BERNAL HILL

The Mexican government in 1839 gave a land grant of the area now known as Bernal Heights to Don Jose Cornelio de Bernal. The don grazed cattle on what he called Rancho Rincon de las Salinas y Potrero Viego. The area known at the time as Bernal Hill has a colorful history. A French merchant acquired the land in 1860 subdivided the area into smaller lots that was first populated primarily by Irish immigrants who farmed the land and ran dairy ranches. There was even a gold rush on the hill. In 1876 con artists started a ‘gold rush' by planting gold on Bernal Hill.

Built high atop a hill with solid bedrock foundation, Bernal Hill survived the great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. Because of the sparse development in the area, it was saved from the firestorm that ravished the city after the earthquake. Cortland the main road through the area started filling with small shops as the former cattle land on the Bernal hilltop was developed for workers busy rebuilding San Francisco. The ‘earthquake cottage's located in other parts of the city were moved to Bernal Hill. Some of these cottages built to house earthquake survivors from different areas of the city are still standing today.

During World War II there was another population surge to Bernal Heights as African American families moved to the area from the south to take jobs at the nearby Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point. The meat packing plants in China Basin also provided jobs. My family was one of those families that moved to Bernal Hill from Alabama to take advantage of the employment opportunities in the area after the war. During the Vietnam War the hill became known as ‘Red Hill' as many anti war activists took up residence in the area.

Bernal Heights is primarily residential with a limited commercial strip along Cortland Avenue. There is a bookstore, a number of restaurants, bars and the Alemany Farmers Market and Alemany Flea Market. The public library built by Frederick Myers with funding from the Works Progress Administration in 1940 is still on Cortland but undergoing renovation. The Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center established in 1979 is working to promote affordable housing services, senior and youth services for the residents of the area.

Bernal might prove attractive to young families as well as the first time home buyer because of the quiet streets and large concentration of single-family homes with backyards in the area. There are three parks in the area. If you're a dog owner, Bernal Heights Park is where you take your canine friend for a romp in the park completely leash-free. Home prices in the area are lower than in other parts of the city. Transportation to or from the area is difficult at best as there are only two bus lines that service the area.

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