The old-timers say that Bernal Heights has changed a lot over the years. But even the old-timers aren’t old enough to recall when Bernal was *this* rough around the edges…
In 1892, a Wool Street resident named Denis O’Keefe allowed whisky to “get the upper hand,” on his otherwise intelligent nature. During his “good old-time spree,” Mr. O’Keefe propositioned two young sisters, and, when rebuffed, flew into a rage which culminated in the shooting of guns and much consternation among the neighbors.
This is how the story appeared in the November 22, 1892 edition of the San Francisco Call. Read on… it’s a great little tale:
Many thanks to The Bernal History Project, Fred Sharples, and Burrito Justice for the tip!
Bernalwood 
I love the way that “crazy armed man on a rampage” was glossed over into “intelligent fellow who drinks a bit much whisky and gets into hijinks!” Oh, 19th Century, you prankster…
I think one of his descendents lives on our street.
Wow, the colorful history of Wool Street – my street!
Bernal is still this “rough around the edges”, unfortunately, we have a neighbor that could fit this description.
He was later seen at Skips.
I’m with GG – this is as fine an example as you’ll find of how journalism has lost its objectivity today.
The Call archives are a gold mine for colorful local stories like these. Search by your street name and see what comes up! Note that some Bernal street names changed around 1909, e.g. Chapultepec became Winfield and Kosciusko became Anderson. See the full list at http://www.bernalhistoryproject.org/images/pdf/streetlist1907.pdf