Santa Monica circa 1904

At last, we have photographic evidence that there were surfboards in Southern California before George Freeth's arrival, from Hawaii, in 1907.



The image was recently "found" by Cal Porter and estimates on its date most accurately given by Cary Weiss, who wrote:

"I did some brief research using as my primary source the softback book by Jeffrey Stanton -- SANTA MONICA PIER, A HISTORY FROM 1875 TO 1990 -- also Fred Basten's SANTA MONICA BAY and some of my photo collection and input from my 88yr old mom who was head of costume and of wardrobe for ABC and film.

SEE PAGES -PHOTOS AT PAGES 13-16,19-20 IN STATONS BOOK

1. THE FIRST LARGE PIER BUILT BY RAILROAD OWNERS [in Santa Monica] IS THE L.A.AND INDEPENDENCE WHARF-BUILT IN 1875 AND CONDEMNED IN 1879.

2. THE PIER IN QUESTION IS CALLED THE NORTH BEACH PIER, NOT THE S.M. PIER - BUILT IN 1898 NORTH OF WHERE THE L.A. PIER WAS - AND PARTIALLY DESTROYED (AS WAS THE WOODEN SLATTED BOARDWALK) BY A STORM IN 1905.

THE MUNICIPAL AND LOOFF PIERS WERE BUILT NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN 1908 AND BECAME ONE - THE SANTA MONICA PIER - THE CITY BUILT THE MUNICIPAL PIER TO CARRY SEWER OUTFALL.

3. THE BEACH DRESS IN THE 1890'S TO 1900+ WAS SUCH THAT MEN'S WOOLEN SUITS HAD 1/2 SLEEVES AND WOMEN WORE FULL DRESS OUTFITS WITH LEG COVERINGS -- NOT UNTIL AFTER 1900 DO YOU SEE MEN AND KIDS IN WOOLEN TANK TOPS LIKE THE ONE IN TSJ PIC.

WOMENS EVERY DAY DRESS WAS MORE FRILLY, BUSSELED AND HEAVY MATERIAL IN THE 1890'S.

4. THIS PIC WAS PROBABLY TAKEN IN 1904 OR '05 WHILE THE PIER AND BOARDWALK WERE STILL IN TACT...

CARY





Also helping in the detective work on this was: Ben Marcus, Gary Lynch, Arthur C. Verge and Joe Tabler.