CM Standley

This photo was taken about 1902 in San Francisco CA where Mary lived with her father and mother. This portrait was saved, along with one of her parents, the morning of The Great Quake April 18, 1906. Two other portraits were also saved just before the family home was dynamited in an attempt to stop The Great Fire. The family also lost their South of Market bar, located at 4th and Brannan Streets.

Pierce Kirwan sat for this photo in San Francisco in approximately 1903. It is one of three family portraits saved after The Great Quake and after The Great Fire. There is also one of Mary Kirwan, his little daughter at about age 3 and his wife Catherine. Their son Nick had turned 3 just days before the Great Quake. He had no portrait. Neither did the youngest child, Edward, who was born about a year after The Great Quake, on May 20th 1907, in Southern California where the family relocated to recover.

Taken about 1900 in SanFrancisco, CA - the portrait was taken from their home the morning of April 18, 1906 after the home survived The Great Quake. The home was then dynamited by SF Fire Department in a attempt to stop the Ham and Eggs Fire that devoured San Francisco. It is one of three portraits, which also included one of Mary Kirwan( age 6) and her father, Kitty’s husband, Pierce “ The Duke” Kirwan. The family owned and operated a successful bar in the South of Market District, at 4th and Brannan Streets.

A photo of Pierce Edward Kirwan in Waterford County, Ireland. Seated is my great grandfather, Pierce E. Kirwan. He is being photographed with his sister. He emigrated to San Francisco USA he met and married Catherine Mary Power - also known as Kitty. They made a life in San Francisco with a nice house and a bar -- but 3 days after the 3rd birthday of the son Nick, The Great Quake of 1906 changed everything. The family of 4 was were initially forced to live in a tent in Golden Gate Park. Pierce (also known as The Duke) was taken in by his brother Nicholas (an SFPD officer) and his wife. They had no kids so bringing Mary (age 6) and Nick (age 3) into their home with their parents was the least they could do. A third child, Edward James Kirwan, would be born about a year after the Great Quake, on May 20, 1907 in Southern California, where the family relocated to recover.