The following paragraphis excerpted (with the author'spermission) from JohnKing's article, entitled "BlightedIcon Left to Decay," which appearedin the June 28, 2015, editionof the San Francisco Chronicle:

The San Francisco Old Mintwas a coining facility from 1874until 1937, and after it closed itwas converted into office space forseveral federal agencies. In 1972,under the direct involvementof former Mint Director MaryBrooks, the Old Mint was restoredto most of its original splendor,both interior and exterior, andeventually became a museum,opening to the public in 1974. Insidewere displays of coining andmining artifacts; numismatic collections;and antique furniture(once used in the mint). A giftshop and regular guided tours ofthe basement and first floor alsodrew visitors.

However, in 1994 the museum (as well as the entire structure)closed due to operational costsand the need to seismically retrofitthe entire building. (The latter wasnecessary be-cause of modernseismic codes, even though themint was built so strong that it survivedthe 1906 earthquake withlittle damage and remained virtuallyintact (although the buildingmoved two feet to the south).

Following the closure and removalof almost all the exhibits,the property was transferred fromthe U.S. Treasury Department tothe General Services Administration(GSA), which is technicallythe federal government's "landlordagency." The GSA never developeda renovation plan, and thebuilding languished until June2003, when the agency decided totransfer the property to the Cityand County of San Francisco for aceremonial charge of $1.

A genuine sense of hope becameevident when the nonprofit SanFrancisco Museum and HistoricalSociety (SFMHS) stepped forwardand offered to lease the facility.A contract was negotiated, and thework of fund-raising began inearnest. After some initial success,the society removed the debris accumulatedover the years, effectedmajor repairs, and made the interior quite presentable for publicevents, spending $14 million in theprocess over an 11-year period.

However, the society's dreamof a grand museum for San Francisco,at an estimated cost ofaround $60 million, began to diminish,as did the donations tomake it so. Why the downturn ofcontributions in the society's lateryears? It could have been the sluggishnessof the national economyaround 2008, and the fact thathistory museums are not as popularwith wealthy benefactors as artor ethnic museums. Despite an almostmonthly promotion of variousevents at the Old Mint to raisefunds, the amount coming in wasnot nearly enough for the SFMHSto aggressively pursue its plans.

At the end of the first quarter of2015, the City of San Francisco ranout of patience with the SFMHS,terminated the organization's lease,and decided to move in anotherdirection. A city representative reported"a lack of progress, whichforced us to pursue alternativemeans." This same official, however,did praise the SFMHS for itswork, and added that the societygave "a glimpse of what this treasurecan and should become." (Toview 50 excellent photos of themint, see photographer Ron Henggeler's images taken just beforethe SFMHS vacated the buildingon August 1, 2015, at www.ronhenggeler.com/Newsletters/2015/8.8/Newsletter.html).

Another city newspaper reporterrecently noted in his regularcolumn that the average San Franciscanseems to accept the beggarsand street people who camp outon the granite steps and aroundthe mint, and the odor of urinethat lingers. He added that maybethe people have lost pride in theircity and have decided to shrug andaccept the idea that anythinggoes. He cannot imagine any historicbuilding in England beingtreated this way.

Why is it that New Orleans andCarson City maintain the integrityof their old federal mints, withpublic museums attached, whileSan Francisco does not? As theabove-noted reporter suggested,the answer seems to lie in publicapathy. Such a sad state of affairs!So, what is to be done with thishistoric building that once playeda major role in the nation's financialaffairs and was the largestcontributor to San Francisco's recoveryafter the earthquake andfire of 1906? And what about itsnumismatic history?

San Francisco Chroniclereporter Bob Bragman reportedon December 19:

His article (which can be read onlineat www.sfgate.com) has given usrenewed hope for the structure.Bragman stated that for severalweeks he has observed workers doingsome major cleanup on the mintgrounds.

Two workers emergedfrom the building, and when Bragmaninquired as to what was goingon, he was told that the city governmenthad appropriated fundsto "repair the place inside andout" and provide 24-hour surveillanceat the site. They also addedthat the extensive graffiti on thewalls would be removed in a waythat would not harm the stone.

Bragman added that San FranciscoMayor Ed Lee said in a pressrelease, "We are taking the firststep to fully renovate this landmarkso that the community canenjoy it for generations to come."

We are surprised and quitepleased by this news, and hopethis restoration will bring back therespect the Old Mint of San Franciscodeserves.

To read the complete articles, see:
San Francisco's Old Mint: an endangered icon(www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-s-Old-Mint-an-endangered-icon-6352942.php?cmpid=gsa-sfgate-result)
Old Mint to be revived as event space(www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/The-Old-Mint-s-disgraceful-state-finally-coming-6708151.php)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
OLD SAN FRANCISCO MINT BUILDING ATTRACTS HOMELESS(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n24a38.html)