Between 1900 and 1912, A.R. Fraser built numerous improvements in Ocean Park.
Born in Canada, moved to MI with his family. In 1885 he moved to Los Angeles, and entered the real estate business. He was appointed Secretary of the Street Commissioner’s department, which had charge of the opening and widening of many streets in Los Angeles. He continued this work, in addition to his own business, until 1900, when he went to Ocean Park.
For fifteen years the Santa Fe Railroad had been trying to make a resort out of the tracts in Ocean Park, but had failed. In 1900, Fraser and George Hart, then took up the 13 acre Santa Fe holdings, and subdivided the Central Beach Tract, laid out streets, and installed a sewer system.
In 1902, Fraser (with G. Merritt Jones & H. R. Gage) purchase T. H. Dudley’s half interest in the Kinney Ocean Park property. Fraser built numerous improvements in Ocean Park. In 1903 Fraser built the Ocean Park Casino, and in 1905 erected the Ocean Park Bath House. In 1904 Fraser purchased the Recreation Gun Club tract, which had an ocean frontage of 4000 feet. In 1906 he built the Ocean Park Auditorium, the Masonic Temple and the Decatur Hotel. In 1907 responsible for the construction of the thirty feet in width, a mile and a quarter in length concrete promenade which joins Ocean Park with Venice.
In 1911 “Fraser’s Million Dollar Pier,” was completed, extending 1000 feet over the ocean and housing a multitude of amusements, including a beautiful dancing pavilion. Destroyed by fire in 1912.