Hayes Valley - San Francisco Hayes Valley Farm Thanks to the
efforts of Colonel Thomas Hayes, Hayes Valley became the first
outlying area of the vast Western Addition to develop. Hayes was
born in 1823 in Ireland. Afflicted by gold fever, Hayes and his
two brothers set sail for San Francisco, and acquired a 160-acre
tract through the use of a preemption deed—effectively
exercising squatters’ rights. His claim was confirmed by the Van
Ness Ordinance in 1855. According to historian Bill Kostura, the
boundaries of Hayes’ property can by described thusly: “This
tract began near the intersection of Fulton and Polk streets,
ran northwest to Turk and Laguna, thence southwest to Oak and
Webster, thence south east to a point just south of Market
Street, and finally northeast to the point of commencement.”
Hayes initially tried farming but he soon discovered that fog,
wind, and shifting sand dunes confounded his efforts. Isn't it
fun what 100+ years and the destruction of a freeway can bring.
The farm is the result of