wreath on "Lottie's Pump" as Lotta's fountain was called by them. Try reading the book "The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned" at the SF history room on the 6th floor of the SF Public Library.

P.S. Check out my Brand-new SF history board by clicking here.

-- Piano Man (seanmhall14@hotmail.com), January 26, 2003.

The most famous of the South of Market Boys was Mayor Sunny Jim Rolph. He was born on Minna Street but moved to 21st Street when he was about 5. The club had headquarters in the old San Franciscan Hotel on Market street. The hotel, by the way, became Temporary City Hall right after the earthquake.

Good luck in your research.

-- Kurt Iversen (iversenk@aol.com), January 26, 2003.

Sunny Jim was a great mayor. The SOM boys were the ones who died in the quake are remembered today. Nice to see you back, Kurt.

-- Piano Man (pianoman@reno.com), January 30, 2003.

Hello All! My great-grandfather, Thomas Maloney (senator and assembleyman from SF from the 1920s to the 1950s) and his brother Peter we co-founders of the South of Market Boys. I can provide additional information if you'd like.

-- Mike Maloney (mikemaloney@digitalpath.net), December 26, 2003.

Came across your South of Market Boys forum while researching an article for "The Southside", a SOMA community newsletter. I recently interviewed Al Graf, who was born here in 1910, and was a South of Market Boy for 25 years. He claims that this group was a charitable organization and their main goal was to help folks, mostly families and children with events and donations. They also sponsored Mother's Day luncheons at the Palace Hotel for years. Being a lively 93 years old, Al knows a lot of interesting history about the South of Market. It was a pleasure interviewing him.

-- Judy Carman (thesouthside@aol.com), February 23, 2004.

I believe my Dad was the last dues paying member. I have his blue T shirt with a gold rendering of the old mint. I think that was thier emblem. Also have his South of Market winged pin, club newsletters and and old club hotel Mother's Day party newspaper photo.

-- Patrick F. Cunneen (patricknbetty@earthlink.net), March 13, 2004.

My grandfather , who was born in 1874, used to talk about the south of Market Boys. Since he was born and lived one block south of Market Street he could have joined, but preferred not to since they were a gang of ruffians. I have the impression they were similar to street gangs of today.

-- Jan Collins (onwords@alamedanet.net), July 10, 2004.