Los Angeles County CA Archives History - Books .....Sawtelle 1908
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Book Title: Ingersoll's Century History, Santa Monica Bay Cities

CHAPTER XIII.

SAWTELLE.

THE lands now included in the thriving town of Sawtelle were originally a part
of the San Vicente grant. Traces of the old adobe homes of the Sepulvedas: the
two springs because of which the name of Santa Monica was bestowed, and of the
old burial ground of San Vicente rancho are found here. When, in 1896, Messrs.
Sherman and Clark acquired the old Los Angeles and Pacific right of way and
proposed to build an electric line to the beach, they asked the citizens of
Santa Monica and the Jones and Baker interests for a cash subsidy to aid them in
the work. In response to this request, Messrs. Jones ard Baker donated to the
company a tract of 225 acres, now included in the townsite of Sawtelle. Mr.
Sherman soon offered to sell the land for cash as he said he couldn't build a
railroad with land. Messrs. R. F. Jones and R. C. Gillis purchased this tract,
which lay just south of the Soldier's Home. Up to that time there had been no
settlers on this land, the only building being a shack at the railroad crossing
which was known as Castle Garden. Messrs. Jones and Gillis considered the
possibility of selling this land in small tracts to old soldiers and finally
secured from the management of the Home permission for members to build houses
and reside outside of the reservation without losing their membership in the Home.

    In 1896, Rev. S. H. Taft, who had had past experience in building up a town,
having been the original proprietor of the beautiful town of Humboldt, Iowa and
the founder and first president of the College of Humboldt. located in that
town, was invited to inspect the land of the Pacific Land Company. He gave it as
his opinion that it would-be quite possible to develop a thriving •community
here, provided water could be obtained. The company was already putting down
wells and was successful in obtaining a fine flow of water from two wells. They
put up a 50,000 gallon tank and began to lay pipes and grade streets. In
February, 1897, the company asked Mr. Taft to take charge of the new enterprise
upon a commission basis. Mr. Taft consented to do so upon three conditions,—1st.
That the company should fix a maximum and minimum price upon all lots and
acreage in the plat surveyed; and leave him at liberty to sell within the limits
named. 2nd. That he should have absolute control of all sales and that no other
parties should be given authority to make sales; in case of the company selling
lands he to receive his commission on same. 3rd, That his control of the
enterprise should continue for five years.

    Under this agreement Mr. Taft assumed charge and at once began the erection
of a cottage and office and the transformation of a barley field into a town.
The original plat embraced between two and three hundred acres, unbroken by any
road except the electric line. The first work was to make a crossing at Fourth
street and a little later to secure the co-operation of Governor Smith of the
Soldier's Home in opening up Fourth street from the Home buildings through the
town plat and also the consent of the San Vicente grant owners to continue the
road to the public road from Santa Monica to Los Angeles, thus giving a new and
better road than had previously been available to the Home grounds. Trees were
set out along Fourth street and other streets were graded and planted with
ornamental trees.

    The office of the company was opened in "Lawn cottage," May 1st, 1897 and
almost immediately Mr. Laird completed a building on the block purchased
by him at the corner of Oregon and Fourth, the first lots sold on the new town
site. Mr. Laird opened here the first grocery store in the settlement.

    Mr. Taft at once took steps to secure a school district. He found in the
fall of '97 that there were thirteen children of school age, but the law
required fifteen before a district could be formed. Matters came to a standstill
until Mr. Taft accidentally learned of a bee keeper who had a ranch about two
miles north of the Soldier's Home. He at once drove up to the bee ranch and to
his delight found that the bee man had four children of the necessary age. The
next day Mr. Taft went before the supervisors with his petition and early in
1898 a new school district was set aside and named Barrett district, after Gen.
A. W. Barrett, for many years local manager of the Home and an old friend of Mr.
R. C. Gillis. A site was selected for a school house and an acre of ground for
school purposes was purchased of the company for $150.00. During the summer a
school house, 10 by 12 feet in size was erected on the east side of Fourth
street and in September, 1898, the first school was opened, with Miss Goldsmith
as teacher and with.five pupils. Mr. Taft had also begun correspondence to
secure a post office for the new town. The postal authorities expressed a
willingness to establish the post office but objected to the name "Barrett" on
account of its similarity to Bassett. Mr. W. E. Sawtelle had lately become
interested in the town and his name was suggested: he consented to its use and
it was sent on to the authorities who accepted it. This led to the change of
name of the school district and town to Sawtelle.

    May 25th, 1899, the editor of the Outlook, after a visit to Barrett Villa,
writes:

    "Barrett is yet an infant in age, it being but twelve months since its lots
were placed upon the market. But it is a stalwart youth in development and
strength. It has several miles of neatly graded streets lined with young palms
and other varieties of beautiful trees. It has a church, a model school house, a
town hall, a nobby little depot and many beautiful cottages surrounded by well
kept grounds.

    "Barrett is on the electric car line fifteen miles from Los Angeles and
about three miles from Santa Monica. A spur of the Southern Pacific system
extending to the Home, touches its eastern limits.

    "It lies three miles from The Palms and five miles from Ballona. Broad and
fertile fields lie around it in all directions, and a few miles away is the
Sierre Madre range of mountains with its towering cliffs, its rugged gulches and
its beautiful canyons. Invigorating ocean breezes tempered by a sweep over the
land, give it an irreproachable all the year climate. A broad extent of ocean is
visible in one direction, and the city of Los Angeles is in view on the opposite
side. Underlying strata at a depth of about 70 feet furnish an inexhausitable
supply of pure soft water. The surface soil is perfectly adapted to the growth
of the lemon and the deciduous fruits, all ornamental trees that adorn Southern
California, small fruits, flowering shrubs and plants of every variety, lawns,
and garden vegetables.

    "Barrett's many advantages are easily set forth. They are:

    "Its beautiful location: its accessibility and low rates of fare either from
city' or seashore; it pure water supply: its adaptability to vegetable growth of
every character; its school and church privileges.

    "The moderate price asked for building sites and acreage and the liberal
terms of payment granted; its peculiar and unequaled climatic advantages: its
proximity to one of the most interesting National institutions—the Veteran's
Home, with its 2000 members. Several prominent citizens both of Los Angeles and
Santa Monica have already purchased lots here and will at once begin
improvements upon them. Among these is Mr. Sawtelle of the latter place, who has
already beautified a block on one of the principal streets."

    The Pacific Land Company had fixed the prices for land at from $80 to $100
for inside lots; $150 to $200 for comer lots and acreage from $150 to $200. A
considerable number of old soldiers availed themselves of these prices to obtain
lots or acreage, many of them buying on the installment plan and paying as their
pension money came in. It was noticeable that some men who had hitherto
squandered their money in dissipation now purchased land and became valuable
citizens. Many families of veterans and widows also secured little homes here.
Mr. Taft wrote a series of articles for the press setting forth the
opportunities offered in the new settlement for obtaining homes and also sent
out many circulars which attracted attention. As the town has-grown and
increased in population, values have also increased very rapidly. Many of the
original settlers have now disappeared, having sold out to advantage, or lost
their holdings. The town was within the mile and a half limit for saloons
imposed by the government for the Soldiers' Home, therefore no saloons could be
legally maintained within it. This was also an inducement to early settlers.
During 1899 a school house was built on the land purchased for the school at a
cost of $600. This original building is included in the present building, which
has been erected at different times as the room was required. July 4th, 1899,
the name of the town was formally changed to Sawtelle. At the same time a flag
was raised on a sixty foot pole, erected in the park, which was given the name
of Gillis park. A school bell which had been purchased by the contributions of
the Pacific Land Company and many citizens and soldiers, was put in place and
rung for the first time.

    The electric people had erected a neat depot and the Holiness church had
secured a building on lots at the corner of Second street and Indiana avenue; a
number of cottages had been erected and several stores had been opened: among
the first merchants were Mr. Shull of the Shull Hardware store; F. B. McComas;
Farley Brothers and Wyant, who built Wyant hall.

    During 1899 Mr. W. E. Sawtelle became interested in the Pacific Land Company
and in 1900 he superseded Mr. Taft as manager of the company and has since been
the chief spirit in the various improvements and the steady advance made by the
town of Sawtelle.

    At the beginning of 1901 about one hundred families had located within the
limits of the new town and ten new houses were then in course of construction.
Two churches, the Holiness and the Free Methodist had been organized and the
Holiness people had secured lots and erected a chapel. The town had a full
complement of business houses and the volume of business was surprisingly large.
During the year several new blocks were laid out and many sidewalks were laid,
streets graded and other improvements made. In February, 1901, the Pacific
Veteran-Enterprise, was founded by Mr. A. A. Bynon, who later sold the plant to
Mr. Fitzgerald. In April, 1902, Miss Susie Pierson Miller became the editor, a
position which she still fills.

    The fact that water could be obtained almost anywhere in the vicinity of the
town by putting down a well and that the soil was fertile and easily worked,
made it possible for purchasers of acreage, or even of lots, to raise garden
stuff, potatoes, small fruits, and so on, to advantage; while every house is
surrounded by flowers and shrubbery. The raising of beans has proved most
profitable. Almost every property owner in the vicinity of Sawtelle finds it
possible to make a living at least, off from a very small tract of land. This
has been the chief reason for the rapid settlement of this locality. The Lindsey
tract of 100 acres, the Pacific Farms tract and later the Artesian tract have
been added to the original town site of Sawtelle, thus largely increasing its
acreage. In 1902 the population was estimated at 500 and more school room became
necessary. Bonds to the amount of $4,500 were voted for an addition to the
building.

    In 1903 The Pacific Land Company built a two story brick building which
contained several stores. In March, the Santa Monica Bank opened its Sawtelle
branch in one of these rooms under the management of Mr. Schuyler Cole. The
Sawtelle Water Company was incorporated this year with W. E. Sawtelle. W. T.
Gillis, J. E. Miles, B. A. Xebeker and A. M. Jameson as directors.

    1904 opened with a sensational bank robbery and a destructive fire which, on
January 27th swept away several buildings on Fourth street. This year C. B.
Irvine started the Sawtelle Sentinel, an enterprising weekly, which is now
published by Henry Schultz. The town was now well supplied with religious
organizations, the Baptist, Methodist, Christian and Seventh Day Adventists
having formed churches. A Women's Christian Temperance Union, and a number of
Lodges and Orders had organizations also. The town had now acquired such a
population and importance that its citizens began to discuss the propriety of
incorporation. Fire protection was needed and some better method of controlling
the influx of gamblers and "blind pigs" which had followed Santa Monica's house
cleaning efforts. The matter was discussed for more than a year before any
decisive action was taken. The Sawtelle Improvement Association was formed
during the year and took an active part in the effort to secure incorporation.
At a mass meeting held January 6th, 1905, W. B. B. Taylor, S. H. Taft, O. W.
Jewett, Henry Schulz and others urged the matter. The question came to vote on
August 15th, 1905 and was lost by a vote of 79 for to 130 against. A good deal
of feeling and excitement arose over the result. It was proposed that Sawtelle
seek annexation with Santa Monica, since she would not establish an adequate
government of her own. Petitions to this effect were circulated and the idea was
discussed by the Improvement Association; but nothing further came of the
proposition.

    In 1906 the question of incorporation was again opened. Sawtelle now had a
population of 1500 and the necessity for a better form of government was
pressing. After a public meeting where the pros and cons were fully Discussed,
officers for the new town were nominated and on November i6th, 1906 another vote
was taken which resulted 241 votes for incorporation and 58 against it. The
trustees chosen were C. J. Nellis, chairman; E. E. Mudge, F. C. Langdon, J. E.
Osburne and A. J. Stoner; clerk, Leroy Fallis; treasurer, George W. Wiseman;
marshal, J. P. Keener; W. B. B. Taylor was appointed city attorney and O. W.
Jewett was appointed city recorder. The incorporation included a territory a
mile square and extending to the town limits of Santa Monica on the west. The
new government has not been able to entirely satisfy all and there has been talk
among the dis-satisfied of dis-incorporation; but this is merely talk and the
town will continue to advance—not retrograde.

    During 1906 Mr. F. E. Bundy erected a handsome two-story brick building on
Oregon avenue and several other business blocks were added. The Citizens State
Bank was established in 1906, its officers being R. F. McClellan, president; W.
E. Sawtelle, vice-president; H. W. Crane, cashier; directors, R. F. McClellan,
L. D. Loomis, J. L. Brady, D. L. Allen. Many pretty residences were built and
the town made rapid advance. The opening up of the Westgate section and the
building of the Westgate branch of the electric line brought rapid development
in that direction.

    Naturally the location of Sawtelle in close proximity to the Soldiers' Home
has been an important factor in its substantial growth. As the nearest business
point a portion of large sums annually distributed as pensions is spent among
its business houses, and the traffic and trade of the veterans and their friends
has formed a solid basis for the prosperity of the town, which now numbers about
2,000 inhabitants.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

    November 5th, 1901 a meeting was held in Wyant's hall for the purpose of
organizing a Baptist church in Sawtelle. After prayer by Rev. E. K. Cooper, a
veteran, A. A. Bynon was elected chairman and T. RT Gabel, clerk. Sixteen?,
persons then enrolled their names as members. Arrangements were at once made for
the first service, which was held in Wyant's hall, Sunday morning, November
loth, Rev. George Taylor of Pasadena, officiating, and preaching to an
interested congregation. The following Sunday the first converts, Mr. and Mrs.
J. W. Cox were baptized, this being the first time the ordinance was
administered. On December 1st permanent organization was effected and Rev.
George Taylor became the pastor in charge. A. H. Wyant and S. S. Sprague were
the first deacons and A. A. Bynon, J. W. Cox, F. Peaslee, W. E. Haskins, J. B.
Goff, were the first trustees. The first church clerk, T. R. Gabel, was then
postmaster and station agent of the Los Angeles-Pacific road. His efficient
services in the early history of the church were of great value. His promotion
to the position of general manager of the electric road, removed a valuable
member from this church. May 8th, 1902, the organization was incorporated and.
immediately purchased lots on the corner of Sixth street and Oregon avenue. On
July 4th, 1902, Pastor Taylor hauled the first load of brick for the
foundation-from Inglewood in his buggy. Work was at once begun upon the
structure which was completed and dedicated during the years.

    The church has steadily increased in strength and membership under the
services of Rev. Taylor who is assisted ably by his wife and son, W. B. B.
Taylor. The present membership of the church is 144, of whom 26 have been
received by baptism.

PALMS.

    Palms is located five miles east of Santa Monica on land formerly a part of
La Ballona grant. In early days this section was used as grazing land for sheep
and cattle by the Machados. After the building of the Los Angeles and
Independence railway a section house was located here which was known as
"Grasshopper station." In the seventies the store of Saenz & Higuera was
established at what is now First and Washington streets, Palms, and was known as
the "Half-way house." Here a postoffice known as Machado was located for many
years. This was the first business and is now the oldest business establishment
of Palms. Mr. Saenz purchased a considerable tract of land in the vicinity and
was one of the first ranchers of the neighborhood. Other ranchers who located
here in the later seventies or early eighties were Isaac Beyer, and George Rose,
son of Anderson Rose, who was the first American settler on La Ballona and was,
for many years, an extensive rancher, carrying on a large dairy farm and raising
blooded stock. Enoch Griffin, George Charnock, Mrs. Eliza Hoke, Gilbert Kidson,
Professor J. M. Coyner and other farmers located in this vicinity in the
eighties. With the approach of the toom other lands were sold to newcomers and
in 1887 Messrs. E. H. Sweetser and Joseph Curtis bought a tract of 560 acres and
at once laid out the townsite of "Palms." They began making improvements and a
local paper describes the situation thus:

    "The local of this paper the other day had a look at the 'Palms,' an
incipient town on the line of the S. P. road, some five miles from Santa Monica.
It is no longer a misnomer as the proprietors have planted two large palms near
the depot and some 160 plants on the various driveways. A force is grading the
streets and we are told that it is the intention to plant all the avenues with
shade trees of various kinds. The large reservoir which holds 150,000 gallons,
is completed and a prospect hole has been sunk to test the water supply beneath
the ground. A large quantity of water has been found and a well 6 by 10 feet
will be dug, so as to place the pump near the water. A large steam pump will
make it easy to lift the water up to the reservoir, which is placed on an
elevation, from which there will be good pressure over the entire townsite.
Quite a lot of property has been sold, and six houses, including a store room,
have been built."

    A very lively real estate campaign followed. The Woman's Ballona Company was
organized in May, 1888, to buy, improve and sell lands of the Palms district,
the directors being Mrs. Ella L. Baxter, Miss Florence Dunham, Florence A.
Barnes, Mrs. Jane Pascoe and Mrs. Isabel Cook, all of Los Angeles. They had a
capital stock of $14,400, but nothing is said of the amount actually paid in.
Another woman's organization which was ambitious for those days was the "Woman's
Palms Syndicate," which proposed to acquire, improve and sell certain lands in
Palms and which numbered among its directors some well-known Los Angeles women
of the time.

    Messrs. Sweetzer and Curtis were more successful in their promotion than
many of the boomers of that day. They struck an abundant supply of water and the
soil of the lands included in the townsite was responsive to water and labor.
Mr. Curtis erected a handsome home which was soon surrounded by beautiful
grounds. A school district was formed and a $10,000 school house was put up. A
neat hotel, known for years as Palms Villa was built. This building is now the
residence of Mr. E. M. Kimball. St. Augustin's, a pretty Catholic chapel, had
been put up in 1887 to accommodate the people of Ballona; a Congregational
church was built and the United Brethren erected a neat little church. The
Southern Pacific added a neat depot for the thriving little settlement. Although
the collapse of the boom retarded the growth of Palms, it did not cease to
exist, like many other communities.

    In 1895 considerable improvement was made in the quiet little town by the
erection of several new residences and an influx of new residents. About this
time a rural delivery route was started out from Palms. One of the first agents
was Mrs. George Lyons, who worked up a fine route. She was succeeded by A. F.
Bryant who extended the delivery system until it covered a route of twenty-five
miles with a list of 800 patrons. The extension of Los Angeles city boundaries
has materially affected the territory of the Palms postoffice, however.

    The building of a branch of the Los Angeles-Pacific road through Palms in
1902 gave new life to the town. Within a short time twenty new families had
moved in and since that date progress has been rapid. The Palms Light and Water
Company was incorporated with W. R. Wheat. C. N. Garey, M. R. King, A. J.
Forbel, F. B. Clark, Jr., J. B. Valla, E. S. Shanks, as directors, and purchased
a tract of 379 acresr to furnish a water supply for domestic purposes and for
irrigation. During 1501, F. E. Schueddig had begun on a small scale the
manufacture of eucalyptus oil and produced a triple distilled article which was
unequalled on the market. In 1906 he put up a new building for his manufactory,
which is now shipping eucalyptus products to all parts of the United States.

    The year 1907 has been marked by a strong advance, a re-awakening, as it
were, of the quiet village. Early in January a Chamber of Commerce was organized
with C. N. Gary, president; S. C. Perrine, secretary; Arthur J. Stinton,
treasurer. January 22nd was a memorable day because of the banquet tendered the
new organization by C. N. Gary, at the ship hotel, Cabrillo, Venice. One hundred
and seventy-two men sat down to the feast and listened to stirring talk on the
future development of Palms. The Palms News, a neatly printed and lively sheet,
sent out its first number December 22, 1906, S. C. Perrine and W. G. Rennie,
proprietors. The paper is now printed in the establishment of King, Geach & Co.,
which is doing a large job printing business. A neat one-story brick building
has been erected for this company and is now occupied by them as a printing
plant. In August a branch of the Citizens State Bank of Sawtelle was opened in
Palms, located first in the office of I. C. Butler, but on the completion of a
handsome two-story brick building by the Woodmen of the World, the bank moved
into a corner room especially arranged for its use. The building contains a
fraternal hall and two store rooms beside a number of offices upstairs. Several
other business buildings and a number of residences have been erected since the
beginning of 1906.


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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