The "Proprietors of the Boston Pier, or Long Wharf" originated in 1710, when a group of local merchants proposed to build a wharf at the base of King (now State) Street, colonial Boston's main commercial thoroughfare. Construction of the wharf began in 1712 and incorporated the remnants of derelict 17th century fortifications located on the same site. By the 1780s, the Boston Pier extended nearly two thousand feet into Boston Harbor; it was commonly known as the Long Wharf. The wharf was large enough for the biggest ships of the day to dock directly at its side. Their cargoes could be loaded and unloaded without the use of smaller boats. Storehouses and shops that served the shipping trade were built along the length of the wharf.
From the description of Proprietors of the Boston Pier, or Long Wharf records, 1762-1903 (inclusive). (Harvard Business School). WorldCat record id: 503581495
