Today in 1891, Minnie McNamee, just 13, was sentenced to the SF Magdalen Asylum for hanging out with "hoodlums" on Mission after running away from home in Bernal Heights. She may have also been called Mary, daughter of Patrick and Sarah, from Ireland, who lived at 124 Cortland. pic.twitter.com/8EMezJdIDk
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 15, 2023
This week in 1891, 16-year-old Augusta Eckstrom was sentenced to the SF Magdalen Asylum, after two weeks out of the prison, for living with a man who wasn't her dad or husband. Augusta later married George R Grunwald, and died in 1946, at 71. Here's a pic of her in later years. pic.twitter.com/b4aIyY5RPW
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 14, 2023
Today in 1895, 17-year-old Mary Jane McAteer was in the SF Magdalen Asylum after running away from home, twice, to put her dreams of stage and stardom in the hands of a shady man named Smith. Love this sketch of her as a vestal virgin, her performance of which attracted Smith. pic.twitter.com/GJYusiF7XH
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 14, 2023
Today in 1882, Agnes Kane (Wilson), a SF Magdalen Asylum alum, was arrested for vagrancy. She was sharing beer with "hoodlums," including Thomas Keevan (Miller), an escapee from the Industrial School, the boys' prison. House of Blazes was a common term for a saloon/brothel. pic.twitter.com/79mNlUYgMU
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 12, 2023
Unfortunately, it's tough to figure out what happened to Lizzie after this. Her name is too common, and it's hard know which of the several Lizzie Silvas in the region she might be, or if she survived her hospital stay.
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 11, 2023
... the judge let Lottie's half-brother go, and "expressed his regret that Campbell did not use a club instead of his fists." Campbell then said he would "use a club on Bost at the first opportunity."
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 10, 2023
It looks like Clara (née McDonald) got remarried in February 1906, to Eugene Fitzpatrick, in Modesto. Alma married Lewis Schroyer as an adult, and died in March 1959. She's buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. Clara may have died in 1923, also buried in Holy Cross.
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 9, 2023
Today in 1887, 16yo Theresa Ehrhardt was sent to the SF Magdalen Asylum for "being idle and dissolute" and "consorting with dissolute characters." Theresa's mother claimed T was so abusive, she had to flee to San Jose. The judge thought sending T to jail would ruin her for life. pic.twitter.com/3KkGhXkPMv
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 8, 2023
Today in 1902, runaway teen Kate Kulvenbach was in the SF Magdalen Asylum after stealing from a local jewelry shop. Meanwhile, her friend, 15-year-old Hattie Witbeck, was trying to get two men who assaulted her brought to justice. pic.twitter.com/X16Ey2v17U
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 7, 2023
Today in 1890, 17-year-old Bertha Willey was on her way to the SF Magdalen Asylum after running away from home with a "worthless young man" and beginning work in a brothel in Chinatown. The @sfexaminer deemed Bertha "ruined." pic.twitter.com/zdLgfz7Mhs
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 6, 2023
Today in 1898, 13-year-old Eva Guinasso was sent to the SF Magdalen Asylum on accusations that she was an "incurable kleptomaniac." She later married Frank Maraglia and lived on Chestnut Street in 1910. She died April 20, 1958 and is buried in the Italian Cemetery in Colma. pic.twitter.com/rQBP9Gf7RA
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) April 2, 2023
The 1900 Census shows an Ida Boyd, 27, born in Sweden, working as a servant in the home (2020 Washington St.) of SF real estate agent Alexander Boyd and his wife, Jennie, both from Scotland.
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 29, 2023
Today in 1884, Katie Robinson remained in the SF Magdalen Asylum after her abusive father attempted to free her. She was originally sentenced for her "wild and dissolute life," then allegedly lead a riot in the prison. You can read about the riot here: https://t.co/doGhUxnOY8 pic.twitter.com/0DiQjIJ9Ub
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 28, 2023
Today in 1891, 17-year-old Alice Fuller was back in the papers after being sent to the SF Magdalen Asylum again. This time, it was for trying to withdraw money from her mom's bank account, although somehow 20 rounds of fisticuffs also plays into the story. https://t.co/nrIOabDf69 pic.twitter.com/EzQtSzBRNN
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 27, 2023
Today in 1887, 17yo Cora Christal was potentially facing a term in the SF Magdalen Asylum after being arrested for "vagrancy" (that, again). She'd avoided the Mag by marrying, but her husband took her to Oroville and likely sold her into sex work. She returned an opium addict. pic.twitter.com/8Jx9vng4Ry
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 22, 2023
CW for domestic abuse
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 21, 2023
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Today in 1889, 14yo Mabel Cady faced being put in the SF Magdalen Asylum because she didn't want to live with her abusive mom and stepfather. Mabel wanted to work and live on her own. Even the judge felt that the Mag would "hardly better her condition." pic.twitter.com/dK4uVIJeHe
Today in 1896, 17-year-old Sophia Sauber had been booked into the San Francisco Magdalen Asylum for running away from home and going to San Jose. I've never understood why leaving home (and probably a bad or abusive one) would be a crime. pic.twitter.com/ldu5v3kaAO
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 20, 2023
Today in 1896, 17-year-old Mary McNamera was in the SF Magdalen Asylum for "vagrancy." Because her father was disabled in a work accident, and her mother was a neglectful alcoholic, Mary went to live with a woman named Mrs. Smith. Doesn't sound like vagrancy to me. pic.twitter.com/6XyOvwyKui
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 19, 2023
A side note on this: Cemetery Avenue is now Presidio Avenue, but got its former name because it ran along the eastern border of Laurel Hill Cemetery. So the "house" where Rice tended bar was across the street from the cemetery.
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 18, 2023
Major CW for suicide , shaming.
— Beth Winegarner (@bethwinegarner) March 17, 2023
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Today in 1888, two of Annie Gately's daughters were in SF Magdalen Asylum, grieving the news that their mother had ended her life by drowning in the Bay. Annie was divorced and clearly struggling. I'm just glad she was found by someone she knew. pic.twitter.com/RLyuhrq40o