Sutler's Quarters

Sutler's Quarters. . Building 116 was built in 1885 by Angelo Berretta, the post sutler, as his home. The sutler was a civilian merchant who sold tobacco, whiskey, beer, playing cards, newspapers, civilian clothing and other items not supplied by the Quartermaster General. Sutlers were replaced in 1889 by Army-managed canteens where soldiers could relax outside their barracks and enjoy a beer. The Army bought this building in 1892 and moved it to this location to make room for Building 101, one of the Montgomery Street Barracks. It was converted into noncommissioned officers' quarters. It later housed offices including those of the post chaplain and the ceremonial honor guard., Of frame construction with wood siding, two-story Building 116 has a cube-like appearance even though it is rectangular in plan. It is capped by a truncated hip roof with a central pediment with fish-scale shingles. A decorative frieze of vertical boards appears under the overhanging eaves. The strongly vertical double-hung windows have decorative surrounds and are paired on the façade. The building is a restrained example of the Stick or Eastlake style without the bay windows typical of San Francisco's Victorian houses., Captions , Top: The former sutler's house after its conversion into noncommissioned officers' quarters and before the removal of its front porch. Park Archives , Bottom, left to right: , . Swiss-born Angelo Berretta was the Presidio's sutler from the late 1860s to 1890. He is shown here with his family in the 1880s. Park Archives , . The post's Centennial Tree, the tall eucalyptus to the left, was planted by Angelo Berretta in 1876 behind his now-demolished store. The Monterey cypress to the right was planted to mark the nation's Bicentennial in 1976. Park Archives , . Today Eastlake style Building 116 houses offices. Charity Vargas