The Street Seen: John W. and Anna George House
2424 4th Street between Hollister and Ocean Park
The John W. and Anna George House, on 4th Street, is built in 1911 for a Minneapolis businessman who retires to Ocean Park, and is elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 1913. The deteriorated building is landmarked in 1981 and restored.
For many years, Minneapolis businessman John W. George1 and his wife Anna George, winter in Venice.2 In 1911, George obtains a permit3 for a 2-story, 7-room $3,200 house on an Ocean Park hill site overlooking the Pacific Ocean.4 The California Bungalow style house features an extensive front porch and spreading gables with a wide living room window. In 1912, George obtains a permit for a $500 stand-alone garage.
In 1911, John and Anna George move permanently to Ocean Park. Their children move with them.5
In 1913, George is elected to the Santa Monica City Council for the Third Ward.6 In 1915, George decides not to run for election in the new full-time Commission form of city government.7
By the 1970s, the house, now owned by George’s children, is deteriorated. Scheduled for demolition,8 the building is landmarked in 1981.9 New owners, screenwriter Earl Pomerantz (1945 - 2020) and his wife Myra Yoelin, hire renovation architect Carl Day, and restore many original features, and replicated others.10 The exterior of the house is returned to its original gray with white trim color, and the garden is renewed with landscaping typical of the 1910s.
John William George (1860 – 1939). Born in IA. In 1883, George marries Anna Stahl (1864 - 1928) in MN. George is in the scrap business (metal, paper, and rags) in Minneapolis - he owns American Scrap Iron Company. George is active in several Minneapolis-based German social clubs. The Georges have a summer house (Villa Content) and a boat (Hildegard) at Lake Minnetonka, and for many years, come to Venice for the winter. In 1910, George sells the American Scrap Iron Company. They move permanently to Ocean Park and build a 2-story, 7-room house at 2424 4th St.
In 1913, George is elected to the Santa Monica City Council for the Third Ward. George is the chairman of the sewer committee and is actively involved in making street improvements. In 1915, he is targeted with an unsuccessful recall petition mounted by opponents of (the cost of) the street improvements. In 1915, George decides not to seek election to the new full-time Commission form of city government and permanently retires. In the 1920s, George becomes a Lake Elsinore enthusiast and owns several properties there.
Located adjacent to and south of Santa Monica, the City of Ocean Park exists from 1904 to 1911, when it is renamed Venice.
George obtains the permit for the house in February 1911 (and the garage permit in March 1912), suggesting that the house is built in 1911. We were unable to locate the permit in city records, and the builder's name is unknown. The house is similar to the 1912 house (especially the entry) built for his son-in-law at 2511 Beverley.
The 100-ft by 155-ft deep lot on the Vawters Sub Lucas Tract is now only 143-ft deep after 12-ft is taken up for the widening of 4th St in the 1960s.
The George’s four children join in the 1911 move from Minneapolis to Ocean Park.
Hildegard Margaret George Japs (1885 – 1931). In 1905, Hildegard marries Edward Charles Japs (1884 - 1943). In 1911, they briefly live in the Japs/Crossman house at 2511 Beverley Ave before moving to 237 Pacific Ave in 1914.
Lillian Marie George McCambridge (1889 – 1980). In 1913, Lillian marries George McCambridge (1883 – 1956), a Los Angeles furniture manufacturer. In 1930, they live at 213 ½ Pacific Ave.
Carl Louis George (1894 – 1953). In 1914, Carl marries La Belle Gashweiler (1894 – 1945) in Venice. In 1916, living at 2220 3rd St, Carl opens Crescent Tire Works on the southeast corner of Bicknell and Main. In 1922, he moves to Longview, WA, where he marries Clara Ruth Bachmann (1897 - 1977).
Ruth Catherine George Cunningham (1899 - 1999). Ruth lives with her parents at 2424 4th St until 1924, when she marries Dr. William Clement Cunningham (1895 - 1961). They live in Lancaster, CA.
From 1906 to 1915, Santa Monica city government is structured as a Mayor-Council form of government, with a mayor having veto power, and one council member from each of the seven wards. Three (the First, Second, and Third) of the seven wards are in Ocean Park. The Third Ward extends from the Pacific Ocean to 17th St, between Pico and Hill / Pearl.
Beginning in 1916, Santa Monica city government is structured as an elected three-person full-time board of commissioners, set up to meet daily and set policy. Under the new charter (1915 - 1946), the City government consists of three departments: Public Safety, Public Works, and Finance, with one Commissioner responsible for each department. The Commissioner of Public Safety is the ex officio Mayor.
In 1981, the property is “for sale” by the George family. Given the location and size of the lot, as well as the deteriorated condition of the building, demolition by a new owner probably makes financial sense.
The John W. and Anna George House is designated a Santa Monica landmark in March 1981 on a 4 to 3 vote by the Landmarks Commission. On appeal by the estate of Lillian George McCambridge (deceased), the landmark designation is upheld by the City Council in May 1981.
In addition to being sensitively restored, the house is enhanced with additions to make it more livable. The roof is altered to allow the enlargement of second-story rooms. A fireplace and chimney is added to the north side of the house. The garage is extended, and a pool is added to the rear yard.