Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals), 1908, 1908a, 1886
[p. 161] Chapter II Laying the Foundations. 1870-1880.
. . . He [W.D. Vawter] secured a franchise in 1886 and with his sons built the first street railway, which was for some time operated at a loss. They demonstrated their faith in the future, however, by extending the line to the Soldiers' Home, a distance of about five miles, and he lived to see it a paying enterprise.
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[p. 163] Mr. [W.S.] Vawter has served the city of Santa Monica in many capacities. He was one of the first board of trustees when the town was incorporated and served from 1886 to 1892 . . . With his brother, E.J. Vawter, Mr. Vawter organized the Santa Monica Mill and Lumber Company, in 1886 . . .
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[p. 163] He [E.J. Vawter] was married to Miss Laura E. Dixon in Indiana, in 1869. She died in 1886. They were the parents of one son, E.J. Vawter, Jr., who inherits the business ability of the family . . .
[p. 168] Chapter III. From Town to City. 1880-1890.
[p. 168] 1886
The completion of the through line of the Atchison & Topeka road in 1885 led to the greatest "rate war" ever known in this country and was the immediate cause of the marvelous influx of population and capital from which the later history of Southern California dates. The quickening of the reals estate market, the breaking up of the large ranchos in the vicinity of Santa Monica and the great projects for railroads and harbors which were in the air, revived land values in this place. In January, 1886, it was reported that the Santa Fé, or Atlantic & Pacific road, as it was then called, would build a line to South Santa Monica and there construct a wharf long enough to accomodate the largest ships. The company was also to build a three-story hotel on its reservation. In view of this rumor and of the purchase of right of way for the road, many improvements were made in that direction and new comers began to secure lands in South Santa Monica. But the hopes of that section were dashed when it was learned in October that the "Balllona Harbor Improvement Company" had been incorporated and that the Los Angeles & Santa Monica road, which had been incorporated to connect the A & P, with Santa Monica, had secured a franchise for a wharf and ship canal on Ballona slough. Work was at once begun at dredging for the harbor, which had been carefully planned by Hugh Crabbe, an engineer of some note. During the next two years extensive operations were carried on and a large sum of money was expended in the effort to create a harbor at Ballona Port.
[p. 168] Another important event of 1886 was the building of the Hotel Arcadia. During the previous year, J.W. Scott, who had long been one of the most enterprising citizens of the town, and who had been host of the Santa Monica Hotel for a number of years, purchased from the railway company a tract of land lying along the ocean front between Railroad and Front streets, paying for it $3000. He subdivided it into forty lots and sold thirty of them for $30,000. With this money he began the construction of a first-class hotel, a long-felt want in Santa Monica. The hotel, when completed January, 1887, was the finest seaside hotel in Southern California and was only equaled by the Del Monte at Monterey in the north. The grounds about it were at once improved and the place became the center of Santa Monica's attractions. A bath house and pavilion, and a gravity railway were among the features that were added by the enterprising management of the establishment.
In November, 1886, another important step in the advancement of Santa Monica occurred. This was the incorporation of the town; the election to decide the question being held November 30th and resulting in a vote of 97 for incorporation and 71 against. The boundaries as fixed were: "From the northern corner of Montana avenue and Seventeenth street, east along northerly line of Seventeenth street to the boundary line between San Vicente and La Ballona; thence west to the south line of Santa Monica and Compton road; thence southeast to the south line of Lucas tract; thence to Pacific ocean." The first board of trustees chosen for the town was made up of John Steere, chairman; Dr. E.C. Folsom, A.E. Ladd, W.S. Vawter and J.W. Scott. Fred A. McKinnie was the first town clerk; H.C. Baggs, Jr., was elected marshal and E.K. Chapin treasurer. Baggs failing to qualify, Michael Noon was appointed in his place.
While there was considerable opposition to incorporation by what the Express terms the "old fogies," on the ground of the additional taxes to be expected as a result, the feeling in general was that the interests of the town demanded the change and that public improvements must be made, even though the wherewithal must come out of the pockets of the propery owners. The board of trustees at once entered upon a campaign of public improvements which within the next few years transformed the rough, dusty and ungraded roads which were called streets and avenues into well graded, graveled streets with sidewalks, crossings, bridges, and which were sprinkled and shaded. During the year fifty-five new cottages were erected in the town, beside the business buildings and hotel, and a new era of growth was thus fairly inaugurated.
[p. 245] Chapter VI South Santa Monica and Ocean Park
. . . In 1886, the Crippens, a [p. 246] real estate firm of Los Angeles, bought 350 acres, extending from Eighth street east and to the San Vicente ranch line. In December this was put upon the market as East Santa Monica, villa lots of two and one-half acres being offered for $500.00, although the land had been sold the previous year for $40.00 an acre.
[p. 246] The boom struck this portion of Santa Monica with considerable force. The Vawters sold the Santa Fe tract of 53 acres to R.R. Tanner and Thomas A. Lewis, who put down a well, subdivided into lots, put in sidewalks and advertised an auction sale to take place August 10th, 1887. The highest price paid for one of these lots was $725.00. Houses were built on the tract by T.A. Lewis, Messrs. Tanner, W.S. Vawter and others. In March, the Wave Crest tract was put on sale with an auction, and the newspapers report sales to [the] amount of $52,490.00 for 90 lots. H.L. Jones subdivided a tract to which he gave the name of Ocean Spray, 120 lots, which met with ready sale. The Arcadia, Ocean View, Commercial Company's tract and others were opened up during this period and a large number of improvements were made.
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[p. 269] Chapter VII. Public Institutions: Schools
[p. 269] School Trustees of Santa Monica
1885-86: Mrs. Geo. B, Dexter, Mrs. E.E. McLeoud, E.K. Chapin (clerk).
1886-87: F.H. Howard, E.J. Vawter, E.K. Chapin (clerk).
[p. 270] Supervising Principals of Santa Monica Schools:
1882-86: W.W. Seaman.
1886-90: E.P. Rowell.
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[p. 281] Newspapers
During 1886, after the wave of activity and prosperity had again struck Santa Monica, E.A. Fay, started a weekly papper known as The Wave. When L.T. Fisher returned and began the publication of the Outlook again, The Wave soon vanished from the field and the Outlook remained the newspaper of the town. In all the rapid advancement of that boom period, the Outlook led the procession. Mr. Fisher put up a strong fight for the new wharf, which he believed would make Santa Monica a shipping port; for sewers and municipal improvements; for the location of the harbor at Santa Monica, and for small farms, good roads and tree planting.
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[p. 282] PostOffice
. . . when [1886] he [M.B. Boyce] was succeeded by Miss Maggie Finn. the building between the Giroux and Rapp buildings on Second street was then used as the office.
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[p. 286] [Santa Monica] City Officials.
1886. Board of Trustees, J.W. Scott, W.S, Vawter, A.E. Ladd, John Steere, Dr. E.C. Folsom; clerk, Fred C. McKinnie; John Steere, president; treasurer, Col. E.K. Chapin; marshal, Hamilton Bagg, succeeded by Michael Noon.
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[p. 292] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: Catholic Church
In May, 1886, came Father Patrick Hawe as pastor of the church, and since that date Father Hawe has been the mainspring of the parish and the church work in this vicinity. Under his supervision was built the parochial house adjoining the church and the addition to the original church building which was dedicated August 19th, 1888, by Bishop Mora.
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[p. 329] Chapter XI Venice of America and Its Founder
. . . In 1886 [Abbot Kinney] formed a syndicate to purchase a large parcel of land on the north side of Santa Monica Canyon. Here, he proposed to make an ideal residence tract, with unsurpassed views of ocean, mountain and valley. Trees were planted, streets were laid out and a railroad planned. Later this tract was transferred to the Southern Pacific Company and furnished the site for the "long wharf."