Merced Manor, San Francisco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Merced Manor
Neighborhood
Nickname(s):  The White City
Merced Manor Location in San Francisco County
Country	United States
State	California
City-county	San Francisco
Population
• Total	3,676
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	94132
Area codes	415/628

Merced Manor is a friendly neighborhood in southwestern San Francisco. It's located between Stern Grove and Lake Merced. The neighborhood is surrounded by 19th Avenue to the east, Sloat Boulevard to the north, 26th Avenue to the west, and Eucalyptus Drive to the south.

Discovering Merced Manor

Merced Manor is home to several important places. You'll find Lowell High School and Lakeshore Alternative Elementary School on Eucalyptus Drive. The Merced Manor reservoir is on Sloat Boulevard.

Nearby, you can visit the Stonestown Galleria shopping mall and San Francisco State University. Both are located on 19th Avenue. The Lakeshore Plaza shopping area is also close by, offering more places to shop.

A Look Back in Time

Early Days of San Francisco

The area that is now San Francisco has been lived in for a very long time, since about 3000 BC! The land around Merced Manor used to be covered in sand dunes. The Yelamu tribelet of the Ohlone people lived here, with a village near Lake Merced.

In 1769, a Spanish exploration team led by Don Gaspar de Portolá arrived. This was the first time Europeans were known to visit San Francisco Bay. Later, in 1776, the Spanish set up the Presidio of San Francisco, which was like a fort. They also built Mission San Francisco de Asís.

After Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, this area became part of Mexico. The mission lands were eventually divided up. The land of Merced Manor became part of a large ranch called Rancho Laguna de la Merced.

The Greene Family Story

In the mid-1800s, the Greene family, originally from Canada, became important settlers in the area. Alfred Augustus Greene and his brother William Henry Greene were key figures. They worked hard to turn the sandy dunes into a ranch where they grew potatoes and barley.

William Greene lived in a famous building called the "Ocean House." It was a popular place for people to stay and visit, built in 1854. This building was located where Lowell High School is today.

The Greene family faced challenges over their land. In the 1860s, a man named David Mahoney tried to claim some of their property. This led to legal battles. The Greene family even built a small fort and used dynamite to protect their land! They were very determined to stay.

In 1873, William's son, George William Greene, planted Australian eucalyptus trees around their property. Many of these trees still stand today in Stern Grove. George and his father were also involved in planting trees in other parts of San Francisco.

The Trocadero Inn and Modern Development

In 1892, William Greene moved a wooden house to the grove. This house became known as the Trocadero Inn. It was called "the first house built in San Francisco west of Twin Peaks." Today, it's still standing in Stern Grove and is a popular spot for meetings and weddings.

In the 1930s, the area began to develop into a neighborhood. It was even called "The White City" because of the color of the new houses. Builders like Fernando Nelson and Arthur Jacob Herzig constructed many of the homes.

These houses were unique because they were detached, meaning they weren't connected to each other. They also had garages at the back, accessed by shared back roads. This design made it easier for deliveries and helped prevent fires. The homes were built with redwood frames and stucco walls, often featuring styles like Tudor revival.

In 1931, Rosalie Meyer purchased the grove and the Trocadero house from George Greene. She then donated it to the city to become a park, naming it Stern Grove after her late husband.

Weather in Merced Manor

The weather in Merced Manor is usually mild. Temperatures typically range from about 45°F to 85°F. The area gets about 22 inches of rain each year. It can often be cloudy and foggy, especially at night. September is usually the warmest month, and January is the coldest. The neighborhood sits about 140 to 240 feet above sea level.

Places to Visit

Shopping and Fun

• Lakeshore Plaza: A great place for shopping.
• Stonestown Galleria: A large shopping mall built in 1952.
• Lakeside businesses on Ocean Avenue: Various small stores for your needs.
• Great Pumpkin Patch / Emerald Forest Christmas Trees: These seasonal spots have been operating since the late 1990s.

Parks and Nature

• Lake Merced: A beautiful lake perfect for outdoor activities.
• Merced Manor Reservoir: An important part of the city's water system.
• Rolph Nicol Jr. Playground: A fun playground named after a former San Francisco Mayor and California Governor.
• Sigmund Stern Grove: This lovely park was once the Greene family ranch. It's known for its Australian Eucalyptus trees and is a popular spot for festivals.
  • The Trocadero House: Located within Stern Grove, this historic building is known as "the first house built in San Francisco west of Twin Peaks."

Schools and Learning

• Lakeshore Alternative Elementary School
• West Portal Lutheran School: Dedicated in 1951.
• Lowell High School: Moved to its current location in 1962.
• Mercy High School
• San Francisco State University: Its campus opened in 1953.

Community Spots

• Lakeside Presbyterian Church
• Scottish Rite Masonic Center: Opened in 1963.
• St Stephen's Catholic Church: Its parish was formed in 1950.
• West Portal Lutheran Church: Groundbreaking for this church was in 1947.
• Won Buddhism Meditation Temple