The Spite Fence
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Charles Crookers house is in fact, not the white mansion at the front of the picture, but the darker one to the back of the photo. For a larger version of this photo please see 'Spite Fence' Photo (will open as PDF) |
©All Images copyright Kingston Museum and Heritage Service
The 'Spite fence' was a famous landmark in the history of the city. A Nob Hill property owner and railway baron, Charles Crocker, had built a huge fence around the modest residence of a German undertaker called Nicolas Yung, in order to spoil his view in the hope that he would sell his property. Only the chimneys are visible in Muybridge's picture of this unfortunate man's house. The fence is so high that supporting buttresses had to be used and it wasn't pulled down until Crocker purchased the property after Yung's death.