When Deb Welch first stepped into The Homestead, a bar at the corner 19th and Folsom, it was love at first sight. It was 1996, and a Japanese blues band was playing a tune in the corner.
“There was hay all over the floor, and the band didn’t speak a word of English,” she said. “It was so bizarre.”
Welch has since become the manager of The Homestead, and on Saturday the historic bar is turning 115 years old.
In fact, Homestead’s long history has become a sort of obsession for Welch, who, over the years, has taken a deep dive into the bar’s past, digging up tales of Prohibition-Era subterfuge, hidden brothels — and even murder.
The bar was founded in 1902 by Charles Scharenberg, according to Welch. His picture hangs above the bar’s large windows. “He’s the one with big white sleeves,” Welch said. “He owned the bar until around 1914, at the start of the Great War.”
This is when the streets were still made out of mud and there were no streetlights, Welch said. In 1920, she said, a movement sprang up to install streetlights on Folsom. “It was because the area was becoming more popular, and people were moving out from downtown and migrating more toward the Mission.”
As the United States entered the Prohibition Era, Welch said, Homestead — which was then called Old Homestead — would serve a merchant lunches of soda and sandwiches, and alcohol in secret.
“We still have the tables in storage that had secret shelves in them,” she said. “Any of the tables that had tablecloths had secret compartments.”
At that time, a brothel operated in the bar’s upstairs, according to rumors Welch has heard. It was run by a woman named Fanny Pearl, a well-known madam who also owned the building.
Pearl rented the downstairs bar out to a man named Daniel Wolffe during Prohibition. He sold it in 1923, but returned seven years later, robbed the bar and bludgeoned the owner in the back with a sledgehammer.
“He was convicted of counterfeiting, bootlegging and car theft, but he was not convicted of any of the four murders he was charged with,” Welch said.
Jack Ryan’s family bought the bar in 1933 and ran it for five decades before selling it to a man named “Buck” in 1986, who unofficially renamed it Hussong’s. He would host “lingerie shows,” in which women would walk around in lingerie and sell the women’s underwear to men for their girlfriends and wives.
“For a neighborhood dive bar, lingerie shows weren’t uncommon” at that time, Welch said.
Buck then sold the bar to Titch and Danielle Nelson in 1996. They renamed the bar Donnington Park, and Danielle Nelson was known to play the spoons off of bar patrons. “They were a very animated couple,” Welch said.
In 2005, the Nelsons sold the bar to Raub Shapiro and Rio Hackford, who restored its old name, Homestead. It’s been in their hands ever since, and Welch has managed it since the start of their ownership.
Welch said that since she discovered the bar some 20 years ago, the clientele has changed. “There used to be a lot of artists and musicians in the neighborhood, and we’ve always synced really well with that part of the community,” she said.
But realizing that a community is ever-changing, she’s always been excited to see new regulars, just like herself two decades ago.
“That bar has been home to me,” she said. “It’s is a lot about developing relationships, and I know these people will be my friends for a lifetime.”
Homestead will celebrate its anniversary with music and special cocktails on Saturday, Nov. 11. Music by DJ Chas Gaudi starts at 9 p.m.
Copies of the pictures in the album. Sorry. I would love some help
My husband’s grandfather is Jack Ryan. I talked to a gentleman named Mike who said he would get some copies of the bar for me. But never did. We live in NC now so it’s kind of hard for me to get some. Anyone who can help it would be very much appreciated.
This is Deb who is quoted. Some facts to straighten out Dave Nelson and his dad Dave Sr. Owned it from 1989-1996 as Donnington Park after the racetrack. In 1996 it was sold to Titch and Danielle Jones and it was renamed Dylan’s. I left Homestead in 2018. I put a book together that has a detailed account of the ownership and stories collected. I spent many hours at the library which is how I found the interior and exterior shots.
My husband’s Grandfather was Jack Ryan. Can someone please put some of the pictures from the old photo album at the bar. Thank you
Hi Nancy. It’s Deb and I met you when I ran the bar. I’m no longer part of the bar but would happily share the photos if that was an option on this website. They also got some facts wrong in this article. The Nelsons, Dave Sr and Dave Jr sold the bar to Titch and Danielle Jones in 1996. It was Donginton Park 1989-1996
Charles Scharenberg was my great great uncle, I look forward to visiting The Homestead with my father one day…great article
Due to the Dylan’s omission, now I don’t believe anyhing in this article.
Yes, I definitely remember it as Dylan’s also – circa 1999. Why was this not mentioned in an article about the bar’s history?
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Dylan-s-pub-holds-soccer-battle-for-a-good-cause-2903006.php
When I moved to the Mission in 1999 it was Dylan’s, and it had an amazing painting above the bar (as I remember) that looked like the Last Supper, except all the characters in it were famous Welsh people, including Dylan Thomas of course. Had a fantastic jukebox with Welsh musicians like Tom Jones and Small Faces. I spent many a doggy Mission night drinking Guinness by the fireplace and I miss it, sorry but Homestead just isn’t the same.
*foggy Mission night
For a while, the name of the bar was “Dylan’s”, Welsh themed/owned (?), with large pictures of Dylan Thomas and, I’m pretty sure, Richard Burton; after the Donnington Park years, which started before 1996, if I remember correctly.
“There used to be a lot of artists and musicians in the neighborhood, and we’ve always synced really well with that part of the community,” she said. Emphasis on “used to.”
Eddie – thanks for adding this omission to the story. I got to know the bar in its Dylan’s incarnation, including its annual Dylan Thomas birthday celebration with free shots of Old Grandad Whiskey.
That’s right, before HOMESTEAD it was DYLAN’S
Yep you are correct. The timeline is incorrect. It was Donnington Park BEFORE 1996. And it was Dylan’s somewhere in the late 90’s.
I lived nearby from 1997 to 2000 – it was Dylan’s during this time. I used to do my laundry next door and drink pints in Dylan’s – I loved laundry day!