Los Angeles County CA Archives History - Books .....The City Of Ocean Park 1908
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Book Title: Ingersoll's Century History, Santa Monica Bay Cities

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 business 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 investments which have brought about the
change 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 California.

    Much of the earlier history of this section has already been given. A part
of the present city of Ocean Park was included in the original Kinney and Ryan
holdings. All of the land was originally a part of La Ballona grant and had been
owned by the Machados, or their successors. The "Short Line Beach" tract had
been opened up for settlement in 1902. In 1903 the Ocean Park Villa tracts were
put on the market and an addition made to the Short Line Beach, giving it an
ocean frontage of 4150 feet. The rapid settlement of this new territory soon
created a district which must be provided with government, either by
incorporation or annexation to Santa Monica. Early in the spring the talk of
incorporating a new town began to take form and definite plans were made. Steps
were taken during the summer to arrange for a primary school in the district, a
lot being donated for the purpose. The rapidity with which the Short Line Beach
lots were sold and occupied by dwellings; the opening up of Marine street by
Messrs. Vawter and Steele: the occupation of the hills east of the electric
line, added to the desirability of the new corporation. It was generally agreed
that the lines of the new town should extend from the Santa Monica city limits
south to the south line of the Short Line Beach and along Lake street as the
east boundary. At a public meeting held October 8th, the question of
incorporation, or of joining Santa Monica, was thoroughly discussed. At this
meeting the old firm of land owners offered to lend the new municipality money
to conduct its business until its own funds became available. It was estimated
that the cost of carrying on the new city for one year would be $4,100, that the
assessment value of the district was $80,800 which, at a tax rate of 75 cents
would yield an income of $6,100, giving a surplus at the end of the year of
$2,000. It was also stated that insurance rates would be reduced one-third.

    A vote of the sense of the meeting stood 52 for incorporation and 1 against.
The objector, Mr. J. M. Roberts, then changed his vote and it was made
unanimous. A committee of five, Messrs. Henry Lavayea, W. T. Gibbon, A. Ed.
Robinson, Dana Burks and A. R. Fraser, were appointed a committee to circulate
petitions for signatures. The active spirits in this movement proposed to show
to the world a model city. Dana Burks in an interview with the Los Angeles
Times, September 9th, 1903, said: "We propose to make Ocean Park the best
lighted city in the United States. When the lighting system is installed,
steamers passing miles out at sea will have ocular proof of the exact location
of Ocean Park. Pure food regulations will be enforced strictly. Every milkman
will have to "show us" and obtain permit before he can deliver milk in Ocean
Park. A chemist will be regularly employed and regularly paid to make continued
inspection of food products offered for sale in the city. City officials will
serve without pay, and character, ability and proved public-spiritedness will be
the three requisites for election. Politics will be barred absolutely from the
municipal conduct; and with the elimination of spoils, purity of government will
be easier to launch and to maintain. Attempted dishonesty will mean dismissal
and dismissal will entail social ostracism."

    Mr. Plez James was appointed registration clerk and a systematic census of
the proposed incorporated district was taken. It was found that there were 300
houses and 750 inhabitants. Sixty-seven voters were registered. The petitions
received the requisite number of signatures and on November 9th were presented
to the board of supervisors. In the meantime a petition had been presented to
the board of trustees of Santa Monica from property owners residing between
Marine and Rose avenues asking for annexation to the city, and also a petition
favoring such annexation from citizens of Santa Monica. The city limits of Santa
Monica, following the old lines of the Lucas tract, cut northeasterly through
the block between Marine and Navy streets, thus leaving a portion of each lot in
the city and a portion in the county. In accordance with these petitions, the
city of Santa Monica called an election to vote on the question of annexation on
December 14th. The battle over the disputed territory was a warm one. When the
matter came up before the board of supervisors, petitions for annexation and for
incorporation were presented and action was delayed until November 23rd. On
November 12th a protest, signed by 27 residents of the disputed territory was
presented to the board of trustees, requesting that the election for annexation
be not held. The city attorney decided, however, that neither petition nor
protest legally affected the matter so long as 20 per cent of the voters of the
city called for the .election, which was therefore held, and resulted in a vote
of 19 against annexation in the district in question and 11 for, thus settling
the question. Other petitions and protests against being included in the
proposed incorporation, made by the residents of the Short Line tract and by the
L. A.-P. railway, were placed before the board of supervisors and another
adjournment was necessary in order to give all parties a hearing. On December
28th the decision was finally reached and the petition for incorporation
granted, the election being set for February 12th, 1904.

    A change which meant much to the proposed new city took place in January,
1904. This was the dissolution of the Ocean Park Improvement Company by the
division of their property. The company had been composed of Messrs. Kinney,
Fraser, Gage and Jones; Mr. Kinney owning a half interest, Mr. Fraser a
two-fifths interest of the other half, with Messrs. Jones and Gage holding the
balance. By the terms of division Mr. Kinney received complete control of all
unplatted lands of the company south of Navy street, including about 100 lots
between Short Line Beach and Zephyr avenue; also 90 acres of land lying to the
east and south of the clubhouse. This action, together with the sale of the
right of way owned by the Improvement Company through South Santa Monica and of
Mr. Kinney's railway interests to the L. A.-P. Railway Co., considerably changed
the aspect of affairs for the future city. It put an end to the hope for a
competing line; but as a partial compensation the electric company began
building the plank walk and stations, and otherwise improving Trolleyway, thus
giving the district a new street.

    As was expected but a single ticket was put in the field for the election.
This named for trustees, A. Ed. Robinson, Dana Burks, Force Parker, G. M. Jones,
W. T. Gibbon; treasurer, H. Blagge; clerk, T. G. Smith; marshal, W. H. Slack.
Dana Burks was slated for mayor; 56 votes were cast, 52 for incorporation and 2
against, 2 voting for officers but not for incorporation.

    Thus, at last came into existence the city of Ocean Park, which did not
include the territory that had been known as "Ocean Park" since 1894, but was
made up of lands settled within the past eighteen months. It was certainly a
misfortune that the name which distinctly belonged to the old section in South
Santa Monica should have been applied to the new city. The new town, however,
continued to grow rapidly. The undoubted healthfulness of the sands as a place
of residence; the easy and rapid transit to Los Angeles brought many business
men and women to the place; the rapid advance in prices brought many investors,
both small and large; above all the development of Venice, which became a
reality during the year, brought many newcomers. But there were factors which,
naturally enough, brought about dissension and misunderstanding. The fact that
so large a portion of the territory was owned by a single man; that Venice soon
became a city within a city; that the business interests of the new town were
either centered on Pier avenue in Santa Monica, or on Windward avenue in Venice;
that the postoffice, "Ocean Park" was located in South Santa Monica, while the
postoffice of the town of Ocean Park was eventually located in Venice and given
the name of Venice—all of these, and other complications, led to confusion and
conflicting interests.

    At a meeting held on February 23rd, in the Country Club House, the use of
which was donated by Mr. Kinney, the new board organized with Dana Burks as
chairman and elected W. H. Anderson city attorney and W. T. Robinson, recorder.
At this meeting, the Ocean Park Improvement Company presented the new city with
the ocean frontage from Navy street to Horizon avenue, a distance of 4,600 feet,
a gift estimated to be worth $220,000. Messrs. Jones, Fraser and Gage also
presented the new corporation with their interest in the fire system already
established within the district. The new city was furnished quarters for its
officers and public business free of rent, and was financed without interest, by
Mr. Kinney. On April 11th, the city election was held and the same officers were
re-elected, with the exception of the marshal, H. E. Lavayea taking the place of
W. H. Slack.

    One of the first topics which engaged the attention of the town trustees was
the matter of sewage disposal. The part of the town already sewered was
connected with the Santa Monica outfall, by the old contract with Kinney and
Ryan. But it was understood that the city of Santa Monica would demand some
other arrangement, and in fact, notice was received by the Ocean Park trustees
that their sewer connection would be cut off August 1st. Many plans were
discussed and investigated. A sewer farm was proposed, but after study of
conditions was found impracticable; then it was suggested that the sewage of the
entire beach might be carried south to a connection with the Los Angeles
outfall; eventually the septic plant was decided upon and, January 30th, 1905, a
special election was called to vote $20,000 bonds for a sewer system and $5,000
for fire apparatus. April 4th, another special election was held to vote $15,000
additional for sewer system. Still another election was called October 17th,
1906, to vote $20,000 for the completion of the sewer system. At the same time
bonds were voted—$10,000 for engine house and fire-fighting apparatus; $5,000
for city hall and jail and $5,000 for sites for these buildings, and $10,000 for
a garbage incinerator, all of which were carried.

    The necessary mains and the septic tank, with an outfall at Center street
was constructed, and later the outfall was carried out on piling into the ocean.
The destruction of the Santa Monica outfall by the storms of April and May,
1905, resulted in a change in the situation. The Ocean Park sewage was turned
into its own system and the trustees invited Santa Moncia to use their new
septic tank, rather than have the sewage discharged into the ocean at Pier
avenue, to the detriment of that locality. Santa Monica, in spite of complaints
and court orders, continues to use the Ocean Park mains, pending the completion
of her own septic tank. The situation thus created, because of the large amount
of sewage handled and the defective action of the septic tank has been
productive of much trouble and ill feeling.

    The question of liquor licenses also has been a critical one in the brief
annals of Ocean Park. On June 2ist, 1904, a high license ordinance was passed
and for some time the only license granted was for a wholesale house. Later
licenses were granted for various restaurants and bars. The opening of the
various concessions at Venice and especially on "the Midway" in 1906, gave rise
to much discussion and uncertainty as to the business licenses and this too has
proved a difficult subject for the city to handle.

    In August, 1904, the city of Ocean Park voted $10,000 for school purposes. A
school district had already been formed, and the county superintendent appointed
as a temporary board, Mrs. M. de Luna, Mrs. Frank A. Werner and A. R. French.
The school census of the spring showed 207 children. The first school was opened
in the fall in two tent-houses on the Country Club grounds. Considerable
difficulty was found by .the first regular school board in securing a suitable
location for the school-house. Values were now so high in Ocean Park that any
desirable site was beyond the means of the board. Land was finally obtained from
Mr. Kinney and in September, a contract was let for a two-story, seven-room
building. It was sufficiently completed to be dedicated with elaborate
ceremonies in January, 1905; but another bond issue of $10,000 was necessary to
complete the building. It is a handsome, modern structure completely equipped
for grade work. In the spring of 1907 a tract of five acres of land, adjoining
the school grounds, was donated for the use of the school and the children were
encouraged to engage in gardening. A skilled gardener was engaged by Mr. Kinney
to instruct them and the school gardens thus established promise to become an
important part of the school curriculum. Prizes are given the children for the
best results and much interest has been aroused in the subject of gardening
among the children and their parents as well.

    One of the most important improvements of 1904 was the building of the Ocean
Park Bath House. A stock company was formed by T. H. Dudley, G. M. Jones, J. F.
Mullen, A. Ed. Robinson and Force Parker, with a stock of $150,000. A site
between Marine and Navy was first selected, but later the location was moved
south to the block between Navy and Ozone, thus bringing the building entirely
within Ocean Park. The structure was of concrete and was, when completed in
1905, the finest bath house on the Pacific coast.

    In May, Messrs. Fraser and Jones purchased from the Recreation Gun Club a
tract of land with 4,200 feet of ocean frontage and extending back 1,200 feet
from the shore. Through it ran an extension of the Playa del Rev lagoon. The
price paid for the property was $135,000. This tide land, when purchased by the
Gun Club, was considered utterly worthless and had continued to be considered a
bad investment until the time of the sale. In June, 1905, the Guaranty Realty
Company purchased this tract, paying for it somewhere in the neighborhood of
$300,000, it was reported. The tract was platted and in a single day, Monday,
June 19th, $308,600 worth of property was sold, making a record-breaking pace in
this summer of wonder developments. As an example of the phenomenal rise in
values caused by the creation of Venice, the Venice Gateway tract may be cited.
In 1893 John Metcalf purchased 55 acres of marsh, lying to the east of the tract
on which Venice was located, for $3,000. During the summer of 1905 this land was
platted and put on the market as the Venice Gateway tract. In a few weeks 175
lots were sold for $200,000, while the value of the entire tract was estimated
at half a million.

    Among the improvements of the year, aside from the city of Venice, were the
Horseshoe pier at Marine and Pier avenues, the new seaside theatre and the
Masonic Temple on Marine avenue. In July it was estimated that the assessed
valuation of property in the new town would reach one million. The Times says:
"There are altogether, at this writing, 1,200 homes in Ocean Park and many
others are being built. The original buildings are being constantly replaced by
fine modern houses of the most approved type, and many of them are occupied the
year round by business men of Los Angeles, as Ocean Park is one of the nearest
beaches to the city, lying less than fifteen miles from town and reached in
forty minutes by electric car."

    By the annexation of various subdivisions during the year of 1905 Ocean Park
nearly doubled its area and its assessment roll, in January, 1906, was figured
at $4,000,000. Up to this time $85,000 in bonds had been voted for school and
sewers. A bond issue voted October 17th included funds for city hall, jail and
fire house also. The Speedway had been paved with asphaltum for more than a
mile, at a cost of about $30,000, and many other street improvements had been
made. The lagoon had been completed from Venice to Playa del Rev. thus giving a
waterway between the two resorts.

    The year of 1906 was not marked by such precipitate and unprecedented
advances; but it showed a solid growth and a strengthening of the lines all
along the beach. One of the first matters given attention was the protection of
the shore along the Short Line Beach. An election was called to vote bonds for
bulkheads, but the bonds did not carry and eventually Mr. Kinney advanced money
to build a temporary protection for the property menaced. About $10,000 was
expended in building a bulkhead south of Venice, and then to protect this a
system of jetties was put in. A sand pump was also used to fill in back of the
bulkhead and still further protect the beach. About 3,000 feet of bulkhead was
built altogether.

    In January the Ocean Park postoffice was removed to the new Masonic building
on Marine avenue, after a strong protest had been made by citizens of South
Santa Monica. It was still in the municipality of Santa Monica, however, and the
necessity of some other arrangement for Ocean Park led to the establishment of a
postoffice on Windward avenue, with the name of Venice. Robert M. Granger was
the first postmaster. During the year the agitation for free delivery was
continued. The postoffice inspector at one time recommended that the Ocean Park
office be made the main office with sub-stations at Venice and Santa Monica, and
free delivery for the entire bay district. This plan met with strong opposition
both in Santa Monica and Venice and was not carried out. In December it was
announced that C. E. Lovelace, editor of the Ocean Park Journal, had been
appointed as postmaster for Ocean Park in place of Meigs, the incumbent.

    The sewage question continued to disturb the peace of mind of both Santa
Monica and Ocean Park citizens, while the failure of the septic tank to
deodorize the sewage disturbed the nostrils—and the minds—of many Ocean Park
citizens. Suits were begun by the Ocean Park trustees against the Santa Monica
trustees to compel them to disconnect their, mains; suit was begun by citizens
of Ocean Park against their own trustees for permitting such a nuisance. The
result was, of course, bad feeling and hard words.

    The location of the city hall and public buildings 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 Kinney Company and
finally the breach was so widened that it was proposed to disincorporate 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 3Oth, 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 preceding 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.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: 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.

Los Angeles: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)


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