Abbot Kinney
Abbot Kinney (b.
1850,
New Brunswick,
New Jersey - d.
1920,
Santa Monica,
California) was a developer and
conservationist. Kinney was born into a family whom, after moving to
Washington D.C., became known in the political scene. His aunt was married to Senator
James Dixon of
Connecticut.
At the age of 16, the 6' 2
'' Kinney went to
Europe where he studied in
Heidelberg,
Paris and
Zurich. He became fluent in six languages. During his last few months there he took a walking tour of
Italy, in particular,
Venice and the
Italian Riviera. Returning to
Washington in
1869 he joined the
Maryland National Guard and in
1873 was able to join a U. S. Geological Survey team to map the
Sioux Reservations of the
Dakotas. He travelled to
Salt Lake City and
Oregon and rejoined the survey team in
Yosemite Valley.
In
1874, Kinney joined his older brother's
tobacco business with offices in
New York. They did much of their purchasing in the southern states, however thought that imported tobaccos might bring a different interest to the market. In
1876 Abbott traveled to
Egypt and Turkish
Macedonia. He happened to be in the port of
Solonika when thousands of
Christians were massacred by
Moslems. Kinney barely escaped with his life.
Instead of returning home Kinney took an extended vacation through Europe,
India,
Ceylon,
New Guinea,
Australia and
Hawaii. He arrived in
San Francisco in January
1880. Train travel to the East was held up by snow, so Kinney thought he would visit a Southern
California health resort, the
Sierra Madre Villa Hotel. Kinney was an
asthmatic, and he thought he would try the place out for his first good nights rest. Without having a reservation, Kinney was forced to put up in the parlor. He immediately fell asleep on a billiards table and woke fresh and free from asthma symptoms. The sensation prompted him to purchase 550 acres of nearby property he named
Kinneloa.
Kinney was appointed to a three year position as Chairman of the State Board of Forestry. One of his first actions was to develop a protective agency for the forests of the
San Gabriel Mountains which were subject to frequent fires set by ranchers to deforest the areas and create grazing lands for livestock. This created problems for the
valleys which were easily inundated by mud and soot during subsequent rainfalls.
On his own property he developed methods of land management by which livestock and forested areas can be cultivated and shared. With the help of good friend John Muir, Kinney affected the establishment of the
San Gabriel Timberland Reserve in December of
1892, forerunner to the
Angeles National Forest.
In his travels to the California State Legislature in
Sacramento, Kinney met Margaret Thornton, daughter of
California Supreme Court Justice,
James Dabney Thornton. They were married in November of
1884 and had seven children, three of whom died during childhood.
In
1891 Kinney and his partner bought controlling interest in
Pacific Ocean Casino and a tract of land 1 1/2 miles long and 1,000 feet wide along the
Santa Monica beach. His partner died, and his widow's new husband sold the interest to a group of men Kinney did not get along with. With a flip of a coin, which Kinney won, Kinney took the marshy southern half to build his Venice of America.
The Venice, Italy recreation opened on
July 4,
1905 as an instant success. Trolley service as available from downtown and nearby Santa Monica. Visitors were dazzled by the system of
canals complete with
gondolas and
gondoliers brought in from
Venice,
Italy. There were ornate Venetian-style businesses and a full sized amusement
pier. Around the entire park was a miniature steam railroad along a 2 1/2 mile track. Eventually Kinney gained control of city politics and had the name changed from Ocean Park to Venice in
1911. Kinney was also allowed to build a 60 foot breakwater to protect his facilities from ocean storm surfs.
Kinney's wife died in June
1911 and Kinney married his mistress
Winifred Harwell and adopted his two illegitimate children by her. Heavy smoker that he was, he died suddenly in November
1920. The business was carried on by his oldest son Thornton. However, the canals which could not be kept fresh with circulated water, and if they were not mucked daily, began to smell. The Department of Health had most of them closed and paved over.
A fire destroyed most the pier one month after Kinney's death leaving only the roller coaster and bandstand. It was rebuilt in
1924 followed by another devastating fire that ruined the whole complex and the neighboring Lick's pier. They were both reopened in
1926. The miniature
railroad ran until
1924.
