YUMA BUILDING / OLD CITY HALL

The Yuma Building at 631 5th Avenue was one of the first brick buildings in downtown San Diego. And like so many other buildings here in the Stingaree, it at one time housed a brothel. When Ah Quin helped spearhead the cleanup of the Stingaree, this was one of the first brothels targeted. Over one hundred women were arrested and given a choice: either join the Door of Hope charity and renounce your wicked ways or receive a one-way train ticket to Los Angeles. Almost all of them went to L.A., although most of them quickly found their way back. Of the rest, one was pronounced insane and shipped off to an asylum, while one who agreed to reform eventually became San Diego’s first telephone operator.

Across the street at the end of the block, you’ll see the Old City Hall building on the corner of 5th and G. It was originally a two-story building with additional stories added on over the years. You’ll notice that the windows on each floor are different. Originally a bank, the building eventually housed the mayor’s office, the police department and the public library.

Photo “Yuma“ by eileenmak is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Photo “Old City Hall, San Diego.jpg” by Visitor7 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0