Seventy-five years ago a cross burned on a lawn. This was Ingleside Terraces. It wasn’t always this peaceful. Ingleside Terraces is a San Francisco neighborhood. It’s a planned residential area. It sits on the former site of the Ingleside Racetrack. This racetrack was once a bustling hub of activity. It hosted California’s first automobile race in 1900. Only one car finished that race. The others crashed or had mechanical failures.
Joseph A. Leonard’s Urban Realty Improvement Company transformed the land. They built Ingleside Terraces starting in 1912. Originally it was designed to be a whites-only neighborhood. This was written into the property deeds. The deeds excluded African Japanese Chinese and Mongolian people.
The Ingleside Presbyterian Church was built in 1922. It was built by Joseph A Leonard himself. Initially its congregation was primarily white. After World War II the demographics changed. The church became primarily African American.
Despite the discriminatory past the neighborhood has a vibrant present. The Supreme Court case Shelley v Kraemer declared racial restrictions illegal. This was in 1948. However social enforcement continued. In 1957 Cecil F Poole and his family moved in. They were the first non-white residents. The following year a cross burning occurred at their home. This event became a turning point in the neighborhood’s history. Today the Cecil F Poole House is a San Francisco Designated Landmark.
Ingleside Terraces boasts the El Rey Theatre. This was designed by Timothy L Pflueger in 1931. The sundial in Sundial Park is another highlight. It’s a stunning landmark. It’s surrounded by Urbano Drive a loop that follows the old racetrack. The annual Sundial Park Picnic is a significant community event. People enjoy bicycle chariot and wagon races.
Ingleside Terraces continues to evolve. It remains a sought-after residential area in San Francisco. The community is now diverse and inclusive. It’s a testament to progress and resilience. The neighborhood’s history is complex yet compelling. It is a reminder of both the injustices of the past and the triumphs of the present.