Jeffrey Stanton Founding of Ocean Park, Web Document, April 6, 1998, 1898, 1895, 1890s
"The community was renamed Ocean Park in May 1895. The community grew slowly until there were nearly 150 cottages by spring 1898. That year proved to be a boom year as several new business buildings and forty beach cottages were constructed. Kinney's new 40 acre Ocean Park race track and golf links located near their Casino Country Club at southern end of the property opened.
"The city of Santa Monica on June 30, 1898 granted Kinney and Ryan permission to build a 1250 foot long pier at Pier Avenue on pilings already being used to carry the city's 200 foot long outfall sewer. The pier served two purposes; to protect and extend the sewage pipes seaward so the currents wouldn't pollute their property south of it, and as a pleasure wharf for tourists and fishermen. The pier was completed in less than six weeks.
"Francis Ryan [ -1898] didn't live much longer to enjoy their success. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in October. His widow quickly remarried and Kinney suddenly had a new partner. Thomas Dudley was a Santa Monica businessman and politician who was elected as a Trustee the following year [1899]."