Amazing Photos Capture Everyday Life of South of Market in the Early 1980s

Chinese jumprope in front of Bessie Carmichael School, Folsom Street, 1980

Hamburger Mary’s, 1582 Folsom at 12th Street, 1980

Across from the Moscone Center, 3rd at Tehama Street, 1980

Ambush Bar, 1351 Harrison, 1980

Bay Casket Company, 1020 Folsom Street, 1980

Bulk Natural Foods, Russ at Howard Street, 1980

Eviction, 158-160 Langton Street, 1980

First office building in redevelopment zone, Lapu-Lapu St, 1980

Folsom at 8th Street, 1980

Giannini in his barbershop, established 1936, 484 6th Street, 1980

Harry Smith, Bay Casket Company, 1020 Folsom Street, 1980

Helen and her husband, Chester, at the Helen Cafe, 486 6th Street, 1980

Langton Street residents Lalett and Vanessa Fernandez with their son, 1980

Man with wheelbarrow, Moscone Center, 1980

Mercantile Building, Mission and 3rd Streets, 1980

Moscone Center under construction, 1980

Painting Mural, Langton Street, 1980

Pat serving coffee at the Gordon Cafe, 7th at Mission Street, 1980

Policeman writing a ticket, Howard near 6th Street, 1980

Project One Artists Studios, 10th at Howard Street, 1980

San Francisco Tennis Club Bar, 645 Sth Street, 1980

School Demolition, 4th at Howard Street, 1980

Shantiben Dahyabhai Patel, Park Hotel, 1040 Folsom Street, 1980

Skip Wheeler and his wife groom their horses after Veteran’s Day Parade, Folsom at 2nd Street, 1980

Langton Park, Langton and Howard Streets, 1981

Lathe and Tool Works, 37 Clementina Street, 1981

Longtime neighbors, Langton at Folsom Street, 1981

Marie on Skates, Langton Street, 1981

Russ Street Apartments, 1981

San Bruno Statuary, 563 6th Street, 1981

San Francisco Ballet performing on opening days for the Moscone Center, 1981

Saturday afternoon, Howard between 3rd and 4th Streets, 1981

Walt’s Diner, 7th at King Street, 1981

10th at Folsom Street, 1982

Bobbie Washington and her daughter Ayana, 28 Langton Street, 1982

Carnary Island Diner, 1207 Harrison Street, 1982

Charging battery, Moss Street, 1982

Connie Hatch at the Canary Island Diner, 1207 Harrison Street, 1982

Flag Makers, Natoma at 3rd Street, 1982

Greyhound Bus Depot, 7th St. between Mission and Market Streets, 1982

Jean Decottignies, Jean’s Auto Body Specialists, 1264 Folsom Street, 1982

Labyris Auto Repair, “Complete Car Care By Women”, 240 6th Street, 1982

Ted Zouzounis and his son, David, at Ted’s Market, 1530 Howard Street,1982

Transbay Terminal Newsstand, 1982

40 Vintage Pictures From Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp in 1981 and 1982
On the 5th September 1981, the Welsh group “Women for Life on Earth” arrived on Greenham Common, Berkshire, England. They marched from Cardiff with the intention of challenging, by debate, the decision to site 96 Cruise nuclear missiles there. On arrival they delivered a letter to the Base Commander which among other things stated “We fear for the future of all our children and for the future of the living world which is the basis of all life.”

When their request for a debate was ignored they set up a Peace Camp just outside the fence surrounding RAF Greenham Common Airbase. They took the authorities by surprise and set the tone for a most audacious and lengthy protest that lasted 19years. Within 6 months the camp became known as the Women’s Peace Camp and gained recognition both nationally and internationally by drawing attention to the base with well publicized imaginative gatherings. This unique initiative threw a spotlight on ‘Cruise’ making it a national and international political issue throughout the 1980s and early ’90s.
The presence of women living outside an operational nuclear base 24 hours a day, brought a new perspective to the peace movement – giving it leadership and a continuous focus. At a time when the USA and the USSR were competing for nuclear superiority in Europe, the Women’s Peace Camp on Greenham Common was seen as an edifying influence. The commitment to non-violence and non-alignment gave the protest an authority that was difficult to dismiss – journalists from almost every corner of the globe found their way to the camp and reported on the happenings and events taking place there.

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Living conditions were primitive. Living outside in all kinds of weather especially in the winter and rainy seasons was testing. Without electricity, telephone, running water etc, frequent evictions and vigilante attacks, life was difficult. In spite of the conditions women, from many parts of the UK and abroad, came to spend time at the camp to be part of the resistance to nuclear weapons. It was a case of giving up comfort for commitment.

The protest, committed to disrupting the exercises of the USAF, was highly effective. Nuclear convoys leaving the base to practice nuclear war, were blockaded, tracked to their practice area and disrupted. Taking non-violent direct action meant that women were arrested, taken to court and sent to prison.

The conduct and integrity of the protest mounted by the Women’s Peace Camp was instrumental in the decision to remove the Cruise Missiles from Greenham Common. Under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the missiles were flown back to the USA along with the USAF personnel in 91/92. The Treaty signed by the USA and the USSR in 1987, is in accord with the stated position held by women, in defence of their actions on arrest, when it states :

“Conscious that nuclear weapons would have devastating consequences for all mankind.”

A number of initiatives were made by women in Court testing the legality of nuclear weapons. Also, challenges to the conduct and stewardship of the Ministry of Defence as landlords of Greenham Common. In 1992 Lord Taylor, Lord Chief Justice, delivering the Richard Dimbleby

Lecture for the BBC, referring to the Bylaws case (won by Greenham women in the House of Lords in 1990) said “…it would be difficult to suggest a group whose cause and lifestyle were less likely to excite the sympathies and approval of five elderly judges. Yet it was five Law Lords who allowed the Appeal and held that the Minister had exceeded his powers in framing the byelaws so as to prevent access to common land.”

The Camp was brought to a close in 2000 to make way for the Commemorative and Historic Site on the land that housed the original Women’s Peace Camp at Yellow Gate Greenham Common between the years 1981 – 2000.