F I R S T
P R E V898NEXTLAST
Emperor Norton's Grave, Colma
Just off Highway 280 in Colma's Woodlawn Cemetery is the grave of Joshua Norton, perhaps the most beloved character in San Francisco's history.
In November of 1849, London-born Joshua Norton sailed into San Francisco with $40,000. By speculating in Gold Rush real estate he built a fortune of a quarter million dollars (about five million today). Then in 1854 Norton bought every rice warehouse in the city, hoping to corner the rice market. But the market collapsed, Norton was forced into bankruptcy, had a mental breakdown, and disappeared from the city
A few years later Norton, dressed in an odd mix military uniform complete with a saber, walked into the San Francisco Bulletin's news office and produced a note announcing that he was Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. In a sign of the crazy times, the paper's editor printed the proclamation on the front page and for the next 21 years San Franciscans went along with the charade. The city's very own imperial monarch was revered and feted throughout San Francisco.
Emperor Norton was so popular that restaurants vied for the honor of feeding him for free. A local printer created Emperor Norton currency that he would pass out for needs like haircuts or new uniforms. When Norton attended the theater, the whole audience would stand applaud his arrival. Newspapers continued to publish his decrees which he wrote from his 'imperial palace,' a 6 ft. by 10 ft. room at the Eureka Boarding House on Commercial Street.
In 1880, while on his way to attend a lecture, Emperor Norton dropped dead of a heart attack in the middle of the street. He was widely mourned throughout the city and over ten thousand San Franciscans attended his funeral. Today his grave is still frequently visited and an annual memorial service is held there in his honor.
[
MAP M-10 ]
7 Comments:
Thanks again for another interesting posting! I'll walk with a little more revence up Commercial Street remembering Emperor Norton.
Any clues on the marker in Colma? It looks like a new stone on an old one, vandalism perhaps?
I believe the current gravestone was erected by E Vitus Clampus, a fraternal organization modeled after early miners. The group focuses on offbeat Western history.
BONUS FACT:
In 1966, episode 225 of the TV western 'Bonanza' was called 'The Emperor Norton' and featured a competency trial of Emperor Norton. The Cartwrights testified that he was not insane after he called for worker safety in the mines.
While that event never happened, the episode also mentions Norton's edict for a suspension bridge to be built across the San Francisco Bay. He was, in fact, the first to imagine a Bay Bridge, 70 years ahead of its time.
Another only in SF post? I never knew that. Learned a lot from you.
What a classic, colorful San Francisco story!
All hail Emperor Norton!
I love it. I especially love that San Francisco went along with him. Now we have Frank Chu.
Excellent! This is one of those "Only in San Francisco" things that makes the City by the Bay so wonderful!
Post a Comment
<< Home