Today’s San Francisco is a very different place from the city of the early 20th century. But if you spend much time walking around in the area to the east of Van Ness Avenue, eventually you’ll find inevitable reminders of the great cataclysm, the earthquake and fire of 1906. This memorial, San Francisco Landmark No. 42, caught me by surprise as I hurried past on my way elsewhere. The plaque honors San Francisco’s beloved Fire Chief Dennis O’Sullivan, who was seriously injured in the early hours of April 18, 1906, and died a few days later.

By fire shall hearts be proven
Lest virtues gold grow dim
And his life by fire was tested
In life’s ordeal of him.
Now California renders
The laurels that he won –
“Dead on the field of honor,”
Her hero and her son — George Sterling

Prior to the earthquake Chief Sullivan, who served as San Francisco’s fire chief for 13 years, had clearly foreseen the potential for disaster and was armed with detailed plans to remedy the city’s firefighting deficiencies. He had been battling against the corruption of the city’s government for funds to make the needed changes and was looking forward to pleading his case before a citizens committee — but sadly, he never got the chance.

This building at 870 Bush Street has served as the permanent home of San Francisco’s fire chiefs since 1922. It stands a few blocks west of the site of Chief Sullivan’s 1906 quarters, where he lived with his wife, Margaret.