The Street Seen: Pre Japs Dudley
West Side of Main Street from Bay to Bicknell
The property that will become the site of the Avalon Apartments consists of five 60-ft by 150-ft lots of the 1875 South Santa Monica Tract. In 1922, the property is leased to E.C. Japs.
In 1875, the northwest corner of the Lucas Ranch is subdivided into 60-ft by 150-ft lots of the South Santa Monica Tract. On the west side of Main St, between Bay and Bicknell (formerly Ocean) there are five 60-ft wide lots (Lots 14 thru 18, Block 2) fronting on Main St.
In 1875, Simon Stoll (1846 - 1906)1 buys lot 15 of Block 2 of the South Santa Monica Tract. His wife, Mary E. Stoll, owns lot 14. His business partner, John S. Thayer, owns lot 16.
From 1892, Santa Fe2 operates a steam-powered rail line on the west side of Main St. The five property owners sue Santa Fe for irreparable damage to their seaside residences caused by the noise, smoke, and dirt of the trains.
Stoll decides it is preferable to have his property front on Bay St - rather than Main St. He turns his property on lot 14 and lot 15 sideways – with a 60-ft by 120-ft lot (red) on the corner, and a 90-ft by 120-ft lot (green) to the west on Bay. And builds a beach house.
In 1905, Stoll adds half (45-ft) of the neighbor’s lot to the west. The Stoll property is now 120-ft (Main) x 105-ft (Bay) - legally described as east 105-ft of lot 14 and lot 15 of Block 2 of the South Santa Monica Tract
In 1908, the property is inherited by Simon Stoll’s son, Arthur Lincoln Stoll (1874 – 1957), and daughter, Estella Belmont Stoll (1877 – 1954).
In 1922, Arthur Stoll leases the 120-ft (Main) x 105-ft (Bay) property to E.C. Japs. The Ocean Park beach house (150 Bay) is demolished to make way for the Henderson Motor Mart.
Simon Stoll (1846 - 1906). Born in KY. In 1872, Stoll marries Mary E. Anson (1846 – 1932). In 1874, Stoll comes to Los Angeles, where he is briefly employed by the soda water manufacturer Henry William Stoll (also no relation). In 1880, Stoll opens a stationery and bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. Two years later, he takes partner, John S. Thayer, under the name Stoll and Thayer. In 1906, Stoll sells out to Cunningham, Curtis and Welch who are burned out in the San Francisco earthquake and fire. Early on, Stoll bought real estate that he leased, and he leaves an estate of more than $20,000.
In 1892, the Santa Fe and Santa Monica Railway Company is formed to build a line from Ballona Junction to Santa Monica (12 miles). The first Santa Fe passenger train arrives at the Ocean Park passenger depot (Main & Hill) on June 18, 1892.