The Street Seen: Fighting Fire
222 Hollister Avenue @ 2nd
Volunteer Fire Company
Fire is an ever-present threat to the wood frame buildings that make up most of Ocean Park (and to the now gone, amusement piers). In its early history, Ocean Park suffers much from fires, which are very destructive on account of the lack of fire-fighting appliances - and water. In 1897, the large two-story YMCA auditorium erected in 1894 burns - a complete loss as there is no water to save the building.
The Ocean Park Fire Company, Ocean Park’s first volunteer fire company, is formed by Alvin Archer1 in 1902. The City provided an old four-wheeled cart, 600 feet of hose, and lumber to build, by voluntary labor and subscription, a small structure with bell tower on private property (on Main St at Ashland - One West Bank parking lot). The fire company did efficient service many times, although much hampered by lack of water pressure.
Santa Monica Fire Station No. 2
In1906, City bonds are approved for building two fire stations - Fire Station No. 1 (at Santa Monica Blvd & 4th St ) and Fire Station No. 2 (at Norman Pl & 2nd St). The completed buildings are turned over to the City in the spring of 1907.
Ocean Park's early landscape is influenced by fires, the largest of which occur in 1912 and 1924. By 1913, the SMFD is upgraded to motorized equipment.
New Fire House 2nd & Hollister
A new SMFD Station No. 2, located on the SEC of Hollister Avenue and 2nd Street, is officially dedicated on February 11, 1954.
By 1995, the 40-year-old SMFD Station No. 2 has worn at an accelerated rate and needs significant repair. In addition, the building does not comply with seismic standards or ADA requirements. The City Council commissions architect Wolf Lang Christopher (WLC) to prepare schematic designs for replacing the existing fire station in the same location. The more mainstream WLC, an experienced fire station designer, hires experimental architects Morphosis as sub-consultant for the $2.3-million fire station. It seems the City will get a building both practical and unique. This being Santa Monica, several issues arise.
The site is zoned Ocean Park Low Density Residential (OP2) which does not list Fire Stations as a permitted or conditionally permitted use. A conditional use permit (CUP) is obtained from the Planning Commission.
The schematic drawings and models presented in 1997 have an angular design with glass exterior walls, a large elliptical skylight, and a rooftop vegetable garden. City officials see the scheme as unworkable and request a more traditional design to accommodate the Ocean Park District (OP-2) Design Guidelines which encourage older Craftsman bungalow, Spanish Colonial Revival, or International Style Modern styles. The revised design was approved by the Architectural Review Board (ARB) in 1998.
In 2000, the old 7,551 SF fire station is demolished, and work begins on the new 9,742 SF fire station. In April 2002, the nearly completed station catches fire and suffers $500,000 in damage. The new SMFD Station No. 2 finally opens in January 2003.
Alvin N. Archer (1844 - 1923). Born in in ME, Archer joins the Union Army in 1863, and is wounded 1864 in VA. In 1891 he is in poor health, and comes west to OR, and in 1892 to Ocean Park. He builds the Ocean Park YMCA building in 1894. For four years he is the local agent of the Santa Fe Railroad Company. He is a deputy constable and later Ocean Park’s first uniformed policeman. He is the founder of Ocean Park’s first volunteer fire brigade. He is elected as a member of the City Council. In 1892, Archer marries Louetta Litch (1873 – 1956) (he was her guardian). The Archers have four children- Bula June, the first child born of American parents in Ocean Park; Reed M.; Glen E.; and Altha F. He builds (in 1899) and lives in the 2-story American Colonial Revival house (245 Hill St) on the NWC of 3rd and Hill St.
