Histories · April 1, 1994
West Regional fax — Hermosa branch history and early library locations
Faxed pages reproduce older accounts of the Ocean View School reading room, early librarians and pier moves. They credit Tera Rhein’s 1933 history and a 1927–28 county publication.
Part of this item is hard to read or covered in the scan. A clearer copy is being sought.
Text
Transcribed from the scans and checked against them by Claude. Typed text comes first; handwritten notes follow it. [illegible] marks words that cannot be read and [?] an uncertain reading.
Page 1
TO: BEACH APR 1, 1994 11:55AM #187 P.02
The first library was a pay circulating library sponsored by a committee of club women and opened first in the Ocean View School building with Mrs. Mary Montgomery as custodian. In 1907, it was taken into the Los Angeles County Public Library service and became a public library occupying a room in the Walker building on Hermosa Avenue. Later, it was moved to the tower room of the Pier auditorium and again moved down stairs into the north room of the building with Mrs. Montgomery still in charge as it librarian. In 1925, it was moved into the present location in the south room of the auditorium where it is still funcitioning as a branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library. 1
Mrs. John Walker-Broad and her daughters, Jane[?] and Margaret, relatives of the late Henry E. Huntington of Pasadena, spent nearly a year as residents of this city. Miss Margaret Broad[?] later married Collis Huntington Holladay, a nephew of Henry E. Huntington. Recently a son was born to this socially prominent couple and became another heir to the Huntington millions. Miss Margaret was a patron of the local branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library situated on the pier, and on one occasion, made inquiries at the desk as to the requirements for the assistant librarian's work, intending, she explained, to use such experience, if acquired, in the American Department of the Bibliotheque National while in Paris the coming year. 2
This early history of Hermosa Beach has been compiled by Mrs. Fern Rhein, Librarian for the Hermosa Beach Branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library. It is the writer's wish that it be understood that facts and statements herein recorded cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely correct in a historical sense; she has labored conscientiously to make this record as nearly correct as it has been possible with the limited sources available.
Excerpts taken from: The Early History of Hermosa Beach written by Fern Rhein, 1933. pp. 9, 19, 24.
Hermosa Beach branch was opened in a storeroom June 1913 and on completition of the municipal pier it was moved there. In the spring of 1927 it was moved to larger quarters on the same pier, where visitors may enjoy the sea breezes and fine view. This branch now has a stock of 4,500 volumes and receives and average of 1,200 books per year. The total number of books issued has been 292,178. Since 1923 the use has grown from 22,446 to 30,859 for the last year. Thirty-five magazines are provided. Hours open, every week day from 1-9. There are 2,276 registered borrowers and many transients get books by making a deposit.
Books and Notes Los Angeles County Free Library, vol. 2, 1927-28, p. 20.
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M:WEST REGIONAL 300 TO:HERMOSA BEACH APR 1, 1994 11:56AM #187 P.03
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Ocean View School on Monterey Blvd., where the St. Cross Church now stands, housed the first library -- a pay circulating library, sponsored by a committee of club women. Mrs. Mary Montgomery was the librarian.
In 1917 it became a part of the Los Angeles County Public Library system, and functioned thereafter as a public library, occupying a room in the Walker Building on the northwest corner of Pier and Hermosa Avenues.
Later it was moved to the Tower Room of the Pier Auditorium. It was here that the competition between the expanse of blue ocean and the expanse of knowledge and adventure between covers was keen; while on Saturday afternoons and evenings the band concerts made the little room tremble with the voices of the trombones and trumpets, the sing of the cymbals and the march of drums.
As more volumes were added to the shelves, another move was made. This time, downstairs to the north room of the building.
In 1923 Mrs. Fern Rhein was appointed librarian, and in 1925 the library opened its doors to the public on the south side of the Pier, in the former dance pavilion. This was a pleasant room furnished with pompous mission furniture. The south wall, lined with huge windows, looked out upon the emerald water to the green hills of Palos Verdes, and the jeweled hump of Catalina could be seen on clear days. While the opposite windowed wall previewed the fortunate and less fortunate fishermen as they made their way to and from the Pier, along with the vast number of bathers and visitors to our city.
Handwritten notes
• (above "1917", which is struck through) 1913/1907[?]
Show the original machine reading
Source scan page 16
FROM: WEST REGIONAL 300 TO: HERMOSA BEACH APR 1, 1994 11:55AM #187 P.02 be strat 21brasy was a jay ofroulating lorery sponsored! committee of alub woman and opened firat in the ocean law Bener balding with Men. Nary Montgomery an cuntodian, I 2901, 18 was 4 pos do Library a apole a poor is to Waller hate on reas avena. Later, it was noved to the tower room e the Pies enlatoria and agato sored down statra into the ports soon of th bullaise with Mre, Hontgonary still ta charge an it. Ilialan," In 2923, 23 Mas noved into the prosent locatlon la the south room of the solitera where it la atfil fusaltioning as a branch of the los Angeles Bewaty Publie Library. 1 Mes. John Walker-Broad and bar diughters, relativen of the late eury B, Huntington of , year ae residente of this elty. Minute Collia Huntlonton HoLladay, a naphov of Lossy a son vas born to this neesally promisers beir to the tuatLagton al111ona. Mias Local branah of the los Angolas Courty Pabile Li ples, and on one cocaston, soda inquirida at to Depurteent of sha Bibllotbagso Mational villa la ng per. 2 Thia enaly blatory of Hersosa Ren Ara. Tern Abela, Ilbre lan for the Bernou Angeles County Fuble Library. It Lu the veiter son of the lo it be a ass been possible vith tbe liaited souross evallabi Exoerpta taken from: The Ber 1y History of Hermona Beach vrittor by Tern Rhain, 1933. pp. 9,19, 24. Sornona Becob branch vas opesed lo a atereroda dose 1923 dad o ompletition os the mantelpel ples it vas soned tbare.: In the agela say enjoy the sea tresses and fine view. 1927 1% vas pored to dad a to see da alto of 4,500 volumes and seceives and arenas el 1,200 booke per year. The total murder of hold 210 2223 the has grown fron 22,4l6 to 30,859 for the last rous: Thirty-tro agastoes are provided, hours opera, tvery week day fron 2-9. There are 2,276 registared borrovera and seng translanta get book by waking a deposit. Booke and Notan Los Angales County Fran Whary, vol. 3, 1927-28, 7. 20,
Source scan page 17
AM: WEST REGIONAL 300 TO: HERMOSA BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY APR 1, 1994 11:56AM #187 P.03 The Ocean View School on Monterey Dlvd., where the St. Cross Church now stande, housed the first library - a pay circulating libzary, sponsored by a conmittee of club women. Mre, Maxy Montgomery was the librarian. 15+3/1207 In 1927 It became a part of the Los Angeles County Publie Library system, and functioned thereafter as a publio libzary, occupying a z00n in the Walker Building on the northwest corner of Pter and Hermosa Avenues. Later It was moved to the Tower Room of the Pier Auditorium. It was here that the competition between the expanse of blue ocean and the expanse of knowledge and adventure between covera was keen, while on Saturday afternoons and evenings the band concerts made the little room tremble with the voicen of the trombones and trumpete, the sing of the cymbals and the march of drums. As more volumes were added to the shelves, another move was made. Thla time, downstaira to the north room of the building. In 1923 Mrs. Fern Rhein was appointed 11brarian, and in 1925 the library opened its doors to the publie on the south side of the Pler, in the former dance pavilion. This was a pleasant room furnished with pompous mission furniture. The south wall, lined with huge windows, looked out upon the emerald water to the green bills of Palos Verdan, and the Jeweled hump of Catalina could be seen on clear days. While the opposite windowed wall previewed the fortunate and loss fortnaate fisher- men as they made their way to and from the Plex, along with the vast number of bathers and visitors to our city.