I am looking for any and all information about the Garrett Foundry in San Francisco. I am doing research on a bell that was cast by this company..."Thos Roberts Memorial Bell..W.T. Garrett & Co...1901". I would like any information on location, dates of operation of the foundry, W.T. Garrett, and Thomas Roberts.

-- Erin McGrath (erin@inreach.com), June 07, 2001

Answers

One important piece of work done by the WT Garret Foundary was the "The Gold Spike"-----------

Contact Stanford U. They house the spike in their museum--------

"The Last Spike" The Last Spike, also known as the Gold Spike, was the final link in the forming of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. It was tapped into a prepared hole by Leland Stanford on May 10, 1869, at a ceremony joining the Central Pacific and Union Pacific rails. Governor Stanford drove the Last Spike into a polished California laurel tie before an audience of some 3,000 government and railroad officials and track workers in the desert at Promontory, Utah.

Resembling an ordinary railroad spike in size and design, the Last Spike was manufactured by the William T. Garrett Foundry of San Francisco in 1869. The spike is 17.6 carat gold, alloyed with copper, and weighs 14.03 troy ounces. Clearly visible on its head are the dents made by Governor Stanford when he tapped it with a silver hammer.

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva/spike.html

Also, a church in Truckee California, notes on their website that their church bell was built by the Garrett Foundary-= perhaps they have done some research.......... http://www.churchregistry.com/smf10117/churchhistory.asp.

Carolyn

-- carolyn feroben (sweetwater@sierratel.com), February 03, 2002.

In 1901 they were located at Fremont and Natoma and N.W. corner 5th and Brannan.

-- Scott Denny (srdenny@pacbell.net), September 10, 2002.