Index to Municipal Reports

one of four

History of the San Francisco 
Alms House, 1867
(Laguna Honda)

From Municipal Reports, 1866-67

   For some years the fact has been known that provisions made for care of indigent sick and infirm were inadequate to the requirements of the city. Upon application of the Board of Supervisors, authority was obtained from the State Legislature of 1863 and 1866 to purchase eighty acres some four miles from the City Hall to erect buildings.
   In September, 1866, a contract for erection of the Alms-House was entered into with Kimball Brothers for the sum of $44,800 and the building accepted by the city in September, 1867.
   The Alms-house has now some one hundred and thirty inmates, and may justly be considered as a manifest evidence of the charitable disposition of the people of San Francisco in thus providing a comfortable home for the poor and unfortunate.
   The superintendent is Mr. Geo F. Harris, who is assisted by some ten subordinates as nurses, etc., and workmen upon the farm; the intention being to make the institution as nearly self-sustaining as possible.
   The Smallpox Hospital is located on a remote part of the Alms-house grounds, enclosed with a high fence.      

Two years later.