Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals), 1908, 1908a, 1897
[p. 182] Chapter III. From Town to City. 1880-1890.
. . . [p. 182] During his [Juan J./John Carrillo] service on the board of trustees he accomplished much toward securing improved roads and streets. Old citizens have not forgotten the long and weary fight he made to secure the road to Calabasas in January, 1897. After his retirement from the council he served two years as superintendent of streets, from 1904 to 1906.
He was married, October 7th, 1869, to Miss Francisca [p. 183] Roldan, a woman of great beauty of character and person. She died in Los Angeles, March 2nd, 1897, and her funeral here in Santa Monca was a rare testimonial of the love and respect which were felt for her and her family.
[p. 183] Mr. and Mrs. Carrillo had 13 children . . .
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[p. 251] Chapter VI South Santa Monica and Ocean Park
May 3rd, 1897 witnessed a serious loss to Ocean Park in the burning of the Y.M.C.A. auditorium, a large two-story building, which had cost about $3,000 when erected in 1893. This was a misfortune as plans had already been made for the most elaborate exercises yet held by the Y.M.C.A. assembly during the coming season. The loss was complete as there was no water to save the property, after the fire, which was evidently incendiary, was discovered. There was no insurance; but Mr. Day, president of the Ocean Park Company, was equal to the occasion. He at once set about securing new quarters and in August the University Assembly, with a full program of excellent speakers and music was successfully carried out. Among the speakers were Bishop Fallows, of New York, and Professor Syle, of the State University. Miss Ida Benfey gave a number of dramatic readings and a series of brilliant . . . concerts were presented. Their summer guests appeared to find the attractions of the surf and the military encampment, the tennis court and polo races greater than such a feast of reason and culture and the assembly was not a financial success.
In May the new City Water Company turned the water into a mile and a half of mains, the water coming from two wells and being stored in a 50,000 gallon tank. Thus, at last, the South Side hills had an adequate water supply and a chance at fire protection. The electric light sytem was also extended to Ocean Park this year and added to the metropolitan claims of the new resort. Many new buildings, including several stores, a ten-room house erected by Mrs. Bernard, forty or more beach cottages were added this year.
Ocean Park had now become ambitious. She had grown so rapidly and attained such distinction that the citizens felt themselves entitled to every advantage enjoyed by the "other side." The South Santa Monica Municipal [p. 252] League was organized to "promote all measures that will benefit the city; to encourage all improvements, both public and private, to oppose saloons and direputable places in South Santa Monica," etc. A Ladies' Mutual Benefit Association was also organized, its main object being to build a hall for public meetings and use, a lot having been donated by Kinney and Ryan for this purpose. All of these efforts added to the natural advantages offered and the spirit of enterprise which had been shown in developing what had seemed an almost worthless territory, brought about a development that became one of the phenomena of the times.
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[p. 267] Chapter VII Public Institutions
Schools
. . . [p. 267] September 5th, 1897, bonds to the amount of $15,000 were voted for a high school building, although in April of the same year a proposition to vote $12,000 for the same purpose was lost, chiefly because it was felt that the sum was not enough to build a suitable building on the lots already secured at Tenth and Oregon. The contract for the building was let to H.X. Goetz . . .
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[p. 269] School Trustees of Santa Monica
1896-97: R.P. Elliot, S.F. Carpenter, Fred H. Taft (Clerk).
1897-98: R.P. Elliot, S.F. Carpenter, F.H. Taft (Clerk).
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[p. 282] Newspapers
". . . In 1897, Eugene Day was editor and proprietor [of the Signal [1896-1898]]. The paper continued to exist until May, 1898, when it passed out of existence finally.
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[p. 288] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: Methodist Church
" In 1897-98 Rev. R.C. Wuestenberg was pastor and the membership was increased to 150, while the Sunday school numbered from 250-270.
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[p. 329] Chapter XI Venice of America and Its Founder
. . . In 1897 [Abbot Kinney] was appointed by Governor Budd as one of the Yosemite Park Commission, which made sweeping reforms in the conditions which had nearly destroyed the pleasure of a visit to this wonder of the world. In all of his public work, Mr. Kinney has shown a broad public spirit and devotion to the general good.