The Street Seen: Alexander Rosborough Fraser (1856-1926)
Ocean Park People
Between 1900 and 1912, A.R. Fraser built numerous improvements in Ocean Park.
Born in Canada, Fraser moves to MI with his family. In 1885, he moves to Los Angeles, and enters the real estate business. He is appointed Secretary of the Street Commissioner’s department and is in charge of the opening and widening of many streets in Los Angeles. In 1900, he joins Los Angeles hotelman G.A. Hart in the profitable subdivision of the Central Beach Tract in Ocean Park.
In 1902, Fraser (with G. Merritt Jones & H. R. Gage) purchase T. H. Dudley’s half interest in the Kinney Ocean Park property. Fraser builds numerous improvements in Ocean Park. In 1903 Fraser builds the Ocean Park Casino, and in 1905 erects the Ocean Park Bath House. In 1904, Fraser purchases the Recreation Gun Club Tract, which has 4000 feet of ocean frontage. In 1906, he builds the Ocean Park Auditorium, the Masonic Temple, and the Decatur Hotel. In 1907, he is responsible for the construction of the thirty feet wide, a mile and a quarter long concrete promenade which joins Ocean Park with Venice.
In 1911 “Fraser’s Million Dollar Pier,” is completed, extending 1000 feet over the ocean and housing a multitude of amusements, including a beautiful dancing pavilion. The pier is destroyed by fire in 1912.