Florence Ada Cameron/Adamson - 811 Turk Street, Rooming House 1919-1937

[MJBatten]

Hello,

I wonder if anybody in San Francisco could help me fill in some gaps.

My great great grandmother, Florence Ada Batten (nee Davies) born - 1868 in Wales. She married a James Cameron between 1905/1910 after her husband, Joseph Henry Batten died and fled the UK, leaving her son (my great grandfather) with her brother.

I managed to trace her to San Francisco, living firstly on Tehama Street and then from 1919 until her death in 1937 she lived at 811 Turk Street, a rooming house in which she was the house keeper. I cannot find a record of her husband James Cameron dying, but in 1920 she states she is a widow and later that year marries Robert Adamson (railway clerk) who was a tenant at 811 Turk Street.

My question is what happens to a persons personal belongings after they die when they have no children or don’t leave anything to their children. Would any photos be collected somewhere or would all personal effects be destroyed?

When was 811 Turk Street re-developed? Are there any photos of the house?

Any info or little facts would be amazing and I’d be ever so grateful.

Thanks

MJ

[shellyesq]

It looks like she was survived by a husband, so he probably got all her stuff unless a will specified otherwise.

[MJBatten]

Yes, he died in 1946 at 811 Turk. They are buried together in Cypress Lawn. He didn’t have any children either and was a divorcé. There was nobody who survived them after that apart from my great grandfather, who did say he was contacted about a will, but he said he didn’t want anything to do with her or her money/belongings (so the story goes). If somebody declines their inheritance would it just be thrown out, or go to some kind of house clearance or good will.

[shellyesq]

I don't know about then, but these days, the state would search for cousins, nieces, nephews, etc., and if there really was nobody, I believe anything of value would be auctioned off.  I highly doubt the state would bother to keep photos or anything like that.

You can see Google's street view of the area here - http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ouk/  The area looks like it has newer buildings.

[MJBatten]

Thank you for this information. I wouldn't have thought there would have been much to auction off. They seemed quite poor from what I can work out from some of her letters I have found.

[oldohiohome]

Turk Street Between the Wars
http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Turk_Street_Between_the_Wars

from a collection in the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

which I think you can learn more about here:
Are There Any Photographs Of It?
How to Research a San Francisco Building

https://sfpl.org/?pg=2000305201

found by Googling "turk street san francisco history in the 1930's" and similar phrases

[MJBatten]

Thank you Oldohiohome. I shall take a look.