History Watch: “Billy Shannon's Villa”

History Watch:

“Billy Shannon’s Villa”

Have you ever driven around San Rafael and looked at some of the buildings and wondered what was there back in the day?  San Rafael has retained some of its original buildings from the 1800’s but most lots have newer structures.  There is probably a story for every lot and building in town, but there is one parcel in San Rafael that has a very colorful history attached to it. This lot is the triangle shaped parcel in the west end of San Rafael where Fourth Street and Second Street merge.  Today a Shell gas station sits there next to an IHop Restaurant.  But that was not the case in 1906 when a two story wooden building sat there called Billy Shannon’s Villa.

Our story starts with a short-time lightweight champion boxer named Billy Shannon.  He ran a training gym south of Market Street in San Francisco, but after the great earthquake, he moved his operation to San Rafael’s West End in 1906.  Shannon provided living quarters for fighters and his wife cooked them meals.  On weekends and holidays throngs of fans took the train to Shannon’s establishment to watch the boxers spar, bet on their favorites and drink steamed beer.  The saloon even had a ladies’ section with private rooms for dancing and piano playing. The site was also a popular destination for weddings. Heavyweight rivals “Gentleman Jim” Corbett and Joe Choynski often sparred at Shannon’s, which drew large crowds.

Joe Gans, the first Black boxing champ and lightweight champion from 1902 to 1908 spent many days there.  Large groups of sporting men often watched Gans workout for his fights.  Gans would complete his usual morning 14 mile run and then fight later in the day.  Gans fought 155 opponents losing only eight fights.

At that time the San Rafael Police Department consisted of Town Marshall John E. Healy who served in this capacity from the 1890’s to 1915.  He was then elected as San Rafael’s first Police Chief, serving from 1915 to 1919.  One can only imagine that Healy must have handled a good number of calls at this establishment.

Children who had to walk past the building were told by their parents to look straight ahead and not to talk to, “Any of those men” who spent a good part of the day sitting in captain’s chairs on the Fourth Street side of the building watching everyone go by.

Shannon’s training camp closed in 1914 when professional boxing was temporarily outlawed in California, but the saloon was reported to have stayed open until Prohibition closed its doors in 1919.

If you have an occasion to drive past that Shell Station at Second and Fourth Street, take a moment and imagine a two story wooden building with groups of hearty men sitting outside in their chairs watching everyone pass by.  Perhaps the ghosts of many of those boxers from days past still have a presence there.

Attached is a photo of Billy Shannon’s Villa with those prize fighters all dressed up posing in front of the building.  The gentleman standing at the far left might possibly be Champion Joe Gans, but I guess we will never know.

Copyright 2015 Harry Barbier – All Rights Reserved