The Theodore F. Payne House
historic place
The Theodore F. Payne House, a historic place in San Francisco, California, was built in 1881. Designed by architect William Curlett, the house combines Stick, Eastlake, and Queen Anne architectural styles. It was constructed for Theodore Fryatt Payne, a manufacturer, and his wife, Mary Pauline O'Brien, who inherited a fortune from the Comstock Lode. The residence featured modern conveniences for its era, including central heating, hot and cold running water, and indoor toilets. It also included Tiffany stained-glass windows. The house is notable for surviving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fires. It stands as one of the few remaining upper-class homes in San Francisco from before that event. After the Payne family moved, the house served various purposes, including a Japanese YMCA and an antiques store. Today, the Theodore F. Payne House operates as a hotel and restaurant. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This site offers a glimpse into San Francisco's pre-earthquake architectural and social history.