Estate sale find, original antique vintage photo of the. First Congregational Church with. Post earthquake repairs located at Post and Mason Streets, San Francisco, California. NOTE: The last image is for reference only and is not included in the listing. The back of the photo indicates that the church was in Rockford Illinois, however, further investigation suggests that this was the First Congregational Church located at Post and Mason Streets, San Francisco, California. This is based on comparing photos showing the earthquake damage of the church and repairs made afterwards. In addition the adjacent buildings appear to be the same as well. In addition the sign indicates that the pastor was George C. From the rootsweb website. Adams served as pastor from November 8, 1896, to September 3, 1910. Much was done in the upkeep and improvement of the splendid building. In 1904 the roof and spire were covered with slate shingles, and stained glass windows placed in the clerestory which before had been closed in. The mellow light which entered brightened and beautified the main auditorium by day. Adam’s tenth Easter, April 15th, 1906, he had before him the largest congregations in any Protestant church in the city, and could reasonably envision years ahead of substantial progress. The city was growing faster numerically then ever before, and his was the most constructive accomplishment of that period in the Protestant field. Three days later, at 5:18 in the gray of the early morning, the city was shaken by a great earthquake that did immense damage, followed by vast fires which burned fiercely and uncontrolled for more than two days and two nights, burning, north of Market, as far west as Van Ness, and around Hayes Street as far west as Laguna, and, south of Market, as far east as Division, as far south as 20th Street, and as far west as Dolores. It is estimated that by the time the fires were out, more than one hundred thousand of the city’s population had left never to return, and that other huge segments had left temporarily or were living in improvised shelters. Among those who left thus hastily were about half of the church’s constituency, and many of those who remained lost their possessions or business or employment. The church building withstood the earthquake fairly well, although the brick work of the walls and spire was cracked in places near the top. But during the first night the fires began to close in, and early the next morning the building was burned down. The church accepted, for the time being, the invitation of Plymouth Church to worship with it. Its spacious wooden building on Post between Buchanan and Webster was outside the fire zone, and practically undamaged by the earthquake. Meserve, the pastor of Plymouth Church, arranged to preach alternately. This decision made, Dr. Adams hastened for its fulfillment, apparently fearing that if prompt action in that direction was not taken, the remnants of his congregation might be absorbed by Plymouth Church. It happened that Dr. Adams’ most trusted church official, Barton S. Hays, was a builder, and with him Dr. To them it seemed that a tent or a flimsy structure, such as some downtown interests projected for the immediate future, would be too short lived, too lacking in comfort and stability, too unattractive; on the other hand, that the restoration of the old church would create too heavy a financial burden and constitute too great a step into an unknown future. So without architectural or engineering advice, they advocated and secured the adoption by the church of the middle course of flooring over the basement of the old building, finishing above a one-story auditorium with a comparatively low roof, and scaling down the walls that were still standing to the height this operation required. PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS – The item appears to be in overall Fair to Good Minus used condition, signs of wear, creases, fading, tears, chipping, sunning and age toning, soiling, stains, writing, no odors, please see images.