The 2-story Cameron Apartments is constructed in 1912 on the west side of 3rd St near Ashland Ave.
In 1912, Rosa Cameron,1 recently divorced from Norman Cameron,2 hires the Jones Brothers to build a $12,000 2-story apartment building on 3rd St near Ashland.3 Work begins in March and is rushed to be ready for the summer season.4 The Cameron Apartments opens in July 1912. Rosa Cameron is the onsite owner/manager, and lives in the building until her death in 1936.
Rosa Cameron leaves the property to her son Harry David Cameron5 and granddaughter Rosella Mary Cameron6 with the restriction that the property not be sold within 5 years of Rosa’s death. The Cameron heirs sell the property in 1950.
From 1950 to 1960, the property is owned by L.P. Surlow, then from 1960 to 1975 by M.J. Moorhead.7
Rosa M. Cameron (1865 – 1936). Born in NY, she (17) gives birth to son Harry Fish in Chicago in 1882. Rosa marries Norman Cameron in Flagstaff, AZ in 1895. The family moves to Los Angeles in 1904. In 1905, Rosa files suit in Superior Court against Norman for maintenance and to prevent the sale of his saloon business. Rosa alleges that since November 1904, Norman has deserted his family and is consorting with dissolute women. In 1908, Rosa is granted a divorce on the grounds of desertion. In 1912, she moves to manage her Cameron Apartments at 2906 3rd St and remains there till her death in 1936.
Norman Alford Cameron (1855 – 1932). Born in Maine. In 1887, Cameron moves to Flagstaff, AZ, where he builds a successful logging business. In 1895, he (40) marries Mrs. Rosella Fish (30) in Flagstaff. In 1904, Cameron moves to Los Angeles and operates the Richelieu Saloon in downtown Los Angeles (in the Bryson Block at Spring and 2nd). In 1908, the Camerons divorce, and Norman moves to Portland, OR.
The 2906 3rd Street property is Lot 2 of Block B of the Santa Fe Tract. The Cameron Apartments occupies almost the entire 50-ft by 130-ft lot (APN 4287-024-003). There is no on-site parking. The building currently has 22 rent-controlled units (with 13 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms).
The 1912 Cameron Apartments is not a hotel - there is no front deck and no cafe. The furnished apartments cater to both long-term and short-term guests. Ocean Park has a winter season with visitors from the north and east escaping their winter cold, and a summer season with local Southern California guests escaping their summer heat.
Harry David Cameron (1882 – 1954). Rosa’s son, Harry Fish, is born in Chicago. When his mother remarries in 1895, Fish changes his name to Cameron. He comes with the family to Los Angeles in 1904. In 1908, Harry marries Bessie Belle Jones (1890 - 1950), and they have a daughter, Rosella Mary Cameron. Harry and Bessie divorce sometime before 1920. From 1920 to 1950, Harry lives at the Cameron Apartments. He is the owner/manager from 1937 to 1950.
Rosella Mary Cameron (1910 - 2002). Harry’s daughter (Rosa’s granddaughter), Rosella, marries Marshall Howard Hitchings in 1937 at St Clement’s Church. They leave Santa Monica for a 1-acre property in rural Canoga Park in 1949.
The 2906 3rd Street property last sold in 2001 for $1.625 MM. Previously, it had sold for $1.16 MM in 1999 and for $0.75 MM in 1974.