USA > California > Los Angeles County > Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities prefaced with a brief history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County, 1542-1908 > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
The Ocean Wave tract, south of Central Beach, was offered for sale in March by Messrs. Kinney and Dudley and was all sold out in less than a month. South Second street was paved and sidewalked during the year and several new business blocks put up on Second street-this still being the business center of Ocean Park. Pier avenue was surveyed and graded from the railroad tracks to the ocean front and the lots offered for sale. In October a two-story frame building, with two store rooms below, was put up, the second building on this street About July Ist, it was announced that Abner Ross, a Los Angeles capitalist, would build a seventy-room hotel on Pier avenue. This substantial two-story building, which was long the principal hotel of Ocean Park, was erected in just twenty-four days from the time work began. Early in August it was opened to the public under the management of J. G. Holborow and wife, who furnished it and gave it the name. This building was later known as the Metropole and is now the Hotel Savoy. It was estimated that over 200 cottages were built
257
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
on the sand during the year, the building expenditures reaching $118,691, excluding the hotel and the Casino; = $18,500 was expended in improving the water system, and at least $25,000 was paid out for improvements made by the L. A .- P. railway.
1902.
But, rapid as was the pace set in 1901, the advance made in 1902 excelled it. A change took place at the beginning of the year, which meant much in the history of this section. This was the sale announced February 12th, of Mr. Dudley's interests in the Kinney and Dudley property to Messrs. A. R. Fraser, H. R. Gage and G. M. Jones ; Abbot Kinney retaining his half interest. This sale included the beach from Azure street, now Fraser avenue, to a point 700 feet below the Country Club house, now Horizon avenue, and the club house and grounds.
If such a thing were possible, new energy was given to the developments along the ocean front by the new management. It was announced that the wharf would be rebuilt, a bath house and pavilion built at Pier avenue, and the old plank walk on the ocean front rebuilt. The entire tract was to be sewered and the alley between the front and the tracks, now Speedway, would be improved. But the most important move was the change of policy with regard to leasing lots. It was announced that no more lots would be leased and that leasers would be given until May Ist, to purchase their lots or vacate. Here- after lots would only be sold with building restrictions which would put an end to the building of cheap " beach cottages." Many of the lease holders purchased their lots and removed the old buildings to put up modern cottages which would yield an income on the increased valuation of the property. Many of those who did this realized handsomely on the investment. To many, however, the prices charged for lots and the building restrictions seemed prohibitive and the cottages were removed to cheaper property. During 1902-03, it was a common sight to find a cottage on wheels moving back from the ocean front to the hills, under the escort of William Menzies.
In March, 1902, the Ocean Park bank was organized with T. H. Dudley. Abbot Kinney, Martin Dudley and Plez James as stockholders. It opened for business April 8th in a building on Second street ; but work was soon begin on a brick and steel building on Pier avenue and before the end of the year the new bank was occupying handsomely fitted quarters and had added a savings department.
The previous year the old school house had proved inadequate and the Baptist church was rented for the higher grades. The rapidly increasing school population made a new building for the Ocean Park school imperative, and after an enthusiastic public meeting on the South Side, followed by another public
17
258
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
discussion of the question on the North Side, the school trustees called for a bond election to vote $12,000 for a suitable school house for Ocean Park. The bonds were carried, practically without opposition ; the two old buildings were disposed of and the handsome eight-room structure, now known as the Wash- ington school house, was built on the old location, the corner of Ash and Fourth streets. Two additional lots were purchased for the grounds and the entire building and grounds cost over $16,000.
The election of W. S. Vawter as city trustee to represent the South Side, and the fact that T. H. Dudley was president of the board of city trustees, assured this section of full representation in civic affairs and still further obliterated the old feeling of estrangement between the two sections of the city. The building boom continued. June 12th, the Los Angeles Saturday Post writes thus of this beach :
" There are seven hundred cottages at Ocean Park. They are all tasteful and many of them are pretentious. Ocean Park is not a place with a stiff, ceremonious air. There is a hospitable individuality, a generous atmosphere. in their architecture that shows as much as anything else that the good people of Ocean Park are not divided into social cliques or factions."
During this year Pier avenue became the leading business street. Among the business blocks of the year were the Rice and Kellogg block, of three stores, with housekeeping rooms above; a two-story building put up by Gillett & Co .: the new bank building, occupying four lots and costing $10,000; a two- story block erected by Abbot Kinney. The rapid rise in values is well repre- sented by Pier avenue property. In 1900, lots on this street sold for a few dollars; in 1901, $500 would have been considered a high price for a lot; in 1902, twenty-five-foot lots sold for $40 per front foot; in 1903, a lot which had been purchased for $30 per front foot, was sold for $85 per foot. In 1904. C. J. Wilson sold a block on Pier avenue with a two-story frame building and a lot of 54 feet frontage for $21,000, and it is stated that the property was then yielding 10 per cent. on the investment.
The company spent several thousand dollars this year in improving the sewer service. Twelve miles of new sidewalks were laid by the city and private parties and many streets were graded. It is estimated that street improvements reached about $20,000. On Saturday, November 15th, 1902, appeared the first issue of the Ocean Park Reviewe, with A. Bert Bynon as editor.
On August 2nd, the new line of the trolley road by way of Palms, was opened, the event being celebrated by an excursion of the Jonathan Club of Los Angeles, and distinguished citizens, who were entertained with a fish dinner at the country club. The Ocean Park Country Club sent out elaborate
259
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
invitations, announcing a polo match, tea, dinner, and reception, with speeches and dancing, in honor of the occasion. The invitations read :
" The Los Angeles-Pacific Railway company will open its Short Line cut-off from Los Angeles to Ocean Park, tomorrow, Saturday, August 2nd, 1902. And in honor of this event the Los Angeles Country Club has arranged for a demon- stration that will mark the epoch as the most important in the history of Ocean Park up to this date.
" The opening of this line of railway communication is recognized as of such importance to the future welfare and prosperity of Ocean Park that the head moulders of the present and future greatness of that noted beach resort appreciate the necessity of this great proposed demonstration.
" And these head moulders of the present and future greatness are Messrs. Fraser, Jones, Kinney and Gage, the proprietors of the Country Club, and it is these gentlemen who extend a cordial invitation to participate in the exercises and the reception of the Jonathan Club of Los Angeles and the other guests."
1903.
The new year showed no diminishment in building or in general improve- ment in the " sand district." Work was begun early in the year on the pavilion at the foot of Pier avenue, which was to be the most complete pleasure resort on the beach. When it was opened to the public in the spring, it at once attracted the Sunday crowds. The question of granting a restaurant liquor license for the pavilion greatly harassed many of the older residents of Ocean Park, who had greatly prided themselves upon the high moral tone of their community. The matter was discussed warmly and was made an issue in the spring election which was hotly contested, the liquor question and the traction franchises being the mooted points. The result of the election was not satisfac- tory to the "no-license " element who forced a special election, at which they lost heavily in votes. And the liquor license was granted for the pavilion- the first one ever granted in Ocean Park district.
The Traction matter was quite as important in its bearing on Ocean Park affairs. This company had been interested in a project to build a line to Santa Monica Bay by Abbot Kinney, who was its representative in its negotiations here. A right of way had been secured; after a long fight which developed mnuch opposition, the necessary franchises were granted by the city of Santa Monica and work was actively begun on a competing electric line which held out hopes of a twenty-five cent fare. The new road was well under way when the sale by Messrs. Fraser and Jones, of the Ocean Park right of way-the old Santa Fe right of way-to Sherman and Clark of the Los Angeles-Pacific.
260
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
and the later sale to the Harriman interests, put an end to this prospect of competition ; as the new road thus lost its terminals.
Several new tracts were opened up for settlement during the year. The Ocean Villa Tract, east of the electric road and opposite the Country Club was sold in half acre lots which were quickly subdivided and a new residence dis- trict grew up. In September, Ocean Park Villa Tract No. 2, 60 acres extend- ing from Ballona avenue to Eighth street was put on the market and made a record as a quick seller. These ventures were so successful that E. J. Vawter offered 60 lots for sale on the hill in the vicinity of Hill and Fourth streets, all of which were soon disposed of. Pier avenue continued to hold its own as the principal business street. A three-story brick block was erected by Maier and Zobelin, and a new block designed especially to accommodate the postoffice was built. July 23d the postoffice was moved from Second street to its new home and several of the business houses on Second street followed it to the new loca- tion. Lots on the ocean front, near Pier avenue, sold this summer for $2,300 to $2,600. Marine avenue was opened up, paved and sidewalked this year and Hart and Fraser avenues were "parked." The placing of the sidewalk in the middle of a street, with gardens bordering it on either side was an innovation which has proved very attractive in the beach districts, and has now been adopted in many places, although Ocean Park claims it as original with her.
The beautiful home built for J. M. Davies, a ten-room house, complete in every detail of artistic finish, and an equally handsome home for Thomas Fitz- gerald, now owned by Nat Goodwin, marked a new era in beach residences. The selection of Ocean Park as a permanent home by such men as Frank Wiggins, W. T. Gibbon, and many other prominent business men of Los Angeles, made the place a suburban as well as a resort town.
The rapid growth of South Santa Monica and of the territory south of the city limits naturally gave rise to much discussion as to the future government of this prosperous young city. The attempt to divide the city of Santa Monica had proved so impracticable that it was now proposed to incorporate a new town to the south, with the hope that when the new town was fairly organized, the Ocean Park district of Santa Monica might experience a change of sentiment and cast its fortunes with the new corporation. The matter was fully discussed in all of its bearings and in the fall the necessary steps were taken and the elec- tion called for February, 1904. On that date, the new town began its existence and the name " Ocean Park " became the property of a district which had been in existence less than eighteen months, leaving the postoffice of " Ocean Park " within the bounds of Santa Monica, and creating endless confusion as to the location of and the meaning of the name " Ocean Park."
261
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
SOUTH SANTA MONICA 1904-07.
1904.
The dissolution of the Ocean Park Improvement Company, which had been the controlling element in Ocean Park affairs, was announced February 3rd, 1904, and was an event of importance in South Santa Monica. By this arrange- ment, Mr. Kinney, who had owned a one-half interest in the company, sold to his partners all of his interest in the property of the company, both lands and buildings, between Navy and Kinney streets in Santa Monica, thus giving Fraser, Jones and Gage the entire control of the Santa Monica holdings, including the Pier avenue improvements. Mr. Kinney received in exchange all title to the holdings of the company south of Navy street. As a result of this move, Mr. Kinney planned Venice, while Messrs. Fraser and Jones devoted themselves to the development of their Pier avenue interests. Another result was the raising of prices for all lots belonging to the Improvement Company from $45 per front foot to $60.
It had already been announced that the Los Angeles-Pacific had purchased Mr. Kinney's interests in the proposed electric line that was to have been built through Ocean Park. They had also previously purchased the right of way owned by Fraser, Jones and Gage, thus giving them additional lands and right of way. The railroad company at once began making improvements which were greatly appreciated by the residents of this district. The building of the plank walk between their tracks was a great boon to people who had been compelled to wade through deep sand to reach the cars. The erection of stations and improvements of the trolley way gave the town a new street and the company also graded and improved a tract east of the line and put it on the market.
In 1901 Captain Donahue brought a gasoline launch to Santa Monica which was operated from the wharf at Pier avenue, carrying fishermen and pleasure seekers on trips up and down the coast. This little craft had been the source of much pleasure to beach residents and visitors and it was with regret that they learned of her total wreck which occurred March 23rd, 1904, off the Short Line beach.
June 30th the new Holborow, located in the handsome three-story 'brick put up by Maier and Zobelin, was opened to the public. This was then the finest hotel south of the Arcadia and was very popular.
1905.
In February, 1905, occurred one of the heaviest storms ever known on the Santa Monica bay coast. This washed out a large section of the Pier avenue wharf and later in the month another storm completed the wrecking of the pier.
E. J. VAWTER, JR.
263
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
As a consequence, the outfall sewer of Santa Monica was badly wrecked and the beginning of sewer troubles followed. Another storm in March carried away 700 feet of the wharf and destroyed a mile of the beach walk. According to the terms of the agreement made between the city and the company who built the pier on the piles intended for carrying the outfall, Messrs. Kinney and Ryan were to keep the pier in repair for twenty years. The interest of Messrs. Kinney and Ryan had now passed into the hands of the Ocean Park Improvement Com- pany. A dispute as to who should stand the expense of the repair resulted in the sewer matter remaining unsettled. In the meantime a company was formed to build a new pier and it was proposed also to build another pier from the foot of Marine avenue. A permit for the Marine avenue pier was let to M. R. King, and later the idea of the horseshoe pier developed. A seaside theater was opened for the first time in the Pavilion at Pier avenue.
The First National Bank of Ocean Park was organized in April, with J. M. Elliott, W. D. Longyear, E. J. Vawter, Jr., J. W. Lincoln, A. Fraser, C. H. Mullen and E. J. Vawter, Sr., as directors. E. J. Vawter, Sr., was president. J. M. Elliott, vice-president ; Thomas Meldrum, cashier. June Ist, the Com- mercial State Bank opened for business, with Lon A. Pratt, president ; Warren Gillelen, vice-president ; J. W. Lawrence, cashier.
Considerable feeling was aroused by an attempt to remove the postoffice from Pier avenue to Marine street and then make it the official office of the new town. A postoffice inspector was called in to straighten out postoffice matters : but after a conference with all parties interested, it was finally decided that the Ocean Park postoffice be left as it was and the new postoffice be named Venice. On the completion of the Masonic Temple, a handsome three-story brick build- ing, located on Marine avenue, the postoffice was again changed, despite a vig- orous protest, to a handsomely fitted up room in this building. But this was still within the limits of Santa Monica.
Ocean Beach-
J.D. BLANCHARD
M.P.SNYDER
HJENGELBREACHT
D.G. HOLT PRESIDENT
H.M. REBOYS
R.M.MILLER SECTY OF THE BOARD
È V. DALES
BOARD OF EDUCATION, CITY OF SANTA MONICA. 1907.
CHAPTER VII. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
SCHOOLS.
A S in every other American community, one of the first interests of the new settlement of Santa Monica, in 1875, was to provide school advantages. The first shack to house the men working on the wharf was put on the ground in April, 1875; the first lots in the new town site were sold in July. On November 3rd, the citizens of the town held a meeting in the dining-room of the Hotel Santa Monica to discuss school matters and take steps to secure the formation of a school district. As a result of this effort, the Santa Monica School District was formed by the board of supervisors. It included within its limits the San Vicente, Santa Monica and Malibu ranchos, the tract of land belonging to Mrs. Lucas, and a portion of the Ballona grant-a somewhat extensive domain.
On December 3rd the first school election was held and John Freeman, L. T. Fisher and J. W. Scott were chosen as trustees; at the same time it was reported that there were seventy-two children in the new district. An election was called in February, 1876, to vote a tax for school purposes; but owing to some irregularity of form it was postponed until March IIth, when a special tax of $5,000 was voted for a school-house, and Loren Heath was appointed as assessor and collector of the same. The first assessment of the district shows a valuation of $1,035,580. Jones and Baker had already donated two lots on Sixth street as a site and during the summer a neat frame building, containing two school-rooms below and a large room above was erected and ready for use in the fall.
In the meantime the children had not lacked for educational opportunities. November 8th, 1875, the "Santa Monica Academy," D. G. C. Baker, principal. opened for its first term of twelve weeks, prepared to give courses "in all branches, including the Fourth Reader and Hebrew," and " with accommoda- tions for a very few young ladies to board and lodge at reasonable rates." Mrs. M. J. D. Baker was instructor in elocution and Miss Ida M. Atkinson taught music and drawing. Thus every need of a full school curriculum was supplied. The first school exhibition given in Santa Monica was presented by the pupils of this school in the Presbyterian chapel, February 9th, 1876. The Outlook also announces that the second term of Mrs. Frink's private school would com- mence on February 7th. March 4th, 1876, the first session of the public school opened in the Presbyterian church, located on the corner of Third and Arizona, the building still standing in the rear of the present church. Among the pupils of this school were a number who have since been well known residents of Santa
266
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
Monica-George, Henry and Eugene Boehme, Julia, May and George Suits, Mary Collins and Claude Sheckles. H. P. McCusick was the teacher and before the end of the second month he had an enrollment of 77 pupils. The next fall when school opened in the new school-house, September 10th, Mr. McCusick was assisted by Miss Lucy Whiten and the two lower rooms were used, while the " big " room was useful as an assembly room and a meeting place for pub- lic occasions. Many happy memories are associated with this room in the minds of older residents of Santa Monica. One memorable occasion was an entertain- ment and dance held on the evening of December 31st, 1881, the proceeds to be used for the purchase of an organ for the school-house. The Los Angeles papers announce that the affair was a great success and that the tableaux would have been creditable to a first-class theater. It should certainly have been a well rehearsed affair, for in a dispute over one of the rehearsals, the teacher, W. H. P. Williams, an impetuous southerner, shot and seriously wounded one McDon- ald whom he thought to be interfering with his plans. Naturally the young pro- fessor was requested to resign, but the entertainment was carried out by his successor, W. W. Seaman, who later became a well known state official. The minutes of the school board for December 30th, 1881, state, "A Wilcox and White organ was presented to the public school of Santa Monica, the money for same having been raised by a series of public entertainments gotten up through the instrumentality of Mr. M. R. Gaddy and others."
In 1877 the district showed an enrollment of 157 children, Mr. A. C. Shafer was the principal and was assisted by Miss Yda Addis, whose name and brilliant though erratic career are known to all older residents of Southern Cali- fornia. February 14th, 1878, a special tax for school purposes was voted. The school continued with two teachers until 1884, when the upper room was fur- nished and three teachers employed. In August, 1887, more room for the schools had become imperative and $5,000 bonds were voted and four rooms added to the school building. Four teachers were now employed, with Elmer P. Rowell as principal. Mr. Rowell was connected with the schools of Santa Monica for four years and many advances were made under his able leadership. In 1888 the rapid increase in population made even the new accommodations inadequate and a tax of $2,500 was voted to still further enlarge the school building, after which six teachers were required.
In 1889, after a good deal of agitation, steps were taken to provide the south side with a school. This was opened in a private house : but in 1888 lots had been secured at the corner of Ash and Fourth streets and in 1890 a small building erected. In 1891 another small building was put up in Garapatos can- von. This section of the district has since been cut off from the Santa Monica district. In 1894 a neat building was provided for the pupils resident in Santa Monica canyon.
267
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
In May, 1885, the first class graduated from the grammar grade depart- ment, under the county laws governing grammar grades. The Santa Monica schools were counted as of the grammar grade until 1891, when the high school was established, under a new state law, and opened its first year of work in September, with Prof. Leroy D. Brown as principal. Prof. Brown was an able educator and made a strong mark upon the character of the city schools. He was later principal of the Los Angeles schools and his untimely death was a sorrow to many who had enjoyed his instruction. The high school was opened in the Sixth street building and the first class of five members, Roy Arthur Sul- liger, Florence Corle Rubicam, George G. Bundy, Hilda H. Hasse and Delia Sweetser, graduated in 1894.
For several years, beginning with 1889, Professor E. P. Rowell, Dr. A. W. Plummer, Professor Brown and others conducted a very successful summer institute in Santa Monica, for teachers and others desiring special instruction. These institutes provided interesting and profitable classes and lectures, con- certs and instruction in music and many enjoyable social affairs grew out of them. For several years they attracted a number of teachers and would-be teachers to this place for the summer courses.
In 1893, two more rooms were added to the Sixth street building, and in 1895 another school room was added to the south side school. September 5th, 1897, bonds to the amount of $15,000 were voted for a high school building. although in April of the same year a proposition to vote $12,000 for the same purpose was lost, chiefly because it was felt that the sum was not enough to build a suitable building on the lots already secured at Tenth and Oregon. The contract for the building was let to H. X. Goetz and in June, 1898, the building was completed and dedicated by holding the graduating exercise for the year in it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.