I’ve always had a soft spot for cows. In fact, I envy those with the willpower to be vegetarians. I even tried it. Granted, it was only for a week, but I love meat. I love beef. But I definitely love cows. (And yes, I’m just city slicker enough to make “MOO” noises at them when I drive by them on the back roads of the Bay Area.)
And well, given the state of our current urban environment, it’s hard to believe there was a Ranch in Glen Park. Even harder to believe that there were ranches and farms all over San Francisco, but I’ll tell you more about that some other day.
I found this photo taken in Glen Canyon where the Good Brother Dairy, among several other dairy companies, had dairy farms. The notes attached to this photo read:
“Valborg C. Tietz, owner of picture below. The lady pictured was my mother-in-law: Elise Beneke, who later married Alexander William Tietz in 1910. Her husband Alexander Tietz was crushed by 2 railroad cars at the Santa Fe yards in 1920, where he worked. He was taken out beyond the ‘Three-mile Limit’ where he was found. There never was anyone charged with throwing the wrong switch. The family was paid $9000 for his death by the Santa Fe R. R. She never re-married, and lived with her son Wilhelm or ‘Bill,’ who was my husband. We married in 1955. She lived with us for 25 years, and died at age 86 in 1976. This picture was taken of her in the Glen Canyon, where there was a dairy for years. The cows were quite tame, as you can see. The Good Brothers owned the dairy.”
“ca. 1910. originally part of the San Miguel Rancho, by the 1890?s there were several dairies located in the Glen Park Canyon. (Loaned to the San Francisco Public Library by Mrs. Tietz)”.
Poor Mr. Tietz. I’m kind of curious how you can be crushed by not one, but TWO railroad cars, but I think I probably don’t want to know the answer to that.
I hope you have a safe and happy weekend! And be sure stay away from railroad cars. 
