San Francisco County
Biographies
Rudolph Herman, proprietor of Harbor View, is a native of Brunswick, Germany, born in 1831, reared and attended school in his native country. After reaching manhood he came to America by a sailing vessel bound for Charleston, South Carolina. The vessel landed at New York and he went by steamer to Charleston, where his passage was taken. He went from there to Philadelphia and afterward to New York, and in December, 1853, sailed for California, --on the Uncle Sam to Panama, and on this side on the Yankee Blade, her first trip on the opposition line, -- and arrived here in San Francisco January 11, 1854. He did not immediately follow the throng to the mines, but worked around at anything he could get to do, and soon after started the New York Hotel on Kearny street, and continued for one year; then he went to Forest Hill, Placer county and remained there a year in the mines, then returned to San Francisco.
In 1860 he established the bath houses on North Beach west of the Selby
Smelting Works, and in 1862 came to his present location, which was originally
called "Strawberry Island." It was only a sandy desert, without
settler or occupant. He began building roads in order to get to his
place, and began making improvements. In 1864 he established the Harbor
View House. He has three and a half blocks, finely located on the beach
and finely improved with evergreen and the most attractive and ornamental
trees, all planted by himself from the seed. He has a complete system of
hot and cold salt-water baths, which are open and extensively patronized all
the year round, and is made a popular resort. He has expended $60,000 in
improvements, which consist of large hotel, large bathing houses and pleasure
gardens. It is finely located on the beach, adjoining the Presidio
Government Reserve on the east. He has constructed two wharves, with
ample accommodations for boat landing, and keeps several boats and two naphtha
launches. He owns the water front, to which he has a State patent title.
Mr. Herman is an old resident, having been in this city for the past
thirty-eight years. He was married in 1864, to Miss Mary A. Minkel, of this city, and they have three children:
Albert R., Emilie M. and Olga Francisca.
Transcribed
1-10-05 Marilyn R. Pankey
Source:
"The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages 687, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Marilyn R. Pankey.