Doesn’t this Gate and Pump House look like a relic? It’s right where Van Ness Avenue meets the bay. This antiquated building has a deep connection to the 1906 earthquake and fire.
In the wake of the great quake, fire ripped through San Francisco. Broken water pipes left fire crews helpless. As the city rebuilt, planners created an auxiliary system. It would pump seawater to tanks. This gave firefighters access to water if all else failed.
In 1908, the city built Pump Station 2 at the edge of the bay. It was filled with cutting-edge pump technology. It could siphon seawater and fill underground cisterns across the city.
One hundred and five years later, the Gate and Pump House, along with its original systems, remains intact. It is still ready for action. The systems were built to last.
Inside Pump Station 2, constructed from 1908 to 1913, massive pumps sit like museum pieces. Old iron knobs and dials jut from the wall. Massive steam boilers loom like a scene from the Titanic’s engine room. The technology is similar to maritime engines that powered Liberty Ships during World War II.
Everything inside is a piece of art. The workmanship and quality of materials are superb. The steam boilers were replaced by diesel engines in the seventies. Other than that, the mechanisms are the same as when the place was built.
And what’s more, they’ll be called into action if disaster strikes and other water systems fail. These are essentially the last line of defense for fire.
In the past few years, voters passed bond measures to update the city’s auxiliary water systems. Millions are earmarked for upgrades at Pump Station 2. Funny thing, the money will seismically upgrade the building, but not the interior systems. They still function just fine.
This old technology is based on a gravity-fed system. There’s not a whole lot that will go wrong. Planners from cities around the world have visited this pump station. It’s the only system of its kind in the United States.
It may seem irresponsible to leave the city’s last defense to a century-plus warren of antique gizmos. However, the city appreciates the philosophy of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The pumps and the essence of the Gate and Pump House are still in good working order. That is amazing, even though they’re over 100 years old.
San Francisco may grapple with the fallout of technology. But in a quiet, old-time building, the technology of yesteryear is patiently waiting for its turn as the city’s savior.