OUR HISTORY
The Waller Center is part of a long history of a Methodist presence at 1525 Waller Street. The Hamilton Methodist Episcopal (North) Church was established in 1901 and had just finished their first building in December of 1905. Five months later, the church was one of the many buildings destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire.
A new church building was completed in 1908. Designed by the iconic architect Julia Morgan, our space has stood as a pillar of the Haight-Ashbury community for over a century, adapting to the evolving needs of those we serve.
In 2012, we embraced a new chapter as the Waller Urban Retreat Center, carrying forward our legacy of providing a sanctuary for growth, connection, and collaboration. Through the years, we have hosted countless events, programs, and initiatives, each with the goal of empowering individuals and building a more inclusive and connected world.
Our history is a testament to resilience, transformation, and a steadfast commitment to fostering community and inspiring change. As we look toward the future, we remain dedicated to continuing the work that has defined us for generations.
History
The Waller Center is proud of its long history of serving the community and facilitating service by other groups.
Early History
Following the destruction of the original church in the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, Architect Julia Morgan was hired to build Hamilton Methodist Episcopal North Church a new building. The building was named after Bishop John William Hamilton. Bishop Hamilton was known as the “Phoenix Bishop” as he helped to rebuild many churches after the 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed over 80% of San Francisco’s buildings. Bishop Hamilton was elected in 1902 and had a strong history of work within the Haight Ashbury and Cole Valley neighborhoods in San Francisco. In 1923 Morgan worked with the church to add a gymnasium that could serve as a dance hall to the building. This addition still remains today.
Ministries of Hamilton Methodist Episcopal Church
In addition to being a church for its congregation, Hamilton MEC has a rich history of service to the community. In 1961, the Earl Paltenghi Youth Center inhabited the building for many years before becoming a United Way Agency. In 1985, The Hamilton Family Center began as another ministry of the church, becoming the first family homeless shelter in San Francisco. Established as a separate non-profit in 1987, the Family Center hired health workers, counselors, and eventually built transitional and permanent supportive housing offsite. The Family Center maintained an emergency shelter at the church until 2006, when it moved to 260 Golden Gate Ave, where it continues in existence as the only 24-hour family emergency shelter in San Francisco.
Haight Ashbury Food Program
The Haight-Ashbury Food Program (HAFP) began serving hot meals out of Hamilton UMC in 1983. For nine years, the program operated a job training program preparing low-income adults for employment in the food service industry. Though the hot meal and job training programs have ceased operation, the Food Program continues to operate a food pantry out of the building.
Waller Center
After the Hamilton United Methodist Church closed in 2008, the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church granted the request of the Board of Camping & Retreat Ministries to convert the building into the Waller Urban Retreat Center in 2012. The name was changed to make a distinction between the closed church and the new retreat center. The name Waller comes from the street this historic property sits on.
COVID Response & Food Runners
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe loss of income for retreat centers, including the Waller Center. By March 2020, the use of the Center for visiting groups came to a halt.
In April 2020, Food Runners began utilizing the Waller Center’s commercial kitchen to receive food donations and prepare meals. Operating six days a week, they prepared approximately 2,200 meals per day for shelters, soup kitchens, and affordable housing sites. In 2024, Food Runners transitioned their kitchen operations to other locations but continued using the Waller Center as a staging location, supported by a refrigerated container and van.
POST-COVID Recovery
As COVID restrictions eased, the Waller Center resumed serving local and visiting nonprofit groups. Regular users include:
Lycee Francais
Nino’s Rhythmic Gymnastics
Neuma Church
Teens Westward Bound (from North Carolina)
Other community and educational groups.
Additionally, Retreats have continued with organizations such as UCSF, UC Davis, UNLV, and Foursquare Church utilizing the Waller Center.