Chapter 17: Lots 18 & 19 - A Convent on the Hill

The lovely home at 40 Alta Vista Avenue, sitting on 1-1/2 acres with views of the San Francisco Theological Seminary and Bald Hill, was at one time a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Family.

The home was originally owned by James F. Leahy, with lots 18 and 19 being deeded to him by Elizabeth Barber in September 1904.

James was born in 1861 in Boston to parents Anna O’Brien and Dennis Leahy, both Irish immigrants. The family moved to San Francisco in 1862 where Dennis died in 1869 leaving Anna with sons Dennis, James F., and William H., and daughter Annie.

James and William seemed to have started their working careers as upholsterers. By 1889 they were both working for F.W. Kreling & Sons, the owners of the Tivoli Opera House in San Francisco. William went on to become the manager of the Tivoli and James became vice-president of the Rudgear-Merle Co. of San Francisco, an ornamental iron works. James was a well-known San Francisco businessman, financier, and clubman.

James Leahy on porch with neighborhood children. Likely 4th of July 1909/1910.

James had the home built on Alta Vista (the entrance was originally on Prospect) in 1904/05 for his mother, sister, and himself while also maintaining a San Francisco residence. Anna Leahy died in 1910 at the San Anselmo home.

Evidently James’ sister Annie was an invalid and a trained nurse, Annie McConnell, lived in the household (in San Francisco and San Anselmo) as her companion.

Annie McConnell (Auntie Connie to the neighborhood children) was born in Ontario, Canada September 1872 and came to the U.S. in 1890. She studied nursing at San Francisco’s Children’s Hospital and graduated in 1895.

She started working for the Leahy family sometime around 1905 and when Annie Leahy died in 1922 she stayed on with James. When he died in 1938, the house was willed to Miss McConnell. She lived there with her sister for a time but it was too large for them and in 1941 they inquired about giving it to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. Father John McGarr, then pastor of St. Anselm’s Church, suggested they give it to the Sisters of the Holy Family.

The Sisters, an order founded in San Francisco in 1872, at that time lived in San Francisco and had been commuting to Marin since 1914 to conduct after school catechism classes for the Catholic children who attended the local public schools.

The new convent was blessed in April 1942 by John J. Mitty, the Archbishop of San Francisco, and the Sisters moved into the house. The dining room was converted into a chapel where Mass was offered daily by priests from Marin Catholic High School to the Sisters who lived there.
 

Sisters of the Holy Family with Annie McConnell, 2nd from left.

The Sisters of the Holy Family sold the property in 1991 and the house has since been remodeled.