In an attempt to be more culturally friendly to my favorite city (and take a break from pointing out all the isms), I’ll delve into the sites and sounds I enjoy on my way to work a bit more. The first (and tallest I can see on the way in) is Coit Tower.
A few years ago, Linz, Zack, and I were hiking around Telegraph Hill and we came upon an artist painting the cityscape. We stopped and chatted with him for a bit and he told us his story of Coit Tower. His version was that of love.
According to the artist, years ago, a well born (aka, really friggin rich) woman named Lillie Hitchcock became the first female fire fighter. Eventually Lillie fell in love with someone her family disapproved of. Broken hearted she moved to Europe where she mended her torn self with a new love – another man who her family didn’t adore. This love, though, Mr. Coit, was quite well off and she didn’t need to worry about her families wealth (or really their willing of it) because they could live comfortably on his fortune. After marrying and leading a very happy life together, Mr. Coit passed, and Lillie moved back to the city (because SF was all that could mend her heart). Once back, her family took her back bequeathing their wealth to her thus exponentially expanding her bank account. Eventually Lillie too passed and didn’t have any children to leave her wealth to, so she left it to the city. When she left it she said “make something beautiful in my late husband’s honor.” After her death, they erected (heh, considering the shape … how infantile – get your mind back to the story) Coit Tower. Oddly enough, the tower today looks like a fire hose a happy coincidence considering her history making feat.
I love this story. Unfortunately, accordingly to Wikipedia, it’s far from true.
A few years ago, Linz, Zack, and I were hiking around Telegraph Hill and we came upon an artist painting the cityscape. We stopped and chatted with him for a bit and he told us his story of Coit Tower. His version was that of love.
According to the artist, years ago, a well born (aka, really friggin rich) woman named Lillie Hitchcock became the first female fire fighter. Eventually Lillie fell in love with someone her family disapproved of. Broken hearted she moved to Europe where she mended her torn self with a new love – another man who her family didn’t adore. This love, though, Mr. Coit, was quite well off and she didn’t need to worry about her families wealth (or really their willing of it) because they could live comfortably on his fortune. After marrying and leading a very happy life together, Mr. Coit passed, and Lillie moved back to the city (because SF was all that could mend her heart). Once back, her family took her back bequeathing their wealth to her thus exponentially expanding her bank account. Eventually Lillie too passed and didn’t have any children to leave her wealth to, so she left it to the city. When she left it she said “make something beautiful in my late husband’s honor.” After her death, they erected (heh, considering the shape … how infantile – get your mind back to the story) Coit Tower. Oddly enough, the tower today looks like a fire hose a happy coincidence considering her history making feat.
I love this story. Unfortunately, accordingly to Wikipedia, it’s far from true.
The picture is, needless to say, not picture perfect. It is, however, what I see on my way to work which is why I love walking.
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