Westerfeld, William, House
historic place
The William Westerfeld House, a historic place in San Francisco, California, was constructed in 1889. German-born confectioner William Westerfeld commissioned local architect Henry Geilfuss to design this 28-room mansion at 1198 Fulton Street, across from Alamo Square. After Westerfeld's death in 1895, the house was sold. In 1928, a group of Czarist Russians bought the home, converting its ballroom into a nightclub. It became informally known as the 'Russian Embassy.' By 1948, the house was a 14-unit apartment building, often housing African-American musicians. In the 1960s, it served as a residence for the Calliope Company collective and filmmaker Kenneth Anger. The house was also mentioned in Tom Wolfe's 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.' The William Westerfeld House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is San Francisco Landmark Number 135. It remains a significant architectural and cultural landmark.