: Radical! Skaters at “Third and Army” pose with ILWU pensioner Bill Ward (third from left) and Don Watson (second from right) in front of the Copra Crane at Islais Creek. Ward and Watson continue to lead the efforts to save the crane and create a museum honoring waterfront workers.
Pier 84 at San Francisco’s Islais Creek is home to an aging crane that a coalition of environmentalists and labor groups are trying to preserve. It is the last remaining piece of machinery in the Port of San Francisco that was hand operated by longshoremen working bulk cargo. Local skateboarders, however, know this place as “Third and Army” (Army Street has been renamed Cesar Chavez St) and it is one of the most popular skateboarding locations in the country. It has been featured in Tony Hawk skateboarding video games and skaters travel from all over the world just to skate here.
Though now a place of recreation, this place was where ILWU members labored—loading and processing dried coconut or “copra” that was imported from the Philippines. For several decades, Local 10 longshoremen unloaded the copra from ships which was processed by Local 6 members in a nearby facility and used in a range of products—from coconut oil to soap, and movie theater popcorn “butter.”
Don Watson watches local skater James Michael Ryan perform tricks on his board.
“There was a lot of sweating that went on here—a lot of production,” said ILWU pensioner Bill Ward who also serves as the President of the Copra Crane Landmark Association (CCLA), a coalition of labor and environmental groups racing to preserve the 5-story crane so that it can serve as a symbol for the working class of San Francisco.
Ward, along with ILWU pensioner and CCLA Secretary Treasurer, Don Watson and labor historian Harvey Schwartz recently shared some of the history of pier with a group of skaters in an effort to reach out to a younger generation and educate them on the history of the place they now use as a skate park.
(L-R) Don Watson, Bill Ward and historian Harvey Schwartz in front of the copra crane at Islais creek.
“A lot of skaters aren’t really too focused on the history, but it’s cool to know,” said local skater James Michael Ryan. “It gives you a little more understanding of where you live. As you get older you start looking into this kind of stuff.”
Plans to preserve the crane also include re-creating the Pier 84 Walking Boss shack which would serve as a mini-museum.
For more information on how you can help, contact the CCLA at 415-775-0533.