"Son, observe the time and fly from evil"
At California & Grant is Old St. Mary’s, which began as a Cathedral in 1854 and was the seat of the Archdiocese. At the time it was the largest building in California. The somber inscription on the exterior of the bell tower: “Son, observe the time and fly from evil”, was reputedly aimed at the gambling houses and brothels around here. Sadly, the old church was entirely gutted by the great conflagration in 1906. The Gothic revival structure was re-designated a church following construction of a new St. Mary’s Cathedral in 1891 at Van Ness & O’Farrell.
Sepia.
"Son, observe the time and fly from evil"
At California & Grant is Old St. Mary’s, which began as a Cathedral in 1854 and was the seat of the Archdiocese. At the time it was the largest building in California. The somber inscription on the exterior of the bell tower: “Son, observe the time and fly from evil”, was reputedly aimed at the gambling houses and brothels around here. Sadly, the old church was entirely gutted by the great conflagration in 1906. The Gothic revival structure was re-designated a church following construction of a new St. Mary’s Cathedral in 1891 at Van Ness & O’Farrell.
Sepia.