From my understanding which I gained from growing up in the San Diego area, is that the original mission was run from the chapel in The Presidio (small fort) overlooking Old Town San Diego. The clergy were uncomfortable with the lifestyle of the soldiers, the lack of arable land and the distance to those they wished to serve. These problems became the basis for the move 5 miles up the San Diego River to establish Mission San Diego De Alcala. The acquisition of laborers for the fields and the building of a dam across the river 6 miles upstream, was considered normal for the time but today would be looked upon as indenture at best or downright slavery at worse. I am no scholar and welcome any critique from anyone with a more educated sense of the time. By the way, I lived just up-river from the dam which was a fantastic area for my brothers and I to explore, fish and hunt for rabbits at the time. It is too civilized now.
From my understanding which I gained from growing up in the San Diego area, is that the original mission was run from the chapel in The Presidio (small fort) overlooking Old Town San Diego. The clergy were uncomfortable with the lifestyle of the soldiers, the lack of arable land and the distance to those they wished to serve. These problems became the basis for the move 5 miles up the San Diego River to establish Mission San Diego De Alcala. The acquisition of laborers for the fields and the building of a dam across the river 6 miles upstream, was considered normal for the time but today would be looked upon as indenture at best or downright slavery at worse. I am no scholar and welcome any critique from anyone with a more educated sense of the time. By the way, I lived just up-river from the dam which was a fantastic area for my brothers and I to explore, fish and hunt for rabbits at the time. It is too civilized now.