Posted 8 years ago
HippieArch…
(516 items)
I personally acquired this from a lady in New Jersey who as a hippie in the 1960's had moved to the Haight in San Francisco and purchased this large (3") and somewhat primitive, soldered metal peace symbol pendant with a leather "chain" from a Haight street vendor... I also have shown a patched shirt that was bought by a San Francisco newbie hippie from a street vendor. I will have to put in the time to find the photographic record of these SF street vendors to understand the transactions.
WOW - I had not even thought about it being the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. I blame that on still being 2016... Not sure where the time went but here we stand. Thanks for the heads-up!
San Francisco has a long history of street artists. They still ply their trade. Not on Haight St. anymore, though. I grew upon Buena Vista Terrace so I know Haight St. well. I don't recall any street vendors there, but then again, I was only 6 in 1967! (Until Dec.) My grandmother used to go to Holcomb's Jewelers there. And we'd walk to Ted's Market on 14th & Castro for penny candy.
Haight St. scared the CRAP out of me as a kid in the Summer of Love! People would be passed out in the gutters, and it was just madness. There was a park RIGHT across from my Grandmother's house I was NEVER allowed to go to because of all the drug activity. Buena Vista Park. I still have only been there once and I'm 56! (I was a VERY impressionable child!)
I should say I partially grew up there. I'd spend weekends with my beloved grandmother! I lived in San Bruno.
sounds like you had an interesting childhood Celiene!
Thank you Celiene! I LOVE your first hand account, it adds a lot to the narrative. I think it is important when collecting these items that i do not glorify the times, but preserve the times, it's good and it's bad, and it's effect on America. I also like the street vendors history - I was raised in a small town in Northern New England, we didn't have street vendors other than ice cream trucks in the summer. Although in the 1950s - the vendors came to your house with everything from fresh veggies to fruit juice. Thanks for sharing the San Francisco memories.