The Golden Hydrant, 20th and Dolores

On the slopes of Noe Valley overlooking the Mission district, Dolores Park was packed with displaced citizens watching the fire advance from downtown. This hydrant across the intersection of Dolores and 20th streets was found to have water, but the exhausted horses could not pull the fire engines up the hill. The people mobilized to do the job, then spread out under the firefighters' direction and, with crude tools and hand labor, stopped the flames and saved the rest of the city. This hydrant is covered with gold paint every April 18th. Bill Cereske tells the whole story.