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 32
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December 11th, 1905, the first annual meeting of the organization was held at which time the by-laws were amended, a regular corps of officers elected and the name changed to Woman's Club. Mrs. Daniel G. Stephens, who is only second to Madame Severance, as a club mother in Southern California, was made honorary president ; Mrs. A. M. Jamison was elected president ; Mrs. J. S. Hunt and Mrs. E. H. Hutton, vice-presidents ; Miss Elizabeth Mclaughlin, secretary and Mrs. Jessica Clark, treasurer. In recognition of Miss McLaugh- lin's service to the club as secretary and organizer, she was made a life associate member, with all the privileges of active membership. The first meetings of this year were held in Columbia Hall, Mrs. M. R. King generously paying the rent. Lectures and musical programs were given and the club increased in interest and membership. During this year a civic committee was appointed of which Mrs. J. P. Jones was the first chairman, succeeded by Mrs. Arthur Noble. This committee did most effective service, having secured the preserva- tion of the trees and the improvement of Nevada avenue, presented a petition to the school board. pointing out the necessity of a new school building to replace the Sixth street school house, which was a patchwork made up of additions to the original structure erected in 1876. The town had just voted the sum of $56,000 for building three new school houses, and it was thought impossible to carry another bond election for school purposes at this time. But the ladies circulated a petition and received such encouragement that the election was held and the money for the beautiful Jefferson building voted.
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The Woman's Club has also aided in preventing the issuance of new liquor licenses. During 1907 they voted a scholarship fund to be used in keeping a bright girl who otherwise must have given up school, in the high school of Santa Monica. Surely a more practical and beautiful service could not be found. As will be seen this club has done most effective work in benefiting the community, as well as furnishing its members with much intellectual and social pleasure and development.
The third annual meeting of the club was held December 11th, 1906, in the Royal Arcanum Hall, the use of which was donated by Mr. Robert F. Jones. At this meeting the former officers were re-elected and a new constitution and by-laws were adopted. During the year of 1906-7 the club entertained the Woman's Parliament of Southern California, of which their Honorary President. Mrs. Stephens, was the founder. Many interesting programs and social affairs were offered the members and their friends.
At the annual meeting of 1907, Mrs. A. M. Jamison, who had served most efficiently as president for two years, declined a re-election and Miss Charlena Welch was chosen as president.
SANTA MONICA LODGE No. 906, B. P. O. E.
On April 12th, 1907, Santa Monica Lodge of Elks was organized as Santa Monica Lodge No. 906, B. P. O. E., the Los Angeles Lodge to the number of 300 coming down to initiate the new lodge. After the ceremonies of initiation 400 Elks sat down to a banquet in the old Pavilion, which was one of the most memorable affairs of the many that took place in the old building. The first officers of the lodge were: First Exalted Ruler, Brother W. T. Gillis ; Esteemed Leading Knight, Robert F. Jones; Esteemed Loyal Knight, T. H. Dudley : Esteemed Lecturing Knight, G. F. Doty ; treasurer, J. Euclid Miles ; secretary, J. B. Proctor ; tyler, H. I. Pritchard; trustees, H. G. Englebrecht, C. M. Lindsey, E. S. Tomblin.
The first lodge rooms of the Elks were located over the Santa Monica bank. Later they removed their rooms to the Columbia building where they are at present located. Soon after the organization of the lodge it acquired the prop- erty on the corner of Ocean and Arizona avenues, formerly the home of Mrs. Doria Jones, of Los Angeles, one of the most commodious family residences in Santa Monica. This was altered and refitted as a club house for the use of the members of the Elks Lodge and is one of the pleasantest and cosiest club houses in the country.
At the Elks' reunion, held on the top of Mt. Wilson, May 27th, 28th and 29th, 1904, the newly formed Santa Monica lodge-a " Baby Lodge," as it was known-won a very handsome grandfather's clock for the best average attend- ance reported. On June 5th, 1905, this lodge went to San Pedro in a body to assist in the initiation of San Pedro Lodge, No. 966, and thus is ceased to be
MAJOR ROBERT DOLLARD.
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the " Baby Lodge." On September 8th, 9th and Ioth, 1905, the Santa Monica lodge assisted in entertaining a reunion of the Elks of Southern California in Santa Monica canyon. One of the features of this occasion was a genuine old- fashioned barbecue. Each Christmas since its organization the lodge has pre- pared a Christmas tree for the youngsters of the town, at which those who have little promise of Christmas cheer are especially remembered.
The Past Exalted Rulers of the lodge since its organization are: W. T. Gillis, J. C. Hemingway, P. S. Lindsey, W. G. Miller, who is the present occupant of the chair ; J. B. Proctor remained secretary since the formation of the lodge. The present membership is about 215, and the lodge is in a most flourishing condition.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
Fort Fisher Post, G. A. R., No. 137, Department of California and Nevada, was organized in 1885. J. J. Mohen, H. M. Russell, J. W. Keith, G. T. Hol- ford, J. L. Allen, R. P. Elliott, C. B. Fuller, Guy C. Manville, F. A. Westover, George Young, W. R. Waldron and Henry Gardner were the charter members of this post. In June, 1887, Fort Fisher Relief Corps was installed, with Mrs. Josephine Baxter, president ; Mrs. E. Gaddy and Mrs. Sadie Bennett, vice-pres- idents ; Miss Mary Elliott, secretary; Mrs. Alice Mosse, treasurer, and Mrs. Rebecca Gulberson, chaplain.
In February, 1887, John A. Logan Post was organized in Santa Monica, with H. M. Russell as president, J. Mohen secretary, and with twelve members. This was later merged with John A. Martin Post, Soldiers' Home.
Fort Fisher Post flourished until about 1901, when the enthusiasm died out and the organization was disbanded. The old soldiers and the Relief Corps had always taken a prominent part on public occasions and especially on Me- morial day, and were much missed from the civic organizations.
On May 20th, 1907, a number of old soldiers met and resolved to form a new post, to be known as the Stephen Jackson Post, No. 191. The post com- mander of this organization is Robert Dollard; senior vice-commander, A. N. Archer ; junior vice-commander, David Johnson ; chaplain, T. B. Fisher ; quar- termaster, S. D. Hayes ; officer of the day, J. W. Bowlden : officer of the guard, J. N. Lewis: adjutant, H. C. Towner. Charter members, George Young, J. L. Ferguson, Thomas Gilroy, W. W. R. Mattox, A. G. Ford, S. A. Wheeler, C. L. Wells, James P. Rutledge, L. M. Pence, M. D. Gage, C. W. Loving, D. W. Collis, J. M. McGlinch, Loyal L. Case, I. J. Lucas, Ed. Forbes, J. Teach, J. O. Hodgson, Peter Mardy (deceased), J. A. Greenlaw, G. W. Heimer, R. P. Elliott, A. Lockridge, E. R. Kennedy, W. W. Woodruff, A. Felix Gandy, George Pulham, James Stone.
Ladies' Grand Army Circle was organized as Fremont Circle, No. 37, De- partment of California and Nevada, 1904. Mrs. Mamie Young, president ; Mrs. S. A. Wheeler, vice-president ; Mrs. Zoe Phyfer, treasurer.
FRANK D. LAWTON.
CHAPTER IX.
MISCELLANEOUS.
OUTDOOR PASTIMES.
F OR many years Santa Monica was the center of out-door sports in South- ern California. The tennis tournaments held on the Casino courts and the polo races of the Santa Monica Polo club were events which annually drew the " swell " crowd of Los Angeles and Southern California and sometimes attracted visitors from San Francisco and the north. While the surf bathing. salt water fishing, swimming and bicycle races, baseball and Spanish sports drew everybody who cared for any kind of sport to this city.
One of the first organizations completed in the village of Santa Monica was that of a baseball club known as "The Bonitas," formed in October, 1875, with T. Cronan, as president ; J. J. Mason, vice-president ; S. B. Adams, secre- tary, and T. H. DuPuy, treasurer. There is no record of the games they played, but no doubt they won victories, over somebody and were duly beaten in turn. One of the earliest and most popular of the long list of amusements which have proved "attractions " were the " Ring Tournaments " ridden by gallant knights, which were an exciting display of horsemanship. On June 13th, 1876, one of these occurred in which B. F. Reid was costumed as the "Knight of Fairfax;" L. L. Hope appeared as "Fleur de Lis ;" H. M. Mitchell was " Old Dominion," and Miss Carrie Heath was "Queen of Beauty and Love." Other contests were between teams made up of Native Californians, led by J. J. Carrillo, and Americans led by B. F. Reid. These "ring tournaments " drew such Sunday crowds that the facilities of the L. A. & I. were taxed to haul them all. Prize pigeon shooting contests were another favorite pastime of early days and some very skillful marksmen are recorded as taking part in them.
In July, 1887, a lawn tennis club was formed in Santa Monica and soon afterward a lawn tennis association was incorporated under the name of the Santa Monica Improvement Club with Abbot Kinney, Col. Baker. Senator Jones. Hon. James Bettner, W. J. Broderick, I. W. Hellman, Judge W. P. Gardiner. J. Downey Harvey, J. E. Plater, H. G. Wilshire, A Campbell Johnston, H. B. Lockwood, Patrick Robertson, Judge W. S. Van Dyke and Hugh Vail as, directors. They at once secured the grounds on North Third street and soon had a fund of $10,000 in hand for the erection of a club house. The Casino courts were at once gotten into shape, and August 31st a tournament of the Southern California Association "beginners " was held, at which representatives
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from Pasadena, San Gabriel, Pomona, Los Angeles, Riverside and Santa Monica took part. The play lasted four days and ended with a grand hall in Steere's opera house, then just completed. The first annual tournament of the Southern California Association was held this year at Riverside, and the Santa Monica club took part. In 1888 the Casino had been completed and the courts put in fine shape and from that time on the annual tournaments of the Southern California Association were held here. On these courts many close games and fine plays have been made and Santa Monica is justly proud of the fact that two ladies who have won worldwide distinction as players, won their first laurels on the Casino courts-Miss Marion Jones, who in 1897 won the cham- pionship of the Pacific coast and in 1900 the national championship at Philadelphia ; and Miss May Sutton who has now won the international championship.
For years the annual tennis tournament and the polo races at Santa Monica were the great events of the year. Here gathered the prettiest girls, the dressiest dames and the handsomest and most athletic of the college men. The tennis teas, the parties and the balls that accompanied them were the gayest of social affairs and during the tennis week, Mirimar was alive with guests and the Hotel Arcadia was as gay as a Saratoga Springs hostelry "in the season." In those days the Hugh Tevises of San Francisco and the Bradburys of Los Angeles appeared in their drags and added color to the gatherings. In 1891, the tennis season was especially gay. Among the players who won honors in these earlier years were the Chase brothers of Riverside, Theodore Coulter, Art Bumiller, the Carters, Miss Tufts and Miss Shoemaker.
In 1900 a new Casino was built to take the place of the old club house which had been burned down the year before. The presence of the Sutton sisters at the tournament this year made the occasion memorable, especially as this season marked the first victories of May Sutton, she winning the Southern California championship at this time. In 1904 the same brilliant player won the American championship and in 1905 she secured the title of "Champion of All England," repeating English triumph again in 1907. An English paper thus describes Miss Sutton :
" Magnificently muscular, she appears to care nothing for the minor graces, nor even the little tricks and dodges in which her male compatriots indulge. She is all for the rigor of the game. There is no tripping after the ball with her, no showing off of her figure at the net. She just stands near the base line for the most part and sends the ball over the net in terrific drives. Yet, with it all, there is nothing offensively masculine about her. She gives one the impression of being just a fine, healthy, athletic. American girl. She is, at any rate, a kind of tennis player that will take a deal of beating."-Lei- cester Chronicle (English).
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Of late years the School Tennis meets have been a feature of the tennis courts and here Santa Monica has developed a new set of champions. In 1903 Miss Elizabeth Ryan, step-daughter of. Mayor Dudley, won the championship in ladies' singles in the Interscholastic League play and since then Miss Ryan and her sister have won many honors both at home and on other courts. Miss Elizabeth has this year won a championship in British Columbia.
A polo club was organized in Santa Monica in 1877, but it did not find either members or ponies enough to make up a satisfactory game. In 1878, the club played a game with Manuel Marquez and four other Mexicans from the canyon-and was beaten. Apparently it did not survive the shock. In 1889 the Southern California Polo Club was formed at Santa Monica, grounds were donated to them by Messrs. Jones and Baker, and they began to play in earnest. This club was largely made up of Englishmen, of whom there were a number then resident in the vicinity. Mr. R. P. Carter, who later was known on the stage, playing for a time with Modjeska's company, was one of the enthusiasts. Dr. J. A. Edmonds, G. L. Waring, W. H. Young, J. B. Proctor, J. Machell and a number of other gentlemen were members of this organization. Many sports- men in Southern California will remember some of the fast and knowing ponies who were trained in these games. One of the first essays of the Polo Club was a public exhibition of polo in Los Angeles. This resulted in a disastrous financial failure and the club would have "gone broke " had it not been for a benefit performance gotten up by Mr. R. P. Carter and given in Santa Monica, which saved them. For fifteen years the polo club held race meetings every year at Santa Monica. In 1897 a match game was played here with the Burlingham team, from the north. In 1902, the annual races were held at Ocean Park. The chief supporter of this club has been Mr. G. L. Waring. who has labored with never-dying enthusiasm to keep the sport alive-amid many discouragements.
In 1892 a Cricket club was organized and for several years cricket was played by its votaries and cricket tournaments were added to the attractions of Santa Monica. Among the best-known players were A. Balch, J. A. Lester, C. L. Waring, who is a typical English sportsman, Edward Cawston, R. H. H. Chapman, and others.
Of course with the coming of golf into favor, golf links were laid out in Santa Monica and became a favorite game. In 1898 links were laid out on the North Side and also at Ocean Park, and since then the Country Club Golf Links of Ocean Park have seen some notable games, and have been the center of much social gayety. Tennis courts were also laid out here and the club house has been a gathering place for those who enjoy outdoor life.
During the rage of the cycling fever the annual road race on July Fourth was the leading event of the year to bicycle racers. On those days Santa Monica
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was crowded with dusty, sweating, red-faced youths, in the most abbreviated of clothes and with the most enthusiastic of yells, greeting each man as he pedaled into view. A bicycle path to Los Angeles was constructed, bicycle clubs and a club house flourished, and the Southern Pacific spent thousands of dollars on a bicycle race track and grand stand which was probably the poorest investment that the S. P. railway ever made, for almost before it was completed the bicycle craze died out as suddenly and as completely as the various spells of roller skating, which sweep over the country and vanish into space. The "Ath- letic Park," as it was christened, was used for several years for ball games and sports of various kinds, but it has now become a thing of the past.
Swimming contests, water polo, bowling, ping-pong and various other amusements have had their day and passed on. In 1905-06 roller skating was the thing, and large rinks were put in service at all the beaches, but already they are desolate, or turned into dancing floors.
Perhaps the amusement which never loses interest is dancing. The various pavilions at the beaches have always been popular and are so still, and yet the crowds of today dance in a desultory, incidental sort of way that was unknown in the old days when the weekly dance was looked forward to as an event from which every possible drop of joy was to be drawn.
TRANSPORTATION.
In January, 1875, the Los Angeles and Independence road was incorporated by F. P. F. Temple, the first banker of Los Angeles : John P. Jones, Robert S. Baker, Thomas W. Park, James A. Pritchard, and J. S. Slauson, with a paid- up capital stock of $502.500. Work was at once begun on the road between Los Angeles and Santa Monica under the supervision of Col. J. U. Crawford. who was superintendent, engineer and general manager. The road. 161/2 miles in length was completetd so that the first train ran over it by December Ist. 1875. Two trains a day were put on between Santa Monica and Los Angeles and the fare was fixed at $1.00 per trip, freight at $1.00 per ton. At the same time work on the wharf was pushed and the steamer, the Orizaba, of the Goodall & Perkins line, made her first regular stop at this port on September 5th, after which steamer service was continued until September 9th, 1878, when steamer service to Santa Monica was discontinued.
It was expected that the Los Angeles and Independence road would be continued from Los Angeles to Independence, Inyo county, and thence into Nevada and possibly Utah ; but the failure of the Panamint district to yield as rich ore as was anticipated and to become a bonanza mining district, led to the abandonment of the original plans, and ultimately to the sale of the " Inde- pendence " road to the Southern Pacific. This sale was consummated and the formal transfer was made on June 4th, 1877, when the railway, wharf, two
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depots, rolling stock and other property was turned over to the S. P. company. The Southern Pacific abandoned the Santa Monica wharf in the fall of 1878 and finally destroyed the greater part of it. A stump of this same wharf, however, is still to be seen near the foot of Colorado street.
The Southern Pacific was the only means of transportation to the outer world from this time until January, 1889, when the first passenger train of the Los Angeles and Pacific railway came into Santa Monica. This road had originally been proposed by local capitalists as the Los Angeles County road, to run through the foothills and the Soldiers' Home grounds and to terminate on the bluff opposite the Arcadia Hotel. Later it became the Los Angeles and Pacific road, with E. E. Hall, president ; R. E. Shaw, superintendent, and W. T. Spilman, contractor. S. W. Luitweiler, Cornelius Cole, M. L. Wicks, J. M. Hale and Arthur Gaylord were among the directors. The road started near the Sisters' Hospital in Los Angeles, and passed through Burbank, the Ostrich Farm at Kenilworth, Prospect Park, Colegrove, Hollywood. Cahuenga, Morocco, Sunset and the Soldiers' Home, the entire line about twenty-seven miles in length. The locomotives for this road were built by the Baker Iron Works of Los Angeles, and were the first locomotives ever turned out in that city. The regular service on this road began January 29th, 1889, and on September Ist, of the same year, the unfortunate enterprise went into the hands of a receiver, the contractor who had built the line. The train service was reduced to one train each way per day, which ran intermittently. "Jack" Henry of Santa Monica was the conductor, and it is said that his ery was, "Show your passes," when he got ready to take the tickets. After a few months, service on the road was abandoned altogether and though there was much talk of repairing and the franchise was sold to the Terminal people, nothing was ever done to revive it, and the city of Santa Monica finally revoked the franchise granted it.
The first franchise for a street car line in Santa Monica was granted February 23rd, 1887, to W. D. Vawter. On June 19th, 1887, the first car ran over the Ocean avenue line and the same fall the line was completed on Utah avenue and Third streets up Arizona to Seventh, and on Seventh to Nevada. In July, 1889, the line had been extended from the south limits of the town up Nevada to Seventeenth street, making a road four and one-half miles in length. The motive power in those days was mules, or horses, and the little "bob tail " cars of the past are now only memories. The Santa Monica and Soldiers' Home street railway was opened November, 1890. A survey for an electric road between Los Angeles and Santa Monica was made in 1893, but it was not until April, 1895, that articles of incorporation for the Los Angeles and Santa Monica electric road were filed. In June, 1895. an ordinance was passed permitting the building of an electric road by the Pasadena and Pacific railway company, of which General Sherman was president. On April Ist,
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1896, the first electric car reached Santa Monica over the Santa Monica branch of the Pasadena and Pacific road. This was a memorable day in the history of the town. In May, 1897, the electric service was extended to South Santa Monica by the electricizing of the horse car line on the south loop. and the Third street line was also electricised. The first route to Santa Monica was by way of Bellevue, now Sunset, avenue and Sherman ; July Ist, 1897, the " short line " by way of Sixteenth street, was completed and this line was soon made a double track. In 1898 the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway company was organ- ized, with a capital stock of $1,000,000 to take over all lines between Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Soldiers' Home, etc. In 1899, the north loop in Santa Monica was electricised and the Hollywood line built, being opened to the public in February 21st, 1900; also the entire system between Los Angeles and Santa Monica was doubletracked and many improvements in roadbed, bridges. etc., were made. The "cut-off " by way of Palms, was completed in August. 1902, and gave the most direct route to the city.
In January, 1904, the Los Angeles-Pacific acquired all the railway interests of the Traction line and at once began making many improvements, especially improving the Trolleyway, and building the station in Linda Vista Park, Santa Monica, which was opened August 9th, 1905. On the same date the Westgate branch of the road was completed.
In 1887, the Ballona and Santa Monica Railway company was organized to build a line from Ballona to Santa Monica; the Santa Fe having completed a line to " Port Ballona " September 15th, 1887. But the Ballona line was not built and in 1892 the Santa Fe and Santa Monica company was formed to build a line from Ballona Junction to Santa Monica, a distance of twelve miles. The Santa Fe railway brought its first passenger train into Santa Monica June 18th, 1892, and the new service was hailed as bringing assured prosperity to the town. The company built a depot on Hill street and another on Front street ; put up a pavilion and the "iron pipe " wharf in South Santa Monica and expended a large sum in its various improvements. After the coming of the trolley lines, however, it practically ceased to operate and in 1900 sold the land which had been donated to it, and in 1901 obtained permission to abandon its right of way from Inglewood to its Santa Monica terminus. Eventually it sold this right of way to the Traction company and it was later purchased by the Huntington lines.
In 1905 it became known that Mr. Rindge was building a road that was at first supposed to be merely a driveway through his Malibu territory. Later developments made it appear that this was rather a roadbed, whether for an electric line or a steam railway line was unrevealed. During 1907 a railroad has been constructed upon this roadbed. The purpose for which this road is intended to serve still remains unrevealed, although the belief is widespread
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