Before the Community Center, parents like Barbara Ockel helped shuttle the school’s many instruments to theaters around town for musical performances. Recognizing the logistical complications, Barbara introduced the revolutionary idea of renting a U-Haul to transport the instruments safely and efficiently to their destinations. It seems Barbara has a knack for solving problems and getting things done.
Barbara and her family have lived in the Bayview since 1993. Her son Romare attended SFS from preschool to graduation in 2009. Each morning on the way to SFS, they passed a lovely but deteriorating building called The South San Francisco Opera House. Occasionally, SSFOH would host events which Barbara would attend. Once she worked with Hunter’s Point Shipyard artists to create a banner for the Opera House. She hoped to create a connection between the shipyard and the SSFOH, both prominent in the area’s history.
In the mid 1800’s, the Bayview was an undeveloped marshy area known as “Butchertown.” Slaughterhouses had been pushed from the city center. Related industries soon followed, and with them came residents who settled the area. In 1888, the Masonic Lodge built what they hoped would become a cultural center. This ornate Victorian structure was named “The South San Francisco Opera House.” The building hosted vaudeville and theatre productions until the 1906 earthquake compromised access to the region. Wartime shipbuilding efforts temporarily buoyed the social hall, but after the war, activity slowed and the building fell into disrepair. In the mid-sixties, threatened by demolition, the building was saved by resident, activist, and artist, Ruth Williams. Williams organized performances and encouraged many neighborhood artists to develop their crafts. In 1995 the building was renamed the “The Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre”.
In 2008, Barbara joined the board as a volunteer. She facilitated an art exhibition for a Bayview artist, and organized an inauguration celebration for then newly-elected president, Barack Obama. Soon thereafter, the BVOH was seeking a new leader and Barbara was asked to serve as interim director; a position that would soon become permanent.
Under Barbara’s tenure the structure has undergone two renovations. Initially, she uncovered grant money awarded for historic preservation from the National Park Service. During this phase, original Douglas fir floors were salvaged from beneath the worn linoleum. The second renovation occurred after the BVOH was placed on the Registry of Historic Places guaranteeing the original structure would be preserved. They reinforced the balcony, rebuilt a water-damaged wall, and made bathrooms ADA compliant. Esteemed Oakland landscape architect Walter Hood redesigned the surrounding yard and gardens.
The ribbon was cut July 2016 and officially reopened in September with a neighborhood celebration. Today, the BVOH serves as a culture and arts center available to the community at little or no cost. Most recently the BVOH hosted the Sphinx Symphony, an all black/Latino orchestra. The group’s mission includes performing works by minority composers, and mentoring young musicians. Over 200 SF school children enjoyed this free concert in early October.
Barbara is a big believer in community outreach and a strong supporter of SFS’s mission of inclusion, diversity and community involvement. “SFS is so great in terms of connecting with community. They do an awesome job of opening the school and giving people a glimpse of what the school does and inviting them to participate. “ In turn, Barbara would like to invite the SFS community to visit BVOH, and to volunteer for any upcoming events. More information can be found on their website: www.bvoh.org.
Barbara and her family have lived in the Bayview since 1993. Her son Romare attended SFS from preschool to graduation in 2009. Each morning on the way to SFS, they passed a lovely but deteriorating building called The South San Francisco Opera House. Occasionally, SSFOH would host events which Barbara would attend. Once she worked with Hunter’s Point Shipyard artists to create a banner for the Opera House. She hoped to create a connection between the shipyard and the SSFOH, both prominent in the area’s history.
In the mid 1800’s, the Bayview was an undeveloped marshy area known as “Butchertown.” Slaughterhouses had been pushed from the city center. Related industries soon followed, and with them came residents who settled the area. In 1888, the Masonic Lodge built what they hoped would become a cultural center. This ornate Victorian structure was named “The South San Francisco Opera House.” The building hosted vaudeville and theatre productions until the 1906 earthquake compromised access to the region. Wartime shipbuilding efforts temporarily buoyed the social hall, but after the war, activity slowed and the building fell into disrepair. In the mid-sixties, threatened by demolition, the building was saved by resident, activist, and artist, Ruth Williams. Williams organized performances and encouraged many neighborhood artists to develop their crafts. In 1995 the building was renamed the “The Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre”.
In 2008, Barbara joined the board as a volunteer. She facilitated an art exhibition for a Bayview artist, and organized an inauguration celebration for then newly-elected president, Barack Obama. Soon thereafter, the BVOH was seeking a new leader and Barbara was asked to serve as interim director; a position that would soon become permanent.
Under Barbara’s tenure the structure has undergone two renovations. Initially, she uncovered grant money awarded for historic preservation from the National Park Service. During this phase, original Douglas fir floors were salvaged from beneath the worn linoleum. The second renovation occurred after the BVOH was placed on the Registry of Historic Places guaranteeing the original structure would be preserved. They reinforced the balcony, rebuilt a water-damaged wall, and made bathrooms ADA compliant. Esteemed Oakland landscape architect Walter Hood redesigned the surrounding yard and gardens.
The ribbon was cut July 2016 and officially reopened in September with a neighborhood celebration. Today, the BVOH serves as a culture and arts center available to the community at little or no cost. Most recently the BVOH hosted the Sphinx Symphony, an all black/Latino orchestra. The group’s mission includes performing works by minority composers, and mentoring young musicians. Over 200 SF school children enjoyed this free concert in early October.
Barbara is a big believer in community outreach and a strong supporter of SFS’s mission of inclusion, diversity and community involvement. “SFS is so great in terms of connecting with community. They do an awesome job of opening the school and giving people a glimpse of what the school does and inviting them to participate. “ In turn, Barbara would like to invite the SFS community to visit BVOH, and to volunteer for any upcoming events. More information can be found on their website: www.bvoh.org.