Tour de SSF #3 – The Magnolias are in Bloom!
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(micro)
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While not a “showplace” downtown, SSF (South San Francisco) does have its attractions and interesting little places. This series of caches is meant to highlight a few spots that fit this profile.*
*While you can jump around on this series (and will certainly do so if you don’t read each page), I strongly urge you to do the series in the order they are laid out (start at #1, etc.). It’s because some of placements aren’t at very interesting spots, but the tour leads you past a noteworthy location. But play the game anyway that makes you happy!
If you are doing this series in order, you can park at N 37° 39.285 W 122° 24.529. Due to the heavy muggle traffic, most of the caches will be micros or smalls & stealth will be required during daylight hours. Doing the tour in the dark will also be a problem…shining lights on downtown streets at night will definitely attract the cops! Stealth…stealth…stealth!
Difficulty levels will be kept low. The idea is to get you to observe the unique (?) spots and the passing parade, while not being too obvious when searching. Keep your stealth wits about you.
Any 1 star terrain ratings will get you there, but you may need help if the final placement is too high from a seated position. All difficulty ratings, of course, are without hint. Don’t worry, none will be very difficult.
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Tour de SSF #3 – The Magnolias are in Bloom!
If you are coming from Tour de SSF #2 – Martin House, go back to Main Street for a more interesting stroll..
Check out these two points of interest at REF1: N 37° 39.325 W 122° 24.647.
Galli's Sanitary Bakery: Founded in 1909 by Ambrose Galli & Rafael Velente, with Galli's decedents still at the helm. They used to open at 4:30 in the morning, guaranteeing that by the time the Starbuck's across the street opened it would have already had its baked goods' tails kicked. They now both open at M-F 5:00 AM; Saturday 5:00 AM Galli's, 6:00 AM Starbuck's; Sunday 6:00 AM Starbuck's...Galli's closed on Sunday.
Centennial Clock: This clock was presented to the City of South San Francisco on September 19, 2008 in commemoration of its centenary.
Then cross the street to REF2: N 37 39.325 W 122 24.701.
Bronstein's Music: Founded by Milton and Celia Bronstein in 1946. Present owners, Don Edwards and Rich Welker, have worked in the store since they were in high school in 1968.
Recross the street to REF3: N 37° 39.355 W 122° 24.788.
City Hall: SSF's City Hall is pretty nice looking as far as city halls go. It was loosely modeled on the neocolonial architectural style of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Built in the 1920s, it remains the site of South San Francisco's city government. It's definitely nice to know where your municipal government building is so you can drop in to apply for permits, file claims, and pick up a passport applications, among other things.
Their is very nice bust of George Washington on the lawn, enscribed "Presented to this city July 4, 1937 by Italian-American Citizens' Club of So. San Francisco, CA."
A little farther along to REF4: N 37° 39.368 W 122° 24.841.
Library: In 1914, local teacher Rue Clifford rode through town on horseback collecting petition signatures in support of creating a local public library. In 1916, Andrew Carnegie provided funding and building plans for construction of the Grand Avenue library. In 1966, the new city library on West Orange Avenue opened to the public. The Grand Avenue library became the city’s branch library.
And on to the Final. This location has, in my opinion, the best up-close view of "Sign Hill" the only other (beside the Martin House) SSF spot on the Register of National Historical Monuments.
Be careful to replace exactly as you find it!
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South San Francisco is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 60,552 at the 2000 census.
The city lies north of San Francisco International Airport in a small valley between San Bruno Mountain and the Coast Range. The city is served by two major highways, U.S. Route 101 (the Bayshore Freeway) and Interstate 280. A BART station, located directly adjacent to El Camino High School and Solaire Transit Village, opened in 2003, supplementing Caltrain service to San Francisco and San Jose. The city's small downtown and several aging residential subdivisions, such as Mayfair Village, Sunshine Gardens, Avalon Park, Winston Manor, and Rancho Buri Buri, are located west of Highway 101, while the area east of Highway 101 is dominated by bland industrial complexes interspersed with futuristic office parks, particularly the Oyster Point Marina. The extreme western portions of the city near Interstate 280 sit along a hillside and offer views of San Francisco Bay. This area is known to local residents as Westborough. The southern part of the city, closest to the airport, is home to a large number of car repair shops, airport parking lots, and airport hotels.
Locals refer to the town as "South City," in much the same way that San Francisco is called "The City." People unfamiliar with the area often mistake South San Francisco as the southern part of the city of San Francisco.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)