The Street Seen: 2302 2nd Street (Mathews)
2302 2nd Street @ Strand St
In 1926, an unusual 2-story residential building is constructed on an irregular lot on the southwest corner of 2nd St and Strand St.
In 1920, J.H. Mathews1 sells2 his Ocean Park Heights3 home and moves to 2219 Main St.4 In 1923, D. O. Storz builds a 4-unit bungalow court on the west end of his Strand St property, and sells the vacant east 50-ft of his property to Mathews.
[1926 to 1949] Mathews
In 1926, Mathews builds5 a 2-story residential building at 2302 2nd St. For 1926 residential Ocean Park, the lot and the building are unusual.
The 32-ft by 46-ft $4,500 building6 is on a small 48-ft by 50-ft lot.7
Although built as a 5-room dwelling, the 2-story structure has the appearance of a commercial building. The structure extends to the property line, with no side yards on 2nd St or Strand St. The stucco-on-wood-frame building has limited windows on the 1st story. A curb cut on 2nd St provides access to an enclosed parking garage.
J.H. Mathews remains at 2302 2nd St until his death in 1949.8
[1950 to 1994] Hempler
In 1950, mid-century artist, sculptor, and freelance designer, Orval Hempler9 acquires the 2302 2nd St property as his residence and studio. By 1964, Hempler also owns the adjacent 214-218 Strand St rental property.
Hempler remains at 2302 2nd St until his death in 1994.
[1996] Current Owner
The current owner10 acquires the 2302 2nd St property for $0.42 MM in 1996.
Joseph Henry Mathews (1865 – 1949). The Mathews family lives in Dayton, OH. By 1910, J.H. Mathews is in Ocean Park and in 1911, in Ocean Park Heights. In 1912, he builds an 8,000 sq-ft, 1-story brick retail store at 2810-2818 Main Street as an income investment property. In 1920, Mathews moves from Ocean Park Heights to 2219 Main St, where he lives until 1927, when he moves to 2302 2nd St. Mathews is a vocal supporter of the 1926 widening of Main St from Hollister to Marine.
In July 1920, the Craigie family, visitors from Detroit, MI, on their first trip to California, are very impressed and buy J.H. Mathews’ Ocean Park Heights house for $12,500. Mr Craigie returns to Detroit to settle up business, leaving his wife and children at the beach until his return.
J.H. Mathews’ father, Patrick Mathews, dies in 1911, leaving a $35,000 estate. The surviving family comes west. J.H. Mathews and his wife, and J.H. Mathews’ mother, Bridget Ann Fitzgibbons, and his sisters Jeanette and Margaret Mathews live in a compound on Mountain View Ave atop Mar Vista Hill. J.H. Mathews’ mother dies at 202 Mountain View Ave, Mar Vista, in 1925.
2219 Main St is the beach home of Annie Campbell, J.H. Mathews’ mother-in-law, who lives here from 1907 to 1919.
Ocean Park Heights is an upscale residential neighborhood atop Mar Vista Hill; believed to be Los Angeles’ first gated (“restricted”) community. Ocean Park Heights adopts its current name, Mar Vista, in 1924, and soon after, incorporates as an independent city. Its incorporation is short-lived. To obtain greater access to Los Angeles’ water supply, Mar Vista annexes to Los Angeles in 1927.
The 1926 building permit for 2302 2nd St lists Mathews as the owner-builder - with no architect.
The property is the east part of Lot 9 of the South Santa Monica Wharf Property of 1887. In 1915, the sidewalk on the south side of Strand St is widened by 2-ft, reducing the lot width from 50-ft to 48-ft. Storz sells the east part of his property to Mathews - resulting in a 48-ft by 50-ft lot for Mathews’ 2302 2nd St property.
J.H. Mathews’ death certificate lists the cause of death as an accident “slipped on linoleum of kitchen floor.” His wife Mary Margaret Campbell (1871 - 1949) also dies in 1949.
Orval Frederick Hempler (1915 - 1994). Born in Kansas, in 1933, Hempler attends the University of Colorado, Boulder, where his watercolors win a scholarship to Paris. In 1945, he moves to Santa Monica and sets up his studio, becoming a freelance designer working in ceramics. From 1946 to 1965, he also designs for Lamps of California.
The current owner of 2302 2nd St also owns the adjacent 214-218 Strand St rental property.