Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals), 1908, 1908a, 1901
[p. 212] Chapter V. Expansion. 1900-1908.
In 1901, the Board of Trustees modified the restaurant license so that it merely required "something to eat," with the liquor. This, of course, led to the service of the timeworn cracker and, it is claimed, that the cracker box alone was considered sufficient in many cases.
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[p. 215] But when the matter [city charter reform] came to the test of the polls, January 16th, 1901, it was found that the interest was small compared with its importance, 353 votes being cast, of which 171 were for and 178 against, the re-organization plan being lost by seven votes. " . . .
[p. 216] 1901
The more progressive citizens of Santa Monica were not satisfied to allow the matter of re-organizing the city government drop. They felt that the best interests of the city demanded that the town be divided into wards which would allow each district to select its own representative in the council. The new charter would also permit the organization of a board of education which could exercise powers not vested in the trustees of the district. A new petition for an election was prepared and presented to the Board of Trustees February 4th, with a guarantee from the signers that the expenses of the election would be met by private subscription. The trustees, after due deliberation and examination of the legal aspects of the case, refused to grant the petition. The movers for a new charter were not discourageed however. They continued the agitation and in April organized a Good Government League, to look to municipal matters, with F.H. Rindge, president; N.H. Hamilton, 1st vice-president; W.S. Vawter, 2nd vice-president; Fred H. Taft, 3rd vice-president; C.I.D. Moore, secretary and J.C. Steele, treasurer. Mr. Rindge, who despite his many interests spared neither time nor energy in forwarding any movement for the public good, took an active part in this organization, which kept a sharp eye upon the restaurant liquor licenses, that had been granted, as well as carrying on an educational campaign among the citizens on the subject of public improvements. A petition asking for a re-submission of the question of saloons or no saloons was received by the trustees in March; but was not acted upon and although, there was a good deal of discussion of the subject, the trustees seemed [p. 217] to feel that the restaurant license permitting the sale of liquor with meals-which had rapidly degenerated to empty cracker boxes, was the most satisfactory arrangement to be made.
[p. 217 City Hall, Santa Monica, 1908b ]
The matter of voting bonds for a city hall continued to be discussed. There was also great need of a new bridge on Ocean Avenue in place of Bridge No. 1, as it was known. This had become imperative as this street was the main thoroughfare between the North and South ends of town. Storm drains were also greatly needed, and after one or two mass meetings, in which matters were fully discussed and it was shown that the large tax payers of the city were all in favor of these improvements, an election was called for November 19th to vote on the question of issuing bonds in the sum of $25.000 for Bridge No. 1; $10,000 for Bridge No. 2; $29,000 for storm drains, and $35,000 for City Hall and Jail. At this election the bonds for town hall and bridge No. 1 were carried, the others defeated.
The Board of Trustees at once called for bids for a site for the public building and was flooded with offers. They spent some very strenuous hours before finally determining on the lots at the corner of Oregon and Fourth. The South Side felt that since it must pay taxes for this improvement, it should at least be as near them as possible. The question of town division was still a live one. The marvelous growth made during the year 1901 at Ocean Park was putting the division of Santa Monica in the front rank in importance and the old rivalry between the two sections was enhanced in many minds by the [p. 219] growing wealth and many improvements of the "sand hills." The South Side had voted almost solidly against all improvements, because of the desire to have its own town organization.
[p. 218, N.H. Hamilton, M.D., 1908b]
[p. 219] A strong effort was made to secure the city hall for the corner of Third and Utah street, where a site was offered by Roy Jones for $12,000. The businessmen of the place generally endorsed this site and offered to guarantee that it should cost the city but $7,000. The matter was hotly contested by the citizens and the trustees seemed to be hopelessly divided in opinion-or interests. In February 1902 Roy Jones withdrew his offer of sites and thus removed the corner at Third and Utah from consideration. Still the board could come to no decision and a straw vote was called for to decide what site would best please the voters. Condemnation proceedings to secure the property at Third and Utah were talked of and the fight waxed hotter than ever. A majority of 68 out of 441 votes cast was for Lots V. W. and X., of Block 196, being the southeast corner of Third and Utah at the price of $6,500. At the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, it was reported that the chosen site could not be secured at any price, except by condemnation proceedings, which meant long and expensive litigation, therefore the Board by a vote of three to two, selected the site of Fourth and Oregon, offered by J.C. Crosier for $4,800. Although there was much dissatisfaction over the result, it was final and steps were taken at once to proceed with the building, the bonds having already been sold to the Oakland Bank of Savings at a premium of $3,000.
Among the more important improvements of the year on the North Side was the building of the long looked for Auditorium, in connection with the North Beach Bath house. The cost was about $7,000 and it gave a large room for public meetings. It was opened by an entertainment given by the newly organized Y.M.C.A. and was then taken possession of by a Vaudeville troop which made a brilliant failure and soon vanished. The people of Santa Monica seem always to have been able to provide their own entertainments and an outside attraction must be very unusual indeed to draw any large number of Santa Monicans from their own homes and amusements.
The Academy of the Holy Names, established by the "Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary," was completed and dedicated February 22nd. It was a handsome two and a half story building, beautifully finished and furnished and was dedicated with elaborate ceremonies, including a public parade and testimonials from the city officials and citizens generally of Santa Monica.
At South Santa Monica, or Ocean Park, the Los Angeles Times estimates that the improvements for the year amounted to $232,555, including the new power house of the electric line, costing $25,000; the Holborow Hotel, $10,000, the Casino, $10,000, waterworks and other improvements of Kinney and Dudley, $18,500 and 207 other building.
Among the notable events of this year was the visit of President McKinley [p. 220] to the Soldiers' Home, at which time the citizens of Santa Monica aided in the reception which was there given him. And on September 20th, 1901 the people of this city held Memorial services in honor of the president whom they had so warmly welcomed. All business was suspended and the mourning was general. One of the incidents of this occasion was the services of the newly formed Spanish Society, which had arranged for an elaborate celebration on September 16th, the Mexican Fourth of July, but changed their program to a Memorial service, after which they burned the murderer in effigy.
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[p. 255] Chapter VI South Santa Monica and Ocean Park
1901.
The growth of "Ocean Park" as the district extending from Azure street, now Hollister avenue, along the beach to the south beyond the city limits of Santa Monica, had progressed by leaps and bounds since 1898. But the development of 1901 and the two or three succeeding years threw all previous records of beach development into the shade. Ocean Park, started as a gathering place for the Y.M.C.A. and kindred societies; a quiet colony of summer homes, occupied by people of moderate means, for the most part, suddenly became the most popular and fashionable beach resort in Southern California. And with equally surprising suddenness it developed into a bustling business town, having stores, hotels, banks and newspapers and all the necessary commercial facilities for a community of several thousand inhabitants.
The extension of the electric line south of Hill street and the erection of a power house south of the city limits were indications of the southward trend of improvements. The pushing forward of this work, of course, was followed by rapid settling up of the territory thus opened up. The electric line was completed to a point one mile south of Second and Hill streets on April 30th. In August it became known that the Los Angeles-Pacific had acquired a new and more direct right of way between Los Angeles and Ocean Park. They had purchased the old right of way abandoned by the Santa Fe Railroad company, and begun the construction of a double track via Palms. This, with the new cut-off by way of Rosedale cemetary, would considerably shorten the time between the city and this beach.
Messrs. Kinney and Dudley had already extended their beach walk some distance south of Pier avenue and had provided electric lights, water and sewer [p. 256] system for this new district. The beautiful beach, the opportunity to build almost within reach of the ocean spray, the convenient trolley service, and the fine class of people who had already located here; as well as the fishing, bathing and amusements offered, attracted residents and visitors. While the rapid increase in the value of property attracted investors, both little and big. Many people who had leased or bought merely for a beach home during the summer found themselves unexpectedly enriched by the changed conditions, and immediately re-invested their gains. Many capitalists were also attracted by the chance to make quick money. By the first of March more than fifty lots in the new Short Line Beach tract had been sold and a number of buildings were under way.
One of the most important improvements of this year was the Club House built just north of the golf links, laid out the year before. This building, 50 by 80 feet, with a ten-foot veranda below and a roof veranda was put up by Messrs. Kinney and Dudley. Some $15,000 was spent on the building and the improvements in the tennis courts, golf links and race course and the place was made an ideal home for a country club. The Ocean Park Country Club was organized by Messrs. Kinney, Dudley and H.M. Grindley as directors. They at once planned a week's sports for August and in that month a successful tennis tournament, and polo races and golf tournament attracted a large number of visitors and participants.
In April, Messrs. Hart and Fraser reported that only three lots of the Central Beach tract, put on the market in the fall, were left, and that $85,000 had been expended in buildings erected on this tract. Among those locating here were Mr. G.A. Hart, Mr. A.R. Fraser, Judge R.B. Stevens, W.D. Winston, J.R. Newberry, A. Lichtenberger, William Hammel, and other business men of Los Angeles, many of whom built permanent houses here.
The Ocean Wave tract, south of Central Beach, was offered for sale in March by Messrs. Kinney and Dudley and was all sold out in less than a month. South Second street was paved and sidewalked during the year and several new business blocks put up on Second street-this still being the business center of Ocean Park. Pier avenue was surveyed and graded from the railroad tracks to the ocean front and the lots offered for sale. In October a two-story frame building, with two store rooms below, was put up, the second building on this street. About July 1st, it was announced that Abner Ross, a Los Angeles capitalist, would build a seventy-room hotel on Pier avenue. This substantial two-story building, which was long the principal hotel of Ocean Park, was erected in just twenty-four days from the time work began. Early in August it was opened to the public under the management of J.G. Holborow and wife, who furnished it and gave it the name. This building was later known as the Metropole and is now the Hotel Savoy. It was estimated that over 200 cottages were built [p. 257] on the sand during the year, the building expenditures reaching $118,691, excluding the hotel and the Casino; $18,500 was expended in improving the water system, and at least $25,000 was paid out for improvements by the L.A.-P. railway.
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[p. 269] Chapter VII Public Institutions
Schools
[p. 269] Beside the public schools, the Academy of the Holy Names, under the care of the Sisters, was established in 1899. The beautiful building occupied by this school was dedicated February 22, 1901.
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[p. 269] School Trustees of Santa Monica
1900-01: S.F. Carpenter, F.K, Rindge, D.G. Holt (Clerk)
1901-02: S.F. Carpenter, F.K. Rindge, D.G. Holt (Clerk).
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[p. 284, 1901 1900s] Public Institutions
Board of Trade-Chamber of Commerce-Improvement Club-Board of Trade
The Outlook of September 6th, 1901, announces: "Santa Monica is well on the road looking to be an efficient organization of business men and other representative citizens. The ball was started rolling last evening when a largely attended meeting was held in the town hall for the purpose of organizing a [p. 285] Board of Trade." The organization was completed on September 24th when A. Mooser was elected president; W.I. Hull, vice-president; Fred H. Taft, secretary; W. Lee Chambers, treasurer; O.G. Tullis, J.H. Jackson, B. Sues, George D. Snyder and A. Montgomery, were the executive committee. The question of bonds on civic improvement; of a sanitarium, and various subjects of public interest were brought before the public by the efforts of the Board of Trade; but it seems soon to have lost its grip.
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[p. 288] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: Methodist Church; Catholic Church
. . . [p. 288] [Methodist Church] Rev. J.C. Healy served during 1901 to 1903. During his term the parsonage was completed, a neat cottage which was a decided addition to the advantages of the [South Santa Monica] church.
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[p. 293] Chapter VIII Catholic Church
February 22, 1901, witnessed the dedication of the new [Catholic Church] buiding. This was an impressive ceremony and the occasion is one that will long live in the memory of the participants and witnesses. The civic services were the finest ever held in Santa Monica. Under the management of the grand marshal, J.J. Carrillo and his fifty aides, richly caprisoned as Spanish cabelleros, the parade was viewed in front of the academy. It consisted of a number of old soldiers from the Soldier's Home; a float representing all the states and territories; two brass bands; nine societies from Los Angeles; Santa Monica Board of Trustees and fire department, and the children from the academy, the Ballona, Santa Monica and Canyon Sunday schools. As General La Grange, and the city officials, escorting the clergy, left their carriages the home band played "patriotic songs and the cannon of the Soldier's Home boomed, while the flag unfurled and spilled the fragrant roses hidden within its folds." The mayor of Los Angeles welcomed the guests; Right Reverend Bishop Montgomery delivered the oration. Thus was the school inaugurated in its beautiful home.
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