1887 Ingersoll

Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals), 1908, 1908a, 1887

[p. 163] Chapter II Laying the Foundations. 1870-1880.

     During 1887-88 they [the Vawters] sold half of this property [in South Santa Monica] for more than the whole tract has cost them and W.S. Vawter built a handsome house in South Santa Monica, one of the first residences in that district.

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[p. 169] Chapter III. From Town to City. 1880-1890.

[p. 169] 1887

     The year of 1887 was the most phenomenal period in the history of this state. Santa Monica was not behind the other sections of Southern California in the real estate craze that beset the old settlers and the "tenderfoot" alike. In January, L.T. Fisher, the former owner and editor of the Santa Monica Outlook, which has so ably represented the town in its first sunny days, returned to his first love and began the publication of a new series of the Outlook, joining with him T.J. Spencer, an experienced printer. This paper furnished the medium through which the real estate agents of the vicinity made their glowing announcements. One of the first firms to indulge in large capitals and superlative adjectives was that of Tanner & Lewis-R.R. Tanner and "Tom" Lewis, both of whom are well-known in the annals of Santa Monica. They advertised in January "Bargains in Vawter tract, Central addition, Prospect Hill and other localities." On March 3rd a "Great auction sale" of Santa Monica lots offered by the land company took place. Of this sale the Outlook says: "This valuable property will be sold on its merits. There will be no free band, no free lunch, no free ride." In this connection, it continued: "The S.P. rail-[p. 169] way company are daily making three trips between Los Angeles and Santa Monica, which shows the importance of the location. And yet this is a mere beginning. Another party is after a franchise for a dummy road from Los Angeles to the ocean, to pass along the Cahuenga foothills. Another company has organized with a capital of $500,000 to construct an electric railway from Pasadena to the ocean. Their objective point on the coast is not yet announced, but Santa Monica is no doubt the place, as the conditions are favorable to this view. It should also be remembered that large capital is backing the enterprise of constructing an artificial harbor at a point about four miles south of the place. And there is still another improvement in prospect. This is a wharf in front of Santa Monica to be constructed by the Southern Pacific Company." Lots to the amount of $42,000 were disposed of in this sale, which included property from Ocean avenue to Twentieth street, and a few weeks later another auction sale disposed of a still large number of lots at prices ranging nearly double those of the first sale.

     On June 2nd occurred a "grand excursion and auction," with Ben F. Ward orator of the day. This was "East Santa Monica" and prospective visitors were directed to bring their appetites and pocketbooks. The same month the "Santa Fé" tract, with "ocean view, street cars, water, and stone pavement," was put on the market. This included fifty-three acres of land located in South Santa Monica and owned by Tanner & Lewis, purchased from the Vawters for $53,000. The "Wave Crest" and "Ocean Spray" tracts, also in South Santa Monica, were placed on the market about this time. Lots in these divisions brought as high as $1350, which to old settlers in Santa Monica seemed fabulous. But when it is remembered that these various tracts are now the site of Ocean Park district, the figures do not seem out of the way.

     One of the most important deals was the purchase for $55,575 of 247 acres of the Boca de Santa Monica, located on the bluff on the other side of "Old Santa Monica Cañon," by a syndicate of which Abbot Kinney was the moving spirit. It was proposed to make this the "Nob Hill" district of Santa Monica. Streets were laid out, trees planted, the Santa Monica Outlook Railway was organized, with Kinney as president, Patrick Robinson, vice-president, James Bettner secretary and treasurer, to build a steam road from the Southern Pacific depot along the base of the bluff to the mouth of the cañon and up a branch of the Santa Monica cañion to the "heights." Mr. Kinney was at that time secretary of the newly organized state board of forestry and offered to donate a site for a forestry station on the heights. The offer was accepted in November, 1887, $5000 was set aside to be devoted to the experimental station and H. Rowland Lee was sent to take charge of the work.

     By August, the "free lunch-free music" stage of auction sales had been reached, "round-trip fare fifty cents and twenty cars provided" for sales in the Ocean Spray and East Santa Monica tracts. Among other tracts of this [p. 171] time were the Crippen tract, the Arcadia and Van Every's addition, all of which were actively pushed.

     During this year the townsite of Palms was laid out, about five miles inland from Santa Monica, on the line of the Southern Pacific. The town of Sunset also sprang into existence. This was located on the Wolfskill ranch, which had been the old land grant of San José de Buenos Ayres. This tract of 4500 acres had belonged to B.D. Wilson, who in 1865 mortgaged it for $6000. On this loan it passed into the hands of John Wolfskill, who durinig 1887 sold it to a syndicate for $440,000. A townsite and ten-acre tracts were laid out; water was being developed; a large hotel was planned and partially built; even a newspaper was started. The "foothill" line, which was to reach the ocean in the vicinity of Santa Monica cañon, was to cross the tract and a "grand boulevard"-that fair dream which has existed as a dream since the laying out of Santa Monica-was to be constructed from Los Angeles to the ocean, passing through the city of Sunset.

     An improvement which had a more substantial basis and which has been of great advantage to Santa Monica and Southern California, was set under way during the year. This was the location of a branch of the National Home for Disabled Veterans in this vicinity. The board of managers of the institution were on the coast to locate a site for a Pacific branch. They were induced to visit Southern California, where various propositions were laid before them. Judge Walter Van Dyke, acting for Messrs. Jones and Baker and the owners of the Wolfskill tract, offered 600 acres of land in the San Vicente and Buenos Ayres grants, together with other valuable considerations. This proposition was accepted and the announcement was made in November, 1887, that the present site had been selected. The news was received with rejoicing in Santa Monica, which thus became the nearest base for supplies for the home.

     Naturally such rapid advance in real estate values produced a rapid growth in the town and a demand for improvements to correspond. Early in February two applications for franchises to build street car lines were received by the board of trustees, one from O.G. Weiss and others of Los Angeles, the other by W.D. Vawter of Santa Monica. The latter was granted; work was at once begun, and on June 19th the first car ran over the Ocean-avenue line and in the fall the extension was completed, on Utah avenue and Third streets,up Arizona to Seventh and on Seventh to Nevada.

[p. 172 W.I. Hull1908b]

     A franchise was also granted to a company which proposed to establish a gas plant and supply the town. This improvement, however, did not materialize and for years the only gas in the town was that manufactured by a private plant for the Arcadia Hotel, and two or three other private houses. The Ballona and Santa Monica railway was incorporated in 1887 to build a standard-gauge road from Ballona to Santa Monica, its board of directors being M.L. Wicks, J. Bernard, Jr., S.D. Northcutt, James Campbell and others. It was really an [p. 173] off shoot of the Santa Fé and through it, the Santa Fé obtained a right of way through South Santa Monica to a junction with the S.P. on Railroad street. Work was continued during the year on the Ballona harbor project, and it was still hoped that the Santa Fé might make a terminus either at Ballona or Santa Monica.

     Among the buildings of the year, John Steere erected a two-story brick block on the northeast corner of Utah and Third, with a frontage of 50 by 75 feet. The second floor contained a large hall which for many years was known as "Steere's Opera House," and which served as a theater and public meeting place. The older residents of Santa Moica can look back upon many festal occasions enjoyed within and recall the remarkable display of stuffed birds which adorned its walls. Several other business blocks and a number of residences were built during the year. St. Augustine's Episcopal church was erected and the Catholic church at Palms was built.

     The Fourth of July this year was celebrated with a great deal of enthusiasm, a large crowd gathering to witness the proceedings and the Hon. Abbot Kinney delivering the address of the day. The flower festival in Los Angeles was a most pleasing and novel attraction. The Santa Monica booth, prepared by Mr. Tyler, Mrs. Chapin and other ladies of the town, was a representation of Santa Monica, with wharf and ship, made of flowers, and attracted a great deal of attention and praise as the most beautiful exhibit in the festival. In August the Lawn Tennis Association was incorporated and grounds were secured and laid out on Third street. The first tournament of the Southern California Tennis Association took place on these grounds and was a great success, closing with a grand ball at the new opera house.

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[p. 177] Chapter III. From Town to City. 1880-1890.

     The Wharf Fight.-During the eighties the question of a wharf at Santa Monica was considered the most vital one of all that presented themselves. The people, the trustees, the Board of Trade, the contributors to the papers, and above all the editor of the Outlook, discussed this question in all its phases. The Outlook alternated between arguments to prove the necessity and the profits to be accrued from building a wharf; schemes for the building [p. 178] of a wharf and discourses upon the advisability of a harbor, or a breakwater at Santa Monica.

     The first tangible step toward wharf building was the application, in February, 1887, of the Southern Pacific for a franchise to build a wharf at the foot of Railroad street, where the old wharf had stood. This was a direct result of the efforts to establish a "harbor" at Ballona, which were backed by the Santa Fe. But as the harbor of Ballona failed to threaten their San Pedro business, the S.P. application lay dormant. When it became evident that the railroad company would do nothing, more talk followed and in December it was announced that Mr. Bernard, who had still the stump of his wharf, built in '79 at South Santa Monica, had formed a company of capitalists who would rebuild that structure. A committee was sent to San Francisco to interview the railroad people and the Outlook declares: "There is hardly any ground for doubt that we shall have a wharf within the next six months . . . It is one of the anomalies of business that the old Santa Monica wharf was destroyed, not because it didn't pay, but because it did pay. That is to say, it paid the shipper and traveler and would have paid the railroad company had they not been interested at Wilmington and San Pedro."

     " . . .

[p. 246] Chapter VI South Santa Monica and Ocean Park

     . . . 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. George Kintz built the Crystal Springs bath house and plunge during the latter part of '87, and the Ballona and Santa Monica road was incorporated, to build a standard gauge road from the Port of Ballona to Santa Monica, a distance of seven miles. M.L. Wicks, J. Bernard, Jr., and James Campbell were among the incorporators. Work was at this time being pushed on what was fondly hoped to be the terminus of the Santa Fe road at Ballona, and Santa Monica was strong in the hope of a new "transcontinental" line.

     But after the suddden rise in values in 1887 and 1888, came a depression when progress was at a standstill; many of the town lots lapsed into acreage property and there was little sale for acreage even, although the drop in prices was not so noticeable here as in many localities. South Santa Monica, although included as far east as Eighth street in the city boundaries, as adopted in 1886, was still a rural community with scattered residences and dusty roads. The street car line had been extended from Santa Monica to the city limits in 1887, but the service was infrequent and slow.

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[p. 266] Chapter VII Public Institutions

Schools

     [p. 266] 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.

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[p. 269] School Trustees of Santa Monica

1886-87: F.H. Howard, E.J. Vawter, E.K. Chapin (clerk).

1887-88: W.O. Baxter, Geo. D. Pendleton, E.J. Vawter (clerk).

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[p. 291] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica; Catholic Church; Episcopal Church-Saint Augustine-By-The-Sea; Women's Christian Temperance Union

     On Sunday, July 19th, 1887, a move was made for building a more commodious place of worship. On that day Col. Elliott F. Shepherd, proprietor of the New York Mail and Express, and an elder in the Fifth Aveneue Presbyterian church of New York City, happened to be present and hearing that the church intended to build, started the list with a subscription of $230. Encouraged by this beginning, a committee consisting of Mrs. Mary E. Treadwell and Miss Jennie Vawter was soon appointed to canvas the congregation and community. By their energetic efforts sufficient funds were soon subscribed to erect and enclose the new church building. The success of the Santa Monica ladies in taking the first prize at the Floral Festival in Los Angeles, suggested the idea of a Floral Festival at home.

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[p. 292] Chapter VIII. Catholic Church

     . . . In 1887 the statue of Santa Monica was presented to the church by Mrs. Victor Ponet, of Los Angeles. Also this year was built the Catholic church at Ballona, now Palms, [p. 293] St. Augustine's-named for the son of Saint Monica very fittingly, since this mission was an offshoot of Saint Monica's church.

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[p. 296] Chapter VIII. Episcopal Church-Saint Augustine-By-The-Sea

      [p. 296] The corner-stone for a chapel to cost $3,000 was laid with much ceremony on June 10th, 1887, Bishop Wingfield acted for the Bishop of California and there were present beside the Bishop, the Rev. Elias Birdsell, rector of St. Paul's church, Los Angeles; the Rev. A.G.C. Trew, of San Gabriel; the Rev. J.D.H. Browne, rector of All Saints' church, Pasadena; the Rev. J.B. Britton, a retired missionary and the missionary in charge. In 1888, through the successful labors of Mr. Jefferys and the people the new church was opened for divine worship and a large congregation assembled, the preacher being the rector of Pasadena.

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[p. 299] Chapter VIII Women's Christian Temperance Union

     In 1887, the ladies determined to purchase the building which they were occupying and the owner, Mr. John Steere, made them a very reasonable rate, for boom times, putting the price at $2,500 and giving them their own time to pay in, provided the interest was kept up. The women, Mrs. Austin, then president, Mrs. D.B. Hubbell, vice-president and in charge of the library, and Mrs. Richmond, secretary, worked very hard to maintain the undertaking . . .

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[p. 303] Chapter VIII. Grand Army of the Republic

     . . . In June, 1887, Fort Fisher Relief Corps was installed with Mrs. Josephine Baxter, president; Mrs. E. Gaddy and Mrs. Sadie Bennett, vice-presidents; 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, Soldier's 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 Memorial day, and were much missed from the civic organizations.

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[p. 328] Chapter XI Venice of America and Its Founder

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     In 1887, a tract of twenty acres, located on Santa Monica Heights, was donated to the state as a site for a Forestry Experimental Station in this section of the state. The board at once set apart a fund to be devoted to this purpose. Mr. Kinney took a keen interest in the experiments and practical working of this station and made an especially exhaustive study of Eucalypti, the results of which he later published. He was also instrumental in securing the initiation of National Forestry on a practical basis and in procuring the legislation which set aside the forest reserves in California and in establishing the School of Forestry in connection with the University of Southern California. This school gave special attention to the subject of forestry in relation to water-sheds and preservation of forests, with lectures by such men as Abbot Kinney, A.H. Koebig, Henry Hawgood, J.B. Lippincott, T.S. Van Dyke and T.P. Lukens.

     Mr. Kinney is an unusual combination-the practical man of affairs, looking personally to his large interests-and at the same time the student and thinker. He has been an investigator along with many lines of thought and has published several books as the results of his study.

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