Location: Market/Third, SW corner (703 Market).
John D. Spreckels and his father Claus Spreckels
purchased the San Francisco Call newspaper in 1895
and commissioned an office building at Market/Third, part of Newspaper Row.
When completed in 1898,
the Call Building was the tallest building in the western U.S. (315', 15 stories).
The building was damaged by the 1906 earthquake and burned in the ensuing fire, then rebuilt.
When the Call relocated its offices after the fire,
the renovated building became known as the Claus Spreckels Building.
Refurbished in 1938, it is now called Central Tower.
The Spreckles family owned many properties in San Francisco, including:
327 Market (offices of Spreckles Sugar Co., Market/Fremont, E corner)),
421 Market,
703 Market (the Call building, SW corner 3rd/Market),
927 Market (the Emma Spreckles building, constructed 1895, burned/demolished 1906),
the Claus Spreckles mansion (Van Ness/Clay, SW corner; burned in 1906, later demolished),
the John D. Spreckles residence (2504 Howard, 21st/Howard, SW corner),
and the Augustus Spreckles mansion (2200 Washington, built 1913).
Back to San Francisco Buildings page