Les Storrs Santa Monica Portrait of a City Yesterday and Today, Santa Monica Bank: Santa Monica, CA, 1974, 67 pp., 1889
"By 1889 that (the Veterans' Administratration) facility was rapidly taking form, and this gave a tremendous boost to Santa Monica's first industry, the making of common bricks and other clay products.
"Much of the brick used in the construction of the home was provided by two enterprising Santa Monicans, Sam Cripe and C.F. Geltner, whose kiln was considered to be a model of efficiency.
"[1889] The year had begun with the total loss of the Santa Monica Hotel, a wood building which stood not far from the railroad station. Insufficient water supply was blamed for the fact that the fire of Janurary 15 of that year resulted in a total loss.
P.2 [Photo caption: "These buildings at Ocean and Railroad (Colorado) Avenue were the early pride of Santa Monica. Built by Jones and Baker as the Santa Monica Hotel in 1875, they burned to the ground in 1889. Sign "Santa Monica Hotel".]