Historic Midtown Terrace Photographs
(reproduced courtesy of Earl Martin)
In the mid to late 1950's, a new development of some 800 homes was being built on the west side of Twin Peaks. Earl and Connie Martin were among the original purchasers of homes in this new Midtown Terrace neighborhood. Earl Martin had the foresight to take a number of photographs documenting the construction of the development. He has graciously agreed to share these historic photographs with our Midtown Terrace website.
The pictures below start with early views of Midtown Terrace from several surrounding vantage points. Then (starting with Picture 13) we look out to some neighboring areas seeing the development of Forest Knolls from the days when it was a largely barren slope of Mt. Sutro (except for a driving range) until it became populated with many houses and an elementary school. Earls pictures also show St. John's Armenian Church under construction and the dedication around 1960 of our Midtown Terrace playground.
A series of pictures (starting with #26) shows how Earl and Connie's home on Knollview took shape frrom bare dirt to a foundation and so forth to its final completion. (The last picture--the only one not from Earl's own collection--shows how the home appears in 2012.)
Click on any of the images below to see a larger version. Then click on the larger image to return to the collection.
View South over M T towards Mt Davidson(Picture #:1)
From Forest Knolls across MT to Twin Peaks(Picture #:2)
Midtown Terrace from Forest Knolls - 1950s(Picture #:3)
From FK - towards Skyview and Cityview(Picture #:4)
Midtown Terrace from Twin Peaks - 1950s(Picture #:6)
View Southwest over MT from near tower(Picture #:7)
East from Panorama and Dellbrook(Picture #:8)
Toward Forest Hills - Flags show model homes(Picture #:9)
Up Oympia from site of future St. John's church(Picture #:11)
Up Olympia To Twin Peaks(Picture #:12)
Forest Knolls - no houses(Picture #:13)
Forest Knolls - Few Houses / Driving Range(Picture #:14)
Driving Range, Forest Knolls, no school(Picture #:16)
Clarendon School Under Construction(Picture #:17)
Up Clarendon - Golf Range Entrance(Picture #:18)
M T Playground Dedication(Picture #:19)
View across Golden Gate to Marin from MT(Picture #:21)
Ocean View From Knolliview(Picture #:22)
View East across Panorama(Picture #:23)
From Knollview across Laguna Honda to ocean(Picture #:24)
Gladeview and Knollview under construction - shell(Picture #:26)
Down Panorama just North of Gladeview(Picture #:27)
Martin Home - Foundation(Picture #:28)
Basement framed - Earl and Connie(Picture #:29)
Martin House on Knollview - building 2nd level(Picture #:31)
Knollview under construction(Picture #:32)
Martins' home almost finished(Picture #:33)
Down Knollview from Earl and Connie's - 50(Picture #:34)
Connie in back yard of new home.(Picture #:36)
Martin House on Knollview - Complete(Picture #:37)
Martin home in 2012(Picture #:38)
Looking south across north leg of Panorama towards Twin Peaks, San Bruno, Mt. Davidson(Picture #:1)(click picture to close it)
East from Forest Knolls across reservoir and most of Midtwon Terrace towards Twin Peaks(Picture #:2)(click picture to close it)
Earl Martin's daughter and his father at future site of Forest Knolls with Midtown Terrace and Twin Peaks in the background.(Picture #:3)(click picture to close it)
Another view of Midtown Terrace from Forest Knolls. Looking across the site where Clarendon School will be built in 1960-61.(Picture #:4)(click picture to close it)
Looking west from Twin Peaks across the northern section of Midtown Terrace towards Forest Hill and the ocean. That is the old Sutro Tower at the left.(Picture #:6)(click picture to close it)
Southwest view across Midtown Terrace and Laguna Honda.(Picture #:7)(click picture to close it)
Construction underway on northern leg of Panorama at Dellbrook. Unobstructed view of Twin Peaks and the towers at Christmas Tree Point.(Picture #:8)(click picture to close it)
View from Knollview across Laguna Honda to Forest Hill. Model homes had those flags which were moved when the model was sold.(Picture #:9)(click picture to close it)
East up Olympia. Roads are in better shape and construction to the south along Panorama more advanced.(Picture #:11)(click picture to close it)
East up Olympia from future site of Playground. Note the overhead power lines.(Picture #:12)(click picture to close it)
fk(Picture #:13)(click picture to close it)
View across Panorama and reservor to a mostly undeveloped Forest Knolls: few houses, driving range, no school.(Picture #:14)(click picture to close it)
Forest Knolls from Knolview. Still shows driving range and no school, but quite a few house built.(Picture #:16)(click picture to close it)
Clarendon School under construction.(Picture #:17)(click picture to close it)
Golf driving range entrance across from new Playground. Clarendon school nearing completion.(Picture #:18)(click picture to close it)
Midtown Terrace Playground Dedication - both the playground and Clarendon School were built about 1960.(Picture #:19)(click picture to close it)
Viiew from Midtown Terrace across Inner Sunset, GG park, and Richmond to Marin(Picture #:21)(click picture to close it)
View from Midtown Terrace west to ocean(Picture #:22)(click picture to close it)
Early construction on Dellbrook -- looking east to Panorama, Starview-Skyview spokes, and Twin Peaks.(Picture #:23)(click picture to close it)
Looking southwest across Laguna Honda to ocean.(Picture #:24)(click picture to close it)
Gladeview and Kn ollview - only a few house built on Knollview(Picture #:26)(click picture to close it)
Another view of Gladeview and Knollview - more construction completed.(Picture #:27)(click picture to close it)
Earl and Connie's home - laying the foundation(Picture #:28)(click picture to close it)
Earl and Connie outside the lower shell of their new Knollview home(Picture #:29)(click picture to close it)
Martin house getting close to completion. Second level and roof built.(Picture #:31)(click picture to close it)
Knollview is coming along. Not flags showing location of model homes.(Picture #:32)(click picture to close it)
Knollview home of the Martins is largely complete.(Picture #:33)(click picture to close it)
View down Knollview from Earl and Connies. Note lack of vegetation across the street.(Picture #:34)(click picture to close it)
Connie in back yard of new home.;(Picture #:36)(click picture to close it)
Earl's father stands in front of completed house. Note ovewrhead wires, old Sutro tower, 1950's autos.(Picture #:37)(click picture to close it)
2012 view of Martin home on Knollview. Note street light and new Sutro Tower. (Picture #:38)(click picture to close it)