The Street Seen: Greene Apartments
160 Ocean Park Boulevard @ Neilson
In 1911, the 2-story Ivy Apartments is built by C.P. Schermerhorn on the southwest corner of Ocean Park and Neilson. From about 1920 to 1930, the building is ‘owned’ by Dolph M. Greene. It is demolished in the mid-1960s to make way for the Ocean Park Redevelopment Project.
In March 1911, C.P. Schermerhorn obtains a building permit for a $4,000 2-story apartment building on a vacant lot1 on the southwest corner of Ocean Park Blvd2 and Neilson Way.3 In June 1911, Schermerhorn is advertising furnished apartments for rent.
The Ivy Apartments is a wood-frame building with a stucco exterior. There are seven apartments (two 4-room, two 3-room, and three 2-room apartments) with a total of 20 rooms. The location is not ideal as the building is close to the active Pacific Electric trolley tracks.
By 1915, Schermerhorn is onsite managing his Dorchester Apartments at Neilson and Bay. Throughout 1915, “Lotta” Hopper, listing herself as proprietor,4 heavily advertises the Ivy Apartments for rent. In December 1915, all of the furniture in the 20-room Ivy Apartment House is auctioned.5
From about 1920 to 1930, the Greene Apartments is owned6 by the eponymous Dolph M. Greene.7 In 1921, Greene advertises the furnished Greene Apartments for rent8 and in a different advertisement, for sale.9
In 1922, Greene Apartments proprietor Ann F. Goss sets fire to the apartment house - and herself. Running screaming from the building, her clothes in flames, Goss is saved by neighbors wrapping her in blankets. In the hospital with very severe burns, she is charged with attempted arson.10
In 1929, the Greene Apartments is up for auction - buyer to assume the $8,000 mortgage.11 This seems to bring to an end Greene’s involvement with the apartments.
Until at least 1936, the building is still called the Greene Apartments. In 1940, it is briefly listed as the Bertha Apartments. In 1955, the fire-damaged (again !) apartment building is offered “as is” for offers over $9,000. Later that year “completely modernized” apartments are advertised for rent.12
To allow for the widening of Ocean Park Blvd and the Ocean Park Redevelopment Project, the apartment building is demolished in the mid-1960s.13 The Ocean Park and Neilson corner is now occupied by the 1987 Sea Colony III condominiums.
The 25-ft x 94-ft property is Lot 1 of Block D of the Central Beach Tract adjacent to the rail right of way.
The 100 block of Ocean Park Blvd has its origins as Dwight Ave - established with the 1900 Central Beach Tract. Dwight Ave is renamed Central Ave in 1917, and Central Ave is renamed Ocean Park Blvd in 1926.
From 1905, the electric trolley right-of-way is called Trolleyway. In 1950, the right-of-way is paved and converted to automobile street use. In 1954, the street is named Neilson Way in honor of recently deceased City Council member George A Neilson (1890 – 1954).
At the time, it is common for apartment owners to lease the building to a proprietor who operates the apartment and keeps all the rent. Most hotels currently operate on this model.
In the furnished apartment, leased operator model, the lessee owns the furniture. At the end of 1915, all (everything !) of the furnishings of the Ivy Apartment House are auctioned.
It is not clear whether Greene owns the apartments or whether he just has a long-term lease. There is every indication that the Greene Apartments is just a bigger version of the “cigar stand.”
Adolphus “Dolph” Mortimer Greene (1876 – 1944). Born in Winfield, KS, his father, Adolphus Humphrey Greene (1841 - 1908), is a pioneer Kansas lawyer and early real estate broker in Winfield. In 1888, Greene’s mother, Letha C Crumbacher Greene (1851 – 1922), divorces A.H. Greene. Letha Greene is given custody of Dolph Greene (age 12) and they move to 1346 Valencia St, just west of downtown Los Angeles. In 1892, Dolph Greene’s hometown visit after 4 years in Los Angeles attracts the attention of the local paper.
“He has been prosperous and has been holding a position at $125 a month for some time. He has the kind of pluck and combined with honesty which recommends him to his employers and which will ensure his success” - Winfield Courier, June 30, 1892
In 1894, back in Los Angeles, Greene marries Tena A. Beegle (1877 - 1921). In 1895, hack driver (drives a taxi for a living) Greene is cited for violating the hack-stand ordinance.
In 1897, Greene files to marry the recently divorced Eliza Moore (age 27). Tena A. Greene, with a 2-year daughter, Pearl, turns up at the Recorder’s Office claiming she is married to Greene. Greene informs Tena that they aren’t really married – just living together, and goes ahead with his marriage to Eliza Moore. Tena uses the name Mrs Tena A. Greene till she marries in 1899.
In 1902, former cabman and now laundry wagon driver Greene sees Eliza Moore Greene (32), his separated wife, on the street in the company of Charles F. Culbertson (25). Greene (25), regarded as dangerous when angry, fires two shots to kill - causing a good deal of excitement in downtown Los Angeles. After the shooting, Culbertson flees and hasn't been seen since. Greene pleads guilty to assault and gets off with a $35 fine - which his mother pays for him.
Greene sells the laundry wagon route and goes into the real estate business in downtown Los Angeles.
Former Shooter Now An Eloper - Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, January 4, 1904
In late 1903, Greene elopes to Yuma, AZ with Helen Goff (1883 – 1926). Two weeks later, Helen’s father, George W. Goff (1855 – 1904), after brooding over the elopement of his beautiful daughter with a divorced former hack driver risen to be a real estate agent, shoots himself. In 1905, with the encouragement of her mother, Helen divorces Greene. Greene files a $10,000 damages suit against his ex-mother-in-law. Dolph M Greene tells his side of the story -
“Her mother is not as young as she used to be. When she is alone, she looks like an old 30-cent piece. When she's trotting double with Helen, everybody stops on the street to rubber - they look like a couple of millionairesses. The old lady needs Helen so she can get the overflow of admiration. Mrs Goff was sore at me because I wouldn't let Helen go on the stage. I wouldn't let any wife of mine go into that kind of life” Los Angeles Times, October 18, 1905
In 1907, McShearan, a timid and weakened tuberculous sufferer and sole support of his invalid sister, comes to sunny Los Angeles with the hope that their health might be restored. Spending a major part of their savings, the consumptive buys a cigar stand from Greene. He quickly finds that he has been swindled - the customers he saw were hired by Greene. McShearan shoots himself. Greene goes to his rooming house and takes back the keys to the cigar stand - McShearan has only paid $150 and clearly isn't going make further payments. The sister pleads in vain with Greene to give back the $150. Greene later sells the cigar stand - several times. Greene doesn't actually own the stand, he has a 5-year lease.
In 1908, Greene marries Lula Ovella Briant (1887 – 1939). She files for divorce in 1910. In 1908, barber J.T. Kenney upset over a dice game with Greene, fires three shots at Greene – but misses. In 1908, P.J. Bergman takes Greene to court over being swindled out $200 in the sale of a cigar stand - the same stand that Greene sold to McShearan in 1907.
In 1910, Greene is arrested (and bailed) three times in one week on three unrelated cases. Greene is said to be the leader of a clever gang of swindlers. The news reaches Kansas
“Dolph Greene. an old-time Winfield boy, son of General A.H. Greene, is in trouble again in Los Angeles ...this time on a charge of criminal conspiracy” - Winfield Courier, February 10, 1910.
The Los Angeles DA says he is overwhelmed by complaints against Greene - but only 3 people are willing to file a complaint. Greene is in court on three misdemeanor charges
defrauding James Guinn out of $300 for a half interest in a Los Angeles real estate office that had been especially fitted up to catch “suckers.” Greene is acquitted.
defrauding J.H. Umberger out of $300 for a half interest in a garage. Greene doesn’t have a license to operate a garage. Greene’s partner is arrested on a misdemeanor charge of operating a garage without a license. Greene is found guilty.
defrauding F.D. Krane out of $200 for a half interest in a Los Angeles real estate office. Krane’s wife dies, and Krane elects not to come to Los Angeles for the trial. The charges in this case are dismissed.
In 1910, Greene is arrested in Seattle, WA and charged with real estate swindling. In 1911, the not-always-reliable Winfield Courier reports that Greene and his handsome young “wife” are visiting Winfield
“Having made a fortune in the real estate business in Los Angeles, he has retired and is enjoying his wealth in traveling around to see the country” - Winfield Courier, August 24, 1911
From 1912 to 1915, we lose sight of Greene. In 1916, Greene is back living at 1346 Valencia St with his mother and recently widowed sister. In 1919, Dolph Greene, whose story we started with a horse and wagon, is fined several times for speeding and reckless driving. On receiving a $25 fine, Greene slams down five $5 bills in front of the judge, saying "Highway robbery." The judge fines him another $10 for contempt of court.
In 1919, Greene is again selling a cigar stand in Los Angeles.
By 1921, Greene owns the Greene Apartments. From 1923 to 1931, Greene operates the Central Garage - a parking garage at 2619 Main St (near Central Ave) and work/lives above at 2615 Main St. The garage requires little oversight, and Greene conducts an active real estate brokerage business - mostly Venice and Ocean Park apartment buildings.
Greene leaves Ocean Park circa 1931, and by 1938, is living at 1346 Valencia St again.
Typical Greene’s 1921 advertising the Greene Apartments for rent.
According Greene’s 1921 advertisement, the 7 furnished housekeeping apartments each renting for $25 to $50 - clears $510 monthly. Giving the Greene Apartments a market value of $20,000 - but Greene is ready to let it go for $15,000 - conditions apply.
Ann Goss, 45, an industrious, big-hearted Irish widow with small 3 children, leases the furnished Greene Apartments from Greene. She is losing money and wishes to terminate the lease. In case of fire, the lease automatically terminates. Goss has $2,000 insurance on the apartment house furnishings. Two companies of the Santa Monica Fire Department extinguish the blaze. Firemen discover that the bedclothes are soaked in kerosene, and kerosene-soaked waste leads to holes cut in the walls. The damage to the building is estimated at $800. The building is insured by Ann Robinson, mortgagee of the Greene Apartments. At the time of the fire, only one apartment is occupied, and that tenant is absent on the evening of the fire.
Advertisement for the July 1929 Greene Apartments auction. Income $302 monthly.
In 1955, “completely modernized” apartments are advertised - unfurnished $62, furnished $70.
The structures remaining in 1963 ahead of the Ocean Park Redevelopment Project.
