Les Storrs Santa Monica Portrait of a City Yesterday and Today, Santa Monica Bank: Santa Monica, CA, 1974, 67 pp., 1910-1900
Chapter Three: Nineteen Hundred Through World War I
[Photo caption, p. 14: "Even in this photo, taken from the then existing pier, the Arcadia Hotel looks like the wooden fire trap that it was (undated and unburnt)"; p. 15, "Panoramic view from the Arcadia Hotel, looking almost due north toward present central business district of Santa Monica. Landscaped [note the palm trees] area in foreground was on the grounds of the hotel, Ocean Avenue frontage. About the turn of centrury.]
Pp. 8, 9 [Photos and Captions: Early 1900s Topanga Canyon Stage Coach]
[Photo of Second and Arizona, Winter, 1900, show trees two and three story tall.]
"Around the turn of the century [1900], Santa Monica was beginning to consider itself to be a city rather than a town . . .
" . . . still . . . [Southern Pacific was transferring cargos to Los Angeles].
"Population by 1890 had reached no less than 1,580, according to the U.S. Census of that year, and by 1900 it had risen to 3,057. This signal growth gave rise to a move for a new system of government; a number of citizens, of whom Frederick H. Rindge was a leader and strong financial backer, felt that Santa Monica had gained a reputation as a "tough" community, largely by reason of the saloons which clustered about Utah Avenue.
"Rindge became chairman of a citizen committee which proposed to outlaw saloons and reincorporate Santa Monica as a city of the fifth class under the general law.
"Of this Ingersoll [1908] had some pithy comments:
"Santa Monica," he wrote, "had always been a 'wide open' town and while its citizens were just as respectable and law-abiding as those of any other beach town, the place had undoubtedly always been the favorite resort of the sporting element of Los Angeles. The proximity of the Soldiers' Home also made it the scene of the 'old boys' license, when pension money was plentiful."
"The word 'sporting' did not mean, as far as Ingersoll was concerned great interest in outdoor sports.
"A vigorous fight ensued, but the Board of Trustees prepared an ordinance which was submitted to the electorate and which placed the town in the dry ranks, but not until Rindge offered to pay the city an amount equal to that which would be lost in saloon license fees. A man of his word he duly handed his check for $2,500 to the trustees, after the vote was counted. The tally was 305 to 218 in favor of this ordinance.
"The word 'dry' was however, a matter of relativity, for three restaurants were licensed to sell liquor by the drink but with meals only, it being required that such meals must cost at least 25 cents exclusively of the drinks; one store was authorized to sell alcoholic beverages in the original containers.
"The saloon forces did not take this lying down, although the same could not be said of the customers of the package store, and it is recorded that Erminio Gamberi, a man well remembered by the writer, was convicted and fined $175 for serving liquor without the formality of an accompanying sandwich, and in addition, his license was revoked.
"One Rudolph Hopf was also arrested, but unfortunately became insolvent before he could be brought to trial. Moved, perhaps by sympathy, the courts acquitted him.
"Meanwhile, the Trustees moved to restore Santa Monica's reputation as a fun town, and they amended the ordinance, even though it had been voted by the people.
"They eliminated the requirement that the meal should cost at least 25 cents, and merely required that food accompany the drink. It was reported that one soda cracker was considered adequate by many a saloon keeper, and that in some cases the empty cracker box alone was provided.
"Such chicanery, quite understandably, infuriated the dry forces, led by Rindge, the churches, and the W.C.T.U. An attempt was made to adopt what was known as "The Long Beach Ordinace," but it lost, 287 for, 544 against.
"'Restaurant' and 'buffet' licenses thereafter were granted with no restriction. According to Ingersoll, the total effect was that the number of bistros was considerably reduced from the previous dozen or more, but it appears that ample provision was made for the thirsty folk of the little town and their visitors.
"When results of the U.S. Census of 1900 became known, the effort was launched to reincorporate as a fifth class city, there being a requirement that to qualify, a city must have at least 3,000 population.
"The Trustees held that the population had shrunk below that level; proponents of the change insisted that the law required that latest census figures be used for qualification. A Good Government League was formed, with Rindge as chairman, and pressure was directed against the trustees, who thereupon ordered their own head count . . . they arrived at a population figure of 2,717.
"The Good Government League accused the trustees of making an inadequate count, and set about making another. They provided a figure of 3,260. The election was held, and the vote was 231 to 118 for the new regime.
"No sooner had this become known than H.X. Goetz sought an injunction to enjoin the Trustees from canvassing the vote and to declare the election illegal. The Trustees retained Fred H. Taft and the courts sustained the legality of the election, but the new government did not become effective until 1903, the court having ruled on February 10, 1902.
"In that year, the citizens elected a new Board of Trustees, consisting of Thomas H. Dudley, H.X. Goetz, A.F. Johnston, John C. Steere and W. S. Vawter. J.C. Hemingway was chosen as city clerk, C.S. Dales, assessor, Frank W. Vogel, treasurer, A.M. Guidinger recorder, Max K. Baretto, marshal, and Fred H. Taft, city attorney. All offices were filled by general election rather than appointment, except that the Trustees themselves chose their president, or mayor, and Dudley was the man."
"A colorful figure, he [Dudley] was to remain a major power in Santa Monica for many years to come. Handsome and charming, his influence was great in the political affairs of the city and in financial circles. He also gained a wide and probably deserved reputation as a "lady killer," as the slang of the day put it, and as a man about town.
"In 1903 the city fathers purchased the property at the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Oregon Avenue, now occupied by a parking lot and the annex to Campbell's, for $4,800, amid considerable public criticism . . . a new City Hall opened for business on the property in 1903, and it served the city for some 35 years [1903-1938].
"Apparently the people of Santa Monica felt that the state laws governing cities of the fifth class were too restrictive for a special census was ordered in a move to qualify the city for a Freeholder's charter, the law requiring a population of at least 3,500. On May 15, 1905, the census was completed . . . no less than 7,208 residents . . . counted.
"On October 18, a Board of Freeholders was duly elected, with no substantial opposition. Members were Dudley, C.A. Stilson, George D. Snyder, R.R, Tanner, George H. Hutton, H.X. Goetz, W.I. Hull, A.M. Jamison, W.S. Vawter, Robert, F. Jones, D.G. Holt, B.A. Nebeker, E.J. Vawter, Roy Jones and A.N, Archer.
" . . . Roy Jones was the son of the Senator, George H. Hutton the Senator's attorney. The latter became nationally known after he became a judge of the superior court, and was the trial judge in the case of The People vs. Clarence Darrow, a cause celebre which arose out of Darrow's actions as a defense counsel in the trial of the McNamara brothers for the dynamiting of the Los Angeles Times building. Robert F. Jones also was related to the Senator (a nephew) and was president and cashier of the Bank of Santa Monica.
"The charter which was prepared by the Board of Freeholders was adopted in an election held March 28, 1906, the vote being 376 for and 183 against."
" . . .
"Before many years had passed, the old Southern Pacific line, which followed the alignment of the present freight tracks in the industrial area and terminated near the present civic center, had become the Airline route of the Pacific Electric.
"Street car service existed on the whole length of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard, along the base of the bluff to the Long Wharf after steam trains were withdrawn, along the whole length of Ocean Avenue and thence south along the present Neilson Way and Pacific Street to Venice, Playa del Rey and the south bay communities. Service was also provided via the Venice Shortline, which terminated at Ocean Avenue and Broadway, and local cars operated on Broadway, Third Street, Montana Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard.
" . . . population increased rapidly, both by the influx of new residents and by annexations.
"Many of the new residents were either English or of English descent, and they brought with them a keen interest in tennis, polo, and, on occasion, cricket.
"They aslo demanded, and got, an excellent school system, a system which by 1906 was considered to be one of the best in the county [Los Angeles County]."
" . . .
"Among the major annexations which took place was the absorption by Santa Monica of the once separate town of Ocean Park, which had incorporated as the result of an election February 12, 1904. The vote was 52 for, 2 against.
"Ocean Park did not, however, last long as a separate municipality, for it voted to disincorporate in 1907, and before long was annexed by Santa Monica.
"Another improtant annexation was described by Ingersoll as "the uninhabited territory known as the 'Palisades.'" This also occurred in 1906.
"The Freeholders' charter set up a system, usual in those days, whereby each ward elected a councilman, and there were seven wards, covering the various parts of the city. The first council under this form of government consisted of George D. Snyder, R.W. Armstrong, Abe S, Reel, H.L. Coffman, J. Euclid Miles, Roscoe H. Dow, and Alf Morris, president.
". . .
"By 1900, thriving congregations of Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Baptists were active in the community. . ."
" . . . one of the first churches established in Santa Monica was the First Presbyterian . . in which the Vawter family played a leading role. [Beginning in 1875] . . . the church building was erected at Third and Arizona in 1876. The Rev. I.M. Condit was the first minister.
" . . . the Methodist congregation, the First Methodist Church was dedicated February 3, 1876.
Pp. 22, 23 [Photo caption: "Gentlefolk of Santa Monica centered their social activities about the Casino, a building made possible by Sen. John P. Jones. The photo shows a tea party, c. 1901."
" . . . Episcopal services were held as early as Easter, 1876, but regular services did not begin until 1885, and the first building was erected by St. Augustine's on the property it now occupies in 1887. The Rev. Henry Scott Jeffreys was missionary in charge . . .
"Roman Catholics had their first Mass in Santa Monica in 1877, . . . August 18, 1885 . . . the first St. Monica's dedicated . . . in downtown Santa Monica. Father Patrick Hawe was pastor . . .
" . . . the Sisters of the Holy Names established the Academy of Holy Names . . . dedicated February 22, 1901 . . . at the corner of Third Street and Arizona Avenue. St. Clement's, Ocean Park, was dedicated May 8, 1904, with Father Michael Hennesy in charge.
" . . . the Baptist faith . . . 1903, when the Rev. L.A. Gould became their first pastor.
" . . .
" . . . the charter was duly adopted, and the Councilmen elected from each of the seven wards supplanted the trustees who had served when Santa Monica was a city of the fifth class. For years, Thomas H. Dudley thereafter was the people's choice for mayor, and G.A. Murray . . . the city clerk . . . Roscoe Dow and George Synder [sic] were frequently on the rolls of the city council."
" . . .
"Unfortunately, this [the outfall, which was near Pier Avenue] was destroyed by a storm, and many problems ensued, so that the outfall ultimately was located under the present site of the Municipal Pier, at the foot of Colorado Avenue. This was the case from 1909 until the city of Santa Monica joined the city of Los Angeles in funding the Hyperion plant, now in use [1974]."