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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Ocean Park, Santa Monica, California
Ocean Park is a Santa Monica neighborhood of Santa Monica, California within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California, United States.

History

Developer Abbot Kinney and Francis G. Ryan, of the firm Kinney & Ryan, acquired the deed to the coastal strip previously purchased by W. D. Vawter and named the area Ocean Park in May 1895. It became their first amusement park and residential project. A horse-racing track, pier and golf course were built near the Ocean Park Casino. Kinney convinced the Santa Fe Railroad to extend its Inglewood line north to his resort. When his partner Francis Ryan died in October 1898, his widow's new husband, Thomas H. Dudley, sold their half interest to a group of men known as Fraser, Gage and Merritt Jones. Kinney focused on the south end of the property, which he made into Venice of America. The Ocean Park post office was opened in July 1889 and the Ocean Park Fire Company in February 1900. In March 1902, the Ocean Park bank was organized by Thomas H. Dudley, Abbot Kinney, Martin Dudley and Plez James.

Ocean Park Branch Library

Ocean Park Branch library, an original Carnegie library.

In December 1916, the commissioners of Santa Monica selected the site for the Ocean Park branch Carnegie library at 2601 Main Street. The library was funded by a $12,500 grant from the Carnegie Corporation. The library was completed on February 15, 1918 when it was opened to the public. The library is one of the remaining pieces of the Carnegie legacy in Southern California. During World War II, the basement of the library was converted to a Young People's room for teens. It served as a temporary United Service Organizations (USO) location during the war. The city Landmarks Commission designated it as a Santa Monica historic landmark on May 3, 1977.

On March 27, 1943, the Aragon Ballroom opened for business. The Aragon Ballroom was on Lick Pier in the Ocean Park district. It was destroyed by fire on May 26, 1970.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ingersoll, Luther A. (2008). Ingersoll's Century History, Santa Monica Bay Cities. pp. 250–252. ISBN 978-1-4086-2367-1.
  2. ^ "Public Library for Ocean Park". Evening Vanguard. Venice, California. 9 Dec 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  3. ^ "100 Years of History at Ocean Park Library". smmirror.com. Ocean Park, California. 18 Feb 2019. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  4. ^ "Aragon Ballroom Opens March 27". Evening Vanguard. Venice, California. 19 Mar 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
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