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1887 City Water Front at Babcock and Story Wharf

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Photo by Herve Friend, 1887

Boats in the bay at City Water Front. Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story, founders of the Hotel del Coronado, built an extensive wharf and a slip for their ferry boat Coronado in 1886 in the harbor to handle the increase in commerce, but it was blamed for restricting free and safe navigation. A lawsuit was brought against Babcock and Story under state law for obstructing navigation, resulting in a verdict and $100 fine. The photo was taken by Herve Friend, for Douglas Gunn's book 'Picturesque San Diego', published in 1887.

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