Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals) Prefaced with A Brief History of the State of California A Condensed History of Los Angeles County 1542 to 1908 Supplemented with An Encyclopedia of Local Biography and Embellished with Views of Historic Landmarks and Portraits of Representative People. Luther A. Ingersoll Los Angeles 1908, 512 pp., 1908, 1908a, 1908b, 1907
[p. 237] Chapter V. Expansion. 1900-1908, 2007
During 1906 the garbage incinerator was completed for Santa Monica and various mains were constructed in preparation for the erection of a septic tank. But a suitable location for the septic tank and outfall system could not be found. The entire community was canvassed; innumerable suggestions were made by the citizens, the council and by outsiders; but no solution of the matter that promised to satisfy all was reached until September, 1907 when the board of trade presented a plan, which was adopted by the council and which promises to be a complete success. This was, in brief, the building of a substantial pier at the foot of Colorado street; the location of a septic tank and pumping plant at the shore end of the wharf and the discharge of the outfall at the extremity, 1700 feet from the shore. This plan met with approval all around and was ratified by the voting of $160,000 bonds for carrying it out September 30th, 1907. Bids have been called for and the work will be pushed on the completion of the system as rapidly as possible.
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[p. 241] 1907.
The most important advance of the year has been the final action in the matter of sewage disposal. After long agitation a plan which seemed to the majority to be feasible and desirable was suggested and on September 30th bonds to the amount of $150,000 were voted for the building of a 1700-foot pier at the foot of Colorado avenue which will carry the outfall sewer pipe from the septic tank at the foot of Colorado avenue. A number of other improvements will follow the completion of this wharf. During the year building permits to the amount of $250,000 were granted. These included the $10,000 addition to the M.E. Church; a new garbage incinerator, the new postoffice building and many private residences. The Santa Monica Development Company is engaged in the construction of a large reservoir, for impounding additional water for the city supply, in Sepulveda cañon. It will have a capacity of about two million gallons and will cost $75,000. An independent gas company has been organized and promises to become a factor in the situation. The demand for real estate, while not so active as during the previous years, has been steady and property in "old Santa Monica" continues steadily to increase in desirability.
[p. 242 A.F. Johnston, 1908b]
The city of Santa Monica, after passing through many stages of development, is now a clean, well ordered, and most attractive place of residence. At present it has no hotel, no first-class restaurant and offers few attractions to the transient, or the crowd; but it draws a constantly increasing number of perma- [p. 243] nent residents of the better class; while attractive cottages and apartments are filled by the people who wish to pass a restful season at the beach.
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1) [p. 243] Annual Assessment of City of Santa Monica, 1887-1907, 1908a
1907 $7,886,310.00
Photo: Santa Monica School District Board of Education, 1907, p. 264, 1908, 1908a, 1908b, 1907
H.M. Rebok, Superintendent of Schools; D.G. Holt, President; J.D. Blanchard; E.V. Dales; H.J. Engelbreacht; W.R. Snyder; R.M. Miller, Secretary of the Board, 1908, 1908a, 1908b, 1907
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[p. 267] Chapter VII Public Institutions
Schools
The Santa Monica schools are now fully equipped for effective service. Fifty teachers are employed and the attendance for 1907-8 will surpass all previous years. The number of children of school age in May, 1907, was 2,499.
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[p. 270] 1907 Santa Monica City Board of Education,
W.E, Devore, A.B. Clapp, E.V. Dales, D.G. Holt, and W.S. Vawter
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[p. 270] Supervising Principals of Santa Monica Schools:
1902-07: D.A. Eckert (superintendent).
1907- : Horace Rebok (superintendent).
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[p. 283] PostOffices
. . . in 1907 a building was erected especially to accomodate the [Santa Monica] postoffice and has been equipped with every convenience for the postoffice force and for the public.
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[p. 286, 1906-07], 1900s Board of Trade-Chamber of Commerce-Improvement Club-Board of Trade-Chamber of Commerce-Santa Monica Municipal League-Santa Monica Board of Trade
Much valuable work for the good of Santa Monica was accomplished during the new year of 1906-07. One of the most important moves was the effort made to secure free mail delivery and the promise finally secured that such delivery would be provided for as soon as arrangements could be completed. Attention of the department was also drawn to the inadequate accomodations furnished the Santa Monica postoffice and the result has been the securing of new and ample quarters. Another important step was the action of the board, in recommending that Santa Monica merchants withdraw their business from the L.A.P. road until that company granted a five-cent fare within the city limits. Largely through the action of this body, the fine system of lighting Ocean avenue was adopted. But the most important work of the organization was in connection with the sewer problem. It secured and presented the plan of disposal which has finally been adopted and which it is confidently believed will settle for all time this troublesome subject which has disturbed the peace of mind of the community for many years.
At the third annual meeting held in October, 1907, Mr. Hull declined to be re-elected, and J.J. Seymour was chosen as president, R. Fogel was elected vice-president, and W.K. Cowan, treasurer.
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[p. 288] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: Methodist Church; First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica; Santa Monica Lodge No. 906, B.P.O.E.; Grand Army of the Republic
[p.281] [First Methodist Church, 1908b]
[p. 288] Now, in 1907, the Methodist church has a membership of 240, while the Sunday school reaches 350. So rapid has been the growth of the church and congregation that the church of ten years ago is inadequate and an addition which will more than double the seating capacity of the structure is in course of erection.
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[p. 292] First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica
In the summer of 1907 a fine pipe organ was placed in the church as a memorial gift from Mr. Joseph H. Clark to the memory of his son, Edward H. Clark. It was built by the Estey Company and was installed at a cost of $2,600.
The following ministers have served the church since 1875 as pastors, or as stated supplies: I.M. Condit, H.V. Noyes, John W. Ellis, H. Mackay, Thos. F. Fotheringham, Williel O. Thompson, J.W. Healy, Richmond Logan, James White, Samuel H. Weller, Enos P. Baker, J.B. Stewart, William R. Henderson, O.F. Wisner, Amos A. Randall, Henry P. Wilber. The following have served as ruling elders: G.H. Clark, J.C. Olmstead, Geo.A. Armstrong, William E. Case, H.H. Dow, George D. Rowan, Andrew J. Viele, John M. Coyner, James E. Ward, C.S. Dales, Clarkson N, Guyer, T.H. Wells, H,J. White, T.E, Cramer
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[p. 300] Chapter VIII. Women's Club of Santa Monica
. . . During 1907 they [the Women's Club of Santa Monica] voted a scholarship fund to be used in keeping a bright girl who otherwise must have given up school, in the high school of Santa Monica. Surely a more practical and beautiful service could not be found. As will be seen this club has done most effective work in benefitting the community, as well as furnishing its members with much intellectual and social pleasure and development.
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[p. 301] At the annual meeting of 1907, Mrs. A.M. Jamison, who had served most efficiently as president for two years, declined a re-election and Miss Charlena Welch was chosen as president.
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[p. 301] Chapter VIII. Santa Monica Lodge No. 906, B.P.O.E.
On April 12th, 1907, the Santa Monica Lodge of Elks was organized as Santa Monica Lodge No. 906, B.P.O.E., the Los Angeles Lodge to the number of 300 coming down to initiate the new lodge. After the ceremonies of initiation 400 Elks sat down to a banquet in the old Pavilion, which was one of the most memorable affairs of the many that took place in the old building. The first officers of the lodge were: First Exalted Ruler, Brother W.T. Gillis; Esteemed Leading Knight, Robert F. Jones; Esteemed Loyal Knight, T.H. Dudley; Esteemed Lecturing Knight, G.F. Doty; treasurer, J. Euclid Miles; secretary, J.B. Proctor; Tyler, H.I. Pritchard; trustees, H.G. Englebrecht, C.M. Linder, E.S. Tomblin.
The first lodge rooms of the Elks were located over the Santa Monica bank . . . Soon after the organization of the lodge it acquired the property on the corner of Ocean and Arizona avenues, formerly the home of Mrs. Doria Jones, of Los Angeles, one of the most commodious family residences in Santa Monica. This was altered and refitted as a club house for the use of the members of the Elks Lodge and is one of the pleasantest and cosiest club houses in the country.
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[p. 303] Chapter VIII. Grand Army of the Republic
[p. 302, Maj. Robert Dollard, 1908b]
On May 20th, 1907, a number of old soldiers met and resolved to form a new post, to be known as the Stephen Jackson Post, No. 191. The post commander of this organization is Robert Dollard; senior vice-commander, A.N. Archer; junior vice-commander, David Johnson; chaplain, T.B. Fisher; quartermaster, S.D. Hayes; officer of the day, J.W. Bowlden; officer of the guard, J.N. Lewis; adjutant, H.C. Towner. Chartered members, George Young, J.L. Ferguson, Thomas Gilroy, W.W.R. Mattox, A.G. Ford, S.A. Wheeler, C.L. Wells, James P. Rutledge, L.M. Pence, M.D. Gage, C.W. Loving, D.W. Collis, J.M. McGlinch, Loyal L. Case, I.J. Lucas, Ed. Forbes, J. Teach, J.O. Hodgson, Peter Mardy (deceased), J.A. Greenslaw, G.W. Heimer, R. P. Elliott, A. Lockridge, E.R. Kennedy, W.W. Woodruff, A. Felix Gandy, George Pulham, James Stone.
Ladies' Grand Army Circle was organized as Fremont Circle, No. 37, Department of California and Nevada, 104. Mrs. Mamie Young, president; Mrs. S.A. Wheeler, vice-president; Mrs. Zoe Phyfer, treasurer.
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[p. 317] Chapter X. The City of Ocean Park
The history of the town of Ocean Park with Venice of America, both now less than three years old, is a modern business romance-a romance of fair dreams and marvelous fulfillments; of great ambitions and of saddening failures; of wonderful growth in wealth and population and of bitter contests of strong men with strong men. Many of the events in this brief history partake of the comedy nature; there are elements of tragedy in the story, too-of fortunes made and lost, of high hopes disappointed. There are signs of promise also, a city built upon sand-and yet planted upon a solid foundation of prosperity and steady growth.
It scarcely seems credible, even to those who have seen the transformation going on before their eyes, that the ground now occupied by beautiful homes and handsome building blocks was, less than six years ago, a barren waste, looked upon as practically useless for building or for any other purpose. The energy, the large conceptions and the large investment which have brought about the changes have rarely been equalled-even in this land of commercial wonders. A rise in values within five years from a few dollars an acre to $15,000 for a twenty-foot lot is not often recorded even in Califonia.
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[p. 323, Ocean Park City Hall, 1908b]
[p. 324] The location of the city hall and public buildlings was another topic which led to discord. After the bonds had been voted for this purpose, Abbot Kinney offered a site on Windward avenue. Another site, containing several lots, was offered free of cost on the Venice Gateway tract, at a considerable distance from the business section of the town. The latter site was finally accepted and the trustees put the entire bond issue into the construction of a public building here, although many citizens objected strenuously on account of the inconvenience of the location. Other differences of opinion arose between the city trustees and the Venice interests owned by the Abbot Kinnney Company and finally the breach was so widened that it was proposed to disincoporate the town of Ocean Park and make a fresh start. After a hotly waged contest, in which every resource of each side was taxed to its utmost, a disincorporation election was finally called for September 30th, 1907. At that election the vote stood 202 for disincorporation to 176 against, lacking 60 votes of the requisite two-thirds majority. As a result of this election and the fight preceeding it, many damage suits for libel were filed and promises of future disincorporation were freely made. It was suggested that Venice might ultimately become an annex of Los Angeles. There was talk, too, of a greater Santa Monica, which should be made up of Santa Monica, Ocean Park and Venice united as a happy family in one corporation. But such an iridescent dream was received with smiles by most residents of the beach.
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[p. 334, 1907] Chapter XI Venice of America and Its Founder
In January, 1907 the Venice Chamber of Commerce was organized with Dr. John Stanwood as president; J.G. French first vice-president; David Evans, second vice-president; Lewis Bradt, secretary and R.A. Dullugge, treasurer. The directors were Abbot Kinney, J.D. Simpson, Dr. J.B. Sands, H.C. Mayes, F.E. Reid, R.A. Phillips, Henry Wildey. This organization has since its formation taken an active part in everything pertaining to the welfare of Venice. It has been especially concerned in furthering Mr. Kinney's plans for a deep-sea harbor. The Venice harbor will be the nearest to Los Angeles, the least costly to build, the easiest to enter and to leave, and the safest from storm of any on the Pacific Coast. The plans have been approved by the government and it is expected that they will be carried out in the near future. The Chamber of Commerce took a leading part in the effor for disincorporation; in securing the Polytechnic High School, and in many other ways it has worked for the advancement of the community. At its second annual meeting, the officers chosen were Dr. J.A. Stanwood, president; J.G. French, first vice-president; H.P. Eakins, second vice-president; W.A. Rennie, secretary; R.A. Dullugge, treasurer. The executive committee consists of Abbot Kinney, H. Wickizer, H.C. Mayes, Dr. J.M. White, T.R. Taylor, C.A. Stavenow.